INTERNATIONAL DOCTORAL/POSTDOCTORAL PROGRAM
The Inserm UMR 643/ITUN in Nantes (France) is launching its International doctoral/postdoctoral Program by opening in 2011 a competitive call for one postdoctoral fellowship. This Progreffe Foundation Program aims to recruit highly-motivated and successful Master students or postdoc researchers of any nationality. The PhD or postdoc position will cover respectively three or two years of research activity and training in a strong research environment, offering a competitive salary depending on qualifications and previous training. Participations to local seminars and national as well as international meetings will be covered. Further funding for additional years from other sources may be available.
Applicants are asked to choose only one project from the ones proposed. 5 teams of the Institute propose one project. The scientific advisory board of the institute will select up to three candidates that will be interviewed on site for final selection.
Scientific Research at the ITUN Institute is organized in 6 research teams, with strong interfaces with clinical departments. Topics span many areas of research related to Transplantation, including Molecular & Cell Biology, Immunology, Neuroscience, Infectious Diseases, Regenerative Medicine Stem Cells, Gene Therapy, and Biostatistics.
The ITUN comprises the INSERM research unit 643 (the French National Institute for Health and Biomedical Research) and the clinical transplantation unit of Nantes University Hospital that performs among the highest number of kidney and pancreas transplantations in Europe. The INSERM unit 643 comprises laboratories and animal facilities (~3,000 m2). Clinical and research areas as well as meeting and teaching rooms are housed in the same building, which is located within the Nantes University Hospital. The institut is part of a local research institute (IFR 26) bringing together several other INSERM units and houses more than 750 faculty staff with several core facilities (e.g. confocal imaging, DNA microarrays, production of viral gene vectors). The INSERM unit 643 is presently staffed by 130 people organized into 6 teams and houses several core facilities (Q-PCR, high-speed cell sorting, microsurgery, protein and antibody purification, rat transgenesis).
The city of Nantes offers an active cultural environment, and is conveniently located within 45 min drive (or train) from some strikingly beautiful sea resorts located on the West Coast and 2 hours train from Paris.
The association «Chercheurs Etrangers à Nantes» will provide help to settle down smoothly in Nantes. Accomodation (flat) at the "Maison des Chercheurs Etrangers" may be booked for a period of up to 6 months so that the selected (foreign) candidate can take his/her time to look for a permanent accommodation and to ensure that he or she settles in well at a local level.
2011 CALL FOR POSTDOC APPLICATION
The call is open immediately till May 1st, 2011. Applicants must have completed their Ph.D. or M.D. between 2006 and Sept 2011.
The application should be sent electronically to Valerie.Pecqueret@univ-nantes.fr and should include
- cover letter with:- a short description of achievements
- the chosen project and the reasons why the candidate applies to this program
- a short statement oncareer planning
- CV with a complete list of publications and abstracts to international meetings
Moreover, two letters of reference should be sent before application deadline to Valerie.Pecqueret@univ-nantes.fr, with the name of the candidate in the e-mail subject.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION May 1st, 2011.
Pre-selected candidates will be informed by June 1st, 2011.
Final selection will be in September 2011 after interviews.
The Progreffe program is highly competitive and only up to three pre-selected candidates will be invited to present their past research and meet the research teams. The successful candidate will receive a letter of acceptance and a contract offer. The position can begin at any time after notification, but no later than 6 months after receiving the contract offer.
Proposed projects:
Team 1: Role of Langerin+ cells in a mucosal model of primary MCMV infection.
Team 2 : Role of Aire in the generation and function of CD8 regulatory T cells.
Team 4: Mechanisms and induction of liver tolerance in allotransplantation.
Team 5: Identification of seric factors involved in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.
Team 6: Neuroimmune signaling in neuron survival and axonal outgrowth.