6-month internship: synthesis, characterization and studies of antibacterial lipoconjugated derivatives

Master’s (M2) Internship Offer

Bioactive Lipid Synthesis Team (SLB)

Summary

Lipoconjugated derivatives are a class of molecules characterized by a central core to which one or more lipid chains are attached. These compounds are attracting increasing interest in pharmaceutical research due to their diverse properties, including antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and antibacterial activities.

Moreover, certain molecules bearing a basic nitrogen atom and hydrophobic carbon chains are capable of disrupting the bacterial membrane potential, a mechanism of action that is particularly relevant in the context of antimicrobial resistance.

The aim of this project is to perform lipoconjugation starting from an alkaloid with antibacterial activity, in order to combine its intrinsic antibacterial effect with a membrane-disrupting activity. This lipoconjugation will involve the synthesis of ester, ether, and amide linkages between the alkaloid and fatty acids.

This work will be carried out at IBMM within the SLB team, led by Dr Thierry Durand. The synthesized compounds will then be evaluated at LISM, led by Dr Stéphane Canaan, for their antibacterial activity and their ability to disrupt membrane potential.

Internship Content

During the internship, the student will:

Perform the organic synthesis of lipoconjugated derivatives
Characterize the compounds using standard spectroscopic techniques, including NMR and mass spectrometry
Develop skills in lipid chemistry, structure–activity relationship studies, data management, and general laboratory techniques

Ref : Forest E, et al. mLife. 2025 Jun 25;4(3):259-274. ; Yang T, et al. J Med Chem. 2017 Apr 13;60(7):2745-2763. ; Chen C, et al. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2018 Apr 26;62(5):e02107-17.

Keywords

Lipoconjugates, antibacterial activity, organic synthesis, structure–activity relationships

Candidate Profile

The candidate should have a background in organic synthesis, including laboratory practice, purification techniques, and product analysis.

Applicants must hold a Master’s level (M1) degree and be currently enrolled in a Master’s (M2) program.

Application

To apply, please send a CV, a cover letter, and M1 academic transcripts to: