Post-doc (assistant professor F/M)

Requirements :

Conditions for entering the competition (required by the Act on Higher Education and Science and the Statute of the University of Warsaw, and also necessary for the position):

– Meeting the requirements specified in art. 113 of the Act on Higher Education and Science (Journal of Laws of 2024, item 1571);
– A doctoral degree in biological or related sciences obtained within 12 years before 1 January of the year of employment in the project. This period may be extended in accordance with the rules specified by the National Science Centre. The competition may also be entered by individuals who on the date of submitting the application do not yet hold a doctoral degree, provided that they obtain it before starting their employment in the project;

– A person who has obtained a doctoral degree from an entity other than the University of Warsaw or has completed at least 9 months of continuous and documented research internship,
completed during education at a doctoral school, doctoral studies or after obtaining the doctoral degree, in an entity other than the University of Warsaw and in a country other than the country in which the
doctoral degree was obtained may be employed in the position;

– Scientific achievements documented by publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals, including international journals included in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) database;

– International experience, in particular participation in international conferences, internships or scientific visits, collaboration with foreign research teams, participation in research projects carried out in international cooperation, or co-authorship of publications with researchers from foreign research centers. International experience should be adequate to the stage of the candidate’s scientific career;

– Presentation of a plan for further research activities, taking into account own scientific development;

– Research competences in the following areas:
i) Experience in working with mammalian gametes and embryos, including gamete and embryo isolation, embryo culture, in vitro fertilization, and micromanipulation techniques used in experimental embryology;
AND/OR
ii) Very good knowledge of cell biology techniques (e.g., immunofluorescence staining, confocal microscopy, cell cultures, apoptosis and cell cycle assessment) and molecular biology (e.g., RT-qPCR, western blot) as well as statistical analysis methods;

– Good command of English (spoken and written).

We also expect (additional conditions, failure to meet which does not result in a negative formal assessment):

– A proactive attitude and the ability to independently solve problems;
– Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a team;
– Very good organization of work space and time;
– Accuracy.

An additional advantage will be:
– Knowledge of animal embryonic development, particularly mammals;
– Knowledge of ion channels;
– Experience working with laboratory animals, confirmed by appropriate certificates;
– Experience in preparing scientific publications and grant projects;

In the case of employment, we expect the University of Warsaw to be the primary place of employment for the selected candidate.

Candidate evaluation criteria in the competition:

– Competencies relevant to the project, documented by publications, a doctoral dissertation, or letters of recommendation;
– Quality of publications and experience in obtaining research funding;
– Scientific potential of the presented plan for further research activities and its significance for the candidate’s scientific development.

Description of tasks :

Project Title: The Role of the Mechanosensitive Ion Channel PIEZO1 in Pre- and Peri-Implantation Development of the Mouse Embryo.

Project Director: Dr. Agnieszka Walewska.

Project Description:
During the development of the mammalian embryo from the single-cell stage to the blastocyst, the last stage before implantation, a fluid-filled cavity forms inside the embryo. As the blastocyst grows, the pressure within this cavity doubles. The increasing pressure within the blastocyst cavity stretches and flattens the cells, influencing their division, localization, and developmental path. The blastocyst is also subjected to numerous mechanical forces during implantation in the uterus. These forces influence cell differentiation, embryo shaping, and the disruption of the clear glycoprotein envelope surrounding the embryo, enabling its implantation in the uterine wall. These mechanical forces acting on the cell membrane can influence the activity of specialized structures called mechanosensitive ion channels. These channels act as molecular switches, converting mechanical stimuli into biochemical signals that can regulate cell behavior and processes essential for proper embryo development before implantation and during its first contact with the uterus.
Our primary focus in this project is the mechanosensitive ion channel PIEZO1, a well-known mechanosensor found in various tissues, capable of detecting and responding to external and internal forces (such as cell membrane tension). We aim to test the hypothesis that PIEZO1 plays a crucial role in early embryonic development and implantation by influencing overall embryo quality, cell division rate, blastomere differentiation, blastocyst expansion, and its ability to successfully implant.
This project aims to uncover a previously unknown mechanobiological mechanism that is crucial for successful preimplantation development and implantation. This will provide new insights relevant not only to developmental biology but also to reproductive medicine.

Keywords: PIEZO1, mechanosensitive channels, mouse, embryo, preimplantation development, peri-implantation development;

Description of tasks:

1) participation in research work as part of a scientific project, including the implementation of selected research tasks:
i) characterization of the expression and distribution of the mechanosensitive ion channel PIEZO1 in pre- and peri-implantation mouse embryos;
ii) determination of the role of PIEZO1 in pre- and/or peri-implantation development of mouse embryos;
2) development and analysis of experimental data, including statistical analysis;
3) documentation of results and participation in the preparation of publications in international scientific journals and presentation of research results.
4) Obtaining funds for research
5) Other duties of an academic teacher resulting from employment at the University of Warsaw.

NCN competition type : SONATA – NZ
Deadline for submitting offers : October 31, 2026, 11:59 p.m.
Form of submitting offers : email
Employment conditions :

Employment Terms:

– Full-time employment contract
– Expected start date: January 1, 2027, for 18 months, with the possibility of extension for an additional 18 months.
– Base salary: approximately PLN 10,500 gross/month plus a 13th-month salary and seniority bonus.
– Location: Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw

Additional information :

Additional information:

Application submission: By email to a.walewska@uw.edu.pl and dziekanat.biol@uw.edu.pl. Please include the job advertisement reference number in the subject line: WB-KG-13/2026.
Candidates will receive confirmation of document submission by email. In the absence of such confirmation, please contact the project manager.

Required documents:

– Personal data questionnaire – downloadable from the Faculty of Biology UW website at:
questionnaire in Polish: https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.biol.uw.edu.pl%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F19%2F2025%2F03%2FKwestionariusz-osobowy-PL-250319.docx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK
questionnaire in English:
https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.biol.uw.edu.pl%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F19%2F2025%2F03%2FKwestionariusz-osobowy-ENG-250319.docx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK

– Cover letter describing the candidate’s scientific interests and research plan.

Please ensure your application is complete and submit it by the deadline! Failure to meet these requirements will result in your application being rejected on formal grounds.

The competition consists of the following stages:
− Stage I – formal evaluation of documents,
− Stage II – substantive evaluation based on the submitted documents,
− Stage III – interview with selected candidates, during which the candidate will be required to present a short presentation on their current achievements and career plans, and will then answer questions from the committee members.
− Stage IV – final assessment of competences, experience, and scientific achievements,
− Stage V – competition results and announcement of results.

Interviews will be conducted from November 9-20, 2026; candidates will be notified individually by email of the interview date with the competition committee.

Candidates will be notified of the competition results by email by November 30, 2026.

For any questions, candidates are asked to contact the project manager via email at a.walewska@uw.edu.pl