1 Post-Doctoral position for 2 years - starting Fall 2021
1 Post-Doctoral position for 2 years - starting Fall 2021

Post-doctoral position in Fungal Cell Biology

A 2-year funded postdoctoral position is available fall 2021 at the Institute of Biology Valrose (http://ibv.unice.fr/) of the University of Côte d’Azur, Nice France to investigate the dynamics of polarity establishment in the human fungal pathogen, Candida albicans. C. albicans is a harmless commensal that in response to alterations of its environment can cause superficial as well as life-threatening systemic infections (3). The ability of this organism to switch from an ovoid to a filamentous form is critical for its pathogenicity. This dramatic cell shape change is a distinct advantage for studying cell polarity (1-5). We have recently optimized and established an optogenetic approach in C. albicans filamentous cells that gives us exquisite control of cell polarity in this fungal pathogen (5). In this ANR funded project our goal is to elucidate the interaction between two potential growth sites within the cell, as well as how different membrane compartments contribute to the initiation and stabilization of a new growth. The project will take advantage of cutting-edge imaging approaches, optogenetics and molecular genetics to investigate temporal and spatial control of fungal cell polarity.

We are seeking highly motivated candidates with a background in Cell Biology and previous experience in live-cell imaging. Previous experience in Microbiology is a plus.

Interested candidates can contact R. Arkowitz (arkowitz@unice.fr)

1) C Puerner, A Serrano, RS Wakade, M Bassilana & RA Arkowitz. mBio. 2021 12: e02528-21.
2) C Puerner, N Kukhaleishvili, D Thomson, S Schaub, X Noblin, A Seminara, M Bassilana & RA Arkowitz. BMC Biology.
2020. 18: 122.
3) M Bassilana, C Puerner & RA Arkowitz. Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 2019 62:150-158.
4) A Weiner, F Orange, S Lacas-Gervais, K Rechav, V Ghugtyal, M Bassilana & RA Arkowitz. Cell Microbiol. 2019 21: e12963
5) PM Silva, C Puerner, A Seminara, M Bassilana & RA Arkowitz. Cell Rep. 2019 28:2231–2245.