Molecular biology of the cell

Description

Master 2 students from partner Universities (Sorbonne University, University of Paris Cité and Paris-Saclay University) MUST NOT register online and must submit their registration request DIRECTLY to contacts in charge of their university course. These students have free access to the course.

All other students must register online and pay their registration fees.

This four-week intensive laboratory and lecture course is organized in collaboration with the Institut Curie; it is devoted to the presentation of current concepts and new experimental techniques in the study of cellular functions.

Lectures will provide an overview of key research areas, from vesicular trafficking to cell division, mitochondrial biology in health and disease, autophagy, host-pathogen interactions, cell biomechanical properties and their interplay with cell migration and tumor invasion.

The practical course provides training in culture of transfected and infected cells, in vitro reconstitution of cellular functions, gene inactivation and cutting edge techniques of live imaging.

Practicals I will study the mechanisms of human neural stem cell translocation, addressing the roles of the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton and how they govern interphasic and mitotic movements. For this, the students will generate neural stem cell cultures from human cerebral organoids, and perform live imaging followed by image analysis.

Practicals II will study the mechanical and geometrical inputs affecting epithelial cell survival in vivo using optogenetics, deep learning and quantitative image analysis in Drosophila

Fellowships (1.500 Euros) will be awarded to the three best applicants from foreign countries to cover, in part, their travel accommodation expenses.

The final exam for participants not enrolled in a Master 2 program from a partner university will take place separately from the exam for Master 2 students from partner universities.

Candidates must have a good knowledge of basic laboratory techniques at the Master degree level. The committee of the course will evaluate applications.

Video

 Course presentation for first-year master’s students in February 2026  :