The Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS is seeking a candidate for the position of: Postdoctoral Researcher at Laboratory of Intracellular Ion Channels

Number of available positions: 1
Place of work: Laboratory of Intracellular Ion Channels
Researcher career profiles (R1-R4): R2/R3
Type of recruitment: Opus 27 - NCN grant

Requirements:

• Educational Background: the candidate should possess a Ph.D. in biophysics, molecular biology, biochemistry, chemistry or a related field.
• Technical Skills: comprehensive understanding and practical experience in modern biochemical and biophysical methods including patch-clamp technique.
• Research Experience: prior experience in studying ion channels, mitochondrial biology, or signaling pathways will be highly advantageous.
• Analytical Skills: Ability to analyze and interpret electrophysiological data and complex biological datasets, including transcriptomic and proteomic studies.
• Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills in English, with a track record of presenting research findings at conferences and publishing in peer-reviewed journals.
• Teamwork: Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research team and contribute to the project’s goals.
• Doctoral degree obtained not earlier than 7 years before the year of employment in the project. The period of 7 years may be extended by the duration specified in the NCN regulations.
• Good command of written and spoken English.

Project description:

Title of the Project: Mitochondrial potassium channels as sensors and regulators of redox signaling.

Mitochondria are essential for ATP synthesis, metabolic regulation, and apoptosis. Dysregulated mitochondrial function and redox homeostasis contribute to many diseases, highlighting the importance of maintaining mitochondrial health. As the primary source of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondria play a dual role: uncontrolled ROS increase leads to cell death, while controlled ROS synthesis supports processes like inflammation or cancer metabolic reprogramming.

Mitochondrial potassium (mitoK) channels are key to these pathways. Their activation induces cytoprotection, partly by regulating mitochondrial ROS synthesis. MitoK channels also are part of a redox signaling loop, as their activity is influenced by redox signals. However, the detailed mechanisms of mitoK channel redox regulation remain unknown. We suspect that through regulation by redox signals, mitoK directly regulate mitochondrial and cellular function and are part of a feedback loop that regulates the mitochondrial and cellular transcriptome/proteome, and metabolome. Additionally, in stress conditions redox regulation of mitoK channels is crucial for their cytoprotective function.

Aim:

The project aims to investigate the redox regulation of mitochondrial potassium (mitoK) channels and their impact on mitochondrial function and cellular physiology. We will explore how the redox state influences the activity of mitoBKCa and mitoKATP channels using various cellular models. We will identify key redox-regulating domains and amino acids within the proteins forming mitoK channels.

The project will also evaluate the effects of mitoK channel redox regulation on mitochondrial function under normoxia and hypoxia. Furthermore, it aims to understand mitoK channels as transducers of redox signals, focusing on their role in mitochondrial metabolism, cytoprotection, and oxidative stress-induced cytotoxicity. Advanced techniques will analyze mitochondrial transcriptome, metabolome, and lipidome for a comprehensive understanding of mitoK function.

Scope of work:

• Mutagenesis of selected mitochondrial potassium channels.
• Electrophysiological studies of mitochondrial potassium channels under conditions of altered redox state.
• Analysis of the localization of mitochondrial potassium channels using confocal microscopy and their impact on mitochondrial function
• Collaboration with project partners in transcriptomic and metabolomic studies.

Employment conditions:

• full-time fixed-term employment contract,
• employment period:36 months,

Application procedure and deadline:

Applications should be sent to: postdoc@nencki.edu.pl, with note: „BKU”

Deadline: April 11^th, 2025.

Required documents:

• CV,
• Cover letter detailing the relevant experience,
• Contact information for references,
• Statement by the candidate that he/she will not receive remuneration from other projects funded by the National Science Centre,
• Declaration that the candidate will not take up other jobs during the period of employment in the project.

You can use the foreign equivalent of a Polish academic degree if it meets at least one of the following criteria:

• is covered by the provisions of an international agreement on the equivalence of education,
• was issued by an authorized institution operating in an EU, OECD or EFTA Member State,
• was issued in another country and recognized on the basis of the regulations on the recognition of academic degrees obtained abroad (learn more about the procedure for the recognition of academic degrees:

https://nawa.gov.pl/en/recognition/recognition-for-professional-purposes/recognition-of-scientific-degrees-and-titles

Additional information:

Please include the following clause in your CV:

I give consent for my personal data included in the recruitment form to be processed by Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS with its registered seat in Warsaw at Pasteur Street No. 3 (data controller) for the purposes of recruitment for Postdoctoral Researcher position pursuant to 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 a legal obligation to which the data controller is subject to (Art. 6 section 1 letter a) and the Act on personal data protection of 10 May 2018 (Journal of Laws of 2018, item 1000).

Information Clause:

The Controller of data is Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS with its registered seat in Warsaw at Pasteur Street No. 3.

Contact Details of the Personal Data Protection Officer: iod@nencki.edu.pl

Personal data in the recruitment form is collected and will be processed only for the purposes of recruitment for Postdoctoral Researcher position conducted by Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS.

Giving consent for processing of your personal data is voluntary; however, it is necessary in order to take part in recruitment. I hereby state that I was informed about the right to withdraw my consent at any time. The withdrawal of the consent does not influence the lawfulness of any processing performed before the consent withdrawal.

Personal data collected in order to perform the recruitment process shall be processed throughout the period of time necessary for the organisation and completion
of the recruitment process, as well as for considering a possible complaint; however, not longer than for the period specified in the project regulations.

Personal data will not be transferred to a third party.

You have the right to request the data controller for access to your personal data, to edit or limit its processing, as well as to raise an objection or transfer your data. You are also entitled to file a complaint to the supervisory body (President of the Office for Personal Data Protection).