Post-doctoral researcher - Call for applications Assistant Professor No. 16/2026/SN

Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences; Polska; On-site; PLN 95,000 - 114,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pełne świadczenia społeczne

Do 36 dni urlopu rocznie

Grupowe ubezpieczenie zdrowotne

Job summary

Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences poszukuje kandydatów na stanowisko Postdoc w dziedzinie biologii RNA. Badania koncentrują się na regulacyjnych RNA w osi podwzgzg-pituitary, z wykorzystaniem komórek mózgowych, modeli mysich i różnych technik molekularnych.

Współpraca obejmuje partnerów z Polski, Szwajcarii i Niemiec. Wymagane jest doktorat z biologi molekularnej / biotechnologii / biochemii, dorobek publikacyjny i doświadczenie w neurobiologii oraz high‑throughput

Qualifications

• PhD in molecular biology, biotechnology, biochemistry or related discipline.
• Dokumentierte Publikationsleistung in WoS.
• Breite Laborexpertise in Molekular- oder Zellbiologie inkl. Arbeiten mit Tieren (Mäuse).

Responsibilities

• Zuspielen richtungsweisende Forschungsarbeiten mit RNA-Bio und Transcriptomik.
• Durchführung molekularer und zellulärer Techniken sowie RNA‑Sequenzierung.
• Zusammenarbeit mit internationalen Partnern und Betreuung eines PhD‑Studenten.

Skills

Englischkenntnisse

Education

Doktorat in Molecular Biology / Biotechnologie / Biochemie

Job description

Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences

Organisation/Company Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences Department Department of Non-coding RNAs Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions Postdoc Positions Application Deadline 6 Dec 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Brussels) Country Poland Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number 16/2026/SN Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

KEY WORDS:RNA biology, non-coding RNAs, regulatory RNAs, miRNAs, circRNAs, neuroscience, pituitary gland, neuroendocrine cells, transcriptomics, scRNA-seq, bulk RNA-seq.

Research topic:From the third ventricle of the brain to the pituitary gland: Regulatory RNA networks in posttranscriptional modulation of gene expression in neurosecretion.

This project will focus on the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, which are anatomically and functionally linked to form the neuroendocrine system. We will explore and discover regulatory non‑coding RNAs that influence gene expression regulation in various unique cell types of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland – ependymocytes, tanycytes, gonadotropes, thyrotropes, and others. To this end, we will employ advanced molecular, cellular, and systems biology methods and tools, as well as various research models—from standard cell lines to primary lines and several mouse models. This project will be implemented due to the joint forces of three laboratories from three different countries: Poland, Switzerland, and Germany, and three different leading specializations: RNA biology, neuroanatomy, and bioinformatics.

The main goal of the project is to expand our understanding of the intersection of hypothalamic‑pituitary communication and the molecular biology of the individual cell types that comprise the hypothalamic‑pituitary axis. We will apply cutting‑edge molecular biology tools and techniques to generate high‑throughput information on miRNA, circRNA, and mRNA profiles in specialized cell populations. We will use diverse transcriptomic technologies, proteomics, and eCLIP to generate high‑throughput information on miRNA, circRNA, and mRNA profiles in specialized cell populations of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. These analyses will be conducted under homeostatic and energy imbalance and/or stress conditions. We will monitor how miRNAs respond to various stimuli and interact with their mRNA targets. We will obtain detailed information on whether and how circular RNA Cdr1as and various miRNAs are involved in molecular pathways in the investigated cell types. We expect that this interdisciplinary, innovative and ambitious project will generate a solid foundation for understanding the molecular underpinnings of homeostatic and malfunctioning neurosecretion as well as the regulation of genes upon energy imbalance.

Collaborating research units include the University of Lausanne (Switzerland) and the Berlin Institute of Health at the Charité Medical University (Berlin, Germany). Principal Investigator in Poland is Dr. Monika Piwecka.

Research will be carried out within the Project OPUS 28 + LAP no. 2024/55/I/NZ3/02929, entitled “From third ventricle to pituitary gland: regulatory RNA networks in posttranscriptional modulation of gene expression in neurosecretion”, funded by the National Science Centre (PL).

IBCH PAS is one of the leading scientific units in Poland and conducts research activities in the field of chemistry, molecular biology and biomedicine. The Institute provides access to technologically advanced research equipment.

The estimated gross salary is ca.9 400 PLN/month.

II. Requirements for the candidates:

• A PhD degree inmolecular biology, biotechnology, biochemistryor a related discipline.*
• Well‑documented research output in the form of publications (indexed in theWeb of Science) within the field of RNA biology.
• Broad experience in laboratory work in the field of molecular biology, cell biology and/or biochemistry, as well as experience in working with laboratory animals (mice), together with the certificates to perform procedures on animals and collect organs.
• Experience in molecular/cellular neuroscience, high‑throughput data analysis will be considered as an advantage.
• Eagerness to acquire new skills and take on challenges, ability to work independently and think analytically.
• Mobility and research experience abroad will be considered an advantage, but are not mandatory.

Very good spoken and written English.

*According to NCN requirements, only individuals who obtained a doctoral degree no earlier than 12 years before the year ofemployment in the project may be admitted. This period may be extended by the time spent on long‑term (over 90 days) documented sickness benefits or rehabilitation benefits due to incapacity for work. Additionally, the period may be extended bythe number of months spent on leave for the care and upbringing of children, as specified under the Labor Code. For women, this period may also be increased by 18 months for each born or adopted child if this method of accounting for breaks inthescientific career is more advantageous.

Furthermore, according to NCN requirements, individuals who obtained a doctoral degree at an institution other than the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences, or those who earned the degree at ICHB PAN but completed acontinuous, documented postdoctoral internship of at least 10 months at an institution other than the project‑implementing entity and in a country different from where the doctoral degree was obtained, may be admitted.

III.Duties in the project:

• The successful candidate will apply molecular and transcriptomic methods, including single‑cell RNA‑seq and low‑input total RNA‑seq, as well as various molecular and cell biology techniques for RNA‑seq validation to investigate how regulatory RNAs are involved in the modulation of hypothalamic and pituitary gland cell types using genetic mouse models and primary as well as immortalized cell cultures. In detail, duties in the project will involve:
• Conducting scientific research using animal models (mice), in primary cell cultures and standard immortalized cell lines.
• Application of a variety of molecular biology, cell biology, and transcriptomic techniques, including RNA profiling analysis and NGS sequencing, and their validation.
• Collaboration and co‑supervision of a PhD student working in the project.
• Contact with Polish, German and Swiss research team members, readiness for short‑term trips and exchanges.
• Documentation, analysis and interpretation of the results.
• Preparing the results for scientific publication.
• Presentation of results at internal seminars at the Department and in the Institute, as well as for attending international and national conferences.

IV. Required documents:

• Cover letter of application to the Director of IBCH PAS.
• Motivation letter explaining why you are interested in the position.
• Two recommendation/reference letters or contact details to at least two referees.
• Copy of the doctoral diploma.

CV featuring information on the candidate's scientific track record, including:

• the list of papers published in journals listed in the Web of Science (WoS) database;
  • information on the previous projects;
  • information on the accomplished research internships;
  • information on the awarded prizes and distinctions.

V.

Applications should be submitted via the eRecruiter portal at:

VI.

The submission deadline is 06/12/2026

Eligibility criteria

VII. Selection of candidates:

Following preliminary verification, on the basis of the application documents, selected candidates may be invited to an interview. Based on the candidates' evaluation, a ranking list of the persons recommended for employment will be drawn up. In the case of the resignation of a higher‑ranked candidate, the next person on the list will be offered employment. The main criteria, taken into consideration during the selection of the candidates, will be: (i) research output (research papers published), (ii) compliance of the previous experience with the tasks planned within the framework of the project, (iii) experience gained during internships.

VIII.

The recruitment procedure shall be concluded no later than on 22/12/2026

IX. Additional Information:

Employment is available sinceJune-July 2026, for the period of initial 6 months, with the possibility of an extension to 25 months in total. The estimated gross salary is ca.9 400 PLN/month. Employment will be in accordance with the provisions of the Labor Code.

The job offer includes:

• The opportunity to receive full social benefits, including: subsidized vacations, Christmas subsidies, reimbursement for contact lenses/glasses, subsidized Multisport card (or a one‑time half‑year reimbursement of tickets to cultural events), and the option to join group medical insurance.
• An access to internal IBCH PAS grants dedicated to young scientists, such as travel grants for attending international conferences.
• Up to 36 days of vacation days per year.

Selection process

For additional information please contact the Principal Investigator:

• The Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, seated in Noskowskiego St. 12/14, 61-704 Poznan; REGON 000849327, NIP 777-00-02-062 is the administrator of the collected personal data (further referred to as the Institute).
• The Administrator appointed a Data Protection Officer, who can be contacted in writing, via traditional mail, by sending a letter to the following address: Z. Noskowskiego St. 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, or by sending an e‑mail to: [e-mail].
• The personal data of the candidates is processed for the purposes of fulfilling the tasks of the administrator, associated with conducting the recruitment procedure for a vacant position.
• The legal basis for processing personal data is the Act of 26 June 1974 – The Labor Code, Act of 30 April 2010 on the Polish Academy of Sciences or the consent of the person whose data shall be subjected to processing.
• Your personal data shall be subjected to processing for period of 3 months upon the date of decision of the recruitment committee. Following this period, the data will be irretrievably and effectively destroyed.
• The personal data of the candidates shall not be transferred to any third country.
• The person whose data shall be subjected to processing has the right to:
  • - request access to his/her personal data, and to amend it or delete it, pursuant to articles 15-17 of GDPR;
  • - limit data processing, in the events stipulated in article 18 of GDPR;
  • - data transferring, pursuant to article 20 of GDPR;
  • - withdraw consent at any moment, without influencing compliance with the law of the processing that was executed prior to consent withdrawal;
  • - file a complaint to the Inspector General for Personal Data Protection.
• Providing personal data in the scope stipulated in article 22 (1) of the Act of 26 June 1974 – The Labor Code is mandatory, whereas providing data in a broader scope is voluntary and requires consent for its processing.

Protection for whistleblowers

In the case of reporting violations using a dedicated system for whistleblowers, the reporting person's data will be processed in accordance with applicable provisions on the protection of personal data, including the above‑mentioned Regulation (EU 2016/679 of 27 April 2016). We ensure confidentiality and protection of the identity of reporting persons, and that their data will not be disclosed without their consent, unless the law provides otherwise.