06 Postdoctoral Fellowship at Masaryk University, Czech Republic

A post-doctoral position is open in the Dr. Dalibor Blažek. Our research team is dedicated to understanding the roles of CDK12, CDK11, and other transcriptional kinases in the regulation of gene expression and their targeting in human diseases, particularly cancer. Our laboratory at CEITEC is international and has numerous collaborations including top bioinformaticians, medicinal chemists, and an innovative biotech company. The post-holder will integrate biochemistry and molecular biochemistry approaches, particularly genomics and proteomics together with bioinformatics analyses to address basic biological questions. We are particularly interested in an individual with strong expertise in molecular biology and biochemistry and expertise/interest in genome-wide bioinformatics analyses.

Our lab is specifically interested in neurodegenerative markers together with microRNA and its regulatory role in developing temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Recent research has discovered the connection between altered microRNA (miRNA/miR) expression and pathological processes in the brain tissues leading to epilepsy onset in animal models and potentially/probably in humans. However, the influence of dysregulated miRNA expression in epilepsy onset has not been fully explained yet. For precise evaluation and the gain of the most accurate data, we work with in vitro (cell culture), in vivo (rat brain slices) and ex vivo (human brain tissue) models.

The postdoctoral position will be part of the more significant NPO project LX22NPO5107 named “Národní ústav pro neurologický výzkum”, funded by the Ministry of education, youth and sports (RRF). We are currently looking for a motivated, enthusiastic and independent postdoc with a background in neuroscience, molecular biology, medical biology, biochemistry or related field to help us to uncover the molecular principles of TLE and find the possible way for non-invasive treatment. Your work will include cell culture, western blot, gene library preparation, and sequencing.

We are seeking post-doctoral scientist to join the Laboratory of Structural Virology in CEITEC (http://plevkalab.ceitec.cz). We use cryo-electron microscopy and tomography to determine three-dimensional structures of viruses and bacteriophages and characterize their infection of cells. We employ light-sheet fluorescence microscopy for time-resolved imaging of phage infection of biofilm. We study human viruses from the families Picornaviridae and Flaviviridae and tailed phages of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Department of Geography at the Faculty of Science Department of Geography at the Faculty of Science of MU is the second largest geography department in the Czech Republic. The department conducts multidisciplinary scientific research and teaching activities in the interrelated fields of human geography, physical geography, geoinformatics and geographic cartography. The staff of the Institute of Geography is involved in a number of research projects and grants programmes, as well as a wide range of application projects.

Cells employ protein liquid droplets to form dynamic clusters, which function as nanoreactors or storages with the increased local concentration of specific protein components. These membrane-less organelles self-assemble based on weak protein-protein interactions of intrinsically disordered domains. However, the role of specific sequences remains elusive and the mixing between different protein droplets unexplored. This project is focused on the droplets involved in genome transcription, where posttranslational modifications control the droplet composition and regulate the transcription. Expected findings are not only important for the general knowledge but could also be useful in the design of new treatments because translocation malfunction is involved in numerous diseases including cancer. The research is strongly coupled to collaborations with excellent experimental teams and will be more closely discussed during the interview. The employed tools will contain multi-scale simulations using a wide range of advanced sampling techniques and development of protein parametrization.

A post-doctoral position is open in the lab of Dr. Michal Šmída (https://www.ceitec.eu/ceitec-mu/michal-smida-research-group/rg214) to participate in research focused on the identification of novel targets for therapy of leukemias, particularly acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The research group is investigating molecular mechanisms essential for malignant cells and/or responsible for developing resistance to current targeted therapies. More importantly, we explore how to exploit the resistance mechanisms for novel personalized therapy. We are seeking a talented person with expertise in cell biology, molecular biology and biochemistry to perform various large-scale drug screens and genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 cellular screens with following in-depth validation of the screening hits and detailed elucidation of molecular mechanisms. The aim of the project will be to propose novel molecular targets to break the therapy resistance and thereby enhance the success rate of the therapy in CLL or AML patients. The project will include translational research using immortalized cell lines, mouse models and primary patient material. State-of-the-art technologies such as genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screening, next-generation sequencing or single-cell sequencing are available in the laboratory and/or local core facilities, and are accessible on a regular basis.