[International Call] Recruitment of a Research Engineer of Excellence – MediCA2C / ProteASe Platform

Opening Call: 13th May 2026

Deadline for submission: 24th June 2026

– 23h59 CEST

1. The Vision: Pioneering the One Health Exposome

The research MEPHI UR D-258 at Aix-Marseille University is seeking a high-level International Research Engineer of Excellence to spearhead the development and structuring of the ProteASe Platform (Proteomics and Separative Analyses) at IHU Méditerranée Infection.

This role is a strategic cornerstone within the MediCA²C network — a visionary initiative designed to tackle the escalating threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) across the Mediterranean basin.

Role and Objectives: Building the ProteASe Platform

The successful candidate will lead the technical and structural evolution of the ProteASe platform, a mutualized resource for IHU research teams. The primary objective is to strengthen Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry capabilities to meet the demands of high-excellence “One Health” research.

Key Responsibilities:

• Exposome Characterization: Develop cutting-edge techniques to quantify exposure levels to pollutants, pesticides, drugs (including antibiotics), and metabolites.
• Multi-Matrix Integration: Centralize and standardize assays across diverse biological samples, including human, animal, environmental, and food matrices.
• Center of Excellence: Establish ProteASe as an international reference hub with significant operational impact on regional surveillance and diagnostics.
• Scientific Innovation: Support IHU teams in deciphering the link between the environmental exposome and the development of infectious and non-communicable diseases.

Professional Profile

We are looking for an engineer with an international outlook and a proven track record in high-resolution analytical sciences.

• Technical Expertise: Mastery of liquid/gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.
• Mission-Driven: A commitment to the “One Health” philosophy and the ability to work at the intersection of environmental science and clinical medicine.
• Leadership: Capability to manage a shared platform and coordinate with diverse international partners within the MediCA²C network.

Impact

This is more than a technical role; it is a mission to secure regional health sovereignty. The recruited engineer will play a decisive part in understanding the “anthropogenic cradle” of resistance, ensuring that the Mediterranean region remains a leader in global health innovation and integrated disease surveillance.

2. A State-of-the-Art Technical Environment

The successful candidate will lead activities on a newly upgraded, world-class technical plateau. Supported by FEDER and CPER funding, the platform features:

• Next-Generation Proteomics: Tims-TOF HT (Bruker) coupled with Nanoelute 2 and Evosep One for high-throughput peptide separation.
• High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry: Vion Q-TOF (Waters) for the detection of drug contaminants, pesticides, and chemical pollutants in complex matrices.
• Specialized GC-MS: Headspace GC-MS/MS for volatile organic compounds in environmental effluents.
• Biotyping Hub: A suite of MALDI-TOF MS (Biotyper Sirius, Microflex) for rapid microorganism identification and protein profiling.

3. Strategic Impact & International Projects

You will be at the heart of international collaborations, including:

• Deciphering the impact of pharmaceutical agents, pesticides and pollutants on microbial evolution.
• Assessing Mediterranean AMR and microbial diversity under water pollution stress alongside partners in MediCA²C.

4. Key Responsibilities

• Methodological Innovation: Develop and validate LC-HRMS and GC-MS/MS methods for complex matrices (human/animal fluids, environmental samples).
• Standardization: Establish international protocols to harmonize sampling and analysis across the MediCA²C network.
• Data Science: Design pipelines for non-targeted data processing (annotation, identification, and statistical workflows).
• Leadership & Training: Supervise technical staff and students, and lead technology transfer to industrial partners and startups.

5. Candidate Profile: Seeking Excellence

• Education: PhD or Engineering Degree in Analytical Chemistry, Bio-analytics, Environmental Chemistry, or Proteomics.
• Experience: 4-10 years of hands-on experience with LC/GC-MS workflows.
• Technical Mastery: Proficiency in non-targeted workflows and software (Waters, XCMS, MZmine, Compound Discoverer).
• Language: Professional fluency in English (B2 to C1 level).
• Soft Skills: High level of autonomy, pedagogical ability for network coordination, and a creative approach to transdisciplinary scientific challenges.

Selection Process

Selection process is governed by the OTM-R principles, strictly aligned with Aix-Marseille University’s (AMU) HRS4R action plan. The evaluation will take place in two stages: a peer-reviewed and a technical/scientific interview.

• Stage 1: International call for application & Peer Review: call opening 13th May 2026. Deadline for submission:   24th June 2026 – 23h59 CEST
• Stage 2: Technical/scientific interview – Shortlisted candidates will participate in a technical/scientific interview and a practical case study during which they will be asked to propose an analytical strategy for two priority research projects of the IHU. A document specifying the priority research projects and the interview process will be sent to shortlisted candidates 15 days before the interview. Interviews will be scheduled between 15 to 17 July 2026
• Recruitment : Starting Oct 31, 2026

Join us in Marseille to build the future of One Health surveillance and protect the global Mediterranean ecosystem