Postdoc – Dr Nicola De Franceschi group (First Team FENG project, IMol PAN) The International Institute of Molecular Mechanisms and Machines, Polish Academy of Sciences in Poland

IMol Polish Academy of Sciences is recruiting a fully funded Postdoc for the Dr Nicola De Franceschi group in Warsaw, Poland. The position is part of the First Team FENG programme funded by the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) and supports a three-year translational research project, with a fixed-term contract that may last up to four years and an initial 12-month appointment. The advertised salary is about 13,000 PLN gross per month, with additional medical and social benefits.

The project focuses on designing, building, and characterizing a conceptually novel membrane micromachine based on giant liposomes. The scientific aim is to evaluate the therapeutic potential of the group’s “Golden Traps” platform against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) lung infections, with a particular emphasis on in vivo mouse models of pulmonary infection. The successful candidate will study how Golden Traps interact with bacterial aggregates in lung tissue, whether they can help eliminate infection, and whether they can act as carriers for local delivery of antibacterial molecules.

The work sits at the interface of membrane biophysics, cell biology, microbiology, and in vivo research, and includes complementary experiments on the interactions among liposomes, bacteria, lung cells, and the immune system. The project is carried out in collaboration with Dr Monika Jakubowska at the Małopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, where part of the in vivo work will take place. The institute also highlights its international environment, modern infrastructure, and strong mentoring culture.

Applicants should hold a PhD in cell biology, molecular biology, microbiology, biochemistry, biomedical sciences, or a related discipline. Hands-on mouse work is required, and experience with mouse models of infection, lung biology, cell culture, microbiology, or drug-delivery systems will be an advantage. The role also requires strong English skills, good communication and teamwork, the ability to work independently, and a willingness to travel regularly between Warsaw and Krakow.

Key duties include planning and conducting in vivo mouse infection studies, performing supporting cell biology and microbiology experiments, processing biological samples, analyzing and interpreting data, coordinating work across collaborating labs, presenting findings, and preparing manuscripts for publication. This is a good opportunity for a researcher interested in translational infection biology, advanced liposome-based therapeutics, and hands-on experimental work in a collaborative international setting.

Applications must be submitted through the online form linked in the advert.