Stage M2 : Development of peptide-based biopesticides for sustainable agriculture
6-month internship (M2/3A) – Peptide chemistry, SAR – Starting January-February 2027
Scientific background
By 2050, the global population is expected to approach 9 billion, increasing pressure on agricultural production. Crop protection still relies heavily on conventional insecticides such as neonicotinoids and pyrethroids, whose poor selectivity raises major concerns for biodiversity, ecosystems and human health. Their limited selectivity is largely inherent to their mode of action: their small size restricts specific molecular interactions, while they target a few highly conserved components of the nervous system, including nicotinic receptors, GABA-gated chloride channels, voltage-gated sodium channels and acetylcholinesterase. As these targets are conserved across animal species, developing effective yet species-selective insecticides remain a major challenge.
Objectives and methodologies
The aim of this internship is to develop highly selective peptides directed against novel molecular targets that are poorly conserved or absent in hymenopterans (including the honeybee) and vertebrates.
The student will acquire hands-on expertise in solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) purification. Synthesized peptides will be characterized by LC-MS and NMR spectroscopy, while their molecular structures will be investigated by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and NMR-restrained structural modelling. Artificial intelligence tools applied to structural biology will be leveraged throughout the optimization process.
The internship is designed to provide a progressive learning experience, starting with the synthesis and characterization of short neuropeptides and progressively advancing towards more structurally complex disulfide-rich peptide toxins (DRPs) derived from natural predators of the target pests. This progression will allow the student to develop a comprehensive understanding of the challenges associated with peptide synthesis, purification and structural characterization. In particular, the student
will be introduced to oxidative folding strategies for the formation of native disulfide-bond connectivity, a key step in obtaining biologically active toxins.
The student will have the opportunity to participate in biological assays conducted in M. Rousset’s team (IBMM), thereby gaining experience at the interface between peptide chemistry, structural biology and functional evaluation.
Research environment
This internship will take place within a multidisciplinary consortium at the IBMM (campus CNRS, route de Mende), under the supervision of L. Azzoug, P. Verdié and B. Legrand.
Application
Interested candidates are invited to submit a CV and a cover letter.
This project is funded by Pôle Chimie Balard, “Bourses de stages NEXT Master 2 2026-2027”.