The Sano Centre for Computational Medicine
an International Research Foundation located in Kraków, Poland
is seeking to appoint
a Director for the Centre
Sano, a major translational scientific institute, combines expertise in computational medicine, large-scale high-performance computing and machine-learning-based decision science with fundamental biomarker identification using advanced simulation and data analysis methods. As a core technology and expertise provider, it fosters modernisation, innovation and increased productivity for clinical/medical practice and for the medtech industry.
The Centre was established thanks to the most prestigious scientific grants available at the time from the national Polish Foundation for Science (FNP) – the International Research Agenda Programme (IRAP) – with one of the most competitive grants in the EU’s H2020 programme, Teaming for Excellence. Combined with additional Polish Ministry of Science guarantees, the Centre has secured investment exceeding €30M.
Sano, established in September 2019, now employs close to 90 persons. The Institute is composed of 5 research teams:
• Medical Imaging and Robotics,
• Computational Neuroscience,
• Extreme Scale Data and Computing,
• Computational Intelligence,
• Structural and Functional Genomics.
Sano research teams directly collaborate with the Scientific Programmers Team, and are supported by the following departments: Business Development, Operations, Finances, Grant Office, Human Talent, Legal and Data Protection Officer.
The Sano Director serves a four-year term. The international competition for the position is being held as the current term of the incumbent Director is coming to an end on July 31st 2026.
The Role of Director
As the Director of Sano, you will have a unique chance to lead change in the field of computationally enhanced diagnostics and treatment in the clinics of tomorrow. Your role is twofold:
-
Provide leadership in strategic development of Sano as an internationally recognised centre of
excellence in healthcare technology innovations;
• Shape, coordinate, and advance Sano’s scientific programme
Your Tasks as Director
In order to fulfil the formal obligations of the role, your responsibilities will include, but will not be
limited to:
- Oversee the further development and implementation of the research and development strategy of Sano;
- Provide scientific leadership for the Centre, embracing a range of disciplines and charting a coherent course of research and partnership development;
- Play a key role in attracting top talent for crucial positions at Sano, while moving towards a diverse and inclusive workforce,
- With research team leaders, set research priorities for the research teams, including clinical and industrial cooperation relationships;
- Establish new external partnerships (academic, industrial and clinical) and leverage existing relationships in cooperation with a dedicated, professional business development unit,
- Successfully translate t Sano’s research and development into clinical practice, whether through spin-offs, licensing agreements or long-term public-private partnerships,
- Actively develop the Centre’s international academic profile and enhance its international recruitment,
- Develop and foster an entrepreneurial culture in Sano,
- Attract research and development funding and other revenues from public and private sources,
- Overall responsibility for annual financial and scientific reports which the Centre is mandated to submit to the relevant authorities,
- Engage in periodic evaluations of the institute by the International Scientific Committee and European Commission.
Essential Requirements for Applicants
As prerequisites for consideration for the post of Sano Director, you must be able to demonstrate:
- Recognized leading authority in your scientific field, fitting in Sano’s mission, as an outstanding scientist,
- A PhD in biomedicine, medicine, engineering (computer science) or the natural sciences, with substantial academic experience as witnessed by multiple publications in high-impact journals,
- Management of a major research group or research center, with overall scientific, strategic, financial, and HR responsibility,
- Notable success in grant funding acquisition and international scientific project management, combining excellent leadership and team-building skills in creative working environments,
- The ability to forge alliances between academia and healthcare practice,
- Excellent communication skills with a fluent command of English, Sano’s main language,
- Willingness to operate from Kraków from 1 August 2026.
In accordance with the Sano Statute, the IRAP competition documentation, and the grant agreement, the Sano Director position is combined with the leadership of a Sano research group, which includes responsibility for securing and managing an independent research budget, as well as leading a research team within Sano. Established researchers applying for the position may transfer their teams and grants to Sano.
Sano is currently running an open call (available at: https://sano.science/career/) for Established Researchers interested in joining the institute and implementing their grants within Sano. The institute offers a strong research environment, along with comprehensive administrative and operational support, including project management, procurement, recruitment, HR, legal, and IT services.
Desirable Attributes
The appointment panel will be pleased to receive information on your additional skills, for example:
• Interest in one or more of the following healthcare technology trends: distributed computing, data science, modelling and simulation, artificial intelligence, digital twin in healthcare, Virtual and Augmented Reality, multiscale modelling, personalised mediicne and the Internet of Things,
• Experience of intellectual property management,
• Willingess to invest time in learning the Polish language.
Contractual and Remunerative Provisions
Sano will offer the successful candidate:
- A full-time employment contract under polish lobour law. The appointment to the position of Director of the Center shall be made for a fixed term of four (4) years. Once the term of office as Director of the Center/President of the Management Board has ended, the parties will begin discussions regarding the continuation of their collaboration in the role of research team leader.
Position will be connected with an evaluation based on the following assessment periods:
-
- As President of the Management Board you will report annually directly to the Sano Foundation Council (Sano’s supervisory body) whose members are appointed by our English, German and Polish partners:
-
- University of Sheffield,
- Forschungszentrum Jülich,
- Fraunhofer ISI,
- ACC Cyfronet AGH,
- Klaster LifeScience Kraków.
-
- As President of the Management Board you will report annually directly to the Sano Foundation Council (Sano’s supervisory body) whose members are appointed by our English, German and Polish partners:
-
- The President of the Management Board is selected for a four-year term.
-
An attractive salary between 25 000 and 30 000 PLN gross monthly. This compensation is for serving as both the President of the Management Board and the team leader
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Social benefits, including private medical care for you and your immediate family, financial support for access to local sport and cultural facilities, language courses, technical and soft-skills training, social events, and more,
• Relocation support and access to an assigned expert to assist with legal matters related to relocation, including visas, work permits and taxation.
The Application Process
Step 1: Expression of Interest
If you are interested in the position of Sano Director, and have not already done so, please register an Expression of Interest by emailing m.golabek@sanoscience.org a CV/ Resume with key items of information:
- Your name
- Your current role
- Your total research income (grants/contracts) 1
- The number of your recent publications 2
- Your agreement to our storing your data 3
The applications are collected between 01.05.2026 and 31.05.2026. An expression of interest must be submitted before the deadline on 31.05.2026.
Step 2: Complete the Initial Application Process
Soon after your registration of an Expression of Interest you will receive an information pack, which will include an invitation to begin the formal process of application. This process consists of the provision of additional information, to supply of supporting documentation, and agreement that we can initiate the process of assessment. Sano’s formal requirements for documentation are additionally governed by conditions attached to FNP funding, and the provision of such materials is mandatory. The information pack will include templates to facilitate the provision of required data.
Subsequent Recruitment Steps
Your application will be assessed in a process involving the assessment team, formed from members of Sano’s 15-person International Scientific Committee (ISC). The process will be as follows:
Step 4 may take place in Kraków; success will be followed by discussions with the Foundation Council, Sano’s supervisory body, before appointment.
Further Information
Several approaches are available to you, should you wish to obtain additional information:
• Further information about Sano, including our Research Teams, development directions, and achievements so far, can be found at https://sano.science/
• Sano’s recruitment specialists are available at any time for discussions about the opportunity, please contact Michał Gołąbek m.golabek@sanoscience.org
• Contact with members of Sano’s international consortium can also be requested; to arrange this,again please contact: m.golabek@sanoscience.org
[1] Computed as the total amount of funding acquired by teams you were leading.
[2] Please, count only publications from the last five years.
Application period for the role of Sano Director lasts between May 1st 2026 to May 31st 2026.