Institution: Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences

Department / Lab: Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics (Head: Dr. Lalit Kaurani)

Location: Prague 4, Czech Republic

Description: We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher with strong computational and bioinformatics expertise to join the newly established Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics. The successful candidate will lead computational analyses of large-scale transcriptomic datasets to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.

This position is intended for candidates planning to apply for external fellowships. We will support applications to: 1) Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA PF, deadline: September 2026) 2) EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowship (deadlines: January and July each year)

Lab research focus: Our laboratory studies non-coding RNAs and epigenetic regulation in brain disorders, with a primary focus on Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and stress-related psychiatric conditions. We integrate transcriptomics, functional genomics, and disease modeling to link molecular changes to disease phenotypes and enable RNA-based therapeutic strategies. Website: https://fgu.cas.cz/neuroepigenetics

Key responsibilities:

• Develop and implement computational pipelines for transcriptomic data analysis
• Perform integrative analyses (multi-omics where available) and network-based approaches
• Collaborate with experimental colleagues on prioritization and validation of targets
• Contribute to manuscripts and fellowship/grant writing
• Present results at lab meetings and international conferences

Required qualifications:

• PhD in bioinformatics, computational biology, genomics, or a related field
• Strong programming skills in R and/or Python
• Experience with RNA-seq analysis and statistical inference
• Track record of peer-reviewed publications
• Excellent communication skills in English

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience with small RNA-seq, multi-omics integration, or network biology
• Experience with HPC/cluster computing and reproducible workflows

What we offer:

• Full institutional support for MSCA PF and/or EMBO proposal preparation (structure, requirements, feedback)
• Access to high-quality datasets from established psychiatric and dementia cohorts
• Interdisciplinary international environment and collaborations at the Bio-Medical Campus
• Career development support, conference attendance, and scope for independent directions
• Employee benefits: 5 weeks vacation + 3 sick days; Multisport (Edenred); on-site gym and squash court; parking and bike storage; access to on-site kindergarten

Eligibility notes (must be checked by the applicant):

• MSCA PF: PhD awarded by the call deadline (September 2026); max 8 years postdoctoral experience; mobility rule applies (not resident in Czech Republic for more than 12 months in the last 36 months)
• EMBO: PhD awarded by the application deadline; typically max 2 years postdoctoral experience; mobility rule applies (not resident in Czech Republic for more than 12 months in the last 36 months)

This position is contingent on obtaining fellowship funding. Applicants of any nationality are welcome.

Application process: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Early contact is encouraged to allow time for joint proposal development.

Please email:

• CV (including publication list)
• Brief statement of research interests (max 2 pages)
• Contact details of 2-3 references

Send to: personalni@fgu.cas.cz

Contact: Dr. Lalit Kaurani, PhD Head, Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences Prague 4, Czech Republic