Functional Interfaces and Predictive Signatures of Sarbecoviruses: From Intra-Host Evolution to Zoonotic Risks

Role: Functional Interfaces and Predictive Signatures of Sarbecoviruses: From Intra-Host Evolution to Zoonotic Risks
Organization: U1311 Inserm / Université de Caen Normandie
Location: Caen, France
Contract Type: Temporary, Full-time
Start Date: 5 Oct 2026
Application Deadline: 6 Jul 2026 - 22:00 (UTC)
Researcher Profile: Recognised Researcher (R2), Leading Researcher (R4), First Stage Researcher (R1), Established Researcher (R3)

Job Overview:
This PhD project aims to characterize the evolutionary dynamics of sarbecoviruses and their virus-host interfaces, building on a longitudinal study spanning over a decade in colonies of Rhinolophus ferrumequinum bats, as well as experimental, omics, and analytical approaches developed for this study. By combining genomic and phylogenetic analyses, functional studies targeting innate and adaptive immune responses, and controlled experiments on virus-cell interactions, the PhD candidate will explore the mechanisms enabling certain sarbecoviruses to cross species barriers and evolve toward zoonotic-risk phenotypes. The project is designed in direct continuity with work conducted under the EU MuseCoV and ANR EmerCoV projects, and closely integrated with a postdoctoral contract dedicated to screening and functional characterization of bat sarbecoviruses. Ultimately, this integrative approach should identify evolutionary signatures, to investigate their periodicity and virus-host determinants predictive of interspecies coronavirus transmission risk.

Requirements and Qualifications:
- Applicants must hold a Master 2 in virology, biological sciences, or a related discipline.
- Preferred proven expertise in virology, microbiology, molecular biology, ecology, or biochemistry.
- Proficiency in at least one of the following areas is required:
- Work in BSL-3 or BSL-2+ facilities
- Molecular biology (PCR, RT-qPCR, cloning, mutagenesis, silencing, NGS library prep, etc.)
- Cell culture (2D lines, explants, organoids)
- Next-generation sequencing (metatranscriptomics, single-cell RNA sequencing, etc.)
- Virology (isolation, cultivation, TCID50, transfection)

Additional Information:
- Funding category: Contrat doctoral
- Submitted to competition (Soumis à concours)
- PhD title: Doctorat de Virologie
- Number of offers available: 1