Procedure no. DSMBBC​/2026​/IMOL​/04 Investigation of Protein Translocation Modes by the human TIM

Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics Polish Academy of Sciences

Organisation/Company Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics Polish Academy of Sciences Research Field Biological sciences Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Final date to receive applications 11 Aug 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Warsaw) Country Poland Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 Offer Starting Date 1 Oct 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

To advance our knowledge of cellular function, it is crucial to understand the mechanisms of protein management in human cells.

Organellar proteomes are shaped not only through protein synthesis and degradation but also through protein transport and transport-related maturation events. The TIM
23 protein translocase plays a key role in establishing the proteome of mitochondria by two modes of action, protein translocation across and insertion into the inner mitochondrial membrane. While the overall TIM
23 architecture is conserved throughout evolution, its mechanisms of action in human cells remain poorly understood. In particular, the mechanisms that determine whether a protein is inserted into the membrane or fully translocated into the mitochondrial matrix remain unclear.

The research project aims to investigate the mechanisms of operation of the TIM
23 translocase. To achieve this, the project seeks to identify novel components involved in TIM
23-mediated protein translocation. This will be achieved by analyzing the interactome data for the TIM
23 complex to uncover previously unrecognized factors that contribute to its functionality. In addition, the project will examine structural rearrangements of the TIM
23 complex by capturing and stabilizing intermediate states of the translocation process through precursor stalling. This approach will allow us to dissect the conformational dynamics underlying substrate sorting to different compartments. Ultimately, this project will provide new insight into how an expanded TIM
23 interaction network fine-tunes mitochondrial protein import, and how this contributes to the plasticity of the mitochondrial proteome .

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 October 2026).

Education at the Doctoral School begins on 1st October 2026 ;

Specific Requirements

• ability to work both independently and as a part of a team;
• very good command of English;
• ability to plan, organize, set priorities, work as a team member and effectively complete assignments;
• strong motivation and passion for experimental work;

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Research Field Biological sciences

1st year: 5500; 2nd year: 5500; 3rd year: 5500; 4th year: 5500

Selection process

The recruitment process consists of three stages:

Stage One

• The Committee analyzes 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…