PhD STUDENT

University of Warsaw; Polska; On-site; PLN 106,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Start-up package

Mobility opportunities

Travel conferences

Conferences support

Job summary

QLAB - Center for Hybrid Quantum-Classical Information Technologies at the University of Warsaw seeks a PhD student for Group 3 (Quantum Imaging and Metrology) on a two-track recruitment, requiring concurrent admission to the UW Doctoral School.

The position is full-time in Warsaw, up to 36 months, with a gross monthly salary of 9,500 PLN (9,700 PLN if no statutory scholarship) and the doctoral-school scholarship where awarded; start date 01 December 2026.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in physics or related field preferred.
• PhD student status at UW Doctoral School or eligibility to enroll is required.
• Experience with optical experiments or imaging techniques is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Conduct doctoral research within Group 3 (Quantum Imaging and Metrology) of MAB QLAB.
• Timely realization of the doctoral programme at the UW Doctoral School.
• Realize project tasks defined in the MAB QLAB research agenda.
• Prepare publications, conference presentations and data/code releases per QLAB policy.
• Participate in QLAB seminars, project meetings and joint activities with partners.
• Provide periodic reports to Group leader and Beneficiary according to FNP/FENG rules.
• Comply with the FNP Code of Ethics for Laureates and Beneficiaries.

Skills

English (B2 or higher)

Education

Master degree or equivalent

PhD student status / willingness to enroll

Job description

QLAB - Center for Hybrid Quantum-Classical Information Technologies

Organisation/Company University of Warsaw Department QLAB - Center for Hybrid Quantum-Classical Information Technologies Research Field Technology » Quantum technology Physics » Quantum mechanics Physics » Metrology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 18 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Warsaw) Country Poland Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 Offer Starting Date 1 Dec 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Other EU programme Reference Number QLAB/2026/G3/PHD/02 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The Director of the MAB QLAB Centre, announces a recruitment process for a PhD student in Group 3- Quantum Imaging and Metrology, of MAB QLAB, financed under International Research Agendas (MAB), Measure 2.1 of the European Funds for a Modern Economy 2021-2027 Programme (FENG), project FENG.02.01-IP.05-B013/25, Center for Hybrid Quantum-Classical Information Technologies – QLAB. The successful candidate will be offered an employment contract (umowa o pracę) at the University of Warsaw for a technical position, outside of the academic teachers group. Concurrent enrollment in a UW doctoral school is required.

IMPORTANT - two-track recruitment. The position requires concurrent admission to the Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences (Szkoła Doktorska Nauk Ścisłych i Przyrodniczych) of the University of Warsaw. Successful candidates of the QLAB recruitment must, in parallel, apply to that Doctoral School. Should the candidate be selected by QLAB but not admitted in the standard intake of the Doctoral School, the University of Warsaw will accept them conditionally (proceed towards) and process the application via the "beyond-the-limit recruitment" (rekrutacja pozalimitowa) procedure. Only after successful admission to the Doctoral School can the PhD student start working at the QLAB project and signing the employment contract.

Title of programme/projec Center for Hybrid Quantum-Classical Information Technologies – QLAB

Type of programme/project: International Research Agendas (MAB), Measure 2.1 of the European Funds for a Modern Economy 2021-2027 Programme (FENG)

Funding institution: Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) – Intermediate Body

Duration of the project: 01 January 2026 – 31 December 2029

Group leader: Dr. Radek Łapkiewicz, Dsc., Leader of Group 3

Description of the project: The MAB QLAB Centre has been established at the University of Warsaw as a joint undertaking with Sorbonne Université. The Centre develops scalable hybrid quantum-classical technologies in four pillars: (i) quantum-secure communication, (ii) quantum infrastructure and photonic information processing, (iii) quantum imaging and metrology, and (iv) quantum computation and artificial intelligence. Group 3 – Quantum Imaging and Metrology - works on developing multimodal photonic platforms enabling the surpassing of classical limits in imaging, microscopy, detection, and metrology.

Position title: PhD student - technical position, outside of the group of academic teachers, with the possibility of changing after 1 year to a research position

Organisational unit: Group 3 (Quantum Imaging and Metrology), MAB QLAB Centre, University of Warsaw

Number of positions:1

Form of engagement: Employment contract (umowa o pracę) at the University of Warsaw, full-time. Position outside the academic-teacher group. Concurrent enrolment in the UW Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences is required - the doctoral-school statutory scholarship is paid by the school in addition to the project salary. For candidates admitted through the non-quota recruitment procedure, the statutory scholarship is not awarded.

Remuneration (gross): Monthly salary set in line with the budget of project FENG.02.01-IP.05-B013/25 and the salary table of MAB QLAB Centre of 9.500,00 zł gross, in the event that the statutory scholarship is awarded. If admitted to the Doctoral School through the non-quota procedure without a scholarship, the remuneration is PLN 9.700,00 gross.

Expected date of commencement:01.12.2026 (subject to admission to the Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences). For candidates admitted via the beyond-the-limit recruitment procedure - start date adjusted to the Doctoral School's calendar.

Period of employment: Contract up to 36 months in total, not exceeding the eligibility period of the project (31.12.2029, with possible extension).

Other working conditions: Workplace: MAB QLAB Centre, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. No teaching obligations under the employment contract.

Start-up package available (travel, conferences, computational resources). Mobility opportunities with QLAB partners.

Basic responsibilities

• 1. Conducting doctoral research within Group 3 (Quantum Imaging and Metrology) of MAB QLAB under the supervision of the Group leader, Dr Radek Łapkiewicz, DSc.
• 2. Timely realization of the doctoral programme at the UW Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences.
• 3. Realization of the project tasks defined in the MAB QLAB research agenda.
• 4. Preparing publications, conference presentations and dataset / code releases according to the QLAB open-science policy.
• 5. Active participation in QLAB seminars, project meetings and joint activities with partners.
• 6. Periodic reporting to the Group leader and to the Beneficiary, in line with FNP / FENG rules.
• 7. Following the FNP Code of Ethics for Laureates and Beneficiaries.

Requirements

Research Field Physics » Quantum mechanics Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field Physics » Optics Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

• 1.Master's degree or equivalent in physics, or a related discipline.
• 2.PhD student status at a Doctoral School at the time of signing the contract or willingness and eligibility to enroll in the UW Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences (no prior doctoral degree).
• 3.Experience in working in an optical laboratory, particularly in conducting optical experiments.
• 4.Knowledge of experimental optics, fluorescence microscopy, or related imaging techniques.
• 5.Interest in spatiotemporal light shaping and the application of advanced detection technologies in microscopy.
• 6.Willingness to work with advanced optical equipment, including femtosecond lasers and SPAD detectors.
• 7.Ability to analyse and interpret experimental results.
• 8.Independence, commitment, and strong motivation to conduct scientific research.
• 9.Good teamwork and communication skills.
• 10.Good command of spoken and written English (level B2 or higher).
• 11.During the employment period, the employee shall not be employed under another full-time employment contract from any other entity.

Specific Requirements

IMPORTANT - two-track recruitment. The position requires concurrent admission to the Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences (Szkoła Doktorska Nauk Ścisłych i Przyrodniczych) of the University of Warsaw. Successful candidates of the QLAB recruitment must, in parallel, apply to that Doctoral School. Should the candidate be selected by QLAB but not admitted in the standard intake of the Doctoral School, the University of Warsaw will accept them conditionally (proceed towards) and process the application via the "beyond-the-limit recruitment" (rekrutacja pozalimitowa) procedure. Only after successful admission to the Doctoral School can the PhD student start working at the QLAB project and signing the employment contract

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Research Field Physics » Quantum mechanicsPhysics » Optics

Monthly salary set in line with the budget of project FENG.02.01-IP.05-B013/25 and the salary table of MAB QLAB Centre of 9.500,00 zł gross, in the event that the statutory scholarship is awarded. If admitted to the Doctoral School through the non-quota procedure without a scholarship, the remuneration is PLN 9.700,00 gross.

Eligibility criteria

• Academic record (degree mark, MSc thesis quality, awards) - 35%.
• Match between the candidate's profile and Group 3 / QLAB research agenda - 35%.
• Methodological skills (theory, computation, programming) - 20%.
• Other relevant competencies (mobility experience, recommendations) - 10%.
• Recruitment criteria approved by the Director of MAB QLAB.

Required Doctoral Schoo l: Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences of the University of Warsaw (Szkoła Doktorska Nauk Ścisłych i Przyrodniczych). Beyond-the-limit recruitment (rekrutacja pozalimitowa) available for candidates selected by QLAB but not admitted via the standard intake.

Selection process

• Stage I - formal evaluation of documents.
• Stage II - substantive evaluation of submitted documents by the Recruitment Panel.
• Stage III - interview with shortlisted candidates (online or on-site).
• Stage IV - final scoring of candidates.
• Stage V - conditional decision; the Group leader issues a conditional offer pending admission to the UW Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences (standard or beyond-the-limit).

Anticipated date and method of notification: Up to 30 days after the application deadline. Candidates are informed individually by email. The result is also published on the QLAB website and on the EURAXESS portal.

Additional comments

• Signed information clause on personal data processing (template attached).
• Signed candidate's declaration (template attached).
• Curriculum Vitae and motivation letter (max. 2 pages A4).
• Copy of MSc or equivalent diploma (or, for finalists, certificate from the dean's office) and transcript of records.
• Copy of the MSc thesis abstract.
• Reference letters from two academic teachers (sent directly to [e-mail] ).
• Statement that the candidate has not previously obtained a doctoral degree (eligibility for the Doctoral School).
• Candidates without PhD student status: acknowledgement that admission to the UW Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences is required for starting work and a declaration that the candidate will apply (or has applied) to that Doctoral School - including the beyond-the-limit recruitment path if applicable (please include this statement in the cover letter).

The Recruitment Panel acts under the supervision of the Director of MAB QLAB. The recruitment is conducted in accordance with: the FNP MAB rules (annexes to the funding agreement), the Statute of the University of Warsaw, the Doctoral School regulations and the European Charter for Researchers (HR Excellence in Research).

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute Center for Hybrid Quantum-Classical Information Technologies – QLAB Country Poland State/Province Masovian Voivodeship City Warsaw Postal Code 02-093 Street Pasteura 5 Geofield