GROUP LEADER Principal Investigator Position

Unist; Warszawa; Hybrid; PLN 300,000 - 420,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Start-up funds

Core funding after start-up funds

Relocation assistance

English-speaking staff

Vibrant, international environment

Job summary

International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw (IIMCB) invites applications for a Group Leader, PI position. The institute supports ambitious scientists to pursue frontier research in RNA and cell biology, with opportunities for professional development and international collaboration.

Successful candidates will establish or further develop an independent research group, joining a vibrant, multinational community and leveraging strong infrastructure and network partnerships

Qualifications

• Successful candidates should have a strong record of scientific achievements commensurate with their career stage and be able to develop an independent, competitive research program.
• We welcome research in RNA biology, cell biology, computational biology, and the application of artificial intelligence in biology.

Responsibilities

• Establish or develop an independent research group within IIMCB.
• Build collaborations across international partners and secure competitive grants.
• Lead innovative research in RNA and cell biology and mentor junior researchers.

Job description

International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw

Organisation/Company International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Researcher Profile Leading Researcher (R4) Positions Other Positions Application Deadline 31 Dec 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Warsaw) Country Poland Type of Contract Permanent Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 Offer Starting Date 1 Sep 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Other EU programme Reference Number RACE Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

GROUP LEADER

The International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw (IIMCB), Poland

invites applications for Group Leader, PI position

The IIMCB is an internationally recognized research institute in Poland with cutting-edge expertise in RNA and cell biology. In line with IIMCB’s mission, we support ambitious scientists of all nationalities in pursuing frontier research with the potential to advance our understanding of human health and disease.

We are looking for talented, dynamic, and motivated scientists at different stages of their independent research careers to establish or further develop an independent research group in our vibrant research environment. Successful candidates will join the ambitious research program supported by the IIMCB’s strategic projects:

Through RACE and RACE-PRIME, and in partnership with the Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit at the University of Edinburgh and the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), IIMCB has established itself as a highly recognized international research center where excellent science is complemented by professional technology transfer in biomedical applications. The Institute’s state-of-the-art infrastructure and the prospect of a larger building provide new groups with exceptional opportunities for scientific and professional development.

The IIMCB hosts a vibrant, multinational community of scientists from over twenty countries and is well connected internationally, as exemplified by the composition of IIMCB’s International Advisory Board and the Institute’s active membership in EU-LIFE, an alliance of sixteen top independent European research institutes. Our sixteen group leaders have an established international standing – six are EMBO members, and four are ERC grantees. As a member of the interdisciplinary Warsaw-4-PhD doctoral program, IIMCB facilitates participation in doctoral education without formal teaching duties. Within this environment, you will develop your own research program, build or further develop your independent research group, and establish a network with other researchers at IIMCB.

Candidates’ profile:Successful candidates should have a strong record of scientific accomplishments commensurate with their career stage and be able to develop an independent, competitive research program within the broadly defined areas of RNA biology and cell biology. We are particularly interested in research in cell and developmental biology, as well as in computational biology and the application of artificial intelligence in biology. Candidates may pursue primarily experimental, primarily computational, or strongly integrated experimental-computational research. We welcome complementary expertise and research directions that broaden the scientific scope of the Institute. In all cases, scientific excellence, fit with IIMCB, and the potential to complement and synergize with research carried out at the Institute will be key selection criteria (see more at www.iimcb.gov.pl ).).

The IIMCB offers Group Leaders:

• Principal Investigator position with aninitial appointment of 5 years
• A rolling tenure track upon positive evaluations
• A full-time salary with social benefits
• Start-up funds and core funding after the start-up funds have been used
• Benefits of the IIMCB's participation in the interdisciplinary Warsaw-4-PhD doctoral program (physics, chemistry, biology, medical sciences)
• Participation in decision-making through membership in the Laboratory Leaders Council
• Support from an experienced team of professionals in applying for competitive national and international grants
• Comprehensive organizational and administrative support from expert English-speaking staff
• Assistance in relocating and starting life in Poland, including applying for a visa, obtaining temporary residency and finding housing
• Friendly, inclusive, and international English-speaking working environment
• Immersion in the vibrant city of Warsaw, where speaking Polish is not essential

Selection criteria

• Quality of scientific achievements: evidence of scientific excellence and the ability or potential to make significant contributions to advancing knowledge, considered in the context of the candidate’s career stage
• Excitement about research plans: the clarity, innovativeness, and feasibility of the candidate's research proposals
• Fit to the IIMCB: compatibility of the proposed research with IIMCB's strategic objectives, and potential for fostering in-house collaborations
• Leadership and team-building skills: demonstrated or emerging ability to lead, build, and inspire an effective research team, considered in the context of the candidate’s career stage
• Willingness to apply for competitive grants: experience in applying for and/or managing competitive, grant-funded research projects, where appropriate to the candidate’s career stage
• Aptitude for mentoring masters and doctoral students: prior supervision experience, where applicable to the candidate’s career stage, would be an advantage
• Readiness to translate research outcomes into commercial opportunities and engage with industry partners

Deadlines

• December 31, 2026 – submission of applications (late applications may be considered)
• February 15-26, 2027 – online seminars by shortlisted candidates
• April 27-29, 2027 – onsite interviews in Warsaw during the International Advisory Board meeting

The positions are available from September 2027, with the formal appointment dates set on a case-by-case basis.

Inquiries about the offer, research environment, and science in Poland are welcome and should be sent
to [e-mail] .

All applications will be handled with strict confidence.

The IIMCB is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in science.

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw - IIMCB Country Poland Geofield