05 Postdoctoral Fellowship at Masaryk University, Czech Republic

Our postdoctoral programme will enable you to participate in one of many exciting scientific projects addressing current global issues related to health and the quality of human life. You will have the opportunity to discuss and develop ideas and train your ability to reason in a scientific manner, formulate hypotheses independently, to innovate, and to perform independent research. It is an excellent opportunity to fully develop the skills acquired throughout your PhD studies. You will have access to a professional administration supporting you with grant preparation and administration, with technology transfer, science communication and with other areas of modern research management. You will have the chance to participate in a wide range of scientific and career development events and become a valued member of our vibrant multinational scientific community.

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.

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.

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position in the research group of prof. Martin Lysak to join projects investigating the structure and evolution of crucifer genomes (Brassicaceae). The project aims to establish high-quality chromosome-scale sequence assemblies of several genomes and analyze the process chromosomal and centromere evolution in these plant genomes.

The project EMOROB analyses one of the most important challenges we are facing today – human/robot interaction (HRI). Specifically, the EMOROB explores genealogy of the affective programming and social robotics field which started developing in the early1990s. Here, the imagination relating to diagnosis and treatment of autism have played a crucial role as one of the first application domain of the social robotics. The project aims to explore the field of emotional computing in the context of autism treatment, in particular their cultural metaphors and codes. The main question is: How did the metaphors of social robotics and affective computing used in the context of autism treatment influence and mirror our view of human embodiment, agency, inequalities, and medical treatment itself? To explore this question, the project carries out critical discourse analysis, analysis of international archives and interviews with people in the field. By combining critical discourse analysis with material semiotic analysis, the EMOROB seeks to investigate empirically the dynamics and complexities of affective computing practices. Considering the state of the art of the existing scholarship, the main overall analytical objective of the project is to empirically enrich and theoretically advance our understanding of computing sociality, cultural representations of autism and the social and cultural consequences and backgrounds of emotional robotics in the 21st century. The project aims are: a) to analyse genealogy of the cultural imagery reflecting the diagnosis of autism and human-robot interaction since 1990s, and b) to explore epistemic maps interconnecting autism, robotics and ideas about normality, otherness, more-than-human sociality or social bodies.