PhD Position in EU Doctoral Network PANDORA – DC4: Complement Dysregulation and Mononuclear Phagocytes in AMD Sorbonne Université in France

PhD opportunity in the EU-funded MSCA Doctoral Network PANDORA (Discovering Pathomechanisms and Novel Drug Optimization for AMD) at Sorbonne Université, based at the Institut de la Vision in Paris, France. The project, DC4, is focused on evaluating how complement dysregulation influences mononuclear phagocyte accumulation in age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The research addresses a key question in AMD pathogenesis: how subretinal mononuclear phagocytes, including microglia and monocyte-derived inflammatory macrophages, accumulate in the photoreceptor layer despite the normally immunosuppressive retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The project will investigate complement cascade components in human retina, map their localization relative to subretinal immune cells, RPE, photoreceptors, and drusen, and explore how the Chr1 AMD risk haplotype alters interactions between RPE, microglia, and macrophages. The work will also examine the role of plasma-derived Factor H-related proteins and test whether complement inhibition can restore immune balance.

The doctoral researcher will use a multidisciplinary experimental toolbox including multiplex immunohistochemistry on post-mortem human retinal tissue, whole-slide and confocal imaging, iPSC-derived RPE, microglia and macrophage models, co-culture systems, primary human monocyte isolation and differentiation, plasma/complement factor assays, single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing, proteomics, flow cytometry, qPCR, western blotting, ELISA/multiplex cytokine assays, and functional immune assays such as phagocytosis, migration, survival and clearance assays.

The position is supervised by Dr. Florian Sennlaub at the Institut de la Vision, one of Europe’s largest integrated centers for eye disease research. The project is carried out in close collaboration with other PANDORA doctoral candidates and includes participation in network-wide training activities, research workshops, complementary skills courses, career development workshops, meetings, conference support, and intersectoral secondments in academic and industrial partner labs.

Funding is provided under a 36-month EU MSCA Doctoral Network employment contract, with a gross salary of approximately 2,800 EUR/month before taxes and social security deductions, plus mobility allowance and, where applicable, family allowance. The candidate will be enrolled in Sorbonne Université doctoral programme ED394 and work toward a PhD degree.

Eligibility is restricted by MSCA mobility rules: applicants must not have lived or carried out their main activity in France for more than 12 months in the 36 months before recruitment, and they must not already hold a doctoral degree. Candidates of any nationality may apply. The position requires a Master’s degree or equivalent, excellent English, strong motivation for retinal degeneration and neuroinflammation research, and the ability to work both independently and in a team.

Applications should be submitted by email with a CV, one-page cover letter, and contact details of one or two academic referees. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview.