We are seeking to recruit talented, enthusiastic young scientists who are highly motivated to develop their research career in the areas of nanophotonics and/or biophotonics.Three job offers are available, see the details below:

PhD fellowship : Optical nanoantennas to enhance single molecule fluorescence detection

Postdoc Position Nano-optical trapping combined to fluorescence microscope

Postdoc Position: Protein Biochemistry / Protein Biophysics at the single molecule level

Solid track-record and high personal motivation are the sole selection criteria. Come join the group!

Nanophotonic elements to manipulate energy at the nanoscale and go significantly beyond the conventional diffraction-limited microscopes. The objective of this project is to extend the applicability of conventional optical microscopes using optical nanoantennas to enhance single molecule fluorescence detection. This project will explore the interfaces between nanophotonics, biophysics and fluorescence spectroscopy. This synergy will enable groundbreaking applications on single proteins detection and analysis, watching a single molecule at work.

The position is offered for 3 years. A PhD degree from Aix Marseille University will be granted after successful completion of the research. See the full job offer in the pdf description

The job is also posted on Euraxess and on NatureJobs.

We are seeking for a physicist with expertise in experimental nanophotonics, plasmonics and/or optical trapping. The successful candidate will be responsible for the development of the nanooptical trapping microscope combined to single molecule fluorescence spectroscopy. He/She will take part in the experiment development, nano-optical trap characterization, and fluorescence analysis. The position is offered for 3 years and can be extended.

See the full job offer in the pdf description

The job is also posted on Euraxess and on NatureJobs.

To strengthen our multidisciplinary team, we are seeking a biochemist or biophysicist with expertise in protein chemistry or protein biophysics. The successful candidate will be responsible for the preparation of the protein samples with or without external fluorescence labelling. He/She will also take part in spectroscopy characterization experiments taking advantage of the most recent advances in nano-optics and single molecule fluorescence analysis using techniques such as FCS, TCSPC, FLIM and FRET. The position is offered for 3 years and can be extended.

See the full job offer in the pdf

The job is also posted on Euraxess and NatureJobs.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is the workhorse of current immunodetection. However, ELISA demands multiple steps of sample incubation and washing cycles, which makes the whole process time-consuming and labor-intensive.

Our new Analyst publication “Single-step homogeneous immunoassay for detecting prostate-specific antigen using dual-color light scattering of metal nanoparticles” reports a novel immunoassay technique that is significantly faster and simpler than ELISA, without compromising on the assay sensitivity.

Significance:

- This novel technique performs immunosensing in a single-step in homogeneous phase. No rinsing, no washing are involved. Its operation is remarkably simple: Mix-Incubate-Detect.

- We detect where ELISA is not sensitive enough, down to the sub-picomolar regime while keeping the workflow simple and fast.

- The demonstration of PSA detection is highly relevant for monitoring cancer recurrence after radical prostatectomy, when the PSA blood concentration reaches values below the ELISA limit of detection. It is straightforward to implement for point-of-care monitoring of cancer evolution.