Postdoctoral Researcher

International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw; Warszawa; On-site; PLN 99,000 - 118,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical care

MultiSport programme

13th salary

Job summary

The Laboratory of Cellular Proteostasis at the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher to join a project on Nuclear protein quality control in neurodegeneration. The role focuses on validating hits from a CRISPR/Cas9 screen and investigating their roles using human iPSC-derived neurons and disease models.

The candidate will work in a highly collaborative environment, plan experiments, document in an electronic lab notebook, analyze

Qualifications

• PhD completed or near completion within the employment period.
• Experience in protein molecular biology and biochemistry.
• Hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture, including iPSCs.
• Excellent written and spoken English; strong presenting skills.

Responsibilities

• Validate candidate hits from a CRISPR/Cas9 screen.
• Conduct mechanistic studies on nuclear protein homeostasis.
• Assess relevance in human iPSC-derived neurons and disease models.
• Plan experiments, document work in an electronic lab notebook, analyze data.
• Present and discuss results regularly.

Skills

Protein molecular biology

Biochemistry techniques

Mammalian cell culture

Stem cell culture (iPSCs)

English communication

Presentation skills

Team collaboration

First-author publication

Education

PhD in life sciences

Tools

Flow cytometry

Confocal microscopy

CRISPR/Cas9 screening

Job description

Postdoctoral Researcher position in the Laboratory of Cellular Proteostasis

The Laboratory of Cellular Proteostasis at the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IIMCB), Warsaw, headed by Dr. Lidia Wrobel is looking for Postdoctoral Researcher to join the project entitled “Nuclear protein quality control in neurodegeneration”, which is carried out as the SONATA grant no 2023/51/D/NZ3/01939 grant of the Polish National Science Centre. The project aims to uncover the factors and mechanisms that regulate protein quality control and the ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS) in the mammalian nucleus. Building on a completed CRISPR/Cas9-based high-throughput screen, it focuses on validating candidate hits, characterising their roles in nuclear protein homeostasis, and assessing their functional relevance in human iPSC-derived neurons and neurodegenerative disease models.

The ideal candidate should be able to pursue challenging tasks and achieve objectives and collaborate with other researchers. Candidates will be selected in an open competition, according to the procedure complying with the rules of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers as a part of HR Excellence in Research strategy.

As a Postdoctoral Researcher, you will be responsible for validating candidate hits from a completed CRISPR/Cas9-based screen and conducting mechanistic studies to investigate their roles in nuclear protein homeostasis. You will assess their functional relevance in human iPSC-derived neurons and neurodegenerative disease models using cell culture, biochemical and molecular biology techniques, flow cytometry, and confocal microscopy. Your responsibilities will also include planning experiments, documenting your work in an electronic laboratory notebook, analysing data, and regularly presenting and discussing results.

Requirements for the candidate

• More information can be found via this link: Fulfills the formal criteria for the competition
• The candidate must meet the eligibility conditions set by the National Science Centre (NCN) for persons employed in a post-doc type position. In particular, the person employed in this position obtained their PhD degree in the year of employment in the project or within 7 years before 1 January of the year of employment in the project. This period may be extended by the time spent during that period on long-term (over 90 days) documented sick leave or rehabilitation benefits related to incapacity for work. Additionally, this period may be extended by the number of months spent on child-care and child-rearing leave granted under the rules specified in the Labour Code, and in the case of women—by 18 months for each child born or adopted, if this method of indicating breaks in a scientific career is more advantageous.
• Has experience in protein molecular biology and biochemistry techniques
• Hands-on experience in mammalian cell culture, preferably including stem cells (e.g., iPSCs)
• Has strong written and oral communication skills in English
• Has good presentation skills (ideally having presented during at least one international conference).
• Enjoys working in a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary environment.
• Has at least one first-author publication in an international peer-reviewed journal or a first-author preprint on bioRxiv.
• Selection criteria
• Technical competence, experience and fit of the expertise to the position.
• Soft skills – command of English language, motivation letter, communication skills, teamwork, likelihood to fit to the group, compatibility of plans for individual development with the goals of the group.

Candidates will be selected in an open competition, according to the procedure complying with the rules of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers as a part of HR Excellence in Research strategy.

We offer

• Full employment contract initially for 6 months with a possible extention.
• Full-time salary 9 700 gross per month.
• Position with 100% focus on research (no teaching obligations).
• Additional bonuses such as the 13th salary after working for the Institute for six months in a given calendar year, or Christmas bonus may supplement this salary.
• Benefits including reduced-rate for an individual private medical care package and membership in the MultiSport programme.
• Full technical, administrative and organizational support from professional English-speaking personnel.
• Participation in courses, scientific training, support from peers, and academic mentoring.

Deadline for applications is 20th November, 2026. Job starting date is 1st January, 2027 or later.

The competition may be extended until a suitable candidate who fulfils all requirements is found.