Job details

Recruitment result
Place of work

Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS (Microfluidics and Complex Fluids Group)

Funding institution

National Science Centre

Project description

Project title, type and project number

Microfluidic methods for quantitative antibiotic susceptibility assays with single cell resolution, MAESTRO 10 No. 2018/30/A/ST4/00036, 01/2023

Project leader

prof. Piotr Garstecki

Description

The objective of the project is to develop an analytical platform to encapsulate bacterial cells into droplets using microfluidics, incubate them and detect growth without optical labeling. In the envisioned protocol, the sample culture of cells will be serially diluted and each dilution split and mixed with multiple concentrations of antibiotic to screen inoculum density and antibiotic concentration with digital droplet assays. The assays at high and low inoculum density will allow us to count the fraction of populated droplets that produced dense colonies of bacteria. These counts will allow us to measure the single-cell Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (scMIC) level and the inoculum effect (IE) while the low-density screens will uncover the phenotypic heteroresistance, p(scMIC). The method will offer a wealth of information for research on the response of cells and bacterial colonies to antibiotics, and hopefully will guide more effective treatments regimens.

We are looking for a highly motivated postdoctoral candidate with background in microfluidics, micro engineering, optics or similar, ideally also with experience in designing and fabricating microfluidic devices. Experience in using microfluidics for biological models (microbiology, bioengineering, biochemistry, biology) is considered as a strong advantage.

Candidates with an experience in Matlab, C programming and/or Phyton, mathematical analysis, etc. are also welcomed to apply.

The successful candidate will join a multinational and interdisciplinary team of scientist and will be responsible for designing, constructing and testing microfluidic systems for microbial testing of antibiotics in high-throughput and point-of-care (POC) formats, as well as, microfluidic systems for studying bacterial interactions at a single cell resolution.

Additionally the candidate will closely cooperate with the PhD students participating in the project, providing transfer of know-how and knowledge.

Job description

Number of vacancies

1

Key responsibilities include

  • Design, construct and test droplet-based microfluidic systems for single-cell encapsulation and Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing (AST)
  • Design, construct and test microfluidic systems for studying bacterial interactions at the single-cell level
  • Develop a microfluidic cell sorter and dispenser for isolation of droplets containing bacterial cultures
  • Microbial cell culturing will be an advantage
  • Writing reports and scientific publications
  • Cooperation with researchers, including communication with English-speaking colleagues
  • Support, supervision and mentoring of PhD students
  • Data analysis, creating software to facilitate data analysis
Offer

Position in the project

Post-doc

Job type

Full-time employment

Salary

11 666 PLN per month That is the gross/gross amount including employer's expense. It will be subject to taxes, social and health insurance and other legal deductions according to Polish law.

Position starts on

1.03.2023

Maximum planned period of contract/stipend agreement

12-month full time work contract with the possibility of extension

We offer

  • 12-month full time work contract with the possibility of extension
  • 36 days of vacation, social security, health insurance
  • Work in the outstanding scientific institution in the dynamic research group with members representing diverse interests and qualifications – see details on the website:  https://www.micof.pl/en/
  • Participation in international conferences and Erasmus projects
  • Engagement into an ambitious research program and possibility to build the academic career

Career development prospects at IPC PAS

International cooperation with experienced researchers. Work in the outstanding scientific institution in the dynamic research group with members representing diverse interests and qualifications

Requirements

Scientific discipline

Microfluidics, microengineering, physics/optics or similar, ideally also with experience in microbiology

Scientific profile of a candidate

Recognised Researcher (R2)

Requirements

  • PhD degree in physics, engineering, biological sciences (microbiology, biotechnology, bioengineering, biochemistry, biology), chemistry, or related fields
  • Solid knowledge and hands-on experience with experimental microfluidic systems and/or with multiphase systems (ideally experience with development of microfluidic systems for applications in microbiology)
  • Hands-on experience with photolithography and other microfabrication techniques
  • Knowledge of characterization of microfluidic devices (soft-lithography, CAD design, profilometry, microscopic techniques)
  • Additional experience in one or more of the following fields is welcome: optics, optofluidics, automation, programming, microbiology
  • Experience with fluorescence or confocal microscopy.
  • Good understanding of AMR and related issues (origin, mechanism, consequences, and challenges), overview of the available diagnostic and treatment strategies will be considered as valuable assets.

Key assessment criteria

First stage (analysis of CVs):

  • Expertise in microfluidics, optics, microbiology and instrument handling related to the project (0-5 points)
  • Participation in scientific projects especially in international projects, internships, (0-2 points)
  • Scientific achievements – publications, patents, awards, grants (0-2 points)
  • Motivation and recommendation (0-1 points)

Second stage (interview):

  • Presentation of the results of previous research, experience in managing research projects, problem solving skills (0-3 points)
  • Knowledge in the field of research thematically related to the project. Strongest skills according to candidate’s own definition (0-3 points)
  • Motivation to work in the project, future plans and presentation of own research ideas (0-2 points)
  • Analytical thinking, scientific language and reporting skills (0-1 points)
  •  Communication skills and level of English. (0-1 points)
Required documents
  • scientific curriculum vitae, including a list of scientific achievements (scholarships, publications, patents, conference presentations, etc.).
  • motivation letter
  • recommendation letter
  • citation report (e.g. from Web of Science) including the number of publication, number of citation without self-citation, h-index of the Candidate
  • a scan of the PhD diploma
  • a scan of the MSc diploma
Recruitment procedure

How to Apply: Send application directly to rekrutacja@ichf.edu.pl;

 IMPORTANT: email title “Recruitment 01/2023”;

Employment will take place in accordance with the Employment policy of the Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS https://ichf.edu.pl/files/csr/ipc-procedures.pdf and the provisions of the competition documentation of the National Science Center (NSC) for the MAESTRO 10 contest https://www.ncn.gov.pl/ogloszenia/konkursy/maestro10  The Commission will analyze CVs of the candidates. The top candidates will be invited for an online or in person interview.

• The incomplete applications will be not considered.

• The results of the competition are made public.

• Candidates who have been issued a negative opinion by the Recruitment 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 candidate does not sign the contract due to the resignation, we reserve the right to choose the next candidate from the ranking list.

Additional information

How to Apply: Send application directly to rekrutacja@ichf.edu.pl;

IMPORTANT! email subject: “Recruitment no. 01/2023

Deadlines

Application deadline

10.02.2023 23:59

Deadline for the settlement of the competition

24.02.2023

Archival announcement. We would like to thank all candidates for their submitted applications.

Date of announcement: 12.01.2023

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