Post-doctoral researcher on mitochondrial thermoregulation using MRI thermometry W/M

Employeur

The university of Bordeaux is a great dynamic and responsible university that cares about the well-being of its staff. Joining us means working in a privileged environment within a particularly diverse and open professional community, benefiting from welcome and inclusion schemes, training and internal mobility. It means participating in an academic, scientific and human adventure. It means committing to meeting the challenges of the 21st century. 

Join the Centre de Résonance Magnétique des Systèmes Biologiques (CRMSB) – of the University of Bordeaux!

This mixed research unit develops research themes in the field of MRI methodology and instrumentation, as well as in the field of Biomedical Imaging applications. The laboratory has developed many interactions with research teams specialized in the fields of oncology, cardiology, tissue engineering, or neuroscience.

As part of the THERMOLYSE project, funded by the National Research Agency, we are recruiting a Post-Doctoral Researcher F/H whose work will focus on  the study of mitochondrial thermoregulation using the in vivo MRI thermometry.

This project aims to develop a dedicated MRI methodology in vitro and then in vivo in rodents, in order to evaluate in vivo the effect of therapeutic drugs that can reduce brain T°C.

Votre mission

Extreme heat events associated with high mortality hit Europe in 2003 with an additional 70,000 deaths reported, in 2022 with 60,000 heat-related deaths and in similar proportions in 2023-2024. Preventing thermoregulation failures and proposing therapeutic solutions to environmental stresses has become a priority for health systems.

Indeed, the recent discovery of the first mitochondrial thermostat, a cellular mechanism that reduces mitochondrial temperature, raises the question of its effect under in vivo conditions. Brain temperature is nevertheless difficult to access and relies on invasive approaches. The iMRT team (innovative-MR Technologies) of the Centre de Résonance Magnétique des Systèmes Biologiques de Bordeaux has unique expertise in temperature imaging by MRI, the only medical modality allowing non-invasive brain temperature mapping.

The objectives of the postdoc are twofold with:

1)     Develop a dedicated MRI methodology in vitro and then in vivo on a mouse model to map brain temperature during periods of thermal stress

2)     Evaluate in vivo the effect of therapeutic drugs acting on the mitochondrial thermostat that can reduce brain temperature

THERMOLYSE lays the experimental foundations for a future pharmacological management of heat stroke. The results could be applied chronically to the general or vulnerable population exposed to global warming.

Your missions revolve around 3 axes:

# Design and conduct of in vitro calibration studies

Metrology will be crucial. You perform calibration and reproducibility studies to measure absolute and relative temperature under different thermal conditions in the MRI.

# Design and realization of the in vivo study:

A significant experimental work and methodological development is expected.

-        You define the methodological approaches to characterize the brain temperature of subjects including the characterization of the effects of anesthesia on animal temperature and the control of environmental thermal challenges

-        You carry out the multi-centric study between Bordeaux and Angers, aiming to evaluate the reproducibility of in vivo temperature measurements by thermal imaging with MRI

-        You coordinate the provision of developments carried out with the consortium to transfer them to the Angers site

# Preclinical evaluation of therapeutic drugs acting on the mitochondrial thermostat with the consortium

Vos atouts / Vos talents

Holder of a PhD in Biology, Physics, Engineering or related field, you have a real interest in academic research in neuroimaging.

•       You demonstrate experience in animal experimentation on a mouse model, particularly anaesthesia and contrast agent injection procedures

•       You have strong pre-clinical MRI skills and are able to use and improve the performance of the protocol and acquisition sequences on a 7T MRI

•       You are autonomous and endowed with learning and creative abilities

•       You like working in a team and are comfortable communicating with technical and non-technical interlocutors

•       You are proficient in written and oral English (level C1)

•       Knowledge of MRI or magnetic resonance spectroscopy signal processing methods as well as heat transfer mechanisms and thermoregulation will be appreciated

Do you recognize yourself? Apply!

More information:

By joining this project team, you will work on a preclinical imager at 7T which constitutes a specificity/constraint of the position.

The project benefits from privileged access to preclinical MRI and computational resources of the IBIO imaging platform located in Pellegrin hospital.

This position represents an excellent opportunity to broaden your experience in MRI imaging, preclinical experimentation, image processing and to evolve in a stimulating work environment dedicated to neuroimaging with doctors, scientists and companies in the medical imaging sector.

You will be integrated into the iMRT team (innovative-MR Technologies) and will collaborate with the MitoVasc unit and the Prism platform located in Angers, Maine-et-Loire, FRANCE.

This position is based in Bordeaux, Gironde, FRANCE – access by tramway line A (stop « Hôpital Pellegrin ») buses, bike. The laboratory is near the city-centre of Bordeaux and about 60 Km of the Atlantic coasts.

12-month fixed-term contract

Gross monthly salary: from 2750€ to 3090€ according to experience and salary grid

What we offer:

A training course adapted to support your job taking-up and your professional development

Up to 50 days of annual leave from the first year (in proportion to the arrival date)

Remote work possible depending on the organization of the service

Participation in complementary social protection and access to social action mechanisms

75% coverage of the public transport subscription in Gironde

Sustainable mobility package for home trips–work

Access to a staff parking

Leisure, sport and culture offers for all staff

Recruitment process: Applications are reviewed as they arrive.

Candidates selected for an interview will be contacted by the Recruitment Officer for a first pre-qualification phone conversation. An interview with the supervisor will then be organised by videoconference.

Interested applicants should send a CV, brief statement of qualifications and basis for interest in the position, a list of your relevant publications, and the email addresses of 2 appropriate references.