Postdoctoral Researcher in the Laboratory of RNA Viruses

Postdoctoral Researcher in the Laboratory of RNA Viruses

The Laboratory of RNA Viruses (website) at the International Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IIMCB), Warsaw, led by Dr. Stefan Bresson, is seeking a highly motivated, creative, and independent Postdoctoral Researcher to join our team for an exciting project funded by the European Innovation Council.

You will join the VirHoX Hop-on project titled "Optimizing molecular tools for VirHo-Seq with smTIRF and Ribo-Seq", supported by the HORIZON-WIDERA programme. This project integrates IIMCB as a widening partner into the VirHoX consortium, strengthening virus-host discovery technology through single-molecule validation and translational profiling.

The ideal candidate should be able to pursue challenging tasks and achieve objectives and collaborate with other researchers. Candidates will be selected in an open competition, according to the procedure complying with the rules of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers as a part of HR Excellence in Research Strategy https://shorturl.at/f2CpW.

The deadline for applications is 15.01.2026. Start of employment is 02.02.2026 or later.

 

About the project:

VirHoX aims to address a major challenge in virology: linking newly discovered viruses to their host species. Viruses infect species from all domains of life and employ a staggering array of replication strategies. Despite this diversity, viruses universally rely on host ribosomes to translate viral proteins. The VirHoX project aims to exploit this conserved interaction between viral mRNA and host ribosomes to directly assign orphan viruses to their host species.

 

Your role will focus on Work Package (WP) 10 (Ribo-seq development for analysing phage infection), which broadens the scope of the VirHoX project to include detailed characterization of translation in diverse virus-host systems. In this project, you will establish culture conditions for representative archaeal and bacterial species and their associated phages. The primary model species will be the extreme halophile Haloferax volcanii and the opportunistic human pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii. You will use high-throughput techniques such as Ribo-seq to analyse viral and cellular translation during the course of infection.

 

Key Responsibilities:

1. Establish culture conditions for Haloferax volcanii and Acinetobacter baumannii and their associated phages.

2. Implement ribosome profiling (Ribo-seq) in the aforementioned host-phage systems.

3. Actively contribute to project development, including proposing and testing novel research hypotheses.

4. Collaborate closely with VirHoX consortium partners. This will include periodic meetings and research exchange visits.

5. Prepare manuscripts, present results at scientific meetings, and contribute to funding applications.

6. Mentor junior researchers and contribute to training activities within the consortium.

Requirements:

• Ph.D. in Biology, Microbiology, Genetics, Biochemistry, Biophysics, or a related field.
• Strong publication record, demonstrating expertise relevant to the project.
• Experience in molecular biology and biochemical techniques.
• Experience working with bacteria, archaea, and/or phages will be highly advantageous.
• Familiarity with computational approaches for data analysis is a plus.
• Ability to design and execute experiments independently and interpret results critically.
• Proactive approach, strong analytical skills, and a collaborative attitude.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and oral.

What we offer:

• Full-time employment contract, initially for 6 months, with the possibility of extension until the end of the project.
• Competitive salary starting from 9700 PLN gross/month.
• A dynamic and supportive research environment within an internationally recognized institute.
• 13th salary after working for at least 6 calendar months in a given year, private medical care, and Multisport benefit.
• 100% research focus - no teaching duties.
• Professional development opportunities, including:
  • Participation in courses, scientific seminars, and international conferences.
  • Funding for postdoctoral training and professional courses.
  • Mentorship and assistance in applying for independent research grants (e.g., NCN).

Selection criteria:

Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Education and formal qualifications.
2. Technical expertise and relevance of experience to the project.
3. Scientific achievements (e.g., publications, awards, grants, international collaborations).
4. Proficiency in English (written and spoken).
5. Soft skills, including:
   • Clarity and impact of motivation letter.
   • Communication and teamwork abilities.
   • Organizational and time-management skills.
   • Compatibility with the research group’s goals and vision.

How to apply:

• Apply now via erecruiter system:  https://system.erecruiter.pl/FormTemplates/RecruitmentForm.aspx?WebID=2d982619a055474e9c1f3e0d203578f9
• Your application must be submitted in English and should contain a CV, a motivation letter, a description of your key achievements and contacts to at least two potential referees, including one of your supervisors.
• Please include the following statement in your CV: “I hereby agree to the processing of my personal data, included in the application documents by the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, 4 Księcia Trojdena Street, 02-109 Warsaw, for the purpose of carrying out the current recruitment process.”

Your personal data will be processed for the purpose of the recruitment procedure
by the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw. Full information
is available under the link https://bit.ly/3UFWpY2

• Procedure for reporting irregularities, taking follow-up actions, and protecting whistleblowers: https://shorturl.at/u2mww  
• The competition may be extended until a suitable candidate who fulfils all requirements is found.

If you have questions about further details, please email sbresson@iimcb.gov.pl