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 molecular biology, biochemistry, biophysics, chemistry or a related field.
• Technical Skills: A comprehensive understanding and practical experience in modern biochemical, molecular biology, and fluorescence microscopy techniques. Knowledge of electrophysiological methods, including the patch-clamp technique, will be an additional advantage.
• Research Experience: prior experience in studying ion channels, mitochondrial biology, or signaling pathways will be highly advantageous.
• Analytical Skills: Ability to analyze and interpret complex biological datasets, including transcriptomic and metabolomic 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 Nanoplastics (NPs) pose significant global health risks, contributing to conditions like Crohn's disease, intestinal cancer, and inflammation. Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a key role in NP-induced cytotoxicity and is associated with diseases such as muscle disorders, neurodegeneration, and intestinal illnesses. Recent research highlights the importance of mitochondrial potassium (mitoK) channels, which regulate K+ permeability in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Activation of mitoK channels protects against cell death during myocardial infarction and cerebral hypoxia/reperfusion, offering cardioprotective and neuroprotective effects.

Since intestinal epithelial tissue is a primary site of NP deposition, mitoK channels in epithelial cells may play a crucial cytoprotective role against NP-induced damage. Preliminary findings indicate functional mitoK channels in epithelial cells and altered ion transport in the presence of NPs. We suspect that mitoK channels in epithelial cells might play a critical role in cytoprotection against NP-induced injury. However, knowledge about mitoK channels in epithelial tissues remains limited.

Aim:

The project aims to identify and characterize mitoK channels in human intestinal epithelial cells and investigate their role in protecting against damage caused by nanoplastics (NPs) or oxidative stress. Key objectives include the biophysical, electrophysiological, and pharmacological characterization of mitoK channels, along with the evaluation of ion transport changes in response to NPs. The project also seeks to identify potassium channel proteins at the molecular level and generate new cell lines expressing or lacking selected mitoK channels. We will also study the modulation of mitochondrial bioenergetics and cellular electrical properties of the cell monolayer by modulators of mitoK channels and nanoplastics.

Additionally, the research will explore the effects of NPs on cell survival, oxidative stress, apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, and DNA damage/repair mechanisms. A particular focus will be on the role of mitoK channels under NP-induced stress conditions. These studies are expected to enhance understanding of endogenous cytoprotective mechanisms in epithelial cells, potentially leading to novel therapeutic strategies for treating epithelial tissue injuries and intestinal disorders linked to NPs.

Scope of work:

• Determining the effects of nanoplastic on the functioning of selected cell types in various experimental systems, and identifying the role of potassium channels in the cellular response to nanoplastic,
• Assessing the impact of nanoplastic on the bioenergetic state of mitochondria.
• Performing mutagenesis of plasmids encoding selected proteins and using the CRISPR/Cas9 technique to generate new research models.
• Collaborating with project partners on transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses.

Employment conditions:

• employment period:36 months.

Application procedure and deadline:

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

Deadline: December 12^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).