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The Dioscuri Centre at the Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS, Warsaw, is seeking a full-time post-doctoral researcher to work on heterogeneous response to cancer chemotherapy in in vitro models of cancer. The candidate will investigate differences in single-cell response of normal and cancer cells to chemotherapy, and how the response correlates with phenotypic, non-genetic heterogeneity prior to treatment. The project will help to better understand why chemotherapy fails, quantify the contribution of different mechanisms leading to resistance, and drive better, predictive mathematical models of cancer treatment.

This post is funded by the POLS grant “Phenotypic heterogeneity in cancer chemotherapy” carried out in collaboration with Professor Hesso Farhan, the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences at the University of Oslo, and the Institute of Pathophysiology, Medical University of Innsbruck in Austria.

Main responsibilities:

1. Undertaking research projects in pursuit of goals agreed with the supervisor. This will involve deciding (with the supervisor) on the detailed direction of the research, formulating a strategy for day-to-day research work, implementing the strategy (without close supervision) and reporting progress to the supervisor and other research team members.     

2. Communicating research strategies and results to team members and collaborators through talks and discussions, as well as learning about others’ research through seminars and journal clubs.  

3. Assisting with supervision of junior researchers (Master and PhD students), where appropriate.    

4. Writing reports and scientific papers.

5. Attending and presenting at workshops and conferences. 

The candidate is expected to work closely with experimentalists from Prof. Hesso Farhan’s group (Innsbruck, Austria), which will include collaborative research visits to Innsbruck.

The successful candidate will benefit from working in an international, interdisciplinary research group, a newly refurbished cell culture lab equipped with automated epifluorescent microscopes, and modern office space. The candidate will work closely with other experimentalists and modellers from the Dioscuri Centre and collaborating groups, in particular with Prof. Farhan’s group and the Department Evolutionary Theory, MPI for Evolutionary Biology, Ploen.

The position is for a maximum of 2 years (duration of the POLS grant). Bridge funding may be provided at the end of the funding period to apply for an independent research fellowship.

Person Specification (Knowledge, Skills and Experience Needed for the Job)

Essential

• PhD in biology, bio-medicine, or biological physics
• Hands-on experience with microscopic optical imaging
• Very good academic achievements as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications and talks/poster presentations at international conferences.
• Ability to draft (in English) scientific papers for academic journals.
• Ability to communicate (in English) complex information clearly, orally and in writing.
• Ability to think creatively, propose and develop new ideas.
• Capability of working without close supervision, exercising a high degree of initiative and demonstrating a pro-active approach to work.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships.

Desirable

• Experience in in vitro cancer models (cell cultures, spheroids, organelloids)
• Experience in live-cell optical imaging (epi-fluorescent, confocal), ideally using automated, computer-controlled microscopes or image cytometers
• Experience with CRISPR-Cas9 or other methods suitable for genetic engineering of human cell lines
• Experience in cross-disciplinary and / or collaborative research projects.
• Ability to communicate with researchers or other project partners from other scientific backgrounds, especially with computer/mathematical modellers
• Ability to adapt to new ideas and willingness to approach new challenges and adjust plans to suit new priorities.
• Ability to work hard and organise work so as to perform multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to maintain a clean and well-organised laboratory environment and to set up and maintain a well-organised digital repository of experimental data and protocols.
• Potential for career advancement as an independent researcher.

• PhD (obtained or expected prior to employment) in a relevant scientific discipline
• scientific achievements of the candidate, including publications in renowned scientific journals, presentations at foreign conferences, seminars, patents, research scholarships
• skills required to carry out specific tasks in the research project
• reference letters