The ELiS Lab / Inserm U1338 at the Paris Biofoundry and the Computational, Quantitative & Synthetic Biology Department at Sorbonne Université are recruiting an independent group leader at the frontier of biology, computation and medicine.
A Unique Environment in the Heart of Paris
Situated on the iconic Pierre et Marie Curie Campus of Sorbonne Université, this position offers an exceptional intellectual home for researchers who want to blend rigorous biological inquiry with transformative technology. Three complementary structures form the backbone of this opportunity.
The ELiS Lab has a long track record of nurturing young group leaders and championing high-risk, interdisciplinary science. Current activities span synthetic organelles for sustainable bioproduction, AI-guided antimicrobial peptide discovery, natural product and drug discovery from soil bacteria, bacterial consortia, synthetic phages, and synthetic cells. The lab has been engaged in teaching through research via iGEM since 2006 and maintains a strong commitment to open, citizen science.
The Paris Biofoundry, part of the Sorbonne University Alliance, specialises in fully automated, high-throughput DNA assembly and microorganism engineering — with a focus on bacteria, yeast and microalgae — as well as large-scale automated phenotyping.
The Computational, Quantitative & Synthetic Biology Department brings together 15 teams spanning experimental, computational and theoretical life sciences. Research strengths include AI, statistical modelling, genome evolution, synthetic gene circuits and metabolic networks — an ideal substrate for interdisciplinary discovery.
“We hope to attract a scientist who wants to shape the future in a collaborative, international and intellectually open environment.”
— Ariel Lindner, Director of Research, INSERM
What the Position Offers
The Inserm CPJ (Chaire de Professeur Junior) is a prestigious four-year tenure-track appointment, with the prospect of becoming an Inserm Research Director upon successful evaluation. The package is designed to give a new group leader everything they need to start boldly.
Starting Package
€200,000
Research startup funding
- Full salary from day one
- Autonomy to create and lead an independent group
- Access to ANR, ERC, HFSP, EMBO and all national/international funding
- Immersion in a supportive, mentoring environment
- Full access to Paris Biofoundry automation ecosystem
Position type : 4-Year Tenure-Track
Location : Pierre et Marie Curie Campus, Paris
Starting package : €200,000
Application deadline : 2 September 2026
Who Should Apply?
The search is open to creative, independent scientists with a strong vision and the drive to build something genuinely new. Relevant backgrounds include — but are not limited to:
- Synthetic biology & systems biology
- Computational biology & biophysics
- AI/ML applied to biological discovery
- Microbial engineering & phage biology
- Biofoundry automation & high-throughput design
- Drug discovery, protein engineering & metabolic engineering
Above all, the lab is looking for someone excited by connecting computation and experimentation, engineering and evolution, and fundamental biology with health innovation.
How the Recruitment Works
Informal conversations and lab visits are actively encouraged through the end of July 2026. Prospective candidates are warmly invited to reach out early — both to explore scientific fit and to develop their project ideas before the formal deadline.
The formal submission deadline is 2 September 2026.
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