Recruitment

INSTITUTION: Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy of the Polish Academy of Sciences

CITY: Wroclaw

POSITION: PhD student-scholarship holder in the NCN research project (Sonata Bis 13)

SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINE: biological sciences

ANNOUNCEMENT DATE: July 5, 2024

DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING DOCUMENTS: September 15, 2024

COMPETITION RESULT DATE: September 25, 2024

LINK TO WSD IPAN WEBSITE: https://www.intibs.pl/en/for-students/doctoral-school.html

LINK TO IITD PAN WEBSITE: https://hirszfeld.pl/en/

KEYWORDS: proteomics, microbiology, meltome atlas, thermal proteome profiling (TPP)

The Wroclaw Doctoral School of the Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences (WDS IPAN) in Wroclaw announces special recruitment for a doctoral student - scholarship holder in the research project entitled " Bacterial Meltome Atlas and its use in the assessment of bacterial sensitivity to temperature in the context of infectious fever", carried out on behalf of the National Science Center (grant no. 2023/50/E/NZ2/00420) at the Laboratory of Medical Microbiology of the Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Wroclaw.

Recruitment is conducted in accordance with the Recruitment Regulations for WDS IPAN for the academic year 2024/2025:

https://www.intibs.pl/images/Szkola_doktorska/Rekrutacja_2023/Recruitment_rules_WDS_IPAS_2022.pdf

RESEARCH GROUP

A PhD position is available in a dynamic and friendly team that studies the structure and function of proteins using various immunoenzymatic, biochemical, microbiological techniques and mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Our projects focus on studying the impact of temperature on proteins lability and the mechanisms involved in their thermal denaturation in living organisms. In particular, our research is based on the cutting edge Thermal Proteome Profiling (TPP) technique, which allows the monitoring of thousands of proteins of the entire proteome over a wide temperature range. More information can be found on our website – Group of Proteomics and Immunoenzymatic Analysis:

https://hirszfeld.pl/struktura/laboratoria/laboratorium-mikrobiologii-lekarskiej/anna-jarzab-phd-assistant-professor-group-leader/.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT

As a part of the project, we will develop the bacterial part of the Meltome Atlas [Jarzab et al. Nature Meth., 2020; https://www.nature.com/articles/s41592-020-0801-4]. The current proteomics database describes the thermal stability of 48,000 proteins from 13 different organisms, ranging from archaea through bacteria, insects, fish to humans, over a wide temperature range (30-90 °C). Under the project, we will expand the Meltome Atlas database to include a bacterial part by profiling several strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria using mass spectrometry-based proteomics and TPP. This will allow to develop a database of bacterial meltomes (proteomes exposed to temperature), which will be used in further research. In particular, we want to investigate how temperature leads to the denaturation of bacterial proteins, which are destroyed at first during the development of infectious fever. Fever is known to be affected by a variety of types of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Although, the influence of fever on the human immune system have been extensively described, the effects of heat release during fever on bacterial cells have not been thoroughly investigated. For these reasons, we want to define a group of bacterial proteins that denature at temperatures between 37-43°C. Our research will allow us to assess whether fever may have an impact on inhibiting the growth of the pathogen and lead to thermal denaturation of bacterial proteins related to replication, transcription or other processes responsible for bacterial growth. Additionally, we will assess the impact of heat-weakened bacteria on the development of the immune response in human cell line models.

WHAT WE OFFER YOU 

• the opportunity to acquire a wide range of new skills and develop your own research ideas
• support in professional development through internal and external trainings, as well as personal mentoring
• possibility to cooperation with our foreign partners
• doctoral scholarship (from IITD PAN) and research scholarship (from NCN) for 4 years

FORMAL REGULATIONS REGARDING THE SCHOLARSHIP:

As part of the research project, the PhD student-scholarship holder will receive a scholarship for 48 months, which includes:

• doctoral scholarship, the amount of which is regulated by Art. 209 section 1 of the Act of July 20, 2018 (Journal of Laws of 2023, item 742), which is partially financed from funds allocated for NCN research scholarships as part of a research project, where the doctoral student will have social security costs covered, o referred to in Art. 6 section 1 point 7b of the Act of October 13, 1998 on the social security system (Journal of Laws of 2024, item 497), which from January 1, 2024 is:
• Year 1 and 2 (before mid-term evaluation): PLN 3,466.90 gross/month,
• Year 3 and 4 (after mid-term evaluation): PLN 5,340.90 gross/month
• and an additional NCN research scholarship in the amount of PLN 1,000 gross per month (for the entire period of 48 months)

The scholarships will be paid on the basis of an agreement for the implementation of a doctoral scholarship in the part constituting a research scholarship from the funds allocated for NCN research scholarships, where the terms of payment and the amount of both scholarships are subject to regulations depending on the Act of July 20, 2018, Law on Higher Education and Science (Journal of Laws . Laws of 2023, item 742) and the Regulations for awarding research scholarships in research projects financed by the National Science Center in Kraków, adopted by NCN Resolution No. 25/2024 of March 4, 2024. The research and doctoral thesis will be carried out as part of research project: "Bacterial Meltome Atlas and its use in the assessment of bacterial sensitivity to temperature in the context of infectious fever" carried out on behalf of the National Science Center (grant no. 2023/50/E/NZ2/00420).

Recruitment is carried out in accordance with the Regulations for awarding research scholarships in research projects financed by the National Science Center, the consolidated text of which is an annex to the Resolution of the Council of the National Science Center No. 25/2024 of March 4, 2024, Act of July 20, 2018. Law on higher education and science and the Rules of Recruitment to the Wroclaw Doctoral School of the Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences. The scope of work performed in the research project and the conditions for payment of funds are specified in the "Agreement for the implementation of a doctoral scholarship from funds granted for NCN research scholarships".

PHD DESCRIPTION:

• Research work and its implementation towards creating a proteomic database of bacterial meltomes,
• Proteomics data analysis and integration, optimization of proteomics methods
• Analysis of the immune response using modern immunoenzymatic techniques
• Engagement in research tasks
• Constant scientific development and expanding your own knowledge
• Presentation of results at national and international scientific conferences and participation in writing manuscripts and scientific research reports
• Implementation of the program of the Wroclaw Doctoral School of Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences

CANDIDATE PROFILE:

• Master's degree in biology, biotechnology, microbiology, biochemistry, bioinformatics or related field
• Strong motivation for research, scientific curiosity and willingness to cooperate with international partners
• Great interest in protein biochemistry and proteomics
• Effective communication skills and practical knowledge of English
• Team-oriented attitude, willingness to teach and supervise students and trainees
• Willingness to cooperate with internal and international partners as part of the project implementation and to undertake short-term internships/trips to foreign partners.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

• application form to WSD IPAN together with a declaration of familiarity with the recruitment regulations for WSD IPAN (https://www.intibs.pl/en/for-students/rules-of-recruitment.html);
• CV or a completed personal questionnaire containing a list of scientific publications, scholarships and awards, a list of conferences in which the Candidate participated along with the titles and authors of the speeches, in accordance with the document Rules of recruitment to the Wroclaw Doctoral School of Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences;
• a cover letter containing a short description of interests and scientific achievements and justification of the intention to study at a doctoral school;
• a statement that, in case of admission to WSD IPAN, it will be the only doctoral school in which the candidate will be enrolled;
• a copy of Master's degree diploma confirming completion of studies.

In the case of obtaining a professional title Master outside the European Union - additionally originals of Master’s 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 academic transcript for undergraduate and graduate studies (or integrated Master's studies), or a diploma supplement with grades for the entire studies, or student grade cards confirmed by the dean's office for all years of studies,
• certificate of English proficiency at level B2 or higher (does not apply to candidates who passed the final exam at this level during their studies),
• contact to 1-2 referees or 1-2 letters of recommendation (sent directly to the address provided below) from previous employers/research supervisors

Candidates' applications for admission to the School should be submitted by September 15, 2024 at 15:00:

• electronically to the address (with the note: ”PhD in proteomics”), original documents must be submitted before the start of PhD – preferred way of application
• in person at the School's headquarters (INTiBS PAN ul. Okólna 2 in Wroclaw) from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

For additional information, please contact Dr. Eng. Anna Jarząb (e-mail: , tel. +48 (71) 337-11-72, ext. 124).

CANDIDATE EVALUATION CRITERIA:

The criteria for assessing candidates are described in the applicable Regulations for awarding research scholarships in research projects financed by the National Science Center in Krakow, adopted by NCN resolution No. 25/2024 of March 4, 2024, and the Regulations of the Wroclaw Doctoral School of Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

We reserve the right not to select a candidate for the above position.

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 natural persons 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 ) (OJ EU L 119 of 04/05/2016, p. 1), hereinafter referred to as "GDPR", I inform that:

• The administrator of your personal data is the Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy. Ludwik Hirszfeld Polish Academy of Sciences in Wrocław, ul. Rudolfa Weigla 12, 53-114 Wrocław
• You can contact the personal data administrator by post 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 relating to data processing via the e-mail account: or by post to the registered office address.
• Personal data will be processed for the purpose of carrying out the administrator's tasks related to recruitment for the research project titled: " Bacterial Meltome Atlas and its use in the assessment of bacterial sensitivity to temperature in the context of infectious fever " carried out on behalf of the National Science Center (grant no. 2023/50/E/NZ2/00420) and to the Wrocław Doctoral School of Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences, thus Mrs. /Your personal data will be processed on the basis of the Act of July 20, 2018, Law on Higher Education and Science (Article 6(1)(c) of the GDPR), the legitimate interest of the Administrator related to the implementation of the research project (Article 6(1)(c) 1 letter f of the GDPR) and in connection with their necessity to conclude the NCN scholarship agreement (Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR).
• Providing your personal data is voluntary, but necessary to achieve the above-mentioned purposes.
• Personal data collected in the current recruitment process will be stored for the recruitment period.
• The person whose data is processed has the right to: access personal data, request rectification of personal data, request deletion of personal data, request restriction of personal data processing, and object to data processing due to a special situation.
• The person whose data is processed also has the right to lodge a complaint with the President of the Office for Personal Data Protection if it is found that the Administrator has violated the provisions on the protection of personal data.
• As a result of processing, decisions will not be made in an automated manner (without human participation), and they will not be based on profiling.
• Personal data may be made available to our authorized employees, processing entities, i.e. those performing activities on our behalf (e.g. IT, accounting services), and the personal data of the Candidate selected in the competition may then be made available to third parties authorized by law.