JobPostdoctoral Researcher (M/F): Deciphering the molecular, cellular, and tissue mechanisms of the interactions between mechanical forces and cellular metabolism

About

Contract duration

12 months

Date of Hire

01/04/2026

The Missions

Postdoctoral researcher (initial 1-year contract renewable up to 3 years) responsible for developing and conducting experimental protocols within research projects on the links between mechanical forces and cellular metabolism. The spatiotemporal control of cellular behavior requires the transmission of information about the complex structure of tissues to the cells that constitute them. Mechanotransduction enables this transmission by detecting the mechanical environment and adapting cellular behavior. However, this process requires energy. Since 2016 and our pioneering study demonstrating a link between cellular mechanics and cellular metabolism (Bertero et al., J Clin Invest., 2016), our laboratory has been interested in deciphering how the mechanical properties of tissues shape—and are shaped by—cellular metabolism (Torrino and Bertero, Trends Cell Biol., 2022). To achieve this, we utilize a combination of biophysical and biochemical approaches (AFM, STED, fluxomics, proteomics, etc.), coupled with 3D cell culture models (organoids), genetically modified rodent models (breast cancer and pulmonary hypertension models), and patient biopsies. Thanks to our translational discovery platform, we were the first to identify mechano-induced metabolic cooperation between cells in the pulmonary vascular system (Bertero et al., Cell Rep. 2015; Bertero et al., J Clin Invest 2016; Rachedi et al., Cell Metab. 2024) and the tumor niche (Torrino et al., Cell 2025; Bertero et al., Cell Metab., 2019; Torrino et al., Cell Metab., 2021).

The Activity

– Study of cellular metabolism
– Study of the mechanical properties of the cell/tissue
– Implementation of biomechanical systems (cell stretching, cell culture under flow…).
– Biochemical approach (protein purification, enzymatic testing…)
– 2D/3D primary/line cell culture
– Analysis of cell behavior (morphology, proliferation, migration…)
– Confocal/super-resolution microscopy analysis
– Formatting of results and statistical analysis.
– Monitoring of literature and improvement/adaptation of techniques and analyses according to research projects.

Your Profile

SKILLS

– Expertise in cell biology and biochemistry or in biophysics
– To know and be able to implement microscopy experiments.
– Ability to analyze data: statistical analysis, «omics» analysis»
– Sense of organization, rigor and method, motivation, autonomy.
– Knowledge of written and spoken English.

Your Work Environment

The position is available at the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (IPMC) in Valbonne – Sophia Antipolis (Alpes-Maritimes). The IPMC is a joint research unit (UMR 7275) established between the CNRS and the Université Côte d'Azur (220 people, 8,000 m² of buildings). Its 20 research teams benefit from a high-level technological environment in integrative biology, molecular and cellular biology, imaging, cytometry, biomolecule analysis, functional genomics, as well as shared technical platforms for proteomics and metabolomics. The postdoc will work in the "Cell Mechanics and Metabolism: From Tissue to Molecule" team under the supervision of Thomas Bertero.

https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/UMR7275-THOBER-008/Default.aspx