Job details Print page

This project aims to test if phosphodiesterase 6 (PDE6) is the molecular driver behind an Optoretinography (ORG) biomarker, to further characterize PDE6 from a structural point of view, to clarify its activation mechanisms, and link the morphological changes and potential anomalies observed in photoreceptors upon light stimulation with a specific biological molecular pathway. This will then allow better diagnosis and serve as a tool to track disease surgency and its development, test new drugs, and evaluate the efficacy of treatments. The quest for non-invasive and impartial diagnostics that rely on functional imaging is the holy grail in ophthalmology and other clinical fields. Non-invasive functional imaging is a perfect approach to image changes in the retina, and this field develops extremely fast. The recent development in the Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) field allows direct imaging of photoreceptors, and offers a new biomarker with the measurement of morphological changes detected upon light stimulus. The outer segments of rod and cone photoreceptors, which are composed of stacks of discs, are known to physically change dimensions along their axes upon light stimulation in a process that is not understood at the molecular level. This observation is currently of great interest and has been explored by multiple groups, due to its potential value as a diagnostic tool. There are distinct explanations for this phenomenon. We hypothesize that PDE6 is involved in photoreceptor size changes upon light stimulation (and thus identify the molecular driver of an already proven new biomarker for retina function).

The postdoc will be responsible for planning and executing structural biology and bioinformatic experiments. Namely cryo grid preparation, data collection and processing of cryoEM Tomography and cryoSXT tomograms. It will also be responsible for the design and execution of computational modelling and simulations, predicting supra-macromolecular assemblies, and structure-based drug discovery/design. Additional tasks will include data analysis, writing manuscripts for publication, conference participation, and helping supervise PhD students.

Basic responsibilities are as follows:.

•           Scientific initiative and contribution through regular reporting and publishing, as well as presenting at group meetings, and national and international conferences;

•           Proactive approach to achieving objectives

•           Providing help and supervision to junior members of the group, and creating protocols and R&D documentation

•             Contribution to the efficient functioning of the lab, including necessary organizational tasks.

We offer a post-doctoral position (full-time employment) in the Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS with a gross salary of around 9650 PLN per month financed from the NCN OPUS-26 Project No. 2023/51/B/NZ7/02366 100% of the work time of Postdoc will be devoted to the realization of the proposed project.

The offer is for 46  months (with periodic performance evaluations ) with a possible extension.

The successful candidate will benefit in the form of new knowledge and methods added to his/her toolbox. The project deals with structural biology and bioinformatics, so any profile of the candidate will find some new knowledge to be gained upon realization of the project.

We plan to publish the results of the work in high-impact factor journals.

The successful candidate will be eligible for all programs at the IPC PAS, including the IPC PAS Young Scientists competition and the IPC PAS Young Scientists Mobility competition.

Institute provides an opportunity to participate in ERASMUS+ programme.

PhD degree in chemical or physical sciences, obtained in the year of employment in the project or within 7 years before 1 January of the year of employment in the project. For researchers with multiple PhDs, the date of the first PhD award is deemed the reference date. Extension might apply according to National Science Centre, Poland, rules

1. Publication record and rich (mobility) scientific experience.
2. Ability to work independently as well as in a group.
3. Significant research achievements in protein biology, functional assays, structural biology and bioinformatics.
4. Familiar with structural biology techniques such as X-ray crystallography, cryoEM, cryoET, cryoSXT, and TEM, and knowledge in vision sciences. Moreover, experience with computational modelling and simulations, predicting supra-molecular assemblies, and structure-based drug discovery/design is desired.
5. Ability to communicate fluently in English (written and spoken).
6. Strong motivation to work and pursue scientific questions, creativity, and analytical thinking.
7. Research experience in related fields will be advantageous.
8. Experience in leveraging best practices from the research community;
9. Experience in supervising and teaching students.

.

•           competencies of candidates for specific tasks in a research project, (max 70 points),

•           previous scientific achievements of candidates, (max  20 points),

•           awards and distinctions of the candidate resulting from the conducted research, (max  5 points).

•             presented opinions via. recommendation letters, (max  5 points).