Research Specialist

Research Specialist Position lab technician for biochemistry of RNA and proteins complexes

Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Protein Engineering at the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, headed by Prof. Janusz M. Bujnicki, offers a position for a Research Specialist motivated to develop a career in an interdisciplinary and international team.

Deadline for applications: March 20^th, 2021. Preferred job starting date: April 1^st 2021 (or as soon as possible after that date).

As a Research Specialist, you will be involved in two types of activities in the lab:

Firstly, research activities, from experiment design to the interpretation of results. As a contributor to research, you will co-author scientific publications. You will be expected to master a wide range of techniques including RNA expression and purification, biochemical assays, structural analyses (including crystallization), and analyzing molecular interactions with various biochemical and biophysical techniques. You will have access to modern equipment and you will collaborate with other experienced researchers.
As a part of research activities, you will be involved in the training of junior scientists, in particular to conduct experiments with new techniques and to handle the equipment properly. Secondly, you will be involved in the support of processes in the experimental part of our lab, including house-keeping, ordering supplies, maintaining stocks, taking care of documentation, organizing lab protocols, etc.
The team: Our group is highly interdisciplinary and international. We combine various approaches for studying the structures and mechanisms of biological macromolecules, in particular RNA and macromolecular complexes involving nucleic acids, proteins, and small molecules. We use experimental approaches such as chemical probing, crystallography, cryo-EM and SAXS to characterize the structures and functions of RNAs and their complexes with other molecules. We also develop and use computer programs for data analyses, in particular for modeling based on heterogeneous, low-resolution, and noisy experimental data. Examples of our methods include SimRNA and ModeRNA, and the MODOMICS database. We also use theoretical predictions to guide macromolecular design and engineering. Our recent analyses include 3D structure modeling of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus RNA.

This position is ideal for you if you love experimental biochemistry, if you are very well organized and adaptive, and if you enjoy teamwork. We want you at this position if you have a drive to learn and implement new experimental methods, have excellent time- and self-management skills, and if you are comfortable with multitasking and being involved in multiple projects in parallel. You should speak Polish to be able to communicate with Polish sale representatives, service providers etc. You should also speak English fluently. You should enjoy training and supporting other scientists, including individuals from abroad and from diverse cultural backgrounds.

We offer:

• Full-time contract (“umowa o pracę”), initially for a trial period (three months), with an intended long-term extension

• Gross salary starting at ~6100 PLN/month, expected net salary at ~4300 PLN/month, with social security. Additional 13^th salary after working a minimum of six months in a given calendar year

• Benefits including reduced-rate for an individual medical care package and membership in MultiSport program

• Scientific training, support from peers

• Administrative and organizational support from professional English-speaking personnel

• Responsibilities divided between research and lab support

• Appointment available as soon as possible, preferably from April 2021 or as soon as possible after that date

We require:

• M.Sc. or Ph.D. in biochemistry, molecular biology or related discipline

• Documented experience in biochemical/biophysical analyses of biomacromolecules, in particular in protein or RNA biochemistry, RNA sequencing by NGS-based methods, biophysics (e.g., spectroscopic methods to study nucleic acid-protein or macromolecule-ligand interactions) or macromolecular structural biology

• Expertise and technical competence in designing and carrying out scientific experiments and in interpreting their results

• Proactive approach to achieving objectives, good interpersonal skills, collaborative and adaptive attitude

• Very good organizational skills

• Very good command of English (written and oral communication)

• Good command of Polish. Candidates who do not speak Polish as the native language will be expected to learn it within the trial period to the level necessary to communicate effectively with Polish sale representatives etc.

• Experience in lab management and/or in teaching/supervising students or junior scientists will be advantageous, but it not essential.

Priority will be given to candidates with expertise most relevant to the project and to the profile of the laboratory, who are familiar with our work and who can convincingly explain why their expertise is a good fit for our requirements.The Research Specialist will be selected from candidates 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.

How to apply:

• Apply now (before the deadline of March 20^th, 2021) to Ten adres pocztowy jest chroniony przed spamowaniem. Aby go zobaczyć, konieczne jest włączenie w przeglądarce obsługi JavaScript.

• In the subject include "IIMCB-technician-biochemistry" and your first and last name.

• Your application must be submitted in English and should contain: 1) a CV, 2) a cover letter including a short description of your key achievements and explicit responses to the following questions: What are your scientific interests and how do they relate to requirements of the position offered? What are your key strengths? What do you know about our laboratory and why do you want to work with us?, 3) contacts to at least two potential referees, including your M.Sc. (or Ph.D.) supervisor. At this stage, please do not attach copies of diplomas, etc.

• Please include the following statement in your Curriculum vitae: “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 

• Best candidate(s) may be given additional questions and tasks as a part of the recruitment process.

• The competition may be extended or repeated until a suitable candidate who fulfills all requirements is found.
  
  

We would like to inform that the competition for the Researcher Specialist position was not successfully completed. No candidate was selected in the recruitment process.