Job Board > postdoctoral trainee - IRCM
The training will focus on the study of Gut Dysbiosis, intestinal barrier dysfunction and immune dysregulation in the context of Chronic Inflammatory Conditions, including Long Covid, HIV-infection and inborn errors of immunity. As part of our lab, the candidate will be involved in furthering the understanding of mechanisms responsible for such imbalances and their impact in sustaining inflammation using both in vitro and in vivo models.
The ideal candidate is highly passionate, motivated, and organized.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities
The project will include isolation and characterization of microbial Extracellular Vesicles (EVs), as well as the assessment of their inflammatory and/or immunomodulatory potential on host cell populations. The interaction between microbes or their EVs and host cells will be done using human tissue, in vitro (e.g. organoids) and in vivo (e.g. conventional and gnotobiotic mice) models. We view observations emanating from these studies will lead to the identification of novel markers, which could be exploited in the design of future therapeutic strategies.
-PhD or MD/PhD in health sciences, with a strong background in the field of microbiology/immunology, and good comprehension of inflammation and host-microbe interactions.
-Experience with most of the following techniques is expected: multicolour flow-cytometry, ELISA based technologies, cell culture assays, biochemical technology, animal models, EV isolation, sequencing, QPCR, microbiology/bacterial culture.
-Bioinformatics skills and training in statistics considered a plus.
-Excellent written and oral communication skills.
-Publication track record (at least 2 peer reviewed manuscripts).
Knowledge and Skills
• Excellent judgment
• Reliability and integrity
• Flexibility, autonomy, rigor, organizational skills
• Diplomacy, dynamism, and professionalism
• Excellent work ethic
• Solution-oriented
• Demonstrates leadership and good collaboration skills in a team environment
• Work a daytime schedule
• Full-time
• 12-month contract with possibility of renewal upon discussion with Dr. Falcone
• Other advantageous conditions apply. The candidate will be informed at the time of recruitment.
Salary: To be discussed
Dr Johanne Poudrier
Research Associate Professor
Falcone lab
IRCM 110 Pine Ave W, Montreal, Quebec H2W 1R7
johanne.poudrier@ircm.qc.ca
Founded in 1967, the Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM) is a non-profit organization that conducts basic and clinical biomedical research while training the next generation of scientists in an innovative environment. With approximately 425 employees and trainees, the Institute includes more than 35 laboratories conducting high-impact research in the fields of infectious diseases, immunology, cancer, neuroscience, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, systems biology, and medicinal chemistry. The IRCM also operates specialized research clinics in long COVID, immunology, hypertension, nutrition, and diabetes.
The candidate selected for this posting will be supervised by Dr. Emilia Liana Falcone and therefore involved in different aspects of Dr. Falcone’s clinical and translational research program (herein referred to as Falcone lab).
Dr. Falcone is a physician and scientist specializing in infectious diseases. She is the Director of both the IRCM Post-COVID-19 Research Clinic and the Microbiome and Mucosal Defence Research Unit. The IRCM Post-COVID-19 Research Clinic (IPCO) was the first long COVID research clinic established in Montreal and represents a truly unique infrastructure where all patients are both clinically evaluated and enrolled in a research protocol with biobank aimed at understanding the long-term effects of SARS-CoV2 infection. More specifically, the objectives of the IPCO Research Clinic are to 1) understand and better manage the clinical manifestations of long COVID, 2) understand the causes of long COVID, 3) identify diagnostic biomarkers and new treatments for long COVID.
The Microbiome and Mucosal Defence Research Unit focuses on studying the role of the microbiota in inflammation and immune dysregulation in inborn errors of immunity (i.e., patients with genetically inherited immune defects) and complex diseases or conditions such as long COVID. As such, the Falcone lab collaborates closely with the IRCM Adult Immunology Clinic and also leads several clinical immunology research protocols.
This Falcone lab is a dynamic team that combines clinical care with cutting-edge clinical, translational, and fundamental research. The successful candidate will work in an energetic and solution-oriented environment that values equity, diversity, and collaboration.
