Start programme : laureates of Master’s, PhD and postdoctoral grants 2026

DACAUD Jody

• PhD thesis project: Skin mechanisms of protection by the YelLow fever VAcciNe at the site of infected-mosquIto bite in mAcaques (SYLVANIA)
• Supervisors: BEIGNON Anne-Sophie ; POMPON Julien
• Host organisation: Laboratoire « Immunité et Transmission » (LIT), département « Immunological diseases, microbiology and innovative therapies and Transmission » (IDMIT), Institut de biologie François Jacob, CEA, Université Paris Saclay, Inserm

DE CRUZ HIERNAUX Alejandro   

• PhD thesis project: Understanding the contribution of complement to the neutralization of coronaviruses
• Supervisor: BRUEL Timothée
• Host organisation: Laboratoire « Virus et immunité », Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité

NDIAYE Serigne

• PhD thesis project: Structure and Function of the Transcription Complex of Mononegavirus: Nipah Virus and Vesicular Stomatitis Virus
• Supervisor: BLOYET Louis-Marie
• Host organisation: Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM, CNRS, ENS LYON

ROLIN Axelle

• PhD thesis project: Unmasking NSs: decoding phenuivirus virulence mechanisms
• Supervisors: MAISSE Carine ; LOZACH Pierre-Yves
• Host organisation: Unité « Infections Virales et Pathologie Comparée » (IVPC), INRAE, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, EPHE

FILHOL Typhaine

• PhD thesis project: Identification and characterization of cellular factors required for enterovirus D replication
• Supervisor: BESSAUD Maël
• Host organisation: Laboratoire « Signalisation antivirale », Institut Pasteur, CNRS

RIBEIRO Alexandre

• PhD thesis project: Impact of vaccine-induced immunity on the evolution of H9N2 avian influenza virus
• Supervisors: DUCATEZ Mariette ; FUSADE-BOYER Maxime
• Host organisation: Unité « Interactions Hôtes Agents Pathogènes » (IHAP), ENVT, INRAE

URESIN Deniz

• PhD thesis project: Innate Sensing from RNA virus infection to mRNA vaccine
• Supervisor: KOMAROVA Anastassia
• Host organisation: Laboratoire commun Institut Pasteur-Oncovita

FERY-SIMONIAN Luc

• Postdoctoral project: Host genetics and immunity shaping host-vector interactions in TBEV infection
• Supervisor: MANET Caroline
• Host organisation: Laboratoire « Génétique de la Souris, Immunité et Infections », Institut Pasteur

GOMES Ighor

• Postdoctoral project: Deep-learning Phylodynamic Models for Arboviral Transmission Dynamics
• Supervisors: ZHUKOVA Anna ; DUCHENE GARZON Sebastian
• Host organisation: Laboratoire « Modélisation des agents pathogènes : Évolution, adaptation et propagation », Institut Pasteur, ENS, Inserm

KINGANDA-LUSAMAKI Eddy

• Postdoctoral project: One health Network for Ebola & HF virus Surveillance using Epidemiology, Next Generation Sequencing and Serology Exploration
• Supervisors: PEETERS Martine ; MBALA-KINGEBENI Placide
• Host organisation: Unité « Recherches Translationnelles sur le VIH et les Maladies Infectieuses endémiques et émergentes » (TransVIHMI), IRD, Inserm, Université de Montpellier

2026-1

Ana BOCQUET

• PhD project: Community-based initiatives, integration into the healthcare system and the role of community stakeholders in ensuring continuity of care. A case study of the anal health services provided by the SAMAR programme in Morocco
• Supervisor: Luis SAGAON TEYSSIER
• Host institution: Economic and Social Sciences of Health & Information Processing (SESSTIM), Aix-Marseille University, IRD, Inserm

Tibor BONHOMME

• PhD project: Functional characterisation of HBV S cytosolic loop 1 domains modulating subviral particle morphogenesis and secretion: molecular mechanisms and cellular physiological impacts (CYL1-MSP)
• Supervisor: Daniel CANDOTTI
• Host institution: Mondor Institute for Biomedical Research (IMRB), Inserm, Université Paris Est Créteil

Thomas GOMES DAUBERNAY

• PhD project: ‘THE NEW INFRASTRUCTURES OF THE INVISIBLE’ – The confinement of chemsex socialities to the domestic sphere: a socio-anthropological study of the material framework of these experiences
• Supervisor: Lamia MISSAOUI
• Host institution: ‘Professions, Institutions, Temporalities’ Laboratory (PRINTEMPS), University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Paris Saclay University, CNRS

Lisa KOKULE

• PhD project: Missed opportunities in the HIV care pathway amongst men who have sex with men, born abroad, and receiving care in the Île-de-France region
• Supervisor: Olivier CHASSANY
• Host institution: ‘City-Hospital Clinical Research, Methodologies and Society’ Unit (REMES), Paris Diderot University

Aranya MITRA

• PhD project: Regulation of the chromatin organisation of non-integrated forms of HIV-1 and implications for the establishment and maintenance of viral transcriptional latency
• Supervisor: Monsef BENKIRANE
• Host institution: Montpellier Institute of Molecular Genetics (IGMM), CNRS, University of Montpellier

Jordi SEVILLA-FORTUNY

• PhD project: Phylodynamic models for uncovering transmission heterogeneity of bacterial STIs: leveraging genome surveillance data of Neisseria gonorrhoeae
• Supervisor: Sebastian DUCHENE
• Host institution: ‘Evolutionary Dynamics of Infectious Diseases’ Laboratory (DEMI), Institut Pasteur

Simon SPILL

• PhD project: Characterising the post-integration effects of capsid inhibitors
• Supervisor: Pierre GANTNER
• Host institution: Institute of Haematology and Immunology, Inserm, University of Strasbourg

Clément TISSERON

• PhD project: Facilitating community preparedness for the implementation of innovative tools to promote sexual and reproductive health among adolescents living with HIV: participatory research in Côte d’Ivoire
• Supervisor: Julie JESSON
• Host institution: Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health Research (CERPOP), Inserm, University of Toulouse III Paul Sabatier

2026-2

Faustine BERNARDIN

• PhD project: Characterisation of the first hepatocyte model enabling Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV) propagation in vitro and chronic infection of the cultures
• Supervisor: Julie LUCIFORA
• Host institution: International Centre for Infectious Disease Research (CIRI), Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, Inserm, CNRS, ENS LYON

Alice GALLOT

• PhD project: An interdisciplinary approach to the evolution of the vaginal microbiota
• Supervisor: Samuel ALIZON
• Host institution: Interdisciplinary Centre for Biology Research (CIRB), CNRS, Inserm, Collège de France

Oluwatomiloba GISANRIN

• PhD project: Life courses and migration trajectories, structural vulnerability, community support and inequalities in sexual health amongst migrant domestic workers in Mali.
• Supervisor: Luis SAGAON TEYSSIER
• Host institution: Health Economics and Social Sciences & Information Processing (SESSTIM), Aix-Marseille University, IRD, Inserm

Chiza KASUNGU

• Thesis project: Evaluating Lung Ultrasound and AI-Assisted Imaging to Strengthen Paediatric Tuberculosis Diagnosis and Treatment Decision-Making in High-Burden and Resource-Limited Settings
• Supervisor: Olivier MARCY
• Host institution: Global Health in the Global South (GHiGS), IRD (EMR271), Inserm, University of Bordeaux

Albane KNOCHE

• Thesis project: Impact of pulmonary tuberculosis on brain health: a multi-model study in mice and non-human primates (TB-MIND)
• Supervisor: Ludovic TAILLEUX
• Host institution: ‘Integrated Mycobacterial Pathogenomics’ Laboratory, Institut Pasteur, CNRS

2026-1

Victor BOSCHETTI

• PhD project: Study of the proviral role of the cellular factor RBM39 in RNA biogenesis
• Supervisor: David DURANTEL
• Host institution: International Centre for Research in Infectiology (CIRI), Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, Inserm, CNRS, ENS LYON

2026-2

Juliette DESFORGES

• PhD project: Regulation of HIV-1 expression and latency by hnRNPC ribonucleoprotein complexes
• Supervisor: Sarah GALLOIS-MONTBRUN
• Host institution: ‘Host-Virus Interactions’ team, Institut Cochin, Inserm, CNRS, Paris Cité University

Léa MÉZIÈRE

• PhD project: Study of the replication mechanisms of the hepatitis E virus
• Supervisor: Laurence COCQUEREL-LEROY
• Host institution: Lille Centre for Infection and Immunity (CIIL), University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, Pasteur Institute of Lille, Lille University Hospital

Théo MONTAGNÉ

• PhD project: Phenotypic heterogeneity of CD4 T lymphocytes in secondary lymphoid organs and their role in the initiation of HIV-1 infection
• Supervisor: Bernard LAGANE
• Host institution: Toulouse Institute for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases (INFINITy), Inserm, University of Toulouse, CNRS

Ariane SESSEGO

• PhD project: Multimorbidity and causes of death in South Africa: what are adults living with HIV dying from since the roll-out of antiretrovirals?
• Supervisor: Géraldine DUTHE
• Host institution: ‘Demography of the Global South’ Research Unit, National Institute for Demographic Studies (INED)

Raymond VAN HUIZEN

• PhD project: The social, structural and intervention-related challenges of mental health among transgender women living with HIV in France: a community-based and intersectional approach
• Supervisor: Bruno SPIRE
• Host institution: Economic and Social Sciences of Health & Information Processing (SESSTIM), Aix-Marseille University, IRD, Inserm

2026-1

Thomas BENOIST

• Postdoctoral project: Modelling human protective immunity through tuberculosis vaccination on a multi-organ chip
• Supervisor: Céline COUGOULE
• Host institution: Institute of Pharmacology and Structural Biology (IPBS), CNRS, University of Toulouse III Paul Sabatier

Hanane CHAMMA

• Postdoctoral project: Role of the PDZ domain recognition motif of the CCR5 receptor during HIV-1 infection
• Supervisor: Bernard LAGANE
• Host institution: Toulouse Institute for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases (INFINITy), Inserm, University of Toulouse, CNRS

Saurabh CHUGH

• Postdoctoral project: Deciphering the role of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis exometabolome in host-pathogen interactions (METEOR)
• Supervisor: Fabien LETISSE
• Host institution: Institute of Pharmacology and Structural Biology (IPBS), CNRS, University of Toulouse III Paul Sabatier

Juthathip KHONGPETCH

• Postdoctoral project: Association Between In Utero HIV Exposure and Adolescent Growth, Pubertal Development, and Sexual Health in Mozambique (MiPPAD-AdoMo)
• Supervisor: Florence BODEAU-LIVINEC
• Host institution: Institute for Research in Health, Environment and Work (IRSET), Inserm, University of Rennes 1

Maria Jose LISTA BROTOS

• Postdoctoral project: Mechanisms underlying Zika virus infection of testicular germ cells, a key cellular reservoir for sexual transmission
• Supervisor: Nathalie DEJUCQ-RAINSFORD
• Host institution: Institute for Research in Health, Environment and Work (IRSET), Inserm, EHESP, University of Rennes 1

Clark PIGNEDOLI

• Postdoctoral project: ‘Trans women migrants and sex workers: community memories and the conditions of ageing in Marseille and Paris’
• Supervisor: Gabriel GIRARD
• Host institution: Health Economics and Social Sciences & Information Processing (SESSTIM), Aix-Marseille University, IRD, Inserm

José Manuel SANCHEZ LOPEZ

• Postdoctoral project: NAM-TB: Reconstructing Neuroimmune Networks in Tuberculosis by Decoding Nerve-Associated Macrophages within Pulmonary Granulomas
• Supervisor: Geanncarlo LUGO-VILLARINO
• Host institution: Institute of Pharmacology and Structural Biology (IPBS), CNRS, University of Toulouse III Paul Sabatier

2026-2

Yousra KHERABI

• Postdoctoral project: Innovative approaches to designing and conducting clinical trials: a real-world assessment of Bayesian Response-Adaptive Randomisation in tuberculosis
• Supervisor: Lorenzo GUGLIELMETTI
• Host institution: The endTB Project, Médecins Sans Frontières

Camilla TIEZZI

• Postdoctoral project: Investigation of the antiviral and immunological mechanisms of a capsid assembly modulator in HBV infection
• Supervisor: Hélène STRICK-MARCHAND
• Host institution: ‘Innate Immunity’ Laboratory, Institut Pasteur, Inserm