Overview

The Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences announces an open competition in accordance with the Act No. 283/1992 Coll. on the Czech Academy of Sciences, and the Statutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences for a position

Postdoctoral researcher in Tumor microenvironment & metabolism

in the Laboratory of Cellular metabolism, located at the Institute of Biotechnology in BIOCEV. We are a young, international research team that studies the metabolic crosstalk in healthy and tumor tissue using genetic mouse models, functional screens, and single cell and spatial omics technologies.

More details about the laboratory: https://www.ibt.cas.cz/en/research-laboratories/laboratory-of-cellular-metabolism/

The position is for you if:

…you have strong data analysis skills and enjoy working with large, complex datasets (e.g., single-cell, spatial, imaging-based or other omics data)

…you have practical experience working in R and/or Python for biological data analysis and visualization

…you are interested in tumor–stroma interactions, particularly immune–endothelial crosstalk

…you have a background in immunology and can confidently interpret immune cell states and activation programs in tumors

…you communicate results clearly and work well both independently and in a team

… you enjoy working with smart and creative people in a truly international environment (75% of the lab come from outside of the Czech Republic)

About the role

The successful candidate will lead a project focused on tumor microenvironment and metabolism, with a particular emphasis on immune–endothelial cell interactions in tumors. Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics will be key tools in this project, together with complementary experimental approaches in vitro and in vivo, to understand metabolic regulation in the tumor microenvironment. Candidates with strong immunology expertise (tumor immunology, immune cell phenotyping, immune cell state annotation) are especially encouraged to apply.

You will oversee your research project while working as part of a collaborative team at the interface of cancer metabolism, vascular biology, and tumor immunology. The position includes active contribution to scientific discussions, manuscript preparation, and communication of results at international meetings, as well as support in mentoring junior colleagues.

Key responsibilities

  • Analyze and interpret high-dimensional datasets from tumor microenvironment samples (including scRNAseq and related omics outputs)
  • Identify and characterize functional states of immune and endothelial cell populations, including their dynamics and potential interactions
  • Analyze and quantify multiplex histochemistry data (from Akoya PhenoCycler), including spatial organization and cell–cell neighborhood relationships
  • Integrate results across datasets and generate clear, publication-quality figures and reports
  • Present results in lab meetings and contribute actively to scientific discussion and planning
  • Contribute to manuscript preparation and support fellowship/grant-related writing

Desired skills and experiences

  • PhD in immunology, cancer biology, computational biology, bioinformatics, or a related field
  • Strong track record shown by publications in peer-reviewed international journals
  • Hands-on experience with single-cell and/or spatial omics analysis (scRNAseq preferred; additional spatial/imaging-based analysis is a plus)
  • Practical programming and data analysis skills (R and/or Python); ability to generate reproducible analyses and clear data visualizations
  • Ability to work independently, manage priorities, and communicate results effectively
  • Excellent command of English (written and spoken)

Attitude and drive

We are looking for a curious, inventive, and proactive scientist who enjoys extracting biological insight from complex datasets and connecting metabolism with tumor environment biology using single-cell, spatial, and quantitative approaches. You should be independent yet collaborative, excited to build robust analysis workflows and test hypotheses rigorously. A strong sense of initiative, precision, and perseverance, combined with an open and constructive mindset, will be key to success in this position.

Preferred start date: April 2026 (negotiable)

About the Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences

The Institute of Biotechnology (IBT, ibt.cas.cz) is a top-class multi-disciplinary public research institution in the Czech Republic whose mission is to research biomolecular mechanisms, the understanding of which contributes to the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and the emergence of innovative biotechnologies. IBT is located in the BIOCEV Center (biocev.eu) operated by the Czech Academy of Sciences and Charles University. BIOCEV brings together >500 international scientists and students in >50 research groups. The IBT and BIOCEV partners run excellent core facilities (gene core, structural and biophysical analysis, a state-of-the-art animal clinic, flow cytometry & imaging and omics core facilities).

Location

IBT is in the BIOCEV Center in Vestec, Prague-west, ~30 minutes from the city center by public transport.

How to apply

Send your application including:

  • Your CV, where you highlight your skills and experience critical for the position,
  • A motivation letter with contact information for two references, where you tell us why you are interested in the position and why we should choose you.
    through our website: https://www.ibt.cas.cz/en/career-and-education/career-and-study/. Other forms of your application will not be considered.

Later in the process, we may request references for phone interviews and ask you to present your recent activities with a focus on the desired skills and experience and a case study related to the position.

For more information, please contact Dr. Katerina Rohlenova, katerina.rohlenova@ibt.cas.cz.

We look forward to hearing from you and jointly exploring new principles of metabolic regulation in tumor microenvironment biology.

More details on the processing of personal data are available on the website: https://www.ibt.cas.cz/en/about-the-institute/official-noticeboard/gdpr/

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