Junior Group Leader in Computational Biology

JUNIOR GROUP LEADER in COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY

Professor position

The International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw (IIMCB), Poland

invites applications for Junior Group Leader in Computational Biology

The IIMCB, an internationally recognized research institute in Poland with cutting-edge expertise in RNA and cell biology, is looking for talented early-career computational biologists motivated to establish their first independent research group, aligned with the IIMCB’s mission to reshape biomedical research by leveraging cutting-edge computational tools to unravel molecular mechanisms, from single molecules to complex cellular and organismal interactions. We are particularly interested in candidates developing and applying novel algorithms, harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) approaches, or conducting computational simulations to drive new discoveries in RNA and cell biology. Your expertise would enrich IIMCB's research and foster collaboration, using computational insights to drive advances in molecular and cellular biology.

Successful candidates will join the ambitious initiatives funded by the prominent EU projects focused on:

-          institutional development - RACE: “RNA and Cell Biology - from Fundamental Research to Therapies” (Teaming for Excellence under Horizon Europe)

-          scientific development - RACE-PRIME: “RNA and Cell Biology Platform for Research and Innovation in Medicine” (International Research Agendas program co-financed by the EU under the European Funds for Smart Economy 2021-2027)

Along with RACE and RACE-PRIME, and in partnership with the Medical Research Council, Human Genetics Unit
of the University of Edinburgh and Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), we aim to become an outstanding international Institute where excellent fundamental science is complemented by professional technology transfer into biomedical applications. Research at the Institute is also supported by the cutting-edge core facilities
(IN-MOL-CELL Infrastructure) developed under the project “The Research Infrastructure for Molecules and Cells” funded by the European Recovery and Resilience Plan. We offer computational resources designed for high I/O, low latency, GPU-enabled execution, high-memory workloads, and extensive local scratch space. Our state-of-the-art infrastructure includes: 2.5 PB of storage with an additional 150 TB SSD; HPC cluster with nearly 4000 threads and 5 TB of RAM and GPU server equipped with 8x NVIDIA RTX A5000 GPUs and 1 TB of RAM. Additionally,
we provide expert support to apply for access to both national and international supercomputing resources,
such as the PLGrid.

The IIMCB hosts a vibrant, multinational community of scientists from eighteen countries and is well connected internationally, as exemplified by the composition of the IIMCB’s International Advisory Board and the IIMCB’s active membership in the EU-LIFE, an alliance of fifteen top independent European research institutes. Our sixteen group leaders have an established international standing - five of them are EMBO members and three are ERC laureates. Being a member of an interdisciplinary undergraduate program, Warsaw-4-PhD, the IIMCB facilitates participation in the education of doctoral students, without having teaching duties as such. Within this environment you will develop your own research program, build your independent research group and establish a network with other researchers within the IIMCB.

The IIMCB offers to Junior Group Leaders:

• Professor position with an initial appointment of 5 years
• A rolling tenure track upon positive evaluations by the IIMCB’s International Advisory Board
• A full-time salary with social benefits
• Competitive start-up funds and core funding after the start-up funds have been used
• Access to state-of-the-art equipment and services provided by IN-MOL-CELL Infrastructure
• Benefits of the IIMCB's participation in the interdisciplinary Warsaw-4-PhD doctoral program (physics, chemistry, biology, medical sciences)
• Participation in decision-making through membership in the Laboratory Leaders’ Council
• Extensive support from an experienced team of professionals to strengthen your applications for competitive national and international grants. This includes identifying matching funding opportunities, assisting with budget preparation, developing data management plans, conducting ethical assessments, and ensuring full compliance with all submission requirements
• Comprehensive organizational and administrative support from expert English-speaking staff, including IT professionals
• Assistance for you and your partner/children in relocating and starting life in Poland, including applying for a visa (if necessary), obtaining temporary residency and finding housing
• Friendly, inclusive, international working environment

Applications should include:

• Cover letter explaining your motivation for application
• Curriculum Vitae with a publication list
• Concise statement of 1-3 scientific achievements (obtained in the last 10 years)
• Two-page summary of research plans
• Contact information for two references

Selection criteria:

• Quality of scientific achievements: proven ability to generate breakthroughs and contribute significantly
  to advancing knowledge
• Excitement about research plans: the clarity, innovativeness, and feasibility of the candidate's research proposals
• Fit to the IIMCB: compatibility of the proposed research with IIMCB's strategic objectives, and potential for fostering in-house collaborations
• Leadership and team-building skills: potential to lead, build, and inspire an effective research team
• Willingness to apply for competitive grants, a track record of applying for and managing competitive,
  grant-funded research projects would be a plus
• Aptitude for mentoring master’s and doctoral students, experience in supervising students would be a plus
• Readiness to translate research outcomes into commercial opportunities and engage with industry partners

How to apply:

• Applications should be sent via recruitment:  erecruiter
• Please include the following statement in your CV: “I hereby agree to the processing of my personal data, included in the application documents by the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology
  in Warsaw, 4 Księcia Trojdena Street, 02-109 Warsaw, for the purpose of carrying out the current recruitment process.” Your personal data will be processed for the purpose of the recruitment procedure by the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw. Full information is available under the link. 
• Procedure for reporting irregularities, taking follow-up actions, and protecting whistleblowers is available under the link.

The deadline for applications is February 2, 2025. Chosen applicants will be asked to give an on-line lecture between March 3-7, 2025. Short-listed applicants will be invited to Warsaw for onsite interviews during the IIMCB’s International Advisory Board meeting on April 1-3, 2025. The positions are available from September 2025 with the formal appointment date set on a case-by-case basis.

Inquiries about the offer, research environment, and science in Poland are welcome and should be sent
to inquiries@iimcb.gov.pl.

All information provided by applicants will remain strictly confidential and will be reviewed only by authorized officials of the recruitment committee and dedicated administrative staff.