Group Leader in P4Health – Center of Excellence in Precise Phenotyping and BioDataBanking for Personalised Brain Health M/K

• PhD degree in biological, medical, veterinary, or related sciences
• Experience in applying appropriate in vitro, in vivo or in silico models to address biological and medical research questions
• Strong track record in studying cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying brain disorders
• Excellent organizational skills and strong command of English

P4Health: Center of Excellence in Precise Phenotyping and BioDataBanking for Personalised Brain Health. Project is carried out within the MAB/IRA programme of the Foundation for Polish Science and HE Teaming for Excellence.

The P4Health is a newly established Centre of Excellence focused on advancing Predictive, Preventive, Personalized, and Participatory (P4) approaches in health and medicine.

Research agenda framework, the project’s scientific goal is to discover and validate novel therapeutic concepts aimed at counteracting symptoms of brain disorders associated with astrocyte pathology. The applied research programme is designed to deliver a detailed understanding of the mechanisms of astrocyte dysfunction and its impact on neuronal networks, building on the complementary expertise of teams with a strong record of high-impact publications and proven experience in developing prototype drug candidates. Project outcomes will be protected as intellectual property and will provide a foundation for translation through tailored commercialisation pathways.

P4Health’s key features:

• Interdisciplinary center advancing the field of brain disorders
• Mechanism-driven research focused on reversing disease-associated impairment of neuronal networks
• Strong scientific track record demonstrated through high-quality publications and prior discoveries in nervous system pathomechanisms
• Translation-oriented strategy, from concept validation to clinical studies and commercialisation
• Systematic protection and management of intellectual property to support downstream implementation

A Group Leader position is available at the P4Health Center. The position is intended for candidates with typically four to eight years of postdoctoral experience who are well positioned to transition to a leadership role in a newly established center for applied research. Independent researchers holding external grants are also welcome to apply. The main objective of the new research team will be to identify cell-autonomous pathways to advance the understanding of trait-specific neuropathology and to propose novel therapeutical targets.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong motivation to conduct translational research in neuroscience, has solid expertise in molecular mechanisms underlying brain disorders, and has the ability to think independently and to lead innovative research.

Candidates are invited to submit proposals describing an ambitious yet feasible research program to be implemented at P4Health. The desired scope includes innovative approaches to resolve neuro-glia interactions, either through in silico modelling (i.e. omics-based identification of novel candidate drug targets and/or biomarkers) or through experimental approaches (e.g. functional readouts of targeted genetic or pharmacological manipulations of brain circuits in vivo or ex vivo).

The selection process includes two stages:

1.  First selection round: the Expert Panel will evaluate candidates’ motivation to join P4Health, the quality of previous research based on the submitted CV, and the scientific merit, impact, and feasibility of the proposed research programme;

2. Second selection round: Selected candidates will be invited to a leadership training in Wrocław. The invitation includes full coverage of travel expenses and full accommodation for the duration of the training (4 days, tentatively scheduled mid-July 2026). During the training, candidates will refine their project proposals with guidance from experiences mentors and present them to a jury on the final day. Successful candidates will be offered a position at P4Health Center.

We encourage applications from candidates of all nationalities, genders and backgrounds.

1. CV demonstrating the candidate’s qualifications in the following areas:

I. Key Competencies and Experience :
Please provide a concise overview of your professional experience, highlighting key competencies relevant to the position. This should include, in particular:

• Experience in project management and coordination of research activities
• Core qualifications and areas of expertise
• Academic and professional positions held, including leadership roles (e.g. head of a research group or team)
• Participation in prestigious advisory boards, committees, or expert panels relevant to the role of a group leader

Additionally, please explain how your experience and competencies equip you to effectively lead a research group within a Centre of Excellence.

II. Scientific Achievements:

a. Key scientific accomplishments
Please list up to three of your most significant scientific achievements from the period 30 April 2016 – 30 April 2026 in a field relevant to the project. These should be presented in comparison to those of leading international research centres. Examples may include:

• High-impact publications
• Implementations or applied research outcomes
• Patents
• Awards, distinctions, or recognitions

b. Research funding
Please provide a list of key research grants, with particular emphasis on those completed within the last three years (30 April 2023 – 30 April 2026).

c. Impact and contribution to the field
For the projects listed above, describe the main outcomes and their contribution to advancing the scientific domain addressed in the P4Health Research Agenda.
In particular, focus on the results of scientific and/or implementation-oriented research from projects completed within the last three years, clearly demonstrating their impact and relevance.

III. Supervision of Theses:
Please indicate the number of diploma (Master’s) theses and/or doctoral dissertations you have supervised or co-supervised.

IV. Collaboration with Industry and Commercialization :
Please describe your experience in:

• Collaboration between academia and industry
• Translating research results into practical applications
• Commercialization activities (e.g. patents, spin-offs, technology transfer, industry-funded projects)

2. Cover letter outlining motivation to join P4Health

3. Mission statement and proposal for a 3-year research programme (2 pages max.) focused on drug target or biomarker identification and validation

4. Contact information, including e-mail address and phone number

5. Optional: additional supporting documents (e.g.certificates, reference letter )

The recruitment process will be based on an “outcubation” model and will involve an International Scientific Committee.