MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship 2024 in Molecular Parasitology

Parazitologický ústav

Molekulární parazitologie

Laboratoř RNA biologie prvoků

Pracovní smlouva

Dr. Zdeněk Paris, the head of Laboratory of RNA Biology of Protists, is looking for a motivated postdoctoral fellow to join his lab under the Horizon Europe call MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024 (HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01).

We will prioritize candidates willing to join the team as soon as possible (autumn 2024 at the latest) to familiarize herself/himself with the local research environment and to contribute to the currently running project RNA for therapy before starting the fellowship.

Our group studies various aspects of RNA biology of protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei and related flagellates. In these early evolved unicellular organisms gene expression is regulated mostly post-transcriptionally. Consequently, post-transcriptional processing of RNA is of a great importance in order to regulate the complex life cycles of these pathogens. Research in our group focuses on processes such as tRNA maturation, nuclear export/import and tRNA modifications in trypanosomes, but also stop codon reassignment. Our long-term goal is the identification of unique RNA metabolism. We believe these novel mechanisms can result in applications in RNA therapies for human genetic diseases caused by the occurrence of premature termination codons. 
More at: https://www.paru.cas.cz/en/sections/molecular-parasitology/laboratory-of-rna-biology-of-protists/

• PhD degree in molecular biology, biochemistry, or similar 
• Less than 8 years since PhD award (years of experience outside research and career breaks not to be included)
• You have not resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies) in the Czech Republic for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline 11.9.2024
• International work experience
• Strong interest in basic research and experimental work 
• Hands on experience in molecular biology laboratory techniques
• Independent and critical thinking 
• English at B2 level, written and spoken
• Experience with cell culture, RNA work, or bioinformatic skills are an advantage, not requirement

We offer
• You will join international research team to work on an exciting research project (follow up on our recent discovery; Kachale et al., Nature, 2023), while having a chance of writing your MSCA PF project proposal in the lab of your prospective supervisor. This opportunity will allow you to finetune your proposal.
• International and supportive environment
• Research stays in our collaborating laboratories in the EU or USA

Other employment benefits
• 5 weeks of paid holiday yearly (for 1 FTE)
• Subsidized lunches in our own canteen
• Standard health insurance and social security
• Benefits from Social fund
• Working in a stable, prestigious research institution of international importance
• Welcome service and further support for foreigners (HR Award)
• English speaking, friendly & stimulating international working environment
• Work-life balance in a middle-sized university city offering options for outdoor, sport & cultural activities
• Free language classes (Czech for foreigners, English for Czechs)
• Opportunity to take part in mentoring programmes as a mentor or a mentee
• Concessionary services at the contractual operator and bank
• Campus-based daycare for employees‘ children from the age of 1 year

MSCA Fellowship
When applying with the host institution established in the Czech Republic, you have high chances of being funded through one of the following resources:
1.    MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship
2.    ERA Fellowship available for the highly ranked proposals submitted by the institution from the Widening country (incl. the Czech Republic)
3.    MSCA Fellowships CZ if you score more than 70 %

The internationally recognized Institute of Parasitology (https://www.paru.cas.cz/en/) at the Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences is dedicated to performing research on human and animal parasites at the organismal, cellular and molecular levels.

The Biology Centre is located in České Budějovice (2 hours south of the capital Prague), a middle-sized city with ca. 100K inhabitants, relaxed atmosphere, over 750 years of tradition and a breathtaking countryside around. Both the town and the surrounding countryside provide numerous opportunities for research and leisure activities. There is also a growing international expert community at the Biology Centre CAS (BC CAS) and the University of South Bohemia (USB). In addition, the living costs are still low by international standards. Check out our Guide for Expats (https://www.bc.cas.cz/en/employees) to read about life in the city and the Czech Republic.

The Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences holds the HR Award. Our selection process meets European standards for recruitment of researchers (https://www.bc.cas.cz/en/employees/candidates/otm-r/) and we provide our employees from abroad with welcome service (visa application, administration, relocation & settlement support). Gender equality plan (https://www.bc.cas.cz/en/about-us/gender-equality) has been accepted in 2022.

Interested candidates should apply by submitting the following documents by June 28, 2024.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Summary of your research proposal idea 
• List of 1-2 referees that can testify about the professional qualities of the candidate
• Letter of intent that explains the reasons for your interest in our laboratory and identifies your most relevant skills or experiences. Your experience should be complementary to the expertise available at the Laboratory of RNA Biology of Protists.
• Please note Postdoc 2024 in subject line of email

For further information contact Dr. Zdenek Paris at parda@paru.cas.cz