Aassistant or Adjunct

Director of the Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences (IPG PAS) in Poznan announces open competition for research position

(Position ref. number 6/2024)

Job details:

Work location: Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań, Poland

Position type: adjunct or research assistant

Research areas: plant biology, microbiomics, plant-environment interaction

Type of contract: full-time

Salary range - minimum (gross) for: adjunct 6841.00 PLN, research assistant 4685.00 PLN

Place of work: Department of Plant Microbiomics, IPG PAS, Poznań, Poland

Start date of work: June 1, 2024

Deadline for applications: April 30,2024

Required Qualifications

1. Master's degree (research assistant)/ PhD (adjunct) in biology, biotechnology or a related field.
2. Publications and conference reports in a field related to the topic.
3. Good organizational skills and experience working in a team.
4. Excellent communication skills in English.
5. Experience with in vitro cultures of the plants and microorganisms; PCR, RT-PCR, Real-time PCR, RT-ddPCR, dPCR analysis (development and validation of methods, primer designing, data analysis); sequencing, bioinformatics analysis of molecular data is an advantage, but not essential.

General requirements

1. Conducting research at a high scientific level.
2. Preparing project applications as part of national and international competitions to finance own research.
3. Presenting research results at domestic and foreign scientific conferences
4. Developing cooperation with domestic and foreign centers.
5. Publishing results in renowned scientific journals, training students, preparing reports on work progress.

Main Responsibilities

1. Analysis of the microbiome of various plant species and the interactions between plants and microorganisms associated with these plants temporarily or long-term.
2. Molecular biology techniques and methods such as: PCR, RT-PCR, Real-time PCR, RT-ddPCR, dPCR, HRM, DNA barcoding, metabarcoding, sequencing, bisulfate sequencing, pyrosequencing, CRISPR/Cas.
3. Extraction and analysis of DNA, RNA (mRNA, sRNA, lncRNA), proteins and metabolites.

What we offer

1. A full-time employment contract for the entire duration
2. 36 working days of vacation per year.
3. Excellent career development opportunities and a stimulating international working environment.
4. Work in the Plant Microbiomics Team, which examines the diversity of microorganisms inhabiting the underground and aboveground parts and internal tissues of plants, determines the method of transfer of endogenous microorganisms and assesses the impact of the host genotype, individual plant organs and plant growth conditions on the composition and distribution of microorganisms inhabiting the rhizosphere, phyllosphere and endosphere and tries to understand the morphological, anatomical, physiological and molecular response of plants to changes in their microbiome. An additional aspect of the Team's work is the selection of endogenous microorganisms that can be used as plant growth biostimulants and biological factors to reduce fungal diseases and for bioaugmentation of metallophytes. Recently, the Team started research (as part of the NCN OPUS 24 project, entitled: "RNACTiON: microRNA and siRNA - mediators in communication between common wheat and pathogenic and symbiotic fungi", no. 2022/47/B/NZ9/01282, 2023-2027; and the NCN MINIATURA 7 project, entitled "Assessment of the efficiency of the absorption and processing of synthetic double-stranded RNAs by wheat endophytic fungi - research internship at the University of Bologna", no. 2023/07/X/NZ9/00844, 2023-2024) on determining the role of epigenetic mechanisms (DNA methylation, lncRNA, microRNA and post-transcriptional histone modifications) in multidirectional interactions of plants with pathogenic and symbiotic fungi, including the assessment of the impact of DNA methylation on the epigenetic long-term and intergenerational memory of plants on stress caused by fungal colonization.

Required documents

1. Curriculum Vitae.
2. Complete publication list highlighting articles relevant to the advertised position.
3. Reprint of an article that the candidate considers to be the most important publication
4. Letter of motivation describing the candidate's research activities.
5. Contact information of 2 referees who may be contacted for an opinion about the candidate.
6. Scan or photocopy of degree or diploma.
7. Career break information (if applicable).
8. Experience certificates (if applicable).
9. Consent to the processing of the applicants personal data for the purposes of the selection process.

How to apply

Please send applications in English with all required documents in electronic format, combined in a single file, to: work@igr.poznan.pl

Clearly indicate the position for which you are applying in the subject line of the email.

Informal inquiries about the position should be directed to the following email address: lbla@igr.poznan.pl.

Selection Process

The documents submitted by applicants will be reviewed by the Selection Committee to determine the applicant's suitability for the position. Potential candidates will be invited for an interview via video conference or by visiting IPGPAS).

Criteria for evaluating candidates to be hired as postdoctoral fellows:

1. Match of the candidate's experience and skills with the proposed area of study
2. Creativity as measured by:
   1. Quality and number of publications in which the candidate is first author or corresponding author, number of citations of the candidate's work (Web of Science Core Collection) and Hirsch Index;
   2. Number of patents/patent applications and/or implementations (if applicable);
   3. Quality and number of research projects and development work led (if applicable).
3. Mobility in their scientific career, including completed scientific internships, change of scientific profile, internships and work in industry.

Announcement of results: As soon as possible after the deadline.

The application must contain the following statement

"I, the undersigned, give my consent to the processing by the Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences (hereinafter referred to as IGR PAN) with headquarters at Strzeszynska 34, 60-479 Poznan, my personal data contained in the submitted competition documentation for the needs necessary in the recruitment process, including to put my name and surname in the information on the results of the recruitment carried out on the Institute’s website. I have been informed that consent is voluntary and that I have the right to withdraw my consent at any time, and withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of the processing that was carried out on its basis before its withdrawal. I have also read the IGR PAN information clause.”

ATTENTION: at the stage of the recruitment process, there is no requirement to present documents certified by the apostille clause nor the requirement of nostrification of diplomas (https://nawa.gov.pl/uznawalnosc/informacje-dla-uczelni/nostryfikacja-dyplomow). These requirements must be met if the candidate is accepted.