Postdoctoral Researcher

Requirements :

Place of work: Laboratory of Neuromuscular Plasticity, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences
Researcher’s professional profile (R1-R4): R2

Requirements:
A person applying for the position of Postdoctoral Researcher, at the time of signing the employment contract, should hold a doctoral degree in biology, neurobiology, molecular biology, biotechnology or related sciences, awarded by an institution other than the institution where employment in this position is planned, or who has completed at least a 10-month, continuous and documented postdoctoral internship in an institution other than the institution carrying out the project and in a country other than the country in which the doctoral degree was obtained; these are the NCN formal requirements included in the regulations for granting funds for the implementation of tasks financed in the scope of research projects for the OPUS 28 call: https://ncn.gov.pl/sites/default/files/pliki/uchwaly-rady/2024/uchwala84_2024-zal1.pdf
– Knowledge of the physiology of the nervous system, molecular and cellular biology; experience in working with rodents will be an additional advantage;
– Experience in culturing nerve cells in vitro, experience in ex vivo culturing of organotypic sections will be an additional advantage;
– Practical knowledge of basic laboratory methods/techniques used in biology, molecular biology and related sciences (histological methods, microscopy, statistical analysis), experience in conducting gene expression analyses using traditional and large-scale methods will be an additional advantage;
– Ability to analyze and interpret the obtained results;
– Knowledge of English at a level that allows communication, reading and writing scientific texts;
– Highly motivated to pursue research, meticulous, creative, communicative, and able to work independently and in a team;
– Significant motivation to conduct research should be confirmed by publications, references from the doctoral supervisor and/or other research supervisors;
– It is expected that during the period of employment at the Institute, the Postdoctoral Researcher will not undertake any other employment;
– A doctoral degree obtained in the year of employment in the project or within a period of up to 12 years before January 1st of the year of employment in the project. This period may be extended, in accordance with the principles described in the Catalog of costs in research projects financed by the National Science Centre.
– Obtaining a doctoral degree in an institution other than the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences or completing at least a 10-month, continuous and documented research internship (during doctoral school, doctoral studies or after obtaining the doctoral degree) in an institution other than the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences and in a country other than the country in which the doctoral degree was obtained.

Description of tasks :

Project Description:

Our team has already demonstrated that transplantation of a fetal brainstem region (containing 5-HT neurons) into the spinal cord below complete transection leads to restoration of 5-HT innervation and contributes to improved locomotor function in paraplegic rats. The goal of this project will be to generate a population of pre-differentiated neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and test the hypothesis that modulation of in vitro culture conditions can result in directed differentiation of NPCs and the generation of selected neuronal types. Next, our studies will determine whether NPCs from different sources (exogenous – fetal brainstem or endogenous – ependyma of the central canal of the spinal cord), pre-differentiated under the control of different trophic factors, will be able to differentiate into specific neuronal types after transplantation into the spinal cord (ex vivo organotypic cultures) and contribute to the improvement of lost locomotor function (in vivo studies in a rat model). Our research will utilize cell and organotypic cultures as well as animal models, supplemented by modern neuroanatomical, neurophysiological, electrophysiological, and molecular biology methods, including the analysis of large-scale gene expression data (project description https://ncn.gov.pl/…/files/listy-rankingowe/637017-pl.pdf).

Responsibilities:
The employed person will participate in the implementation of the project. The employed person’s responsibilities will include conducting and documenting laboratory research performed as part of the project, including:
– Carrying out research tasks, in particular establishing and maintaining in vitro cell cultures, ex vivo organotypic spinal cord cultures, and participating in conducting in vivo experiments on a rat model of paraplegia;
– Preparing histological slides and analyzing microscopic images;
– Processing and analyzing obtained results;
– Participating in the preparation of reports, preparing manuscripts for scientific publications, presenting research results at seminars, national and international scientific meetings, and conferences;
– Participating in internships and training related to the work performed.

NCN competition type : OPUS – NZ
Deadline for submitting offers : October 31, 2026, 00:00
Form of submitting offers : email
Employment conditions :

A person may be employed in the position of Postdoctoral Researcher if he/she has obtained a doctoral degree and meets the formal requirements of the National Science Centre specified in the regulations for granting funds for the implementation of tasks financed in the scope of research projects for the OPUS 28 call: https://ncn.gov.pl/sites/default/files/pliki/uchwaly-rady/2024/uchwala84_2024-zal1.pdf

– A 12-month employment contract with the possibility of extension for the duration of the grant implementation (up to 3 years). Please note: the employed person cannot terminate the contract before 6 months from the date of signing the employment contract;
– Remuneration in line with the NCN guidelines for the Postdoctoral Researcher position (PLN 9,300 gross); –
Work in a dynamic, interdisciplinary research team;
– Opportunity to participate in modern research with high translational potential;
– Access to advanced research infrastructure;
– Opportunity for professional development, participation in scientific conferences and publications;
– Additional benefits (medical package, sports card, social fund).

Procedure and deadline for receiving applications:
Applications should be submitted electronically (in PDF file format) to: postdoc@nencki.edu.pl with the note “Post-doc OPUS 28 US” by 31 October 2026.

Required documents:
– CV with a description of professional experience and a list of publications;
– Cover letter (max. 1 page) containing a description of previous experience and scientific interests;
– Address details of at least two persons who can provide references;
– Copy of doctoral diploma (or equivalent);
– Contact details, including e-mail address and telephone number;
– A declaration by the candidate that during the period of receiving remuneration he/she will not receive any other remuneration from funds granted as direct costs from research projects financed under NCN calls for proposals
– A declaration that during the period of receiving remuneration the candidate will not receive remuneration from another employer under an employment contract, including an employer based outside Poland

Contact details: Prof. Urszula Sławińska, u.slawinska@nencki.edu.pl.
Link to the Laboratory’s website: https://nencki.edu.pl/pl/laboratories/pracownia-plastycznosci-nerwowo-miesniowej/

Please include the following clause in your CV:
I consent to the processing of my personal data included in this recruitment form by the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences with its registered office in Warsaw at Pasteura Street 3 (data controller), for the purposes of recruitment for the position specified in the advertisement, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC, in compliance with the legal obligation incumbent on the data controller (Article 6 paragraph 1 letter a) and the Act of 10 May 2018 on the protection of personal data (Journal of Laws of 2018, item 1000).