Assistant professor in the group Soft Matter Nanostructures

Euraxess; Kraków; Hybrid; PLN 79,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences in Krakow invites applications for an Assistant Professor position in Soft Matter Nanostructures. The role focuses on designing protective surface coatings and investigating corrosion processes using atomic force microscopy techniques within the Electrochemistry & Corrosion Laboratory.

The candidate will work on the FEM AFM project, with responsibilities spanning research on Al/Mg/Zn alloy corrosion, polymer

Qualifications

• PhD required in chemistry or a related field.
• Experience in corrosion of metals and AFM analysis is essential.
• Strong publication record in JCR-indexed journals and research mobility are desirable.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on the role of surface microstructure in initiation and propagation of localized corrosion in Al, Mg, and Zn alloys.
• Investigate mechanical properties of polymer nanostructures and composite materials.
• Perform AFM-based analysis of materials and train potential AFM users.
• Analyze data, prepare reports, and contribute to publications.

Skills

English proficiency

Electrochemistry

Research planning

Education

PhD degree

Tools

Atomic force microscopy

Job description

Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences

Organisation/Company Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences Research Field Chemistry » Physical chemistry Chemistry » Applied chemistry Chemistry » Other Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 2 Dec 2026 - 15:00 (Europe/Warsaw) Country Poland Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 Offer Starting Date 1 Jan 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number KSN-7/2026 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

• Place of work: Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences in Krakow
• Electrochemistry
• Atomic force microscopy
• Research profile: R2
• Location: Poland, Krakow
• Employment mode: Full-time
• Weekly working hours: 40
• Keywords: atomic force microscopy, electrochemistry, metal alloys, corrosion, microstructure of materials

The Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Krakow announces a competition for the position of Assistant professor in the group Soft Matter Nanostructures for the implementation of the project FEM AFM (FEMP.01.04-IZ.00-0275/24) "Expansion of the Equipment Infrastructure of the Electrochemistry and Corrosion Laboratory at the Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IKiFP PAN), to Enable the Development of New Products in the Fields of Sustainable Energy, Metallic Materials, and Biomedical Materials," project no.: FEMP.01.04-IZ.00-0275/24, co-financed by the European Union under the “European Funds for Małopolska 2021–2027” program.

The competition is open to persons who meet the conditions set out in the Act on the Polish Academy of Sciences of 30 April 2010 (Journal of Laws 2020, item 1796, as amended), Article 89, Section 3.

https://praca.ikifp.edu.pl .The candidate will participate in research on the design of protective surface coatings, investigation of corrosion processes, and other topics in electrochemistry using scanning probe microscopy techniques. Research will be conducted in the Electrochemistry & Corrosion Laboratory, which is a part of Soft Matter Nanostructures Group.

In particular, the candidate’s responsibilities will include:

• conducting research on the role of surface microstructure in the initiation and propagation of localized corrosion in advanced metal alloys (primarily Al, Mg, and Zn alloys);
• conducting research on the analysis of the mechanical properties of polymer nanostructures and composite materials;
• conducting research on other materials using an atomic force microscope;
• performing operational trainings for potential users of AFM;
• data analysis, preparing reports, and writing of publications.
• experience in electrochemistry, particularly in corrosion of metals;
• experience in the development of protective coatings for metallic alloys;
• experience in atomic force microscopy (AFM) methods.

Specific Requirements

The candidate's application should include:

• copy of the diploma conferring the doctoral degree
• full curriculum vitae
• list of scientific achievements

Languages ENGLISH Level Good

Research Field ChemistryEngineering » Chemical engineering Years of Research Experience 4 - 10

Additional Information

Gross salary will amount to 7 100,00 - 8 000,00 PLN per month depending on the candidate's experience.

Eligibility criteria

• practical experience, supported by publications listed in the JCR, in research on the corrosion of Al, Mg, or Zn alloys. The candidate must provide a significant contribution (first author and/or corresponding author) in at least 5 JCR publications - 7 points (minimum 5)
• practical experience, supported by publications indexed in the JCR, in the use of atomic force microscopy to analyze the electrochemical and mechanical properties of metal alloys, polymer nanostructures, and composite materials - 5 points (minimum 3)
• practical experience in characterization of metal alloys, polymer nanostructures, and composite materials using electrochemical methods (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, voltammetry) and spectroscopic methods (Raman spectroscopy, FTIR) - 4 points (minimum 2)
• scientific mobility and experience in conducting research or participating in research internships as part of international cooperation (at the time the research was conducted or the internship took place) - 2 points (minimum 1)
• experience in being principal investigator/coordinator of research projects - 2 points (minimum 1)

The deadline for submitting documents is 2026-12-02 03:00 pm GMT+1. The competition will be concluded by 2026-12-31. Candidates will be informed about the outcome.

Employment will be offered for a period of 12 months in accordance with applicable regulations.

In the case of candidates with equivalent qualifications or if clarification of submitted information is needed, selected candidates may be invited to an online interview.

Additional comments

The Institute has been adapted to the needs of persons with disabilities. The Institute does not provide accommodation.

The Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences, awarded the HR Excellence in Research Award by the European Commission, fully supports and applies the principles of open, transparent and merit-based recruitment (OTM-R). The Institute fully endorses and follows the OTM-R policy as one of the pillars of the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, as well as a key element of the HR Strategy ( HRS4R ).

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences Country Poland City Krakow Postal Code 30-239 Street Niezapominajek 8 Geofield