Postdoctoral Researcher - 1 position – WIB_PACMAN - Recruitment No 61/2026

About this position

One Postdoctoral Researcher position is available in the Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS within Virtual Research Institute (WIB) - Łukasiewicz Research Network - PORT Polish Center for Technology Development, Co-Financed by the Polish Science Fund, project no. WIB-4/2024-O04, entitled “Personalized antibody–drug conjugates activated by matrix metalloproteinases for solid tumors [PACMAN]”, led by Prof. Marcin Poręba – Leader of WIB_PACMAN project, Prof. Marcin Drąg – Team Leader of IChF Group in WIB_PACMAN project.

Join a project developing innovative tools for targeted therapies! The project will employ highly sensitive fluorescent probes to identify, localize, and quantitatively assess the activity of selected proteases in cancer cells, neutrophils, PBMCs, and tissue samples. The combination of advanced peptide synthesis and purification methods, biochemistry, and confocal microscopy will enable real-time monitoring and quantitative analysis of changes in fluorescence signals.

The results obtained may directly contribute to the development of more effective and safer targeted therapeutic strategies. A candidate with strong theoretical and practical expertise in peptide chemistry is sought to address ambitious research challenges at the interface of chemical biology, biochemistry, and molecular biology. Access to state-of-the-art research equipment, modern and well-equipped laboratories, and an interdisciplinary research environment will be provided, offering the opportunity to contribute to a project with significant potential for advancing modern medicine.

Responsibilities

• Experimental design and sample preparation

Designing and preparing experimental systems, including peptide-based fluorescent probes, biological samples, and relevant cellular and tissue models.

• Peptide synthesis and biochemical characterization

Conducting peptide synthesis, purification, and analytical characterization, as well as performing biochemical experiments to investigate the activity and specificity of selected proteases.

• Advanced fluorescence measurements and quantitative imaging

Performing and optimizing fluorescence-based measurements, including confocal microscopy, and quantitative fluorescence imaging, to monitor and quantify protease activity in real time.

• Data analysis and interpretation

Processing, analyzing, and interpreting experimental data, including quantitative analysis of fluorescence signals and their changes in biological systems.

5 . Documentation and reporting

Preparing experimental documentation, research reports, and summaries of results, as well as contributing to scientific publications and project-related deliverables.

Role in the project:

Position 1 - Design and conducting experiments: synthesis and analysis of peptides, biochemical experiments, data analysis.

The successful candidate will be responsible for designing and conducting experiments, including the synthesis, purification, and characterization of peptides and peptide-based fluorescent probes, performing biochemical and cell-based experiments, carrying out advanced fluorescence and quantitative imaging measurements, and analyzing and interpreting the resulting data.