Post-doctoral position - Recruitment No 70/2026

Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences; Polska; On-site; PLN 119,000 - 142,000; Full time

Job summary

Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences invites applications for a post-doctoral position in the Medical Chemistry, Protein Biochemistry and Biocatalysis Group. The project focuses on functional and structural characterization of predicted human oxygenases with unusual Fe(II)-binding sites and involves state-of-the-art biochemical and structural techniques.

The successful candidate will work in a dynamic, international environment, collaborating with other groups to elucidate

Qualifications

• PhD in chemistry, biochemistry, or related field.
• Ability to design and conduct biochemical and structural experiments.
• Experience expressing and purifying protein constructs.
• Experience with enzyme activity assays and/or crystallography.
• Fluent English (written and spoken).
• Good scientific publication record.

Skills

Experimental design

Protein expression

Enzyme assays

Protein structure

English fluency

Student supervision

Scholarly publishing

Education

PhD or equivalent

Job description

Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences

Organisation/Company Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences Department Team No. 16: Medical Chemistry, Protein Biochemistry and Biocatalysis Group web-page: https://ichf.edu.pl/en/groups/medical-chemistry-protein-biochemistry-and-biocatalysis Research Field Chemistry » Biochemistry Chemistry » Reaction mechanisms and dynamics Chemistry » Structural chemistry Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 26 Oct 2026 - 12:00 (Europe/Warsaw) Country Poland Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 Offer Starting Date 1 Dec 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number 70/2026 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Post-doc position available in the Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS within the National Science Center OPUS 30, Project no. 2025/59/B/NZ1/02711, entitled “Functional and Structural Characterization of Predicted Human Oxygenases with an Unusual Fe(II)-Binding Site”.

(leader Dr. Lennart Brewitz; Team No. 16: Medical Chemistry, Protein Biochemistry and Biocatalysis)

Dioxygenases use molecular oxygen to modify their substrates, which can include proteins, nucleic acids, fatty acids, and small molecules. Because of their versatility, dioxygenases are involved in many essential cellular processes, such as breaking down fatty acids, signalling, and regulating gene expression. Dioxygenases are also important drug targets, and many widely used medicines work by blocking their activity.

Understanding how dioxygenases function, what substrates they act on, how they perform their reactions at the molecular level, and what their three-dimensional structures look like is crucial for developing medicines.

The objectives of this project are to characterise the function, substrates, and structure of two unusual human dioxygenases related to cancer. This knowledge, together with artificial intelligence-based methods, will be used to guide the development of molecules that selectively block the activity of these two dioxygenases to enable future cellular studies on their potential as cancer targets.

This project will employ a combination of state-of-the-art laboratory techniques to produce these two human dioxygenases in bacterial cells, to identify the natural molecules they modify (using e.g. NMR, MS, plate reader-based activity assays), and to determine their three-dimensional structures (using e.g. protein crystallography); part of the work will be carried out together with international collaborators. Collectively, the results of these investigations will inform on how these two dioxygenases work at the molecular level and will help to define their roles in both healthy and cancer cells.

Requirements

Research Field Chemistry » Biochemistry Education Level PhD or equivalent

Research Field Chemistry » Reaction mechanisms and dynamics Education Level PhD or equivalent

Research Field Chemistry » Structural chemistry Education Level PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

• Independently design, plan and conduct experiments related to the biochemical and structural characterisation of human dioxygenases
• Design, express and purify protein constructs
• Develop and perform enzyme activity assays
• Structurally characterise proteins
• E ffectively work together with students and international collaborators
• Oversee the work of students
• Disseminate research results at project meetings, in peer-reviewed journals and at international conferences

Specific Requirements

A PhD degree in chemistry, biochemistry, or related scientific disciplines is required, obtained in the year of employment in the project or within 12 years before 1 January of the year of employment in the project. For researchers with multiple PhDs, the date of the first PhD award is deemed the reference date. Extensions might apply according to the rules of the National Science Centre, Poland;

Additionally, the candidate for the postdoctoral position must meet the following condition: their PhD degree has been conferred by an institution other than the one employing them at this position. Otherwise, they must have completed a continuous and evidenced research fellowship of at least 9 months during their studies at the doctoral school, doctoral studies or after being conferred their PhD degree at another institution than the participating entity for the project and outside the country in which their PhD degree was conferred.

Publication record and experience in research.

Ability to work independently as well as in a group.

Experience with at least one of the list: (preferably two or more):

3. Enzyme activity assays and kinetics

4. Structural/crystallographic characterisation of proteins

5. Medicinal chemistry

Ability to communicate fluently in English (written and spoken).

Strong motivation to work and solving scientific problems, creativity, and analytical thinking

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Research Field Chemistry » Biochemistry Chemistry » Reaction mechanisms and dynamics Chemistry » Structural chemistry Years of Research Experience 4 - 10

Additional Information

We offer a post-doctoral position (full-time employment) in the Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS with a gross salary of around 11700 PLN per month financed from the NCN OPUS 30, Project no. 2025/59/B/NZ1/02711, entitled “Functional and Structural Characterization of Predicted Human Oxygenases with an Unusual Fe(II)-Binding Site”.

100% of the work time of Postdoc will be devoted to the realization of the proposed project. The offer is for 12 months with the possibility of extension.

• The candidate will have the opportunity to work in a highly ambitious young research group at the interface of biochemistry, structural biology, and medicinal chemistry and perform work with high translational potential

The candidate will have the opportunity to build an expertise in a plethora of state-of-the-arts biochemical and biophysical techniques

The candidate will have an opportunity to work in the laboratory of an international collaborator for some time

The candidate will have an opportunity to present their work at international conferences

• The successful candidate will be eligible for all programs at the IPC PAS, including the IPC PAS Young Scientists competition and the IPC PAS Young Scientists Mobility competition.

The IPC PAS provides the opportunity to participate in ERASMUS+ programme.

Eligibility criteria

The successful candidate for the postdoctoral position shall, for the full term of their employment within the project, be obligated to maintain compliance with the following conditions:

their PhD degree has been conferred by an institution other than the one employing them at this position. Otherwise, they must have completed a continuous and evidenced research fellowship of at least 9 months during their studies at the doctoral school, doctoral studies or after being conferred their PhD degree at another institution than the participating entity for the project and outside the country in which their PhD degree was conferred;

when the remuneration is paid, they will be receiving no remuneration paid from the funds granted to research projects under NCN calls under the heading of direct costs;

when the remuneration is paid, they will be receiving no remuneration from another employer pursuant to an employment contract, including an employer with registered office outside of Poland; and

when the remuneration is paid, they will be receiving no pension benefits or equivalent benefits in Poland or abroad.

A post-doc type post is a full-time post, scheduled by the project’s principal investigator for a person who has been conferred a PhD degree in the year of employment in the project or within 12 years before 1 January of the year of employment in the project. For researchers with multiple PhDs, the date of the first PhD award is deemed the reference date. This period may be extended by a time of long-term (in excess of 90 days) documented sick leaves or rehabilitation leaves granted on account of being unfit to work. In addition, the period may be extended by the number of months of a child care leave granted pursuant to the Labour Code and in the case of women, by 18 months for every child born or adopted, whichever manner of accounting for career breaks is preferable.

Selection process

Key assessment criteria:

The Recruitment Commission will take into account the following criteria:

Competence to perform specific tasks in the research project

Previous scientific achievements, awards and distinctions resulting from prior conducted research

Required documents:

• A list of scientific achievements (publications, patents, conference presentations and research projects);

PhD certificate or other document confirming a PhD degree.

The results of the recruitment are planned to be announced on 23.11.2026

Incomplete applications may not be considered

The results of the competition will be made public

• Candidates who have been issued a negative opinion by the Competition Committee or candidates not selected for employment have the right to appeal against the results of the evaluation. The appeal shall be lodged with the Director of the Institute within 7 days from the date of receipt of the appropriate information. The decision of the Director of the Institute shall be final.

If the top ranked candidate does not sign the contract due to the resignation, we reserve the right to choose the next candidate from the ranking list.

Additional comments

By submitting the application you consent to the processing of your personal data in the recruitment process.

The controller of your personal data is the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences with its registered office in Warsaw, NIP: 5250008755 (the "Institute"). The Institute will process your data for the purpose of carrying out scientific and research activities, providing services and contact with the Institute, on the basis of a contract (in connection with the performance of the contract or in order to take action on your request before the contract is concluded – Article 6, paragraph 1, letter b) of GDPR), the legitimate interest of the Institute (Article 6, paragraph 1, letter f) of the GDPR) and legal provisions (Article 6, paragraph 1, letter c) of the GDPR) - depending on the circumstances.

You have the right to: request access to your data, receive a copy of it; rectify (correct) it; delete it; limit its processing; transfer it; lodge a complaint to the supervisory body; withdraw your consent for processing at any time (withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of the processing carried out prior to its withdrawal) or to lodge an objection to data processing. More information is available on the Institute's website.

Procedure for Reporting Internal Violations of the Law and Subsequent Actions together with Protection of Whistleblowers at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the PAS with its registered address in Warsaw (link)

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute Institute of Physical Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences Country Poland City Warsaw Postal Code 01-224 Street Kasprzaka 44/52 Geofield