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Special recruitment to the doctoral school for PhD student – scholarship holder in the research project SONATA 19 (NCN), biological sciences, application deadline 23.08.2024

18 June 2024

INSTITUTION: Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy of the Polish Academy of Sciences (HIIET PAS)
POSITION: PhD student
SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINE: biological sciences
DATE OF ANNOUNCEMENT: 18.06.2024
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 23.08.2024
DATE OF COMPETITION SETTLEMENT: no later than 20.09.2024
Link to WSD IPAN website: https://www.intibs.pl/en/for-students/doctoral-school.html
Link to HIIET IPAN website: https://hirszfeld.pl/en/
Keywords: boron clusters, metallacarboranes, antimicrobial peptides, peptide amphiphiles, antimicrobial resistance

Wrocław Doctoral School of Institutes of Polish Academy of Sciences (WDS IPAS) announces special recruitment for a PhD student – scholarship holder in the research project: "Metallacarborane-peptide amphiphiles as a new strategy in the fight against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria", carried out on behalf of the National Science Center (grant no. 2023/51/D/NZ7/02609) in the Laboratory of Biomedical Chemistry of the Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy of Polish Academy of Sciences in Wrocław. 

Recruitment is conducted in accordance with the Rules of Recruitment to the Wrocław Doctoral School of Institutes of Polish Academy of Sciences for the 2024/2025 academic year (https://www.intibs.pl/images/Szkola_doktorska/Dokumenty/Zasady_rekrutacji/Recruitment_rules_WDS_IPAS_2022.pdf).

About the workplace

Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy in Wrocław, Poland, is an interdisciplinary research institution that conducts basic research in modern areas of chemistry, biology, and medicine. Our laboratory (Laboratory of Biomedical Chemistry) is dedicated to the design of innovative drugs based on metallacarboranes. Additionally, we study interactions of metallacarboranes with biomolecules – such as proteins, nucleic acids, and lipid membranes – and the effect of metallacarboranes on cellular processes to better understand their mechanism of action. Our team encompasses experts in chemical synthesis, analytical and physicochemical chemistry, as well as microbiology and biology.  

Project description

We are now offering a PhD student position to work on the project aimed at obtaining metallacarborane-containing peptides with potent activity against Gram-negative bacteria. The project addresses one of the most important problems facing the global society – antimicrobial resistance. Gram-negative bacteria are particularly difficult to treat and develop new antibiotics for. In the project, we will develop unique antimicrobial peptides and test their effectiveness on a variety of Gram-negative bacteria including clinical isolates. Detailed studies on the mechanism of action of the conjugates will allow us to uncover the processes underlying the observed biological effects and better understand how metallacarboranes interact with biomolecules and affect biological systems – crucial knowledge on the further development of metallacarboranes in biomedical applications. The implementation of this project will advance the field in terms of developing novel chemistry to design therapeutics and developing treatment options for difficult-to-treat infections. 

Our offer

  • Cutting-edge research in an established group
  • Doctoral scholarship for 4 years
  • Comprehensive training in peptide synthesis, HPLC, LC-MS, microbiology studies, and physicochemical studies including circular and linear dichroism spectroscopy, ITC, light scattering, and electron microscopy
  • Excellent research equipment including HPLC, mass spectrometry, CD spectropolarimeter, ITC, and electron microscopes
  • Support for international mobility (3 – 6 months internships) and attendance at conferences

Tasks

  • Synthesis and characterization of metallacarborane-containing peptides
  • Studies on the antibacterial activity of the peptides including their mechanism of action
  • Studies on interactions of the peptides with lipid membranes and serum albumin
  • Preparing publications and participation in scientific conferences
  • Cooperation with other researchers in the group, ordering equipment and reagents
  • Carrying out tasks resulting from the duties of a doctoral student at the Doctoral School

Required skills and qualifications

  • Master's degree in biology, biotechnology, chemistry, or related science to be obtained latest by the end of September 2024
  • Practical experience in the lab
  • Fluency in written and spoken English
  • Talented and motivated, with a passion for science

Scholarship

The doctoral scholarship will be paid for 4 years in the monthly amount of 4,076.53 PLN net (5,053.85 PLN gross) for the first two years and 4,739.52 PLN net (6,245.11 PLN gross) for the last two years, not lower than specified in the Law on Higher Education and Science and applicable executive regulations. 

Criteria and method of assessing Candidates:

During the recruitment process, the Candidate will be assessed in accordance with the criteria set for recruitment to the Doctoral School and to the extent necessary to grant the NCN research scholarship, taking into account the overall assessment of the Candidate's suitability for carrying out the tasks provided for in the Research Project.

Submitting an application: 

Applications of Candidates for admission to the Doctoral School should be submitted by 23.08.2024, by 15:00:

  • electronically to the address , the original documents should be delivered before starting the education, or
  • in person at the seat of the Doctoral School (INTiBS PAN 2 Okólna St. in Wrocław) from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the head of the project Krzysztof Fink at  for additional information.

Required documents: 

  • an application for admission to the WDS IPAS together with a statement that you have read the rules of recruitment to the WDS IPAS (https://www.intibs.pl/en/for-students/rules-of-recruitment.html);
  • CV;
  • a cover letter containing a short description of scientific interests and achievements as well as justification of the intention to participate in the project;
  • a statement that in the event of admission to WDS IPAS, HIIET will be the only doctoral school in which the candidate will study;
  • a copy of the diploma confirming graduation or a certificate of obtaining a master's degree (In the case of obtaining a professional title M.Sc./MD outside the European Union - additionally originals of MSc/MD diploma and its transcript with grades, both certified with an apostille or authenticating (legalization) in the diplomatic representation of the Republic of Poland (in that country), delivered not later than before the commencement of education. Documents submitted without proper authentication will be considered as not meeting formal requirements);
  • a copy of the entire index of first and second-cycle studies (or uniform master's studies), or a diploma supplement with grades for the entire studies, or a student grade card for all years of study confirmed by the dean's office;
  • English language certificate at the B2 level or higher (does not apply to candidates who passed the final exam at this level during their studies);

Information clause: 

Based on Article. 13 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46 / EC (General Data Protection Regulation) (Journal of Laws UE L 119 of 04/05/2016, p. 1), hereinafter referred to as "GDPR", I would like to inform you that:

  • The administrator of your personal data is the Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Wrocław, ul. Rudolf Weigl 12, 53-114 Wrocław.
  • The administrator of personal data can be contacted by letter to the address given in point 1 above, or by phone at 71 3709940, and the data protection officer appointed by him can be contacted in all matters regarding data processing via the e-mail account: or by post to the registered office address.
  • Personal data will be processed in order to perform the administrator's tasks related to recruitment for a research project entitled "Metallacarborane-peptide amphiphiles as a new strategy in the fight against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria" commissioned by the National Science Center (grant no. 2023/51/D/NZ7/02609) and to the Wrocław Doctoral School of Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences, thus Your personal data will be processed on the basis of the Act of 20 July 2018 Law on Higher Education and Science (Article 6 (1) (c) of the GDPR), the Controller's legitimate interest in the implementation of the research project (Article 6 (1)) f GDPR) and in connection with their necessity to conclude the NCN scholarship agreement (Article 6 (1) (b) of the GDPR).
  • Providing your personal data by you is voluntary, but necessary to achieve the above-mentioned purposes.
  • Personal data collected in the current recruitment process will be kept during the recruitment period.
  • The person whose data is processed has the right to: access personal data, request the rectification of personal data, request the deletion of personal data, request to limit the processing of personal data, object to the processing of data due to a special situation.
  • The person whose data is processed also has the right to lodge a complaint with the President of the Personal Data Protection Office, if it is found that the Administrator has breached the provisions on the protection of personal data.
  • As a result of processing, decisions will not be made in an automated manner (without human intervention), including not based on profiling.
  • Personal data may be made available to our authorized employees, processors, i.e. those performing activities on our behalf (eg IT and accounting services), and the personal data of a Candidate selected in the competition may then be made available to third parties authorized by law.

 

 


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