Tounsia Ait-Slimane

The Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine (CRSA) at Sorbonne Université, Paris, is offering a 24-month, full-time postdoctoral position focused on cholangiocyte organoids and cell-cell interactions within the PULSE subproject of the PSC² programme. The research team, led by Dr. Jérémie Gautheron and supervised by Professor Tounsia Ait-Slimane, investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying chronic liver diseases, including fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. The PSC² project aims to dissect the Pulse–Substrate–Cascade architecture of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), a rare, progressive, fibrosing cholangiopathy with no licensed disease-modifying therapy. The successful candidate will lead multidisciplinary research efforts to establish and optimize 3D cholangiocyte organoid cultures (patient-derived and murine), implement multicellular liver assembloids, and develop Transwell-based co-culture systems to model the enterohepatic barrier. The role involves characterizing the uptake, trafficking, and functional consequences of gut-derived signals in cholangiocyte organoids and assembloids, dissecting molecular mechanisms of signal interaction with epithelial and mesenchymal cells, and integrating multi-omic readouts (scRNA-seq, multiome RNA+ATAC, imaging) to define reactive cholangiocyte states. Main activities include designing and maintaining organoid and assembloid models, developing advanced epithelial–stromal interaction assays, performing gene knockdown experiments, confocal/live-cell/light-sheet imaging, quantitative 3D image analysis, flow cytometry, molecular biology techniques, and analyzing single-cell and multi-omic datasets. The postdoctoral researcher will also write scientific reports, contribute to manuscripts and grant applications, present results at meetings and conferences, and supervise Master and PhD students on organoid-related techniques. Compliance with hygiene, biosafety (BSL-2), and quality standards is required. Applicants must have a PhD in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Hepatology, Immunology, or a closely related field, with previous postdoctoral experience. Animal experimentation certification (EU Function B) is mandatory for access to primary murine cell sources. Essential qualifications include expertise in 3D/organoid/spheroid culture systems, a strong publication record, experience in primary cell culture, cell biology, molecular biology (RT-qPCR, cloning, RNA/DNA preparation), proficiency in confocal/fluorescence microscopy and image analysis, and fluency in English. Advantageous skills include experience with cholangiocyte, hepatocyte, liver assembloid or intestinal organoid systems, multicellular co-culture and assembly strategies, gene perturbation in organoids, quantitative 3D image analysis, flow cytometry, FACS-based cell sorting, and basic bioinformatics for scRNA-seq/transcriptomic analysis. The CRSA hosts 13 research teams within Inserm and Sorbonne Université networks, organized into oncology/haematology and metabolism/inflammation poles. The Gautheron team is located on the 9th floor of the Sorbonne Université Faculty of Medicine building, Saint-Antoine Hospital site (Paris 12). Remuneration is based on Sorbonne Université postdoctoral salary grids and depends on experience. To apply, send a single PDF containing your CV, motivation letter, summary of past research achievements (1 page), and contact details of 2–3 referees to both Dr. Jérémie Gautheron and Pr. Tounsia Ait-Slimane via email. The selection language is English, and shortlisted candidates will be invited to a remote interview. For more information, visit the team webpage: https://en.crsa.fr/team-jeremie-gautheron.html .