Post-doctoral research fellowship for an immunologist to model the response to vaccines and immunological interventions

Description:
One postdoc position is available for an immunologist to work on the modelling of the response to vaccines and immunological interventions at Inserm U1219 Bordeaux Population Health Center, Statistics in Systems and Translational Medicine team (SISTM) in Bordeaux (France) for a period of 12 months (with possibilities of renewal). Research scientist / engineer applications are also welcome.

Context
SISTM (Statistics in Systems and Translational Medicine) is a team directed by Pr. Rodolphe Thiébaut belonging to INSERM U1219 Bordeaux Population Health and INRIA research institutes. For more than 10 years, the SISTM team is developing a global vaccinology strategy. SISTM is leading the Data Science department of the LabEx Vaccine Research Institute (VRI) where the group is dedicated to the analysis and the modelling of the data generated in animal experiments and clinical trials (HIV, Ebola, SARS-Cov2…). Its expertise is mainly in biostatistics and machine learning with a special emphasis on dynamical models based on ordinary differential equations and statistical learning using high dimensional data.

Job Description
To complete the team, SISTM is offering a postdoctoral position for an applicant who will be interested to work at the interface between immunology and data science.
The proposed work will be centered on the construction of mathematical models based on biological knowledge representing the immune system evolution triggered by vaccination or infection, with a particular focus on cells population involved in anamnestic response (for example activated/memory B-cells evolution circulating or present within Germinal centers). The major point being to use such models to analyze observational cohorts and clinical trials made available to SISTM within international consortia (EBOVAC / PREVAC) and the Vaccine Research Institute (VRI) in order to infer the durability and the quality of the humoral immune response induced by sequential injection vaccine strategies against Ebola virus disease.
The postdoc applicant is expected to work with the SISTM team to help them construct such dynamical models for the analysis of cell populations evolution involved in humoral response by bringing state-of-the-art immunological knowledge during model construction. The recent focus of such models being on the interactions between 1/B cells populations (activated, memory etc…), 2/the germinal centers activity and 3/ the subsequent maturation process increasing antibody neutralizing efficiency.
The candidate will be integrated in a team of biostatisticians and modelers working on related topics.
The candidate will benefit from a very attractive environment with computing facilities and close collaborations with mathematicians (from INRIA and INSERM research centers) and immunologists (mostly from the VRI). Welcome package can also be discussed.
The postdoc applicant will be based in Bordeaux in a very nice and stimulating academic environment, while also taking advantage of the excellent quality of life that Bordeaux has to offer. It will also be a unique opportunity to improve her/his skills in data sciences.

Qualifications and Personal Skills:
The candidate should hold a PhD in immunology with an interest in statistical analysis and/or mathematical modelling in biology.
We are looking for an highly motivated candidate with an outstanding potential and a strong background in immunology/vaccinology. The ideal candidates are able to work effectively as part of a team, but also to develop and pursue independent ideas. The successful candidates are expected to conduct innovative research at the highest international level.
Experience in immune response to vaccines or mathematical modelling of complex biological questions is highly recommended, proven experience in R or Python language will be highly appreciated.
The expected starting date is December 2023. Salary will follow Inserm rates with a minimum of 2788€ gross salary per month, which may be higher depending on previous experience and skills. Of note, in France, a large part of the social costs such as health insurance are not to be paid out-of-pocket and are covered for by the institution.

The application must include:
• A one-page text describing current research interests and potential contributions to the planned project.
• CV summarizing education, positions held, details of academic work, pedagogical and administrative experience and other qualifying activities
• List of publications
• Copies of educational certificates and transcripts of records
• Names and contact details of 2-3 referees stating relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number

The application with attachments should be sent to melanie.prague@u-bordeaux.fr. Please remember that all documents should be in English or French. Deadline for Application is March 1st 2024. Applicants may be called in for an interview.