Postdoctoral Scientist for Malaria Research Unit
Deadline: May 15th, 2026
The Institut Pasteur du Cambodge (IPC) is a Cambodian non-for-profit research institution established in 1953, IPC is today a scientific research establishment declared of public utility placed under the high patronage of the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Cambodia and under the responsibility of the Institut Pasteur on the scientific and technical levels. The IPC is a member of the Pasteur Network, which brings together 33 institutes present on five continents. It shares the Pasteurian values and the ethical charter to which the Pasteur Institutes are bound. The IPC has more than 300 employees, including about 30 expatriates of 10 nationalities and includes 6 research units. It carries out research activities in health biology, public health and service activities (Medical Biology Laboratory, vaccinations and water and food analyses) and training.
The Malaria Research Unit (MRU), led by Dr Jean POPOVICi, has over 20 years of experience investigating Plasmodium biology and malaria epidemiology in Cambodia. In recent years, the unit has developed a strong focus on Plasmodium vivax, combining field-based epidemiology, clinical studies, and advanced laboratory research. The MRU integrates multidisciplinary approaches to study P. vivax across its full life cycle and is among the few laboratories worldwide capable of implementing both ex vivo blood-stage cultures and liver-stage models for this species. Based at IPC in Phnom Penh, the laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art platforms, including cell culture systems, single-cell technologies, and sequencing instruments. The unit offers a dynamic and collaborative research environment with strong international partnerships.
We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Scientist to lead research on P. vivax liver-stage biology. The successful candidate will be part of a unit of 30+ members and will participate in international research projects in a stimulating environment.
Why Join IPC?
The Institut Pasteur du Cambodge (IPC) is committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and empowering workplace. We promote transparency, non-discrimination, and professional development for all staff.
By joining IPC, you will:
- Work in an internationally collaborative and respectful environment
- Contribute meaningfully to public health and high-impact scientific research
- Access continuous learning opportunities tailored to your career path
- Be part of a team that actively supports gender equality, diversity, and inclusion
- Join an institution recognized for its integrity, innovation, and global scientific partnerships
Position Overview:
- Position: full time
- Contract: minimum 2 years
- Start Date: July 1st, 2026 (negotiable)
- Benefits:
- Private health insurance including family coverage and life insurance
- NSSF (Health Care, Occupational Risk, Retirement)
- Khmer New Year, Pchum Ben and End-of-year bonus
- Multicultural environment with colleagues from different nationalities
- Opportunities for growth and career advancement
- Relocation support
- Yearly flight ticket to home country
- Salary will be covered by the Malaria Research unit and will depend on the experience of the candidate and includes an expatriate package.
Main responsibilities:
As a Postdoctoral Scientist, your responsibilities will include:
- Scientific research and innovation:
- Design and perform experiments to decipher the biology of dormant liver stages parasites.
- Using in vitro liver stage platform and human biospecimens collected from vivax infected individuals, design and implement strategies to identify biomarkers of liver stage infections.
- Identify and test new concepts to target and control liver stage parasites
- Unravel host-parasite interactions driving liver stages of P. vivax
- Project Management and Leadership:
- Lead research projects from conception to publication, including funding acquisition, experimental design, data analysis, interpretation and manuscript preparation
- Coordinate logistics and timelines across internal teams and external collaborators
- Mentorship and capacity building:
- Supervise and mentor students and junior scientists fostering scientific growth and promoting knowledge transfer
- Supervise and provide scientific direction to a team of technical staff specializing in P. vivax liver stages
- Deliver training to international collaborators to expand access to P. vivax liver stages in other malaria endemic countries
- Collaboration and scientific dissemination
- Represent the MRU and IPC at regional and international conferences, workshops and seminars
- Collaborate with international partners to contribute to multi-center studies
Candidate Profile:
We are looking for an ambitious and collaborative scientist who meets the following qualifications:
- PhD in developmental biology, microbiology or parasitology (or a closely related field)
- Demonstrated experience in cell biology and molecular biology techniques
- Experience in hepatocyte biology or Plasmodium liver stages is an asset
- Experience in biomarker discovery is valued
- Proven ability to design, conduct and analyze complex experiments
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Comfortable working with humans, mosquitoes and parasites samples
- Excellent communication skills in English (written and spoken)
- Highly organized, able to manage multiple projects and meet tight deadlines
- Capacity to adapt to diverse cultural environments and work efficiently with international, multidisciplinary teams
Please send your CV and cover letter to the Human Resources Department of Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, #5 Monivong Blvd, Phnom Penh, email: r[email protected]. For more questions regarding the position, please contact Dr. Jean POPOVICI, head of the Malaria Research Unit, email: [email protected].