The WICANE team (wicane.recherche.univ-lr.fr) is seeking a highly motivated and innovative postdoctoral researcher to join our research program investigating the mechanisms underlying cancer resistance in wild mammals.
Research context
Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality in modern societies, with nearly one in two people expected to develop the disease during their lifetime. Despite decades of research and substantial investments in cancer prevention and treatment, many fundamental questions remain unanswered.
One of these questions is particularly intriguing: Why do some animal species develop very few, or even no, cancers despite having long lifespans and billions of cells at risk of malignant transformation?
Evolution has had millions of years to develop mechanisms that protect organisms against cancer. Studying species that appear to be naturally resistant to cancer therefore provides a unique opportunity to uncover novel mechanisms of tumor suppression and, ultimately, identify biological processes that could inform new strategies for human health.
The WICANE team addresses this question through complementary comparative, computational, and experimental approaches.
The research program
The first component of the program uses large-scale comparative approaches to investigate variation in cancer prevalence across a broad range of vertebrate species. We combine phylogenetic analyses with bioinformatic approaches to identify evolutionary patterns associated with cancer resistance. By screening genomes for candidate genomic signatures, we aim to identify genes and molecular pathways potentially involved in cancer resistance and prioritize them for functional validation. We also integrate information on cancer incidence and life-history traits to investigate the evolutionary and ecological determinants of cancer resistance across the
tree of life.
The second component, which will be the primary focus of the recruited postdoctoral researcher investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying cancer resistance in highly resistant species, including whales, blackbuck antelopes, Greenland sharks, and selected rodent species.
Using in vitro and in vivo functional approaches, we study how cells from these remarkable species respond to DNA damage, environmental stress, and other challenges to genome integrity. In particular, the project will investigate whether exposure to carcinogenic or genotoxic stressors, including ionizing radiation, radiomimetic compounds, oxidative stress, and other DNA-damaging agents, can induce cellular transformation in cell lines derived from naturally cancer-resistant species. By comparing these responses with those observed in more cancer-prone species, we aim to identify the cellular and molecular mechanisms that prevent malignant transformation and preserve genome integrity and tissue function over exceptionally long lifespans.
More specifically, the postdoctoral researcher will analyze mass spectrometry-based proteomics (spec-mass) datasets generated from these experiments. The objective will be to characterize and compare proteomic responses to genotoxic and carcinogenic stress between cancer-resistant and cancer-prone species, with the aim of identifying conserved and species-specific molecular pathways associated with resistance to cellular transformation.
Candidate profile
The ideal candidate will have a strong background in bioinformatics and proteomics, with expertise in computational data analysis and, ideally, experience with artificial intelligence or machine-learning approaches. Experience or a strong interest in cell biology, cancer biology, molecular biology, and/or evolutionary biology would be highly desirable.
We are particularly interested in candidates who are enthusiastic about combining computational and experimental approaches to address fundamental questions in cancer biology and evolution, with potential implications for translational cancer research.
Research environment
The postdoctoral researcher will be primarily based at LIENSs, Université de La Rochelle, France. Some experimental work may also be conducted in collaboration with the laboratory of Mauro Modesti at the CRCM (Marseille), a comprehensive cancer research center (more information about the CRCM can be found here: https://crcm-marseille.fr/en/, https://crcm-marseille.fr/en/genome-integrity-department/homologous-recombination-nhej-and-genomic-integrity/) and with Fabrice Bertile at the IPHC (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Fabrice-Bertile). This collaborative environment will provide access to complementary expertise in cancer biology, genome integrity, proteomics, evolutionary biology, and computational biology.
Position and application
The position is funded for two years through the ANR COVER project and the Chaire d’Excellence Nouvelle-Aquitaine awarded to Mathieu Giraudeau. The preferred starting date is January 2027. Applications should be submitted as soon as possible, as interviews are planned for the last week of September 2026.
Applications should be sent to:
- Mathieu Giraudeau — giraudeau.mathieu@gmail.com
- Orsolya Vincze — orsolyaaa@gmail.com
- Steve Desaivre — steve.desaivre@univ-lr.fr
The application should include:
- a CV, including a complete publication list;
- a research statement;
- a cover letter describing your motivation and relevant experience;
- contact details for at least two academic references, including name, institutional address, email address, and phone number.
For informal inquiries about the position or the research project, please contact Mathieu Giraudeau or Orsolya Vincze.
