Desired start date: 1st May, 2014 (start date could be postponed, if necessary) Form of employment: Full-time job, fixed-term - temporary contract for 12 months with a possibility of extending till the end of the project (31th August 2016) in 12-month periods. Job description: We seek a highly motivated individual to join an EU-funded research project within Integrated Center for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine (ICCT), which objective is to explore the role of YAP/TAZ proteins in the interaction between adult and pluripotent stem cells and biocompatible, nanostructured materials. Our group recently identified YAP/TAZ proteins as a crucial axis in cardiac stem cell interaction with the extracellular matrix to determine stem cell switch between cardiac lineages (as described in Mosqueira et al, ACS Nano 2014; DOI: 10.1021/nn4058984).

Description

The newly appointed researcher will be working at the interface between stem cell biology and material science to investigate further the role of such proteins in cardiac cell specification. ICCT is located at International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic. To develop its research program, ICCT has established international collaborations with the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS, Japan), the Technical University of Delft (The Netherlands), the Mayo Clinic (USA) and the Stem Cell Institute of the University of Minnesota (USA). Thus the project will entail the participation to international meetings with the possibility to perform part of the experimental work in the collaborative Institutes. The successful applicant will be responsible to collaborate on: • Establishing an original cutting-edge research project on adult and pluripotent cardiac stem cell mechanobiology; • Definition of long-, middle-, and short term research priorities of the ICCT; • Design of new research projects and direct participation in ongoing and newly initiated research projects of the ICCT; • Preparation of meetings with the international partners; • Design of new educational programs in stem cell-matrix interaction. Prerequisites for successful role performance: • Completed education in cellular and molecular biology (Master in Science); • Completed PhD post-graduate education with PhD diploma; • Having at least 8 years post-graduate research experience; • Having spent at least 2 years of your research career in a foreign Country; • Having already had responsibility of tutoring PhD students and post-doctoral fellows; • Having already had a previous appointment as Senior Scientist or Assistant Professor. Professional requirements: The applicants are required to have a solid knowledge in stem cell biology and personal experience in designing, performing and assessing stem cell studies in the murine or human system. Required experiences are defined below: • Documented at least five years of experience with research projects related to role of stem cells in cardiac tissue repair; • Documented leadership experiences in research projects related to stem cell biology; • Documented solid tracking record of publications in cardiac stem cell biology; • Good level of communication in English language (verbal and written), with willingness to obtain basic communication skills in Czech language; • Confidence with common computer software (MS office, Windows, Mac) Personal characteristics: Successful candidates should be highly motivated and have independent thinking, strong organizational and communication sk

Additional Job Details

Please email your application in electronic form, as a cover letter accompanied by a resume indicating details of your existing professional experience, to: Mgr. Aleš Pacner (ales.pacner@fnusa.cz) by 23th March, 2014 at the latest. Applications will be considered in two stages. The first stage will focus on the excellence of candidates. Those shortlisted will be invited to send two letters of recommendation and subsequently will be interviewed by a commission presided by the Chair of ICRC, Dr. Gorazd Stokin. By responding to this invitation and/or sending your CV and any other personal materials to St. Anne's University Hospital, you consent to the collection, processing and storage of your personal data in accordance with Act No. 101/2000 Coll., the protection of personal data. You are providing St. Anne's University Hospital with these data solely for the purpose of mediating employment, the period however being no longer than one year from submitting. Should you not reclaim the materials submitted by you, they will be discarded after the period has expired.