INSERM opens a 36-month postdoctoral post in PERK signaling and protein biochemistry
INSERM is recruiting a postdoctoral researcher for a 36-month fixed-term appointment in Rennes, France, with work expected to begin in the first half of 2027. The position sits inside the PIMPERK project, an ANR-funded collaboration built around a specific molecular question: how phosphorylation-dependent regulation shapes activity of the eIF2α kinase PERK through PIM kinases, and how that interaction affects protein secretion, stress responses, and cell differentiation.
The project is anchored in two overlapping scientific domains. One is the biology of plasma cells, whose secretory program places unusually high demands on protein synthesis and quality control. The other is endoplasmic reticulum signaling in cancer, where stress-adaptation pathways can help malignant cells survive in hostile conditions. In practical terms, the postdoctoral researcher will be asked to connect kinase biochemistry to cell physiology and differentiation outcomes, not simply catalog molecular interactions in isolation.
The appointment is based in Rennes, Brittany, within Inserm research units UMR_S 1236 and UMR_S 1242 and the BIOSIT research environment. Access to advanced light and electron microscopy, flow cytometry, proteomics-related technologies, and animal facilities is part of the local infrastructure. Those tools matter because PERK sits at a convergence point between intracellular stress sensing and translational control, and meaningful progress on that axis usually depends on combining biochemical readouts with functional cellular assays.
One sentence captures the scientific center of gravity here: this is a mechanistic job, not a descriptive one.
PERK, PIM kinases, and the logic of the stress response
PERK is an eIF2α kinase with a central role in the endoplasmic reticulum stress response. When protein load overwhelms folding capacity, the cell must balance survival, secretion, and differentiation, often by reprogramming translation and signaling. A phosphorylation-dependent layer of regulation by PIM kinases raises a highly specific question with broad relevance: how do kinase networks tune PERK activity, and what cellular consequences follow when that control shifts?
That question has direct relevance for plasma cell biology, where secretory throughput is extreme, but it also extends into cancer biology, where stress tolerance can support tumor growth and treatment resistance. A project of this kind is therefore built on mechanistic precision. The candidate will need to trace protein–protein interactions, phosphorylation events, and downstream functional effects across cellular models, then interpret those data in the context of signaling architecture rather than as isolated experimental endpoints.
The role emphasizes protein biochemistry and cell signaling at a technical level. Core responsibilities include designing and optimizing experiments to study protein–protein interactions, kinase-dependent signaling, and protein phosphorylation; characterizing how PERK regulation alters signaling pathways, cell physiology, and differentiation; and applying protein biochemistry and cell biology approaches to dissect underlying mechanisms. The postdoctoral researcher will also analyze and document data rigorously enough to support reproducible results suitable for publication.
Experimental responsibilities and laboratory expectations
The hire will play a central role in experimental execution across the PIMPERK project. Day-to-day work will likely include mammalian cell culture, cell-based functional assays, and biochemical approaches such as immunoprecipitation or co-immunoprecipitation, depending on the exact experimental design. Experience with phosphoproteomics, proteomics, or mass spectrometry-based methods is listed as desirable, which signals the project’s expectation that signaling questions may be tackled at both targeted and system-level resolution.
A strong candidate will already know how to build a project from the bench upward. Independent project design, interpretation of complex datasets, and a publication-oriented workflow are not optional extras in this post. They are part of the core brief. The position also includes contributions to scientific reports, conference presentations, and collaborative activities spanning the two research teams, along with co-supervision of master’s students.
Scientific rigor is built into the job description as well. Laboratory safety and research-integrity standards are part of the remit, reflecting the institutional setting and the expectation that data generated in this environment must be dependable, traceable, and ready for external scrutiny.
Candidate profile, salary framework, and professional setting
Applicants must hold a PhD in biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, or a closely related field. Candidates with 3 to 4 years of postdoctoral experience are specifically encouraged to apply. Essential expertise includes protein biochemistry, cellular signaling, protein phosphorylation, kinase biology, and direct experience with protein–protein interaction methods. Familiarity with endoplasmic reticulum biology, cellular stress responses, or protein secretion is considered advantageous, especially when paired with experience in immunoprecipitation-based workflows.
The position also asks for practical strengths that extend beyond technique alone: scientific curiosity, creativity, organizational discipline, initiative, and the ability to operate in a multidisciplinary environment. Professional English is required, while French is helpful but not mandatory. That language profile fits a collaborative academic post where written output, oral presentation, and cross-team discussion all matter.
Remuneration follows the Inserm salary scale and will be adjusted according to the candidate’s professional experience. Benefits include partial reimbursement of public transportation costs, subsidized catering, access to French social security benefits, and paid annual leave. For a researcher aiming to build an independent profile, the institutional setting offers a bridge between method development and future academic advancement.
The career logic is explicit. INSERM frames the post as an opportunity to strengthen a competitive research record and prepare for applications to permanent research posts, including Inserm Research Scientist positions. For a postdoctoral researcher focused on signal transduction and protein biochemistry, that pathway is unusually direct.
Application materials and institutional context
The application package requires a detailed CV with publications and relevant technical expertise, a motivation letter explaining research interests and fit for the project, and contact information for two to three academic referees. The closing date listed for the post is 5 January 2027.
Founded in 1964, INSERM is a public scientific and technological institute operating under the joint authority of the French Ministries of Health and Research. Its mission spans biomedical research and human health, from laboratory investigation to patient-facing translation. In practical terms, this post sits inside that tradition: a mechanistic research appointment aimed at understanding how PERK and related signaling pathways regulate secretion, stress adaptation, and differentiation in biologic systems where those processes are tightly linked.
What is not yet answered is how the specific PIMPERK experiments will separate direct phosphorylation effects from broader signaling crosstalk, or which cellular readouts will prove most informative as the work moves from biochemical mapping into functional interpretation.