Work with a NeurotechEU partner: New Research Position in Neuroglycobiology of Perinatal Stress – ER Stress–UPR / N-Glycosylation Axis and Alcohol Vulnerability

Jobs / 05 Mar, 2026
The University of Lille has opened one PhD position within the NeuroGlycoStress team to work on an already phenotyped animal cohort (alcohol intake, relapse, REM sleep architecture, and oxytocin-related measures). The selected candidate's funding will be provided by an institutional doctoral contract obtained through a competitive selection process organised by the Doctoral School.

Project description 

Laboratory: UGSF – CNRS UMR 8576
University: University of Lille
Team: NeuroGlycoStress (Dir. Prof. Stefania Maccari & Prof. Sara Morley-Fletcher)

Scientific contact : stefania.maccari@univ-lille.fr
Start date: October 2026
Funding: Doctoral contract – Lille Doctoral School in Biology & Health (Competitive selection)
Official ADUM (University of Lille) application deadline: April 20, 2026

Interested candidates have to contact Dir. Prof. Stefania Maccari (stefania.maccari@univ-lille.fr) as early as possible in order to schedule an interview and assess suitability before the official submission.

Perinatal stress (PRS) is a major risk factor for vulnerability to addictive disorders and sleep alterations. In our PRS rat model, we have shown increased sensitivity to low ethanol concentrations, sex- and age-dependent drinking and relapse profiles, and a tight coupling between rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, corticosterone levels and alcohol intake, together with altered hippocampal dendritic spine plasticity, particularly marked in females. In parallel, preliminary data suggest that a neuroglycosylation mechanism may contribute to this vulnerability: PRS appears to dysregulate the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress–unfolded protein response (UPR) axis (notably the PERK–eIF2α pathway) and modify the expression of several sialyltransferases (ST3GAL1, ST3GAL4, ST6GAL1) in the ventral hippocampus of alcohol-exposed rats. This profile indicates abnormal maturation of N-glycans and synaptic receptors, potentially impairing key neurochemical systems involved in reward, stress and sleep regulation. From an integrative neuroglycobiology perspective, the objectives of this PhD project are: (1) to characterize how the ER stress–UPR/N-glycosylation axis durably reprograms brain circuits (hippocampus, striatum, prefrontal cortex and other relevant structures) after PRS, and (2) to understand how these alterations sustain sex- and age-dependent alcohol-related phenotypes. Leveraging an already phenotyped cohort (alcohol intake, relapse, sleep architecture) and preserved brain structures, the PhD student will perform targeted analyses of UPR signaling, glycogenes and N/O-glycan profiles, as well as glycosylation of dopaminergic, glutamatergic and GABAergic receptors. Multivariate integration of molecular, behavioral and physiological datasets will enable the identification of glyco-UPR signatures associated with resilience or vulnerability to alcohol, thereby opening new therapeutic perspectives targeting neuroglycobiological pathways in alcohol-related disorders.

Scientific Background


Early-life experiences, particularly perinatal stress (PRS), durably reprogram brain circuits involved in stress regulation, sleep, and addiction.


This PhD project lies at the innovative interface between:

  • Neurobiological programming of stress
  • Endoplasmic reticulum stress and the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR)
  • N-glycosylation and maturation of synaptic receptors
  • Alcohol vulnerability (sex- and age-dependent effects)


The PhD candidate will work on an already phenotyped animal cohort (alcohol intake, relapse, REM sleep architecture, and oxytocin-related measures). Corresponding brain structures have already been collected, ensuring immediate project feasibility and enabling the integration of behavioral, neuroendocrine, and molecular analyses, with strong publication potential.

The project is embedded in an international scientific dynamic supported by collaborations (LAI ULille France/USA; LIA CNRS France/Italy, co-head S. Maccari).


Project Objectives

  1. Characterize dysregulation of the ER stress–UPR axis following perinatal stress
  2. Analyze N-glycosylation profiles and expression of sialylation enzymes
  3. Investigate glycosylated maturation of dopaminergic, glutamatergic, and GABAergic receptors
  4. Integrate molecular data with behavioral phenotypes

The overall objective is to identify neuroglycobiological signatures associated with vulnerability or resilience to alcohol.

Methodologies

  • Molecular biology: qPCR, Western blot, analysis of phosphorylated pathways (PERK, eIF2α, ATF4, CHOP, etc.)
  • Glycomic analyses: N-glycan profiling, lectin blot, study of glycosylation enzymes
  • Synaptic analyses: maturation and glycosylation of neurotransmitter receptors
  • Multivariate statistical approaches integrating behavioral and molecular datasets
     

Candidate Profile


Master’s degree in:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • Biomedical Sciences or equivalent discipline


Desired skills:

  • Experience in molecular biology
  • Interest in stress biology, synaptic plasticity, and addiction
  • Scientific rigor and progressive autonomy
  • Good scientific English


Application Procedure:
 

  • Candidates must contact Prof. Stefania Maccari as soon as possible in order to schedule an interview.
  • The official application must be submitted directly by the candidate via the ADUM platform.
    Scientific contact : stefania.maccari@univ-lille.fr