Internships and Jobs

Introduction: Lymphoid tissue is the site where the immune response is initiated and regulated. In order to assess the immune response in humans more accurately and to improve the predictability of drugs in the preclinical development phase, the pharmaceutical industry requires human cellular models that can serve as alternatives to animal models. To date, the reconstruction of lymphoid tissue has relied primarily on cells seeded at high density using microfluidic substrates. However, these approaches do not faithfully reproduce the physiological organisation of T and B cells and therefore do not allow for the observation of a mechanistic response.

Project : We have developed an innovative approach to generating human lymphoid tissue in vitro, utilising the organisation of mesenchymal cells and PBMCs. This project now requires the method to be refined and functional assays to be developed for quality control and for measuring the activity of T, B and stromal cells. Technical/methodological aspects: The project involves human cell culture, flow cytometry and immunofluorescence microscopy.

Facilities: The institute is equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation platforms for cell culture, flow cytometry and microscopy. The laboratory comprises 9 principal investigators, 6 research assistants and 9 PhD students who study the molecular and cellular aspects of lymphoid cells and their environment, in both healthy and diseased states. The Saint-Louis Research Institute (https://irsl.fr/)is situated in Paris’s 10th arrondissement, a bustling neighbourhood close to the Gare de l’Est and Gare du Nord railway stations. It houses research laboratories specialising in haematology, immunology and oncology, working in close collaboration with clinical departments.

Requiered skills: The successful candidate must have solid experience in cell culture, preferably in organoids or tissue engineering, in flow cytometry and microscopy, as well as proficiency in the required analysis software. Research engineers are invited to apply. The contract will initially be for one year and may subsequently be renewed. If you are interested, please contact Christopher G. Mueller (c.mueller@ibmc-cnrs.unistra.fr), attaching your CV and a covering letter.

DEADLINE: 31 July 2026

Introduction : Lymphoid tissue is composed of mesenchymal (reticular) cells which organise haematopoietic cells into specific compartments and regulate the immune response. Zone B reticular cells (BRCs) include follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) located at the centre of the B-cell follicle, as well as marginal zone reticular cells (MRCs), interfollicular reticular cells (IFRCs) and T/B-zone reticular cells (TBRCs).

Although the various subpopulations of BRCs share common characteristics, their cellular origin, differentiation and functions are distinct and remain poorly understood.

Scientific questions: Using various genetically modified mouse models and in collaboration with INSERM U970/PARCC, we have discovered that a bioactive lipid is required for the differentiation of mucosal dendritic cells (FDCs) (manuscript in preparation). The project now aims to determine the identity of the receptor(s) involved, their cellular specificity and the signalling pathway involved. In a second phase, using a recently developed mouse model targeting peripheral BRCs, we will investigate the role of these BRCs in the humoral immune response using genetically modified mice in which these cells have been eliminated. The results will be extrapolated to humans using primary lymphoid tissues and organoid cell culture models.

Technical and methodological aspects: The project involves experiments on mice, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and the generation and analysis of transcriptomic data.

Facilities: The institute is equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation platforms for flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy and the creation of single-cell banks, as well as an animal facility. The laboratory comprises 9 principal investigators, 6 research assistants and 9 PhD students who study the molecular and cellular aspects of lymphoid cells and their environment, in both health and disease. The Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis (https://irsl.fr/) is situated in Paris’s 10th arrondissement, a bustling neighbourhood close to the Gare de l’Est and Gare du Nord railway stations. It houses research laboratories specialising in haematology, immunology and oncology, working in close collaboration with clinical departments.

Required skills: The successful candidate must be proficient in conducting experiments on mice, immunofluorescent labelling on tissues and in cell suspensions, and the necessary analysis software. Expertise in using R software for transcriptomic analyses would be a major asset.

Postdoctoral researchers (with a maximum of 1 to 2 years’ experience following their PhD) are invited to apply. The contract will initially be for one year and may subsequently be renewed. Interested candidates are asked to contact Christopher G. Mueller (c.mueller@ibmc-cnrs.unistra.fr), attaching their CV and a covering letter.

DEADLINE: 31 July 2026