Job Offers
Project/Grant title
“Targeting MMP-9 in Cancer Treatment: Computational Design and Experimental Validation of Potent, Safe Antitumor Agents”
Job description
The aim of this project is to accelerate the discovery of safe and effective matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP 9) inhibitors through advanced AI assisted drug design. We anticipate that the use of state of the art medicinal chemistry software, incorporating both retrosynthetic and forward synthetic algorithms, will enable the generation of novel yet synthetically accessible chemical entities. The workflow will begin with computational modeling to generate hundreds to thousands of candidate molecules, followed by rapid prediction of their binding affinity to the MMP 9 enzyme, as well as evaluation of key pharmacokinetic properties. The most promising compounds will be further assessed using molecular docking to evaluate binding modes and selectivity, and molecular dynamics simulations to estimate the stability of ligand protein interactions. This approach will allow us to prioritize compounds with the highest likelihood of success, namely those combining strong inhibitory activity against MMP 9, selectivity over other MMP isoforms, and favorable drug like and safety profiles. The top candidates will be synthesized in the laboratory and evaluated in cell based assays to confirm their anticancer potential.
The main tasks will involve:
- Computer aided design of active, safe, and selective compounds with potential anticancer activity
- Molecular docking of designed compounds to the active site of selected biological targets (enzymes or proteins)
- Performing molecular dynamics simulations
- Organic synthesis of the most promising compounds, as well as their purification and analysis (e.g., NMR, MS, HPLC)
- In vitro studies of biological activity, in particular inhibitory activity against selected enzymes or cell lines
Researcher profile
R2
Number of positions available
1
Offer
Terms of employment: full-time employment for 12 months with the possibility of extension to 24 months, with salary funded by the NCN grant, 11666,66 PLN (gross gross) ~9700 PLN gross;
The salary level is in line with the compensation guidelines for comparable postdoctoral positions in projects funded by the National Science Centre.
Benefits:
- private medical care package,
- co-financing of sports cards
Career development opportunities: work in a dynamically developing team, access to research infrastructure, professional development in the field of organic synthesis, computational drug design, work with outstanding specialists in the field of organic and computational chemistry, the possibility of cooperation with foreign research centers (e.g. UNIST South Korea), the possibility of further professional development at the IOC PAS, participation in national and international conferences.
Additional information
Project manager: Dr Anna Żądło-Dobrowolska
Head of Research Group: Prof. Bartosz Grzybowski
e-mail: anna.zadlo@icho.edu.pl
We are an open and inclusive employer – we encourage applications from all individuals, regardless of gender, origin, nationality, or minority background.
Requirements
PhD degree in chemistry (specialization: organic chemistry), awarded no earlier than 12 years before employment in the project (this period is extended by the duration of maternity/paternity leaves), or expected date of obtaining the PhD degree prior to commencement of work.
required competences
- PhD in Organic Chemistry
- Practical experience in organic synthesis
- Excellent knowledge of organic chemistry
- Scientific achievements documented by publications in recognized journals
- Ability to analyse and interpret experimental data
- Knowledge of NMR, MS, GC, and HPLC techniques
- Knowledge of spoken and written English to the extent necessary for independent scientific work
- Ability to solve scientific problems
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
- Strong motivation and commitment to scientific research
desirable competences
- Knowledge of computational chemistry and/or medicinal chemistry
List of required documents
- Candidate’s Curriculum Vitae
- description of scientific achievements, including a list of publications, ongoing projects, etc.
- diplomas and certificates confirming qualifications, completed courses, completed training, etc.
- cover letter
- letters of recommendation and references from previous employers/supervisors
- consent to the processing of the Candidate’s personal data for the purposes of the competition
Along with the required documents, please submit (or send a scan) a signed consent to the processing of personal data available at: https://www.icho.edu.pl/en/cooperations/career/
Candidate evaluation criteria
- scientific achievements measured by the quality and quantity of scientific publications or granted/pending patents
- knowledge of organic chemistry
- Candidate’s professional experience
- career mobility (research internships, work in industry, change of scientific profile)
- ability to work in a team/ability to transfer knowledge
- awards or distinctions
- opinions about the Candidate contained in the letters of recommendation
- good knowledge of English enabling independent scientific work
Deadline for submitting applications
30.06.2026
Competition settlement date
31.07.2026
Envisaged job starting date: 01.09.2026
Submitting applications
Secretariat
Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences
Kasprzaka 44/52 Street
01-224 Warsaw
Phone: +48 22 631 8788
Applications must be sent to e-mail address: rekrutacja@icho.edu.pl
ATTENTION! In the title of the e-mail, please enter “Recruitment – POST-DOC – Anna Żądło-Dobrowolska”
Project/Grant title
“BIOINSPIRED ENERGY TRANSFER (EnT) PHOTOCATALYSIS IN MICELLAR SYSTEMS”
Job description
Description of tasks:
- developing micellar systems tailored for photosensitized reaction and evaluating their synthetic utility,
- studying localization of reagents in micellar systems
- supervising Ph.D. students on a daily bases,
- preparation of manuscripts
Researcher profile
R2/R3
Number of positions available
1
Offer
Terms of employment: Full-time position, temporary contract for 12 months with the possibility of extension. The gross monthly salary (including employer’s costs) is 11,666.67 PLN (approx. 9,500 PLN gross).
The offered remuneration is in line with salaries for comparable positions in projects funded by the Polish National Science Centre (NCN).
Benefits: private medical care package
Career development opportunities:
- work in dynamic team,
- access to research infrastructure,
- professional development in the field of photocatalysis,
- the possibility of further professional development at the IOC PAS
Additional information
Project manager: prof. Dorota Gryko
Phone: +48 22 343 20 51
e-mail: dorota.gryko@icho.edu.pl
We are an open and inclusive employer – we encourage applications from all individuals, regardless of gender, origin, nationality, or minority background.
Requirements
PhD degree in chemistry (specialization: organic chemistry), awarded no earlier than 12 years before employment in the project (this period is extended by the duration of maternity/paternity leaves), or expected date of obtaining the PhD degree prior to commencement of work.
Required competencies
- excellent knowledge of organic, organometallic chemistry;
- scientific achievements documented by publications in recognised journals;
- commitment, responsibility and ability to work in a team
- proficiency in analytical techniques – NMR, HPLC, GC
- knowledge of spoken and written English to the extent necessary for independent scientific work;
- previous experience in photochemistry or experience in theoretical chemistry (DFT calculations) will be an asset;
Desired competencies
- ability to work independently
- decision-making skills
- ability to work in a team
- responsibility
- strong ability to guide and train students in experiment design and operation
List of required documents
- Candidate’s Curriculum Vitae
- description of scientific achievements, including a list of publications, ongoing projects, etc.
- diplomas and certificates confirming qualifications, completed courses, completed training,
- cover letter
- two letters of recommendation and references from previous employers/supervisors
Along with the required documents, please submit (or send a scan) a signed consent to the processing of personal data available at: https://www.icho.edu.pl/en/cooperations/career/
Candidate evaluation criteria
- scientific achievements measured by the quality and quantity of scientific publications or granted/pending patents
- knowledge of organic chemistry
- Candidate’s professional experience
- career mobility (research internships, work in industry, change of scientific profile)
- awards or distinctions
- opinions about the Candidate contained in the letters of recommendation
- language knowledge enabling conducting scientific research
Deadline for submitting applications
10.06.2026 r., 23:59
Competition settlement date
26.06.2026 r.
Envisaged job starting date: 01.07.2026 r.
Submitting applications
Secretariat
Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences
Kasprzaka 44/52 Street
01-224 Warsaw
Phone: +48 22 631 8788
Please apply by e-mail: rekrutacja@icho.edu.pl
ATTENTION! In the title of the e-mail, please enter “Recruitment – Dorota Gryko”
Project/Grant title
“Unlocking Access to New Bioisosteric Motifs: Radical Reactions and Reagents for the Incorporation of NCF3 and NCF2H Functional Groups”
Job description
The main tasks will involve:
- development of new precursors of NCF3 and NCF2H radicals
- investigation of new radical reactions including photo- or electrochemistry
- mechanistic investigations
- scope and limitation studies
- data analysis using state-of-the-art techniques (e.g. NMR, GCMS, CV)
- supervising students
- preparation of reports and publication manuscripts
Researcher profile
R2
Number of positions available
1
Offer
Terms of employment: full-time employment for 12 months with the possibility of extension up to 36 months, with salary funded by the NCN grant, 11666,66 PLN (gross gross) ~9700 PLN gross; The salary level is in line with the compensation guidelines for comparable postdoctoral positions in projects funded by the National Science Centre.
Benefits:
- private medical care package,
Career development opportunities:
- work on ambitious projects in a dynamically developing team,
- access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure (NMR, MS, GCMS, photoreactors etc.),
- professional development in the field of organic chemistry, catalysis and radical chemistry,
- opportunity to present research at international conferences,
- publications in high impact journals
- the possibility of further professional development at the IOC PAS
Additional information
Project manager: dr Michał Ociepa
Phone: +48 509-610-806
e-mail: michal.ociepa@icho.edu.pl (preferred)
We are an open and inclusive employer – we encourage applications from all individuals, regardless of gender, origin, nationality, or minority background.
Requirements
Maximum 7 years after completion of PhD – requirement of financing institution
required competences
- PhD in organic chemistry
- previous experience with synthetic chemistry laboratory techniques
- excellent organic chemistry knowledge
- previous experience in organic synthesis and/or catalysis
- ability to analyse and interpret experimental data using state-of-the art techniques (NMR, MS, GC, HPLC)
- analytical thinking and scientific problem solving skills
- good written and spoken English;
- high self-motivation and strong work ethic
- ability to plan and perform work independently and as a part of a team
desirable competences
- previous experience in radical chemistry, photochemistry, and transition-metal catalysis will be an asset
- personal skills: creativity, responsibility, excellent communication, organization and time management skills, willingness to learn, critical problem solving skills;
List of required documents
- Candidate’s Curriculum Vitae
- description of scientific achievements, including a list of publications, research projects, etc.
- diplomas and certificates confirming qualifications, completed courses, completed training, etc.
- minimum 2 letters of recommendation and references from previous employers/supervisors
- consent to the processing of the Candidate’s personal data for the purposes of the competition
Along with the required documents, please submit (or send a scan) a signed consent to the processing of personal data available at: https://www.icho.edu.pl/en/cooperations/career/
Candidate evaluation criteria
- scientific achievements measured by the quality and quantity of scientific publications, monographs, patents
- participation in research projects
- Candidate’s professional experience
- creativity and independence in conducting research
- awards or distinctions
- opinions about the Candidate contained in the letters of recommendation
- English language knowledge enabling conducting scientific research
- Maximum 7 years after completion of PhD – requirement of financing institution
Deadline for submitting applications
12.06.2026 23:59 [GMT+1]
Competition settlement date
30.06.2026
Envisaged job starting date: 01.10.2026
Submitting applications
Secretariat
Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences
Kasprzaka 44/52 Street
01-224 Warsaw
Phone: +48 22 631 8788
Please apply by e-mail: rekrutacja@icho.edu.pl
ATTENTION! In the title of the e-mail, please enter “Recruitment – POST-DOC – Michal Ociepa”
Recruitment results are sent to all candidates by e-mail to the address indicated in the application immediately after the selection process is completed. The ranking list is available from the contact person indicated in the announcement and from the Human Resources Department of the Institute of Organic Chemistry of the PAS.