Research Assistant (PhD Student) in Antibody-Drug Conjugates for Solid Tumors Wrocław University of Science and Technology in Poland

Wrocław University of Science and Technology is recruiting a Research Assistant (PhD Student) for the Faculty of Chemistry, specifically the Department of Biological Chemistry and Bioimaging, in the project “Personalized antibody-drug conjugates activated by matrix metalloproteinases for solid tumors” (PACMAN). The project is led by Marcin Poręba, PhD, DSc, Prof. of WUST and is carried out within the Virtual Research Institute (WIB), managed by Łukasiewicz Research Network – PORT.

The research focuses on developing a new class of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that do not require internalization and are selectively activated extracellularly by matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2, MMP-9, and MMP-14 in the solid tumor microenvironment. The successful candidate will work on the synthesis of ADCs with different linker types, purity and structure characterization, and cellular studies on toxicity, intracellular activity, and internalization.

This is a full-time, temporary PhD-level position (R1 First Stage Researcher) with a working time of 7/8 FTE. The appointment begins on 1 November 2026 and is offered for 12 months initially, with the possibility of extension for an additional 32 months after positive performance evaluation, for a total of 44 months. The salary is PLN 5,393 gross plus an additional thirteenth salary.

Applicants should hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in Biotechnology, Chemistry, or a related field, and be enrolled in the Doctoral School. The post requires experience with basic synthetic techniques in chemistry or peptide chemistry, as well as basic analytical techniques in organic chemistry. Strong English proficiency, teamwork, communication skills, and a good fit with the team’s scientific direction are important. The call also emphasizes scientific and professional experience, publications, project participation, awards, references, international mobility, and alignment of development plans with the research team.

Applications must be submitted by 9 September 2026, 23:55 (Europe/Warsaw). Send the required documents by email to [email protected] and include the reference number As14/W3/08/2026_ENG in the subject line. Applications may be submitted in Polish or English. The recruitment is conducted as an open competition under HR Excellence in Research / OTM-R principles.

This position offers the chance to contribute to a highly translational anticancer program with potential advancement toward TRL 6–8, IND-level documentation, and future first-in-human studies. The role includes participation in comprehensive preclinical validation across in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo research, and provides a strong environment for academic development, teaching opportunities, and international cooperation.