PhD Positions

Offer Description

Chromatin is a highly dynamic structure, yet the methods available to study it often provide only static structural snapshots or measurements averaged over millions of molecules.

This project combines single-molecule magnetic tweezers and fluorescence-coupled optical tweezers to directly manipulate and visualize individual chromatin fibers, revealing structural transitions that cannot be resolved using conventional approaches. Capturing these dynamic events is important because chromatin is not only a passive scaffold that packages the genome within the cell nucleus, but also an active regulator of DNA accessibility during DNA replication, transcription, and repair.

The aim of the project is to understand how the organization of multiple nucleosomes – the basic repeating units of chromatin – determines chromatin’s structural and mechanical responses to tension and torsion. To address this question, the project combines complementary single-molecule approaches into a correlative experimental platform that directly links mechanical measurements to structural changes occurring within individual chromatin fibers.

Particular emphasis will be placed on identifying the features that govern the response of chromatin to torsional stress. Genomic DNA is continuously twisted during transcription, and the resulting supercoiling must be tightly controlled to preserve genome function. While the cellular pathways responsible for maintaining DNA topology have been studied extensively, the contribution of chromatin itself remains poorly understood. Determining how different levels of chromatin organization influence its response to torsional stress may uncover an unexplored physical layer of genome regulation.

The proposed research is highly multidisciplinary, integrating molecular biology, biophysics, and quantitative data analysis. The student will gain hands-on experience in chromatin reconstitution, advanced single-molecule force spectroscopy coupled with fluorescence microscopy, computational modelling, and scientific programming. Together, these approaches will provide a comprehensive framework for investigating the physical principles governing chromatin organization and dynamics.

Where to apply

Website: https://ibb.edu.pl/en/phd-studies/rekrutacja/

Requirements

• Research Field: Biological sciences
• Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
• Skills/Qualifications: hold a degree of Master of Science [Magister], Master of Engineering [Magister Inżynier], medical doctor or equivalent in the field of: exact sciences, natural sciences, medical sciences or related disciplines, granted by a Polish or foreign university; a person who does not possess the qualifications described above may take part in the competition, but must obtain the qualifications in question and provide the relevant documents before the start of the programme at the Doctoral School (i.e., 1st March 2027). Education at the Doctoral School begins on 1st March 2027
• Specific Requirements: additional requirements: background in one of the following disciplines: molecular biology, biotechnology, biophysics, physics, or a related discipline; experience in standard molecular biology techniques (PCR, DNA cloning, gel electrophoresis); strong interest in quantitative data analysis and interdisciplinary research; familiarity with programming (e.g., Python) will be considered an advantage; previous experience in single-molecule methods is not required, as full training will be provided.
• Languages: ENGLISH
• Level: Excellent
• Research Field: Biological sciences

Additional Information

Benefits

1. Possibility of renting a room in the Institute's hotel for the first 3 months at a special price (depending on rooms’ availability);
2. Possibility to join a medical plan;
3. Basic dental treatment;
4. Research mini-grants for doctoral students (up to PLN 20000, a PhD student may apply for funds twice during his/her studies);
5. Conference Grants (each PhD student can use up to PLN 12,000 to attend conferences during his/her studies);
6. Surcharge for the multi sport card;
7. Support in obtaining a temporary residence card (+ Reimbursement of TRC application expenses);
8. Language courses (Polish, English, German, French, Spanish, Italian… (the offer of courses may change);
9. Psychological care (up to 5 visits);
10. Subsidy for the purchase of eyeglasses (once every two years);
11. Free parking spot.

Selection process

Stage One
The Committee analyses the application documents in terms of the candidate’s competencies and their alignment with the requirements specified in the recruitment program. Candidates who obtain at least 40% of the maximum number of points in the first stage qualify for the second stage.
Evaluation criteria:

• education in the subject areas listed in the application guidelines; (scoring scale: 0.0 – 2.0 points);
• experience in the subject areas listed in the recruitment program (scoring scale: 0.0 – 2.0 points);
• other competencies specified in the recruitment program (scoring scale: 0.0 – 1.0 points).

Stage Two
The Committee evaluates the candidates’ previous achievements and their academic performance based on the submitted documents. Candidates with the 5 best scores, not lower than 60% of the maximum number of points, will qualify for the third stage;

• results obtained during studies (scoring scale: 0.0 – 4.0 points);
• competencies specified in the recruitment programme (scoring scale: 0.0 – 3.0 points);
• co-authorship of a scientific publication (depending on the role in the publication) (scoring scale: 0.0 –1.0 point);
• other achievements, e.g., awards, active conference attendance, honourable mentions, scholarships, domestic and foreign internships, voluntary work, popularisation of science (scoring scale: 0.0 – 2.0 points).

Stage Three
When determining the results of the interview, the Committee takes into account:

• the degree of understanding of one’s own work; the ability to interpret the results obtained; the understanding of the methods used, knowledge in the field related to the topic of the submitted work (a scale of the evaluation: 0 - 10 points);
• knowledge in the subject matter listed in the recruitment announcement (a scale of the evaluation: 0 - 10 points);
• form of presentation of the candidate’s results (a scale of the evaluation: 0 - 3 points).

Work Location(s)

• Number of offers available: 1
• Company/Institute: Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics Polish Academy of Sciences
• Country: Poland
• City: Warsaw
• Postal Code: 02-106
• Street: ul. Pawińskiego 5A

Contact

• City: Warsaw
• Website: http://www.ibb.edu.pl
• Street: ul. Pawińskiego 5a
• Postal Code: 02-106
• E-Mail: phdschoolrecruitment@ibb.waw.pl