Mots-Clés
Computational Protein Design
Artificial Intelligence
Structural Computational Biology
Molecular Modelling
Description
*Postdoctoral Position in Computational Protein Design and Molecular Modelling (Biocomputing/Structural Bioinformatics) - TBI-INSA, CNRS, INRAE, Toulouse, France*
A Post-Doctoral position is available in molecular modelling and computational protein design at Toulouse Biotechnology Institute (TBI) located on the grounds of INSA-Toulouse, France. The laboratory (https://www.toulouse-biotechnology-institute.fr/) is affiliated to the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE, UMR INSA-INRAE 792) and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS, UMR INSA-CNRS 5504).
Context
INRAE has launched a deep-tech research initiative, looking for disruptive results and high societal and scientific impact. A multidisciplinary team of experts in protein modeling, design and engineering, AI, structural biology and virology has been gathered to answer this call, based on the joint experience of several of its members in developing new AI-based computational protein design tools and applying them to real-world targets. Our tools have already shown their capacities on several proofs of concept, leading to improved enzymes, new nanobodies or small protein scaffolds for diagnosis and viral neutralization, as well as self-assembling proteins. The INRAE-funded project aims to build new highly efficient and precise approaches that integrate molecular modelling with generative AI to design new proteins with high impact against selected viral targets.
Position
The postdoctoral researcher at TBI will play a key role in this multidisciplinary project. He/She will be in charge of conducting molecular modelling and computational protein design studies to engineer novel proteins targeting viral pathogens. The work will involve curating and preparing relevant training datasets for AI algorithms and applying AI-based protein design methods in combination with molecular modelling techniques, in order to design and evaluate candidate proteins, and select the most promising ones for experimental testing. This research will be conducted in close collaboration with AI scientists and computational biologists for method development, as well as biochemists for experimental validation.
This recruitment will be carried out as a two-year fixed-term contract, renewable for one year, funded by INRAE. It should ideally start in the second quarter (Q2) of 2025.
Expected Skills
We are seeking a highly motivated scientist with a strong background in a number of areas of structural computational biology. The ideal candidate should have expertise in computational protein design, including AI-based approaches, as well as in protein modelling, structure prediction and analysis, molecular dynamics simulations, and quantum mechanics (QM) calculations. A solid understanding of protein modelling and molecular interactions is required. Strong communication and organizational skills are essential, along with a motivation to work in a team-oriented environment.
**Application **
Applicants should send as soon as possible a detailed curriculum vitae, a letter of intent explaining their motivations for the position, and contact details of at least two references to Sophie Barbe ( sophie.barbe@insa-toulouse.fr) and Thomas Schiex (thomas.schiex@inrae.fr).