Prospective postdocs and students interested in doing a PhD, Master’s, or Bachelor’s within our group are always welcome to contact me at marcin.zagorski@uj.edu.pl.

Postdoc position (deadline 8th June 2023, starting summer 2023)

We are looking for postdoc to carry our research within scope of NCN project on understanding the biophysical limiting factors of patterning precision in developing tissues, under SONATA BIS funding scheme.

The requirements include:

• PhD in biophysics, physics, mathematics, computer science or similar;
• excellent academic track record;
• interest in the interdisciplinary aspect of the project;
• experience with numerical solvers (C++, Python, Mathematica);
• proficiency in written and spoken English.

The project goal is to understand to what extent growth, cellular dynamics, biomechanical feedbacks and global mechanical constraints limit patterning precision in the growing tissue. The successful candidate is expected to actively take part in the project by proposing and analyzing models in the framework of theoretical and computational biophysics. The proposed models will be informed with high resolution experimental data provided by external collaborators.

Application should consist of scientific CV, list of publications, cover letter and two recommendation letters. The documents should be submitted to marcin.zagorski@uj.edu.pl. Inquiries before the application deadline are highly encouraged.

The job offers with all formal requirements can be found at Jagiellonian University webpage, under postdoc application.

Two scholarships for PhD students
(Doctoral School recruitment, June and September 2023,
application deadline 2nd October 2023)

Both scholarships (#1 and #2) are aimed for applicants with computational background. The applicant should have MSc in biophysics, physics, mathematics, computer science or similar. The applicant should successfully apply to PhD school in Polish research institution or university.

The applicants should have:

• interest in the interdisciplinary aspect of the project,
• experience with numerical solvers (C++, Python), (scholarship #1)
• experience with image segmentation algorithms, (scholarship #2)
• proficiency in written and spoken English.

The project goal is to understand to what extent growth, cellular dynamics, biomechanical feedbacks and global mechanical constraints limit patterning precision in the growing tissue. The successful candidate is expected to actively take part in the project by proposing and analyzing models in the framework of theoretical and computational biophysics. The proposed models will be informed with high resolution experimental data provided by external collaborators.

Scope of work

scholarship #1: The PhD student will develop a vertex model of growing tissue. The model will include novel methods to simulate cellular and bio-mechanical processes taking place in biological tissues. The simulation results will be informed with high resolution experimental data provided by external collaborators. The PhD student will estimate level of patterning precision as a function of growth, cellular and mechanical factors. The PhD student will actively take part in group research activities, including dissemination of project results through publications, scientific conferences, research seminars and general audience talks.

scholarship #2: The PhD student will identify possible cellular mechanisms and biomechanical feedbacks affecting patterning precision in vertebrate tissues. The PhD student will derive estimates of bio-mechanical tissue properties from high resolution experimental data provided by external collaborators. The estimates will be used to inform computational models of biomechanical feedbacks. The PhD student will actively take part in group research activities, including dissemination of project results through publications, scientific conferences, research seminars and general audience talks.

Additional information

The NCN funded scholarship for PhD students is provided for 4-years.

Selected candidates will be invited for an interview. Successful candidate will be selected by a committee chaired by the project leader. The condition of successful application to Doctoral School in Polish research institution or university needs to be fulfilled to be considered in this opening. Please consult details at https://science.phd.uj.edu.pl/en_GB/start. Please contact me in advance to prepare application to Doctoral School at Jagiellonian University.

The official announcement can be found at https://fais.uj.edu.pl/wydzial/zatrudnienie/.

Mentoring program

Apart from research activity we offer mentoring program. The goal of the mentoring would be to develop scientific potential of the mentee allowing the mentee to become a successful and independent researcher. We advice and give feedback on: applying for jobs and independent funding, networking in science, writing publications, presentation skills, teaching and other science-related activities.

Graduate students, PhD students, and postdocs interested in the mentoring program are encouraged to contact me at marcin.zagorski@uj.edu.pl.

Electro-Cell project in Garage of Complexity

The project goal is to construct proxies of biological regulatory mechanisms by assembling electronic circuits to mimic different developmental functions. The project will result in physical implementation of cellular regulatory logic that could help us to investigate the principles driving the emergence of gene expression patterns in developing systems.

We are looking for ambitious students with interest in electric circuit assembly, programming skills and curiosity in biological aspect of the project. Visit http://complexitygarage.com/en/home2/ or contact me directly at marcin.zagorski@uj.edu.pl.