Post-doctoral position in skin immunity
Keywords: Skin immunology, Staphylococcus aureus, in vivo studies.
Description: A 2-year post-doctoral position for a highly motivated and talented postdoctoral fellow
is available in the team of Dr Marc Vocanson at the Centre International de Recherche en
Infectiologie (CIRI), in Lyon, France. The research activities of the team focus on the
pathophysiology of allergic skin diseases, particularly eczemas and drug allergies. Using preclinical
models and patient samples, we seek to decipher the mechanisms by which allergens promote or
circumvent immune tolerance and induce allergic response. Our expertise in skin immunity also
brought us to develop new approaches for vaccination and diagnostic, using the skin route. Recent
work from the team unravelled a crucial role for microbe-specific tissue-resident memory T (TRM)
cells in the exacerbations of atopic dermatitis lesions induced by Staphylococcus aureus strains. TRM
cells also protect the organism from extensive colonization by this bacteria. The aim of the project
will consist to decipher the mechanisms underlying protection, and to develop an original vaccine
strategy susceptible to boost Staphylococcus aureus –immunization/protection.
The work will be conducted in collaboration with the team STAPATH (head: F.Vandenesch) from the
CIRI and a private partner developing proprietary drug-delivery systems.
Work environment: The host laboratory is part of the CIRI – Centre International de Recherche en
Infectiologie (https://ciri.ens-lyon.fr), in Lyon, France. The CIRI offers many technological facilities
(animal housing, cytometry and cell sorting, microscopy…). It is located on the Campus Charles
Mérieux, a research environment endowed with strong basic biology sciences and a particular
dedication to research in immunology, virology and bacteriology. The CIRI organizes weekly
seminars with national and international speakers, and an international symposium every two years.
The team of Dr Vocanson organizes regular seminars for students and postdoctoral scientists. The
team has weekly internal team lab meetings and journal clubs.
Candidate profile:
• Scientific:
✓ PhD in immunology, vaccinology and/or cellular biology.
✓ Expertise in cytometry (spectral, mass or flow) and/or bacteriology (a plus).
✓ Animal experimentation (mouse).
• Soft skills:
✓ Enthusiastic, flexible, ambitious and strongly committed to research
✓ Ability to identify research objectives and meet agreed deadlines
✓ Excellent communication, presentation and writing skills
✓ Ability to work independently and collaborate in team
✓ Good sense for initiative and quality, accuracy and detail, team player.
• Language: English is required. French is a plus.
Application: Candidates are invited to contact Marc Vocanson (marc.vocanson@inserm.fr) for
further details. Please send an application with the following:
• Cover letter
• Concise summary of previous research activities
• Curriculum vitae including publication list and contact details for 2-3 referees
Recent publications of the laboratory related to the position:
• Braun C et al. The accumulation of Staphylococcus aureus-specific tissue resident memory T
cells exacerbates atopic-dermatitis-like flares in mice. Submitted.
• Ono et al. Topical corticosteroids inhibit allergic skin inflammation but are ineffective in
impeding the formation and expansion of resident memory T cells. Allergy (2023). In press.
• Laoubi L et al., Epicutaneous allergen immunotherapy induces a profound and selective
modulation in skin dendritic cell subsets. J Allergy Clin Immunol (2022).
• Scheinman PL, Vocanson M et al. Contact Dermatitis. Nat Rev Dis Primers (2021).
• Villani AP. Massive clonal expansion of polycytotoxic skin and blood CD8+ T cells in
patients with toxic epidermal necrolysis; Sci Advances (2021).