Bonjour !
Doing an internship allowed me to apply what I'd learned during lectures, and to discover how laboratory work works and to confirm my future choices.
Going abroad allows me to travel, discover a new culture, broaden my knowledge.
Approaching your field of study from another culture can be be a necessary plus!
Read some experiences
from...
... Japanese who studied
in France
Example of innovative laboratories in Ile-de-France
Win
work experience
Full guide - from A to Z
Step 1 - Find your internship:
OR respond directly to internship offers from laboratory’s website!
OR you can subscribe to an insurance policy that will cover you during your internship and provide you the agreement
For example, for Animal Sciences
Step 2 - Visa:
Generally, the application process begins from the laboratory, and the rest requires you to be present in person in your country.
Visa can be long process, so start soon!
Hematology signaling adapters
Biology, medicine, hematology, pathophysiology, chronic diseases, hematological, origin, chronic lymphocytic leukemia
(+33) 01 48 38 88 51
(+33) 01 48 38 85 12
Cell Biology and Cancer
Cell biology, mammalian neurogenesis, centrosomes, genetic instability, membrane, structure, cytoskeleton, dynamics, molecular mechanisms, oncology, chromosome, mammary gland development, intracellular transport, organization, structural motility, systemic, polarity, division, compartments, spatio-temporal imaging, organelle, endomembrane, cytoskeletal architecture, morphogenesis, migration, invasion
(+33) 01 56 24 55 00
Biology of aquatic organisms and ecosystems
BOREA
Adaptations, extreme environments, biodiversity, plasticity, conservation, species, communities, functional ecology, epigenomes, determinisms, ontogenies, physiology, aquatic animals, fisheries, aquaculture, evolution, regulations, control, biological cycles, organic matter, resilience, anthropized coastal ecosystems, migration, dispersion, communication, perception, microorganisms, bioindicators, Caribbean coast, domestication of Amazonian Ichthyofauna, Lake Titicaca, vulnerability, tropical coastlines, eutrophication
(+33) 01 40 79 80 87
Chloroplast biology and light perception
in microalgae LBCPLM
Functional regulation, expression, photosynthesis, microalgae, chloroplast, biogenesis, assembly, responses of photosynthetic organisms to environment, evolution of photosynthetic functions, genome dynamics, genetics, genomics
(+33) 01 58 41 50 02
Cordeliers Research Center
CRC
Bacterial structures, antibiotic resistance, metabolism, physiopathology, molecular oral, metabolic diseases, diabetes, co-morbidities, ocular disease, renal, tubulopathies, immunology, diabetes, integrative oncology, inflammation, cancer, oncogenetic, beta-catenin signaling in the liver, proliferation, stress, hepatic, pharmacogenomics, programmed cell death, hematologic malignancies, solid tumors
(+33) 01 44 27 64 22
Paris Paleontology Research Center
CR2P
Paleobiodiversities, paleoecosystems, paleoenvironments, phylogeny, diversification, metazoa, chronology, taxonomic, phenotypic, morphological, paleophysiology, evolution, endothermy of tetrapods, terrestrialization, Paleozoic, secondary return to aquatic life, Mesozoic, particular adaptations, Cenozoic, computer graphics, 3D, photography, lithopreparation
(+33) 01 40 79 30 03
Genetics and developmental biology
UGBD
Acquisition, maintenance, transcriptional control, cell signaling, identity, stem cells, germ cells, specialized somatic cells, non-coding genome, non-coding RNA, transposable elements, developmental, pathological processes, mechanical forces, divisions, construction of the embryo, formation, interaction of organs, systemic signals controlling growth, tissue homeostasis
(+33) 01 56 24 55 00
Institute of ecology and environmental sciences de Paris IEES
Biogeography, diversity, soil interactions, microbial communities, continental ecosystems, networks, integrative ecology, evolutionary ecophysiology, social species, adaptation, phenotypic variability, sensory ecology, chemo-reception, neuro-ethology, olfaction, plant-environment interactions, adaptation of plants to environmental constraints, molecular ecophysiology of the plant under stress, Critical Zone, tropical and temperate soils
(+33) 01 44 27 32 53
Institute of mineralogy, materials physics and Cosmochemistry IMPMC
Environmental mineralogy, low-dimensional magnetism, quantum theory of materials, physics of simple systems in extreme conditions, new materials with remarkable properties, properties of amorphous, liquids, minerals, petrology, planetary physics, cosmochemistry, carbon-rich key samples, biomineralogy, bioinformatics, biophysics
(+33) 01 44 27 46 86
Institute of Systematics, Evolution and Biodiversity
ISYEB
Adaptation, bioinformatics, biodiversity, interactions, speciation, mangrove, integrative population biology, molecular evolution, phenotypic variations, functional evolution, taxonomy, exploration, homologies, plant evolution, fungal, informatics, systematics, macroecology, systematics for conservation, morpho-anatomy, plant development, genetic systems, domestication, phylogeography
(+33) 01 40 79 38 10
Paris Nanoscience Institute
INSP
Photonics and spin coherence, spectroscopy of new quantum states, acoustics for nanosciences, nanostructures, optics, nanoscale layers, formation, interfaces, defects, physico-chemistry, surface dynamics, multi-scale mechanics, weak solids, growth, properties of hybrid systems, thin layers, low-dimensional oxides, aggregates, photons, magnons, quantum technologies
(+33) 01 44 27 63 72
Paris Institute of Earth Sciences
ISTEP
Geosciences, petrology, geodynamics, natural hazards, gravity, seismic, volcanic, morpho-hydro-climatic, carbon-free energy resources, geothermal energy, carbon dioxide sequestration, Rare Earth, Li minerals, dynamics, mantle, lithosphere, reliefs, erosion, sedimentation, paleoenvironments, paleoclimates, deep tectonics, metamorphism, fluids, partial melting, volcanism-atmosphere interactions
(+33) 01 44 27 50 42
Laboratory for the study of radiation and matter in astrophysics and atmospheres LERMA
Dynamics of benthic environments, coastline, abyss, benthic environments, sedimentary, rocky bottoms, Mediterranean coastal zone, submarine canyons, hydrothermal vents, climate stressors, ocean acidification, physical disturbances, pollutants, conservation, ecology
(+33) 01 40 51 20 07
Laboratory for space studies and instrumentation
in astrophysics LESIA
Planetology, solar physics, plasma physics, high angular resolution, exoplanets, origin, planetary systems, surfaces, heliospheric disturbances, space weather, asteroids, comets, trans-Neptunian objects, atmospheres, solar magnetic fields, eruptive phenomena, particle acceleration, seismology, magnetism, massive stars, plasma physics, solar wind, interplanetary, terrestrial, planetary magnetospheres, heart of galaxies, high dynamic range imaging, optical interferometry, adaptive optics
(+33) 01 45 07 77 01
Sorbonne University Computer Science Laboratory
LIP6
Cognitive, automatic symbolic learning, communications security, software, embedded systems on a chip, databases, digital and analog integrated circuits, intelligent systems, machine learning, information access, engineering for human learning, digital quality, polynomial, quantum information, operational research, multi-agent, electronic, well honed infracstructure software for programming, runtimes
(+33) 01 44 27 73 69
Oceanography and climate laboratory: experiments and numerical approaches LOCEAN
Southern boreal carbon, marine biogeochemical cycles, ocean climate, sea ice, salinity, air-sea interactions, open ocean, coastal, cryosphere, polar environments, upwelling systems, decadal variability, climate change, ocean carbon pump , abiotic forcing, marine ecosystems, tropical
(+33) 01 44 27 32 48
Soft matter science and engineering
SIMM
Functional assemblies, macromolecules, particles, emulsions, engineering, structure, dynamics, soft matter, dissipative mechanisms, macromolecular, hybrid systems, rheology, adhesion, friction, rupture, physics of complex interfaces, deformations, liquid-liquid, liquid-solid, material transfer, instabilities
Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology
of eukaryotes LBMCE
Molecular mechanisms, unicellular eukaryotic organisms, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, genetics, molecular, cellular, structural biology, biochemistry, proteomics, biophysics, mathematical modeling, organelle dynamics, linear genome plasticity, maturation of RNA macromolecules , proteins
(+33) 01 58 41 51 47
Bioprocess Chemistry Laboratory
LCPB
Molecular chemistry, inorganic, coordination, organometallic, organic synthesis, electrochemistry, enzymology, structural biology, protein crystallization, three-dimensional structures, health, bio-catalysis, hydrogenases, flavoproteins, metalloenzymes, ubiquinone, nucleic acid maturation, biomimetics, photo-electrodes, renewable energies, solar, photo-decomposition
Physics, Matter and Radiation Chemistry Laboratory
LCPMR
Electronic structure, complex materials, surfaces, interfaces, magnetics, multimaterials, optics, inner and ultra-fast layers, dynamics of quantum systems in strong fields, reactivated under gas-phase radiation, relaxation of excited atoms, molecules and clusters, multiple photoionization, coincidence electron spectroscopy
(+33) 01 44 27 63 05
Surface Reactivity Laboratory
LRS
Surface, inorganic materials, metal oxide, heterogeneous catalysis, depollution, green processes, bio-sourced molecules, pollutants, biointerfaces, biosensors, anti-biofilm, biopile, prebiotic chemistry, reactivity, organic, organometallic, biochemistry, physics
(+33) 01 44 27 55 15
Jean Perrin laboratory
LJP
Calcium imaging, behavior of zebrafish, biophysics of microorganisms, mechanics of integrated and artificial biological systems, morphogenesis in molecular systems, membrane plasticity, cellular functions, biophotonics, spectro-imaging for diagnostic purposes, stochastic dynamics of reactive and living systems , mesoscopic modeling of biopolymers
(+33) 01 44 27 21 07
Kastler Brossel laboratory
LKB
Quantum gases, atom microcircuit, ultra-cold Fermi gases, Bose-Einstein condensates, quantum electrodynamics in cavity, optomechanics, fluctuations, relativity, atoms, light, dense media, polarized Helium, quantum solids and fluids, optical imaging, media diffusing, biology, metrology of trapped ions
(+33) 01 44 32 34 35
Physico-chemistry Curie
PCC
Membranes, cellular, genome functions in space and time, light-based observation, macromolecules, microsystems, biology, medicine, genetics, tumoral, embryonic development, signaling, gene expression, RNA, biomolecular, structural analysis, proteins, electron microscopy, mechano-sensitivity, inner ear cells, immuno-hematology, physical, mesoscales, biomimetism, cell movement
Center for Immunology and Microbial Infections
CIMI
Emergence, spread, multi-resistance, antibiotics, chemokines, phagocytes, inflammation, immunity, vaccination, microenvironment, immunotherapy, tolerance, immunopathology, microbial ecology, immunoregulation, autoimmune diseases cancer, immunopathogenesis, viral infections, immunlogy of malaria, infection and cancer of NK & T cells, signaling and Pathogenesis, dynamics, fungal invasion
Myologie research center
Genetics, physiopathology, neuromuscular diseases, extracellular matrix, nucleus, organization of muscle cells, therapy of dominant centronuclear myopathy, muscle regeneration, aging, pathology, myotonic dystrophy, gene therapy, skeletal muscle, biotherapies, motor neuron, etiology, inflammatory myopathies, signal , striated muscles, neuromuscular connectivity, health
(+33) 01 40 77 81 41
Common and rare kidney diseases
CoRaKid
Loss of renal function and tissue repair, treatments against progressive renal failure, dialysis, transplantation, clinical applications, rare diseases, Acute Kidney Injury, biocrystallization/lithiasis, biomarkers, therapy, nephrology, organs, pathologies, inflammation, fibrosis, endothelial dysfunction, abnormal cell proliferation
(+33) 01 56 01 83 17
ONCOTYPE-URO
Semiotic analysis, molecular data, clinical onco-urology, biomarkers, algorithms, medicine, precision oncology, urological cancers, prostate, kidney, urinary excretory tract, clinico-biological, molecular, phenotypic, genotypic, prevention, diagnosis, prognosis, theranostics, modeling, artificial intelligence, epidemiological-genetics, genomics, pathology, molecular imaging
(+33) 01 56 01 76 46
Paris Brain Institute
Molecular, cognition, motor neuron degeneration, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, microglia, macrophages, disease, neurogenetics, spinocerebellar, spastic paraplegias, cerebellar ataxias, frontotemporal lobar, Parkinson's, genetic, cell biology, Alzheimer's, prion, lipids, cholesterol, movement disorders, neuroimaging, neurophysiological, metabolic, cortical microcircuits, cortex, synapses, stereotypy, epileptogenesis, ictogenesis, semiology, cortical dysplasias, encephalopathies, spinal cord, locomotion, posture , hindbrain, mutations, tumors, sclerosis, myelin plasticity
(+33) 01 40 77 95 68
Research Unit on Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases HaMCRe
Development of diagnosis, activity limitation, restriction of participation in social life, assessment of long-term outcome after acquired brain injury, development of new therapeutic, re-education and rehabilitation strategies, oculomotor, oculovestibular, head trauma, cooking, aggressiveness, trauma, adult, child, cognition
(+33) 01 40 77 95 68
Pierre Louis Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health
Epidemiology, clinical, population, pharmacoepidemiology, biostatistics, statistical and mathematical modeling, environment and health, social determinants, communicable diseases, influenza, HIV infection, viral hepatitis, nosocomial and emerging infections, chronic inflammatory, respiratory, allergic, cardiovascular diseases, psychiatric, resuscitation
(+33) 01 44 73 84 46
Theoretical Physics and Modeling Laboratory
LPTM
Condensed matter, dynamics, stochasticity, physics, complex systems, quantum technologies, magnetic cooling, solitons, fluid dynamics, polymeric materials, non-equilibrium thermodynamics, representation theory, genetics, economics, demography, biology, biochemistry, ecology, social sciences, computational neuroscience
(+33) 01 34 25 75 02
Economic theory, modeling and applications
THEMA
Microeconomics, decision theory, social choice, games, households, work, welfare, family economics, inequality, health economics, tax economics, international trade, open macroeconomics, closed macroeconomics, politics, risk, finance, marketing, management, modelling
(+33) 01 34 25 63 37
Biomolecules: Design, Isolation, Synthesis
BioCIS
Control, peptide conformation, fluorinated pseudo prolines, helices, synthetic, exotic amino acids, fluorinated compounds, nucleosides, glycopeptides, glycosylation, diagnostics, probes, enzyme inhibitors, biologically active molecules, mesoporous materials, immune-mediated diseases
(+33) 01 34 25 73 82
Extracellular Matrix-Cell Relations Research Team
ERRMECe
Interrelationships, environments, extracellular matrix, biofilms, microenvironment, materials, artificial, synthetic materials, biomaterials, supra-molecular, cellular, biochemistry, biology, physiology, microbiology, physical chemistry, pathology, synthesis, industrial, heritage preservation.
(+33) 01 34 25 66 04
Geosciences and Environment Laboratory Cergy
GEC
Geosciences, rifting, passive margins, orogeny, deformation in sedimentary rocks, mechanics, numerical simulation, modeling, geothermy, environment, weathering of building stones, conservation, restoration, geological storage, stresses, deformation, petrophysical properties, phase-change materials for construction, energy transition
(+33) 01 69 47 73 51
Civil Engineering Mechanics and Materials Laboratory
L2MGC
Rheology, rheometry, tribology, heterogeneous media, mechanics, polymer matrix, low environmental impact materials, concrete recycling, auscultations, diagnostics, durability, pathology, non-intrusive, thermal, hydric, chemical behavior, transfers, couplings, scale effect, micro, meso, macro, damage, spalling, fiber materials
(+33) 01 69 47 69 13
Information and energy technology systems and applications SATIE
Materials, synthesis, power electronics, integration, usage constraints, interfaces, transducers, instrumentation, multi-environment analysis, signals, imaging, technologies, information systems, heritage, cosmetics, health, production, energy conversion, automotive, aeronautics, railways
(+33) 01 69 47 68 99
Laboratory of ethnology and comparative sociology
LESC
Sensoriality, interactions, emotions, vocality, ritual, everyday life, death, human communication, phenomenology, cognition, social, individual, contemporary disorders, society, gender, kinship, religion, environment, health, migrations, powers, norms, values, beliefs, identities, material, digital, memory traces, history, ethnography, anthropologist, archives, memory, heritage, traditions, future, prophecies, ecology, psyche
(+33) 01 46 69 25 90
Information communication devices in the digital age DICEN-IDF
Cooperation, heritage, authorship, economic intelligence, decision-making, territories, publication, scientific communication, data, mediation, valorization, information technologies, culture, data society, publishing, health, territorial management, innovation, start-ups, fablabs , local authorities, work, management, learning, justice, police, risk management
(+33) 01 40 97 73 54
Cognitive functioning and dysfunction: the ages of life
DYSCO
Visual, auditory, temporal perception, perceptual illusion, emotion, identification, representation, regulation, emotion-cognition interactions, verbal, written, non-verbal language, embodied approach to the emergence of concepts, health, diagnosis, prevention, education, development skills
Education and training research center
CREF
Apprenticeship, adult training, crisis, school, family, social, knowledge, transmission process, socio-cultural, socio-educational animation, adapted, specialized, inclusive education, popular education, youth, early childhood, child protection, care and work nurses, hospitals, institutions, training centers, parenting
Random modeling of paris nanterre university
MODAL'X
Non-parametric statistics, minimax estimates, wavelets, maxiset, bootstrap, resampling, undersampling, probabilities for evolutionary biology, adaptive dynamics, statistical and quantum mechanics, particle systems, functional inequalities , transport inequalities, large deviations, stochastic processes, E.D.P, stochastic, elliptical, parabolic geometry, harmonic analysis on Lie groups
(+33) 01 40 97 78 46
Evry mathematical and modeling laboratory
BLADE
Partial differential equations, fluid mechanics, quasi-geostrophic, dispersive equations, waves, biomathematics, chemotaxis, dynamic systems, probability, financial mathematics, credit and counterparty risk modeling, valuation and hedging of derivatives, stochastic differential equations, statistics for genomics, genetics
(+33) 01 64 85 34 82
Integrated genetic approaches & new therapies for rare diseases INTEGRARE
Gene therapy, rare genetic diseases, patho-physiology, myopathies, immunology, stem cells, tissues, pre-clinical stage, technology, viral vectors, lentiviruses, adeno-associated viruses, medical, blood disease, metabolic
(+33) 01 69 47 34 40
Metabolic genomics
Comparative analysis of eukaryotic, prokaryotic genomes, plants, animals, protozoa, bacteria, metagenomic, metatranscriptomic datasets, metabolism, enzymes, chemistry, cell ecology, biocatalyzed steps in synthetic chemistry processes, development of "chassis" bacteria capable of assimilating reduced methanol, C02 , industry, degrade xenobiotics, choredecone.
(+33) 01 60 87 11 58
Institute of stem cells for the treatment & study of monogenic diseases I-STEM
Neurodegenerative diseases, cell therapy, pathological modeling of Huntington's disease, muscle diseases, motor neuron diseases, molecular mechanisms, Steinert myotonia, retinopathy, genodermatoses, human embryonic, stem cell, biotechnologies, mass cell production, genetic engineering, high-throughput screening, functional genomics, development of technological tools, monogenic diseases
(+33) 01 69 90 85 17
European research laboratory for rheumatoid arthritis GENHOTEL
Human genetics, multifactorial diseases, genomic variants, statistics in genetics, multifactorial determination of rheumatoid arthritis, genetic and environmental factors, interactions, treatment, prevention, public health
(+33) 01 69 87 45 72
Cultures, Arctic Environments, Representations, Climate CEARC
Arctic circumpolar societies, climate change, sustainable development, economic, political, social, cultural adaptations of contemporary Arctic populations, ethnohistory, anthropology, education, history of the discovery and exploration of the Arctic, interactions between human societies and their changing environment in the different possible sustainability pathways, transition
Pierre Simon Laplace Institute
IPSL
Dynamic, chemical, biological processes, exchange of matter and energy between the atmosphere, the oceans, and the biosphere, water and carbon cycles, natural climate variability, evolution of our planet, impact of human activities, ozone layer, predict the climate on a seasonal and inter-annual scale, physics of Sun-Earth interactions, ionized environments
(+33) 01 69 08 77 11
Climate and Environmental Sciences Laboratory
LSCE
(+33) 01 69 08 77 11
Developmental Biology and Reproduction Laboratory BREED
Phenotypes in farmed mammals, embryonic, fetal development, of the culture medium, maternal nutrition, environmental pollutants, breeding systems, growth, health, fertility of the offspring, cells, molecular, epigenetic, metabolic, transcriptomic, mice, rabbit, ruminants, comparative physiology reproductive biology, biotechnologies, breeding
Pathophysiology and clinical pharmacology of pain laboratory LPPD
Biology, medicine, health, Clinical research, technological innovation, public health, causes, mechanisms, factors favoring the development of intractable pain encountered in the clinic, pain secondary to neurological lesions, cancer pain, visceral pain and postoperative pain
(+33) 01 49 09 45 56
(+33) 01 49 09 44 35
Molecular virology and immunology laboratory
VIM
Influenza Virus, molecular virology of fish, molecular biology of pneumoviruses, protein macro-assemblies, prion diseases, fish Infection and Immunity, vaccines Immunopathology immunomodulation, zebrafish phenotyping platform, biophysical, circular dichroism, protein purification, PCR, in vivo imaging, health, animal, human, medicine
(+33) 01 34 65 26 00
(+33) 01 34 65 28 73
Laboratory Photonic Institute for European Non-Destructive Analysis of Ancient Materials IPANEMA
Innovative materials, genesis to applications, chemistry of materials, archaeology, paleo-environments, paleontology, cultural heritage, artifacts and samples, statistical analyses, old materials, new scanning, full-field synchrotron imaging methods, X-ray, UV, visible, physicochemical, biological tissues, ecofacts, ancient materials
Interventional neuropsychology
NPI
Human communication, biology, cell transplant, gene therapy in neurodegenerative disease, Huntington’s Disease, Parkinson, language, social cognition, disorders, stroke
(+33) 01 44 32 26 80
Galaxy, Star, Physics and Instrumentation
GEPI
formation et évolution des étoiles, de notre Galaxie et des nombreuses galaxies qui constituent la matière baryonique de l’Univers. Cela requiert le recours croissant à de nombreuses disciplines, de la chimie à la physique, de l’instrumentation à l’ingénierie informatique
(+33) 01 45 07 75 30
(+33) 01 45 07 78 72
Paris chemistry research institute
IRCP
Corrosion, metal, bio-interfaces, modelization, physico-chemistry, heritage, culture, preservation, restoration, quasicrystals, optoelectronics, quantum optics, crystallogenesis, ceramic, lasers, photovoltaic, batteries, energy storage, colloids, polymers, soft matter, hydrometallurgy, recycling, electrochemistry, thin layers, combustion cells, hydrogen, biodegradable polymers, inorganic, hybrid materials, bioresources, organometallic, catalysis, engineering, plasma, microsystems
Paris Porous Materials Institute
IMAP
Synthesis, physicochemical, crystallized porous hybrid solids, metal-organic, composites, nano-objects, inorganic, hybrid, organic, green conditions, energy, heat reallocation, batteries, fuel cells, environment, capture and valorization of CO2, capture and detection of organovolatile compounds, health, drug, imaging, nanobiodetection, industrial
(+33) 01 44 32 32 65
Biological and proteomic mass spectrometry
BPMS
Identification, characterization of proteins, peptido-mimetic molecules, toxins, proteomics, two-dimensional electrophoresis, detection, matrix assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight, peptide mapping, tissue imaging, cells, markers, mono liquid nano-chromatography, tandem mass spectrometers , quadripole-time of flight, linear ion trap-fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance, amino acids, post-translational modifications
(+33) 01 40 79 51 78
Gulliver
Physics, chemistry, biology, computer science, soft matter, polymers, liquid crystals, granular matter, thin sheets, active matter, self-propelled colloids, swimming droplets, walking grains, robot swarms, molecular systems, DNA, RNA, enzymes, topology, self -assembly, interfaces, information processing, evolution
(+33) 01 40 79 58 42
Ethology Cognition Development Laboratory
LECD
Communication, vocal learning, development, vocalizations, environmental constraints, role of calls in songbirds, behavioral, physiological plasticity, animal-machine interactions, sexual selection, interaction with environment, human-animal communication, gender perception, observational learning, individual variations, social context, sexual cognition, origins of morality,theory of mind and empathy, cockatiel, New Caledonian crow, canary, zebra finch, human, yellow bunting, dog, horse, capybara, guinea pig, dolphin, black redstart
(+33) 01 40 97 74 76
PhD position: Effects of mother’s age and parity on offspring behavioral
phenotype and stress neuroendocrinology in the mound-building mouse
Application deadline: May 07
We are looking for a highly motivated and competent candidate for a 3-year PhD thesis in the Laboratoire d’Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée (LEEC), Université Sorbonne Paris Nord (Campus Villetaneuse) to study “Effects of mother’s age and parity on offspring behavioral phenotype and stress neuroendocrinology in the mound-building mouse”.
Context. Characteristics of the mother, such as her age and her parity are well known to influence phenotypic traits of her offspring, as exemplified by reported effects on offspring growth, health, and survival. However, the impact of maternal age and parity on offspring behavioral phenotype and on related individual differences in physiological stress responses, despite its potential significance for an individual’s later life, have rarely been explored.
Experimentation will be conducted on mound building mice (Mus spicilegus) of wild origin, bred in our animal facilities. This small rodent shows distinct cohorts of mothers of different ages under natural conditions, with old, overwintered mothers occurring early in the breeding season, and young mothers mainly occurring during the later season.
Research questions. In an experimental approach, the effects of mother’s age (young versus old mothers) and of her parity (primiparous versus multiparous) on the emergence of offspring behavioral phenotypes (consistent individual differences in behavior), and on parameters of sympathetic stress response and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis activity will be investigated. The comparison of within-litter variation in these parameters of behavior and stress responsiveness between offspring from young and old and from primi- and multiparous mothers will also be a main aspect of the project. Furthermore, to obtain deeper insights into the potential mechanisms driving such purported differences in offspring phenotype, it is planned to explore age-dependent and parity-dependent differences in mothers’ behavioral phenotypes including in aspects of maternal behavior, as well as differences in mothers’ physiological stress responses.
Methods. Behavioral phenotyping will be carried out by batteries of repeated standardized behavioral tests, to quantify different traits such as exploration, boldness and sociability. Short-term, sympathetic stress responses will be assessed by recordings of fine-scaled changes in body surface temperature using infrared thermography. HPA axis stress responses will be quantified via corticosteroid concentrations in blood and corticosteroid metabolite concentrations in feces by ELISA. In addition, aspects of neuroendocrine control will be assessed by determining expression in the brain of key genes involved in HPA axis regulation by qPCR.
Candidate. We are seeking a creative and motivated candidate with a Master in ethology, behavioral sciences or in a related field, with experience in behavioral observations and animal experimentation. The candidate should have very good English communication skills (min. B2); proficiency in French is not required. A good knowledge in applied statistics (preferably using R) will be advantageous.
Supervision. Prof. Heiko G. Rödel and Dr. Cédric Zimmer, Laboratoire d’Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée (LEEC), Université Sorbonne Paris, France. Email: rodel@univ-paris13.fr | website: http://leec.univ-paris13.fr
Application Procedure. Applicants will be pre-selected based on their qualifications. Please send a short CV (incl. the marks of bachelor and master, and names + contact data of 2 referees) and a letter of interest by email to H.G. Rödel before/until the 07 May 2024. Do not hesitate to request further information by email.
The chosen candidate will then apply with this project to the Ecole Doctorale Galilée (Université Sorbonne Paris Nord) for funding of a 3-year contract. Candidates should be willing to come in person for the interview by the Ecole Doctorale on the 11th June 2024. The thesis will start in September 2024.
th
2024