Swarming in the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a complex multi-scale problem that involves billions of motile individuals interacting with each other and with the physical environment. In particular, the secretion of bio-surfactants by the bacteria leads to striking spreading patterns and raises soft matter and active matter questions.
The project will use various imaging techniques at various scales to study how physics controls bacterial behaviours in swarms.

Context:
The project will be performed in the Laboratoire Jean Perrin (http://www.labos.upmc.fr/ljp), Sorbonne Université, Paris, in collaboration with Dr. Maxime Deforet. The Laboratoire Jean Perrin is a biophysics department that recently joined the Institut de Biology Paris-Seine (http://www.ibps.upmc.fr). The postdoc position is funded for one year through a Emergence-Sorbonne Université awarded to the group and will start in early 2020.

Application:
The candidate must have a PhD degree in Physics and experience with living systems, or in Life Sciences and experience in quantitative approaches and image analysis. Proficiency in appropriate programming languages and software (MATLAB, C++, ImageJ, micro-manager), and/or in molecular biology of bacteria is appreciated. To apply please send a résumé, a cover letter describing your interests and previous work, as well as contact information of two references to Maxime Deforet: maxime.deforet@sorbonne-universite.fr