Postdoctoral positions - tumour/immuno-biology

Applications are invited for 2 full-time postdoctoral positions in tumour/immuno-biology to study the implication of extracellular matrix (ECM) components in the immunosuppressive reprogramming of the tumour microenvironment in head and neck cancer associated with tobacco use. The project aims to provide a better understanding of the cellular, molecular and functional interactions between tumour-associated innate immune cells and ECM molecules during cancerogenesis of head and neck squamous epithelium. Studies will be conducted using an immunocompetent mouse model of tongue carcinogenesis and ex vivo 3D reconstituted ECM systems. Implications of our findings for human cancer and therapeutic intervention will be determined by analyzing samples from human patients. This collaborative project between teams in Nice and Strasbourg will provide training in an interdisciplinary context at the crossroads of immunology, cell and molecular biology and human tumor pathology.

One position is available in the Institute of Biology Valrose (iBV) (http://ibv.unice.fr) and one position in the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (IPMC) (https://www.ipmc.cnrs.fr/cgi-bin/ipmcx.cgi). These leading Research Centres of the Université Côte d’Azur are equipped with state-of-the-art core facilities and dynamic scientific environments in which English is the working language. The iBV team headed by E. Van Obberghen-Schilling has an expertise in cell-matrix adhesion and matrix-driven signaling in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. F. Anjuère, leader of the IPMC team “Immune regulations at muco-cutaneous surfaces“ with V. Braud, is an expert in mucosal immunology and has led numerous studies aimed at developing mucosal vaccines against infectious diseases and cancer. Clinical collaborators at the head and neck oncology team of the Centre Antoine Lacassagne (CAL) and University Head and Neck Institute (IUFC) are actively involved in clinical studies focused on immunotherapy.