Postdoc/assistant professor

Institute of Fundamental Technological Research Polish Academy of Sciences; Poland; On-site; PLN 94,000 - 113,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Access to advanced microscopy

Interdisciplinary research environment

Job summary

Institute of Fundamental Technological Research Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw seeks a postdoctoral researcher to join Prof. Pawel Paszek's lab.

The project focuses on high-content quantitative microscopy of host-pathogen interactions, using Listeria monocytogenes as a model to study innate immune defences at the single-cell level. The successful candidate will perform live-cell imaging in macrophages, analyze data with Maestro, ShuttleTracker and Python, and contribute to figures,

Qualifications

• PhD within 7 years before employment in cell biology, microbiology, infection biology, bioengineering, quantitative biology, biophysics or related field.
• Experience in bacterial infection biology or host-pathogen interactions.
• Hands-on experience in high-content fluorescence microscopy and quantitative analysis of imaging datasets.
• Experience with automated image analysis including cell segmentation, tracking and feature extraction.
• Proficiency with Python for data processing, statistics and visualization.
• Good command of English and ability to work in an interdisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Design and perform high-content and live-cell imaging experiments with macrophages infected with fluorescent Listeria monocytogenes.
• Quantify host-pathogen interactions at single-cell level including uptake and growth.
• Analyze host signalling and antimicrobial responses and relate to infection outcomes.
• Process images, perform segmentation/tracking with Maestro/ShuttleTracker and Python-based analysis.
• Contribute to interpretation of results, figures and manuscripts, and present at conferences.

Skills

High-content fluorescence microscopy

Image analysis

Python for data analysis

Cell segmentation

Maestro and ShuttleTracker

Live-cell imaging

Quantitative imaging

Education

PhD or equivalent in biology/biophysics

Tools

Maestro

ShuttleTracker

ImageJ/Fiji

CellProfiler

Job description

Institute of Fundamental Technological Research Polish Academy of Sciences

Organisation/Company Institute of Fundamental Technological Research Polish Academy of Sciences Department Department of Biosystems and Soft Matter Research Field Biological sciences Biological engineering Engineering Biomedical engineering Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions Postdoc Positions Application Deadline 8 Oct 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Warsaw) Country Poland Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 Offer Starting Date 1 Oct 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Project title: Understanding multi-scale innate immune defences against bacterial pathogens at the single-cell level

Funded by the National Science Centre Poland

We are seeking an enthusiastic and highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join the laboratory of Prof. Pawel Paszek at IPPT PAN for a position focused on high-content quantitative microscopy of host-pathogen interactions.

The project aims to quantitatively understand mechanisms involved in the multi-scale coordination of innate immune responses against bacterial pathogens at the single-cell level. Using Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) as a model, we investigate how variability in host signalling and bacterial behaviour determines infection outcomes, with particular emphasis on physiologically relevant low multiplicities of infection and the febrile temperature range.

A major objective is to understand how infection is encoded in host signalling dynamics, including NF-kB activation, cytokine responses and antimicrobial effector expression, and how these responses relate to bacterial uptake, intracellular growth and distinct infection outcomes. Fluorescent Lm strains, including reporter strains, will be used to monitor bacterial behaviour and virulence.

The successful candidate will perform high-content and live-cell fluorescence microscopy experiments in macrophages and carry out their quantitative analysis. The work will involve image processing, segmentation and tracking using Maestro and ShuttleTracker, complemented by Python-based analysis for data processing, statistical analysis and visualisation.

The candidate will play a leading role in the experimental and quantitative imaging components of the project, contribute to interpretation of results, preparation of figures and manuscripts, and presentation of research findings at scientific conferences.

Requirements

Research Field Biological sciences Biological engineering Education Level PhD or equivalent

Research Field Engineering Biomedical engineering Education Level PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Required qualifications

• PhD within 7 years before employment in the project in cell biology, microbiology, infection biology, bioengineering, quantitative biology, biophysics or a related discipline, meeting the eligibility requirements applicable to an NCN-funded postdoctoral position;
• Demonstrated research experience in bacterial infection biology or host-pathogen interactions, including work with mammalian cells and bacterial pathogens;
• Demonstrated hands-on experience in high-content fluorescence microscopy, including experimental image acquisition and quantitative analysis of high-content imaging datasets;
• Experience performing and analysing microscopy-based infection experiments, including quantitative assessment of bacterial uptake, intracellular growth or infection outcomes;
• Practical experience with automated image analysis, including cell segmentation, object detection, tracking and quantitative feature extraction;
• Experience with high-content image-analysis and cell-tracking software, including Maestro and ShuttleTracker or equivalent platforms;
• Experience with Python for processing, quantitative analysis, statistical analysis and visualisation of imaging-derived datasets;
• Ability to independently design, perform, troubleshoot and analyse quantitative imaging experiments;
• Good command of spoken and written English and ability to work effectively within an interdisciplinary research team;
• A research and publication record appropriate to the candidate’s career stage.

Advantageous qualifications

• Experience specifically with Listeria monocytogenes infection models;
• Experience with macrophages or other innate immune cells;
• Experience with fluorescent bacterial strains and reporter systems, including analysis of bacterial activity or virulence;
• Experience measuring host signalling responses during infection, particularly NF-kB, cytokine signalling or antimicrobial effector responses;
• Direct experience with Maestro and/or ShuttleTracker;
• Familiarity with additional quantitative image-analysis tools such as ImageJ/Fiji, CellProfiler, napari, scikit-image or OpenCV

Specific Requirements

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Design and perform high-content and live-cell imaging experiments using macrophages infected with fluorescently labelled Listeria monocytogenes, including reporter strains;
• Quantify host-pathogen interactions at the single-cell level, including bacterial uptake, intracellular growth and distinct infection outcomes;
• Measure host-cell responses during infection, including NF-kB signalling, cytokine responses and antimicrobial effector expression, and relate these responses to bacterial behaviour and infection outcome;
• Perform image processing, segmentation and tracking using Maestro and ShuttleTracker, including host-cell segmentation, bacterial detection and quantitative feature extraction;
• Optimise and validate imaging and image-analysis workflows to ensure robust and reproducible measurements;
• Analyse time-resolved microscopy datasets to reconstruct host-cell responses and infection trajectories;
• Use Python for downstream data processing, statistical analysis, visualisation and integration of imaging-derived measurements across experimental conditions;
• Contribute to interpretation of results, preparation of figures and manuscripts, and presentation of research findings at scientific conferences;
• Contribute to the development of new experimental and quantitative imaging approaches within the project.

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Research Field Biological sciences Biological engineeringEngineering Biomedical engineering Years of Research Experience 4 - 10

Additional Information

• 1. Remuneration of approximately 9300 PLN gross/month according to the OPUS-23 project budget.
• 2. A full-time fixed-term position for up to 12 months, available until 31 August 2027.
• 3. Opportunity to conduct interdisciplinary research at the interface of infection biology, high-content microscopy and quantitative image analysis.
• 4. Access to advanced microscopy and research infrastructure in the Laboratory of Modelling in Biology and Medicine ( https://pmbm.ippt.pan.pl/web/Main_Page ).
• 5. IPPT PAN is a leading interdisciplinary research institute in Warsaw, Poland.

Eligibility criteria

PhD degree in a relevant discipline, excellent track record for their career stage, and fulfilment of the eligibility requirements applicable to postdoctoral researchers employed in research projects funded by the National Science Centre (NCN), Poland

Company/Institute Institute of Fundamental Technological Research Polish Academy of Sciences Country Poland State/Province Mazovia City Warsaw Postal Code 02-106 Street A.Pawińskiego 5B Geofield