Marcin Drąg

The Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences (IChF PAN) in Warsaw, Poland, is inviting applications for a PhD student position in the Department of Biological Chemistry, as part of the EU-funded Horizon Europe project PERFECTION. The research focuses on the phenomenon of unnatural amino acids in chemical biology for biological and medical applications, with a specific project on 'Synthetic peptides for targeted cancer cell control.' The project is led by Prof. Marcin Drąg, an internationally recognized expert in chemical biology and combinatorial chemistry of proteolytic enzymes, with auxiliary supervision by Dr. Jeena Manayath Thekkeyil. The successful candidate will design, synthesize, and analyze compounds, conduct in vitro cellular experiments, manage collaborations, and contribute to scientific publications. The research aims to develop synthetic peptide systems to selectively target cancer cells, potentially inspiring novel cancer therapies. The position offers a full-time employment contract with a monthly gross salary of approximately 4,810 PLN, and, upon successful admission to the Warsaw-4-PhD School, an additional doctoral stipend of about 3,466 PLN/month (subject to eligibility). The contract is for up to 48 months, starting between May and June 2026. Applicants must have a Master's degree in Chemistry or a related field, good English skills, and experience or willingness to learn chemical synthetic techniques and in vitro experiments. Required documents include a CV, reference letter, motivation letter, diploma scan, and a declaration of familiarity with IChF rules. The application deadline is April 13, 2026. Applications should be sent to [email protected] with the subject 'Rekrutacja 15/2026' or via the official application portal. The selection process includes document assessment and interviews, with evaluation based on research competencies, achievements, soft skills, creativity, mobility, and publication record. The institute offers a supportive research environment, access to state-of-the-art infrastructure, professional development opportunities, and additional benefits such as private healthcare, gym access, and social funds. The project provides a unique opportunity to work at the interface of chemistry, biology, and medicine, contributing to innovative cancer research in a dynamic, international team.

PhD position available in Chemical Biology at the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences (IChF PAN), Warsaw, Poland. This call is for a doctoral position in the newly established Department of Chemical Biology within the EU-funded Horizon Europe ERA Chairs project PERFECTION (“In search of PERFECTION: the phenomenon of unnatural amino acids in chemical biology for biological and medical applications”). The project leader is Prof. Marcin Drąg, and the auxiliary supervisor is Dr. Łukasz Krzemiński. The research topic is “Integrated phage display platform for discovery of small biomolecules” . The project focuses on developing an orthogonal screening phage display platform for the discovery of small biomolecules that bind diverse molecular targets. The work includes single-domain antibodies and peptides with potential use as detection elements and as protein/enzyme inhibitors for research, diagnostics, and therapy. The broader department mission includes cutting-edge chemical tools, modified peptides, and unnatural amino acids in chemical biology and translational research. Research activities include design, synthesis, and analysis of compounds; in vitro cellular experiments; data analysis and interpretation; managing collaborations; reporting to the PI; and manuscript writing. The position is embedded in a multidisciplinary environment with chemists, engineers, and biologists, and offers collaboration with academic and industrial partners. Eligibility highlights: a Master’s degree in Chemistry or a related discipline, good English, knowledge of chemical synthetic techniques, willingness to learn and perform in vitro chemical biology experiments, strong motivation, commitment, and teamwork. The candidate must be a PhD student in Warsaw-4-PhD or apply for the July 2026 recruitment to that school for continuation beyond the initial contract period. Funding: full-time employment contract with a gross salary of about 4,810 PLN/month. After admission to Warsaw-4-PhD, an additional doctoral stipend of about 3,466 PLN/month may be available, subject to prior stipend history and the statutory maximum period. The planned contract duration is 48 months, starting in May 2026 and no later than August 2026. Application deadline: 2026-05-06 at 12:00 (Europe/Warsaw). Applications should be sent via the apply button or by email to [email protected] with the subject line “Rekrutacja 19/2026”. Required documents include a CV, at least one independent opinion, a one-page motivation letter, a scan of the master’s diploma, and a declaration of familiarity with the institute’s competition rules.

One Postdoctoral Researcher position is available at the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, Poland, within the WIB_PACMAN project: Personalized antibody–drug conjugates activated by matrix metalloproteinases for solid tumors . The work is part of an interdisciplinary research environment spanning combinatorial chemistry, biochemistry, chemical biology, and molecular biology. The successful candidate will join the Combinatorial Chemistry and Biochemistry Group and work on highly sensitive fluorescent probes used to identify, localize, and quantitatively assess protease activity in cancer cells, neutrophils, PBMCs, and tissue samples. The role focuses on peptide synthesis and purification, biochemical characterization, fluorescence-based measurements, confocal microscopy, quantitative imaging, and data analysis. The project offers access to modern laboratories, advanced equipment, and strong technical and organizational support. Two project leaders are named in the announcement: Prof. Marcin Poręba and Prof. Marcin Drąg. The position is full-time, research-focused, and has no teaching obligations. The contract may last up to 40 months, with a monthly salary of up to PLN 15,000 depending on experience and qualifications. Eligibility requirements include a PhD in chemical, biochemical, or related sciences; solid practical knowledge of peptide synthesis and purification, biochemistry assays, bioimaging, and cell culture; at least two first-author publications in international peer-reviewed journals; and strong English-language communication skills for reporting, presentations, and scientific writing. Candidates must also comply with the WIB non-compete policy. The application deadline is 16 November 2026 at 12:00 (Europe/Warsaw). Applications should be sent by email to [email protected] with the subject line “Recruitment no. 61/2026”. Required documents include a CV with publication list, an opinion from an independent researcher, contact details, a short cover letter, a scan of the PhD diploma, and a declaration confirming familiarity with the competition rules. The recruitment is competitive and selection is based on a point system, with interviews for top candidates.

One postdoctoral researcher position is available at the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, within the WIB_PACMAN project: Personalized antibody–drug conjugates activated by matrix metalloproteinases for solid tumors . The role sits in the Combinatorial Chemistry and Biochemistry Group and focuses on peptide synthesis, biochemical characterization, bioimaging, and quantitative fluorescence analysis. The project develops highly sensitive fluorescent probes to measure protease activity in cancer cells, neutrophils, PBMCs, and tissue samples. The successful candidate will prepare peptide-based probes and biological samples, conduct peptide synthesis and purification, run biochemical assays, perform confocal microscopy and fluorescence imaging, and analyse experimental data. The work is interdisciplinary, bridging chemical biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, and translational cancer research. This is a full-time postdoctoral contract with no teaching obligations, with a monthly salary of up to PLN 15,000 depending on experience and qualifications. The planned contract duration is up to 37 months. The position offers access to modern laboratories, state-of-the-art equipment, technical and administrative support, scientific training, mentoring, and participation in international conferences. The project is co-financed by the Polish Science Fund and is not funded through an EU research framework programme. Eligibility highlights include a PhD in chemistry, biochemistry, or a related discipline; strong practical experience in peptide synthesis and purification, biochemistry assays, bioimaging, and cell culture; at least two first-author publications; and good English communication skills. Applications are reviewed through a competitive selection process with point-based evaluation, and only candidates meeting the minimum threshold will be considered. Apply by email to [email protected] with subject line “Recruitment no. 62/2026”. Required documents include a CV with publications, an independent opinion, cover letter, PhD diploma scan, and a declaration confirming familiarity with the recruitment rules.