Post-doctoral position at INRA (France)

The framework of the project is to develop a new integrative approach, based on mass spectrometry metabolomics, to characterize dietary intake and nutritional status of populations, with a view to identifying new biomarkers of intake of plant based foods. This new generation of biomarkers of intake is highly expected by epidemiologists to improve the study of associations between health outcomes and dietary patterns.

The post-doctoral fellow will apply the metabolomic approach to search biomarkers of F&V intake in a large and well characterised epidemiological cohort (SUVIMAX cohort, Coll. S.Hercberg, P.Galan UREN Univ. Paris 13). He/She will acquire, using high resolution mass spectrometry, the metabolomes of volunteers with contrasted level of F&V intake as assessed by questionnaires, and will identify new potential biomarkers of intake among the discriminant metabolites derived from digestion and metabolism of food components (the "Food metabolome" fraction). To date, the full exploitation of the wealth of diet-relative information contained in the Food metabolome is hampered by the difficulties still met in the identification of unknowns. The post-doctoral fellow will also actively contribute to the developments required for analysis and data mining of the Food metabolome in human samples. In particular, he/she will optimize the analytical strategy for maximum coverage and easier identification of phytochemical metabolites, and will contribute to the elaboration of a Food metabolome databank including the known and in-silico predicted metabolites of the main dietary phytochemicals.

Potential project expansion depending upon the interests of the applicant includes the development of an open access Food metabolome database, in collaboration with the group of D. Wishart (Univ. Alberta, FooDB project).
The work will be carried out at INRA, which is a public French research institute, in the Human Nutrition Unit, gathering over 150 persons studying the effects of the diet on health and disease prevention. The Unit has a mass spectrometry core laboratory fully dedicated to metabolism studies (metabolomics and fluxomics). It is equipped with ten mass spectrometers including a LC-QToF Micro and a LTQ-Orbitrap for metabolomics.
The post-doctoral fellow will work with researchers having expertise in phytochemical metabolism and metabolomics (C. Manach, A. Scalbert), as well as with analysts, statisticians and bioinformaticians from the platform.

Candidate profile: A thorough knowledge in analytical chemistry and/or metabolomics is required, with practical experience in small molecule mass spectrometry. Knowledge of advanced data analysis techniques (signal processing, multivariate statistics methods, database mining) or experience in structural identification would be an asset. Interest for human nutrition, especially for phytochemicals, will be appreciated.
The qualified candidate will have proven ability to develop and validate new techniques, strong motivation to learn as well as to bring new ideas, good communication skills and ability to work in an interdisciplinary environment.

Public short-term contract (18 months).
Start date: January 2011.
Net salary (take-home pay): 1850 euros per month.

Send applications, including CV, publication list, research interests, technical skills, and at least two references to C. Manach: UNH- INRA Centre de Recherche de Clermont-Ferrand / Theix, 63122 St Genes Champanelle, France Claudine.manach@clermont.inra.fr