Doctoral Candidate (CeNT-06-2026)

Opis

CeNT-06-2026 Director of Centre of New Technologies of the University of Warsaw, with the Project Leader, announce opening of the competition for the position of PhD Student in the Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Biological Systems Modelling – Centre of New Technologies of the University of Warsaw. JOB OFFER Position in the project: PhD Student Laboratory: Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Biological Systems Modelling Scientific discipline: Physical and Chemical Sciences

Oferujemy

• Stipend Number of job offers: 1

• Remuneration/stipend amount/month:

• 6742 (4242 - doctoral scholarship paid by the Doctoral School + 2000 - by

• OPUS NCN) PLN/month gross for the first 24 months and 8340,90 (5340,90

• + 3000 respectively as above) PLN/month gross for the remaining 24 months.

• Position starts on:

• 1 September 2026 or as soon as possible afterwards

• Maximum period of contract/stipend agreement:

• 36 months with possibility of extension to 48 months

• Institution: Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw

• Project leader: Dr Fernando Bruno da Silva

• Project title:

• The influence of non-trivial topology on protein degradation by ClpXP in the context of degron design.

• NCN programme: OPUS 29

• Project description:

• This project explores how ATP‑dependent proteases, particularly the

• ClpXP complex from E. coli, degrade knotted proteins with complex topologies, including 3₁, 6₃, and 8₃ knotted folds. We will investigate how degron sequences direct substrates toward ClpXP and how knotted conformations influence recognition, unfolding, and translocation. Using biophysical assays, structural biology, and computational modeling, we aim to determine how topology, beyond classical geometric factors, shapes degradation efficiency. A second goal is to design novel degrons using a latent generative landscape (LGL) machine‑learning method to optimize substrate targeting.

• Key responsibilities include:

• The PhD researcher will be responsible for assisting in protein purification and degradation experiments. This will involve tasks such as preparing reagents, running experiments under supervision, collecting data, and data analysis. The student may also be involved in simple computational simulations, such as molecular dynamics simulations.

• Profile of candidates/requirements:

• The competition is open for persons who meet the conditions specified in the regulations on the allocation of resources for the implementation of

• The opportunity to join an international and multidisciplinary team conducting research at the interface of biology, chemistry, and physics.

• An open and welcoming work environment with ample opportunities for professional development and global scientific partnerships.

• Please submit the following documents to: f.bruno@cent.uw.edu.pl

Proces rekrutacji

• Cover letter;

• Current curriculum vitae;

• Copy of MSc certificate (or, if the MSc certificate has not been obtained yet, a certificate/document about the date of MSc defense);

• Document confirming the status of PhD Student (to be provided before starting work in the project);

• The successful candidate is expected to be already enrolled or to enroll in the Doctoral School of the University of Warsaw;

• Before entering the competition, candidates are obliged to familiarise themselves with Internal Reporting Procedure.

• 30th of April 2026

• Selected candidates will be invited for an interview in person at the

• Centre for New Technologies, University of Warsaw, or online.

• Date of announcing the results: Not earlier than 24th of August 2026

• Method of notification about the results: Email, CeNT UW web page.

Zakres obowiązków

• MSc degree in biology, chemistry, biophysics, biotechnology, or related discipline. The MSc degree should be obtained before the date of employment in the project.

• Confirmed status of a PhD student (on the date of starting work in the project at the latest).

• Fluency in written and spoken English.

• Willingness to work in an interdisciplinary and international team.

• Ability to work in a group, curiosity, and motivation to learn.

• Optional but often appreciated:

• Familiarity with programming languages (R or Python);

• Basic structural analysis (PyMOL, Chimera, AlphaFold, or VMD);

• Experience expressing recombinant proteins in E. coli;

• Understanding of protein structure, folding, and enzymatic mechanisms;

• Ability to design purification workflows and evaluate purity using

• SDS‑PAGE and UV absorbance profiles;

• Experience preparing publication‑quality figures.

Słowa kluczowe

• Structural Biology

• Biophysics

• Molecular Sciences