Characterizing the conformational equilibrium of kinases in cells – Kinase In The Crowd

We will hire a PhD student to work on a project aimed at quantifying the conformational equilibria of kinases in cellular environments. This is an interdisciplinary research project at the interface of structural biology in live cells and informatics modelization.

The 518 human kinases are major drug targets, whose structural similarities make drug specificity difficult. These enzymes are flexible objects, with unactive conformations showing more diversity than the well-described active ones. The conformational equilibria are scarcely delineated, and the real populations in cells are unknown. We will quantify these equilibria in cells for a set a model kinases, by combining in-cell NMR and MD simulation in a cytosolic model. We will start using in vitro crowding to obtain well-controlled reference spectra and models; then we will apply in-cell NMR and MD approaches developed in our 2 labs.

The position is fully funded by Université Paris Cité, the 1st French University in Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
For further information, please have a look to https://institut-chimie-biologique.u-pariscite.fr/en/phd-position-characterizing-the-conformational-equilibrium-of-kinases-in-cells-kinase-in-the-crowd/ .

The PhD will start between October and December 2026, in agreement with the chosen candidate.

The deadline for applying is May 25th 2026.

The main host institution, where experimental works are carried out, is the Faculty of Pharmacy of Paris, localized in the very center of Paris: https://pharmacie.u-paris.fr/, https://www.citcom.cnrs.fr/en/home/.  The collaboration with bioinformaticians “requires" a walk to the IBPC, 500 meters away: https://lbt.cnrs.fr/.

The research team is composed of 6 engineers, 2 researchers, 1 associate professor and 2 PhD students, with complementary expertise in recombinant production, NMR analysis and modelization.

Skills in recombinant production and/or cell biology will be prioritized, together with knowledge in structural biology. Skills in bioinformatics are very welcome.