Assistant Professor (Adjunct) at the Department of Affective Cognitive Neuroscience, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences

SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINE:      Medical Sciences

ANNOUNCEMENT DATE:         17.07.2025

APPLICATION DEADLINE:      5.08.2025

RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT:   13.08.2025 

A candidate for the position of Assistant Professor at the Department of Affective Cognitive Neuroscience, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences (hereinafter referred to as the Institute or IP PAS) should meet the following criteria:

1.  At least a PhD degree in medical sciences, biological sciences, or related fields;
2. Scientific track record documented by publications in internationally recognized journals, including at least 3 original postdoctoral papers in which the candidate is the first and/or corresponding author;
3. Outstanding professional development through postdoctoral research fellowships, including at least one three-year postdoctoral internship;
4. Professional experience documented by publications, obtained in at least two foreign research institutions;
5. Documented experience in conducting and/or leading grant projects, experience in scientific collaboration, including international cooperation;
6. Broad knowledge of: the functioning of the central nervous system (CNS), including neuropsychiatric, neurodegenerative, neuropharmacological, pain-related, neuroinflammatory, and addiction processes, with particular emphasis on neuroimmunological and neuroinflammatory mechanisms; the role of cannabinoids in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as in neuroimmunological processes;
7. Practical knowledge of various in vitro techniques (animal and human cells) and animal models for studying the above-mentioned processes;
8. Practical knowledge of methods such as cell cultures (including human-derived cells), biochemical and molecular techniques including immunoblotting, proteomics, ELISA, RNA isolation and analysis (transcriptomic/omics profiling), biofluorescence techniques, confocal and super-resolution microscopy, flow cytometry and cell sorting, cell transfection, DNA and RNA isolation, PCR, qPCR, animal genotyping. Experience with methods for analyzing extracellular vesicles and bio-nanoparticles – including their isolation, imaging, separation and purification (gradients), biochemical, molecular and nanocytometric analysis – in the context of (neuro)inflammatory and immune processes – will be an asset;
9. Practical and certified (GCP) knowledge of conducting and analyzing clinical trials;
10. Experience in laboratory management and organization, training of junior staff, including educational activities (courses, training, lectures at leading scientific and biomedical institutions in Poland and abroad);
11. Experience in supervising bachelor’s, master’s, and/or doctoral theses;
12. Experience in commercial cooperation, including the preparation of patent applications, grant proposals, organization of trainings and conferences with international participants;
13. Fluency in English; knowledge of other languages facilitating international cooperation will be an asset;
14. Impeccable ethical standards;
15. Ability to work in a team and to lead inter-team projects, including collaborations with foreign institutions.

ADDITIONAL ASSETS:

1. Knowledge of Polish language;
2. Documented experience in writing scientific review articles.

 SCOPE OF DUTIES:

1. Development of research activities in line with the scientific profile of the Department of Affective Cognitive Neuroscience;
2. Teaching activities, including supervision of bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral theses;
3. Planning, conducting, and performing research, including the implementation of ongoing projects and introduction of new research methods;
4. Processing and proper archiving of research results;
5. Preparation of scientific project proposals and acquisition of research funding;
6. Strict adherence to the Code of Ethics for PAS employees;
7. Compliance with the regulations and directives in force at the IP PAS.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

1. Employment based on a full-time employment contract;
2. Task-based working time system;
3. Scientific position offering opportunities for professional career development;
4. Access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure, equipment facilities, and administrative project support;
5. Possibility to conduct research in collaboration (internal, external, and international), including commercial research projects.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:  

1. Application form for the above-mentioned position, including a cover letter and a description of scientific interests;
2. Candidate information form in accordance with Annex No. 1 to the Application Form;
3. Personal questionnaire for a job applicant, in accordance with Annex No. 2 to the Application Form;
4. Copy of PhD and/or habilitation diploma;
5. Copy of the GCP certificate;
6. Short self-reference summary;
7. Opinion from the PhD supervisor or another academic mentor;
8. Contact information regarding the candidate for referees who have agreed to be contacted;
9. English language proficiency certificate, if available;
10. Statement declaring the Institute as the primary place of employment and indicating the affiliation for conducted research and publications, in accordance with Annex No. 3 to the Application Form;
11. Information on the processing of personal data, in accordance with Annex No. 4 to the Application Form;
12. Statement on ethical conduct, in accordance with Annex No. 5 to the Application Form.

Applications with the required documentation should be submitted electronically to the following email address: ifpan@if-pan.krakow.pl by August 5, 2025.

Please include the following subject line: “Competition – Assistant Professor at the Dept. of Affective Cognitive Neuroscience IP PAS”

The competition winner will be selected from among candidates meeting the formal criteria based on the assessment of submitted documents and potential interviews.

Please be advised that we will contact only selected candidates and we will not return the submitted documents. We reserve the right to void the competition without giving any reason.

ANNOUNCEMENT DATE:         July 17, 2025

APPLICATION DEADLINE:      August 5, 2025

RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT:   August 13, 2025