Zdeněk Lánský

I am a group leader at the Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences. My lab is an international and inter-disciplinary group of biologists, chemists and physicists. We use single molecule experimental methods to uncover molecular mechanisms of intracellular transport, which is essential for example for the function of neurons. Our research is now funded by an ERC synergy grant, linking our lab with three labs from the Institut Curie, INSERM Paris and UC Berkeley, and enabling us to expand our research to all biologically relevant scales, from atoms to whole organisms.

About the position

The successful candidate will be based at the Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences. The Postdoctoral fellow will join the Laboratory of Structural Proteins, which studies molecular mechanisms underpinning foundational processes in ontogenetic development, such as neuronal pathfinding, long-range intracellular transport or contractility and chirality of actin networks. The key experimental approaches of the research group include single molecule imaging using state of the art microscopy methods and single molecule force measurement and manipulation using optical tweezers. The fellow may also liaise with a wide network of the group’s international collaborators through international secondments. Given the main focus of the research group, the expected outputs of the fellowship are high-level scientific publications. We are looking for talented and enthusiastic experimentalists or theoreticians, with backgrounds in (bio)physics, (bio)chemistry, biology, or an equivalent field, motivated to work on a cross-disciplinary project.

Gabriela Pavlinkova

I am the Head of the Laboratory of Molecular Pathogenetics. I graduated in Immunology and Developmental Biology at Charles University in Prague. After graduation I worked as a Research Associate, and Instructor at the University of Kentucky, and until 2008 as an  Assistant Professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, USA. My research focuses on defining transcriptional and epigenetic regulations during embryonic development to understand molecular mechanisms in congenital defects and adult diseases.

About the position

The Postdoctoral fellow will join the research team of Laboratory of Molecular Pathogenetics that is focused on epigenetic and transcriptional regulations during embryonic development. Understanding the different ways in which epigenetic signals and transcription factor networks govern self-renewal, cell specification, differentiation, and reprogramming is a key step for advances in cell-based therapy and perspectives for medicine. Using mouse models, we aim to investigate how elimination and miss-expression of key transcription factors affect epigenetic landscapes and downstream targets during embryonic development, and lead to predispositions and pathogenesis of disease. We use Cre/loxP and global gene expression profiling (RNA sequencing), single cell RNA sequencing, CUT&RUN chromatin profiling, FACS, confocal microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization to evaluate molecular phenotypes and regulatory mechanisms.

The candidate should hold a PhD degree in cell biology, genetics, biomedicine, molecular biology or related sciences. Prior experience working with mice, and knowledge of bioinformatics is a plus. The candidate should be able work independently with a proactive attitude, excellent communication skills, and be prone to teamwork.

We offer to work in a creative, multidisciplinary international team. The laboratory is a part of the Institute of Biotechnology (www.ibt.cas.cz) located at BIOCEV, providing an inspiring  multi-disciplinary research environment and access to state-of-the-art technologies and instruments.   Our laboratory collaborates with a number of European and US laboratories, including the University of California San Diego, John Hopkins University, Technical University München, and Karolinska Institutet. Given the main focus of our research group, the expected outputs of the fellowship are high-level scientific publications.

Cyril Barinka

I graduated in Biochemistry at Charles University, Prague, and did my PhD at the Institute of Organic chemistry & Biochemistry, Prague. From 2005 to 2010, I worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the National Cancer Institute, Maryland, US, focusing on macromolecular crystallography. Upon my return to the Czech Republic, I established a research group at the Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences where we strive to understand molecular mechanisms of histone deacetylases, tubulin-modifying enzymes, and to develop (macro)molecular ligands for prostate cancer imaging and therapy.

About the position

The successful candidate will join the research team of Laboratory of Structural Biology where she/he will co-lead a project aimed at structural and functional characterization of zinc-dependent histone deacetylases (HDACs). The multidisciplinary project is aimed at providing a mechanistic understanding of physiological roles of HDACs at the molecular level. To this end, we use molecular biology, biophysical techniques, genetic code expansion technology, single molecule TIRF microscopy, and X-ray crystallography/cryoEM to understand the recognition of substrates by HDACs. The combined knowledge will be further used to develop isoform- as well organism-specific HDAC inhibitors. Metabolomics and lipidomics will complement in vitro studies in our quest to identify unknown physiological substrates and roles of HDACs in physiology. Given the main focus of the research group, the expected outputs of the fellowship are high-level scientific publications.

The candidate shall have a PhD degree in biochemistry, molecular biology, biophysics, structural biology, or a related field. She/he shall have a record of publications in peer-reviewed international journals, excellent communication skills and be able to work independently with a proactive attitude but also as a part of a multi-person research team. She/he will contribute to supervision of junior colleagues, manuscript writing, and present your results at international meetings. Prior experience with heterologous protein expression and purification, biophysics, structural methods, cryoEM, and enzyme kinetics is a plus. The fellow may also liaise with a wide network of our international collaborators through international secondments in Germany and US.

Věra Slaninová

Following my Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Genetics, I moved to Montpellier, France, where I completed two postdoctoral positions. My research focused on transcription regulation across various disease models. After my second contract, I decided to bring back the knowledge and experience I gained abroad to Czechia. In March 2024, I joined the lab of Dr. Pavlínková, who has extensive experience in studying transcription regulation via transcription factors during development and in disease contexts. During the recruitment, she mentioned the second call of MERIT, which coincided with my return. This prompted me to develop a project to merge my expertise with the lab’s focus.
The resulting project, called Isl1Epigenome, focuses on transcription regulation during pancreas development and in Diabetes. Diabetes is a significant global health challenge, affecting over 500 million people worldwide. Beyond its health implications, Diabetes imposes substantial socio-economic burdens. Although treatments exist, there is no cure. Diabetes is primarily characterized by reduced insulin production by pancreatic beta cells, but other pancreatic cells, particularly alpha cells, contribute to the disease phenotype. The role of alpha cells, however, is not well understood.
Transcription regulation is critical for all biological processes, including glucose homeostasis. With this project, I will specifically explore the role of epigenetic modifications mediated by the ISL1 transcription factor in both developing and mature pancreatic alpha and beta cells. ISL1 regulates transcription not only by directly influencing gene expression but also through mechanisms involving epigenetic changes in various tissues. Yet, the specific mechanisms of ISL1-dependent epigenetic regulation remain poorly understood, especially in humans, as most studies have been conducted in mice. My goal is to address these gaps. Moreover, the Isl1Epigenome project will provide the foundation for future projects. Therefore, funding from MERIT will be crucial for my development as an independent researcher.

Archiit Bhatnagar

My international experience includes my Ph.D. at Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG) in Dresden, Germany, where I studied how mechanical forces can align body axes to geometric features of an embryo, specifically in the case of anteroposterior axis in the C. elegans embryos. This work integrated active matter physics, quantitative microscopy, and molecular genetics, equipping me with skills to apply physical theories and quantitative methods to biological processes.
During my Ph.D., I focused on coarse-grained processes, such as mechanical flows, which emerge from complex molecular interactions. Understanding this emergence requires examining their constituent molecular-scale interactions in minimal systems. Given the vibrant community of researchers in fields like biochemistry, biophysics, and structural biology in the Czech Republic, I decided to apply to MERIT to do my postdoctoral work here in the Czech Republic to gain experience and expertise in these minimal systems by getting trained in reconstituted in vitro cytoskeletonal systems in the lab of Dr. Zdenek Lansky at Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Science located in BIOCEV.
My research project will investigate the interplay between internal structure and dynamics of actin assemblies observed during the remodeling of higher-order structures in the actin cytoskeleton, such as lamellipodia, endocytic patches, and the actomyosin cortex. I will use a combined in vivo, in vitro, and physical modeling approach to develop methods that infer the internal structure of protein assemblies from their compositional dynamics, opening new research directions in actin biology, in vitro reconstitution of cytoskeleton, and soft matter physics. These will significantly interest the scientific community in the Czech Republic, specifically working on actin cytoskeleton and other protein assemblies observed throughout biology.
Being part of the MERIT program will also help me develop vital scientific and non-scientific skills. The mentorship, networking opportunities, and interdisciplinary collaborations will enhance my communication and collaboration management skills, ultimately paving the way for my academic independence.