PhD student position - Recruitment No 64/2026

EURAXESS Ireland; Warszawa; Hybrid; PLN 50,000 - 73,000; Part time

Job summary

Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS in Warsaw invites applications for a PhD student position within the Soft Condensed Matter Group under the NSC OPUS 21 project, focused on nanoplastics in living cells. The role involves measurements, data analysis, and reporting, with English proficiency and a Master’s degree in natural sciences required.

The position is 20 hours/week in a dynamic, multidisciplinary team.

Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree in natural sciences before starting work
• Good knowledge of English
• CV and cover letter required
• Strong motivation and commitment
• Knowledge of FCS technique and basics of cell cultures
• PhD student status
• English language level (Good)
• 1–4 years of research experience

Responsibilities

• Perform measurements as part of research tasks
• Conduct data analysis for experiments
• Prepare and present reports on findings
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary team on project goals

Skills

English proficiency

Motivation & commitment

Data analysis

Education

Master's degree in natural sciences

PhD student status

Tools

FCS technique

Job description

Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences

Organisation/Company Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences Department TEAM 10: Soft Condensed Matter Group Research Field Chemistry » Physical chemistry Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Master Positions Application Deadline 20 Oct 2026 - 12:00 (Europe/Warsaw) Country Poland Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Other Job Status Extra Information Scholarship contract Hours Per Week 20 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number 64/2026 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

PhD student position available in the Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS within National Science Center (NSC) OPUS 21 Project no. 2021/41/B/ST4/00464, entitled “Nanoplastics in living cells”

Plastic nanoparticles (PNP) (nanoplastics) pollute water and air and accumulate in cells. Accumulation leads to crowding of the cytoplasm, which influences transport of biomolecules. Impaired transport negatively affects all cellular processes. We do not know how significant this impairment is and how it depends on the concentrations of PNP. The project aims at solving this problem. Proposed physical methods (FCS, RICS, microfluidics, precise analysis of fluorescence) that meet this challenge supplement those currently used by biologists. We will supplement study of transport with uptake and removal kinetics of plastic nanoparticles, their partition coefficient between cells and medium (and/or maximum capacity load), and standard viability tests. If uptake of plastic nanoparticles is irreversible then partition coefficient should be replaced by the maximum load (capacity) of cells for accommodation of NP. Our results obtained for a wide range of PNP concentrations (1 pM up to 1 µM), sizes (10 nm – 200 nm), and time scales (~ ms to hours) will provide vitally needed information to World Health Organization (WHO). (information based on the press release (22 August 2019) and WHO report 2019 https://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/publications/microplastics-indrinking-water/en/ ) This project is timely, as also explained by the Editorial Material, “Nanoplastic should be better understood” published in Nature Nanotechnology (April 2019). Although the project is in the physical chemistry domain, some standard biological tests must be added to obtain a complete picture of changes induced by crowding cells with nanoplastics. We will correlate standard biological tests with impaired transport in cells. Such a correlation will introduce a new dimension to the scientific approach to cell viability, since impaired transport affects all cellular biochemical processes.

Where to apply

E-mail [e-mail]

Requirements

Research Field Chemistry » Physical chemistry Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Responsibilities:

2. Measurements

3. Data analysis

4. Reporting

Specific Requirements

1. Education: Master's degree in Natural Sciences (chemistry, biotechnology, biology, biophysics), medicine, or related discipline obtained before starting work in the project.

2. Good knowledge of English.

3. CV and cover letter.

4. Strong motivation and commitment.

5. Knowledge of the FCS technique (Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy) and the basics of conducting cell cultures.

6. PhD Student status.

Languages ENGLISH Level Good

Research Field Chemistry » Physical chemistry Years of Research Experience 1 - 4

Additional Information

OPUS 21 Project no. 2021/41/B/ST4/00464, entitled “Nanoplastics in living cells” Career development prospects at IChF: The successful candidate will be part of a Soft Condensed Matter Group in IChF. Opportunity to advance scientific knowledge and gain experience in research at the border of biological science and physical chemistry in a project. Opportunity to work in a dynamic, multidisciplinary team of experienced chemists, engineers, and biologists. Participation in international conferences and Erasmus+ programs

NCN scholarships may be awarded to a person who meets any of the following criteria:

• a)is a student of a full-time first or second-cycle degree programme or uniform Master’s studies at a university in Poland;
• b) is a participant in a doctoral programme (within the meaning of the Act on Higher Education of 27 July 2005);
• c) is a doctoral candidate at a doctoral school (Within the meaning of the Act on Higher Education and Science of 20 July 2018)

The recruitment committee shall evaluate the candidates’ research achievements, their researchrelated achievements and competencies as regards specific tasks in the research project, expressed as a point score:

• the candidate’s research achievements, including publications in prestigious academic press /journals (50% of the final score)
• research-related achievements, scholarships, awards and research experience gained in Poland or abroad, research workshops and training courses, participation in research projects (20% of the final score)
• the candidate’s competence to carry out specific tasks in the research project (30% of the final score)

Required documents:

• list of publications with the indication of a maximum of five most important works carried out in the last 5 years (after deduction of breaks in research work), patent applications, patents, implementations, research projects;
• correspondence address and/or e-mail address and telephone number of the candidate;
• a cover letter not exceeding 3,500 characters (1 A4 page) containing concise information on scientific/professional interests, achievements to date, possible participation in research projects, and own research interests,
• scans of University degree diploma – Master’s degree;
• certificate of doctoral student status;
• the candidate's declaration that he/she has become acquainted with the General Rules Governing Competitions for Research Posts at IChF in Warsaw

The incomplete applications will not be considered.

The application deadline is on the 20st of October 2026, 12:00 CEST (UTC +2:00).

The scholarship will be awarded to the person who obtains the highest number of points. The results of the competition are made public

The results of the recruitment are planned to be announced on the 30.10.2026 . If the top candidate resigns, we reserve the right to select the next candidate from the ranking list.

The incomplete applications will not be considered

The results of the competition are made public.

Additional comments

By submitting the application you consent to the processing of your personal data in the recruitment process. The controller of your personal data is the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences with its registered office in Warsaw, NIP: 5250008755 (the "Institute"). The Institute will process your data for the purpose of carrying out scientific and research activities, providing services and contact with the Institute, on the basis of a contract (in connection with the performance of the contract or in order to take action on your request before the contract is concluded – Article 6, paragraph 1, letter b) of GDPR), the legitimate interest of the Institute (Article 6, paragraph 1, letter f) of the GDPR) and legal provisions (Article 6, paragraph 1, letter c) of the GDPR) - depending on the circumstances. You have the right to: request access to your data, receive a copy of it; rectify (correct) it; delete it; limit its processing; transfer it; lodge a complaint to the supervisory body; withdraw your consent for processing at any time (withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of the processing carried out prior to its withdrawal) or to lodge an objection to data processing. More information is available on the Institute's website. https://ichf.edu.pl/theme/ichf/pliki/RODO_klauzula_informacyjna.pdf

Procedure for Reporting Internal Violations of the Law and Subsequent Actions together with Protection of Whistleblowers atthe Institute of Physical Chemistry of the PAS with its registered address in Warsaw (link)

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute Institute of Physical Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences Country Poland City Warsaw Postal Code 01-224 Street Kasprzaka 44/52 Geofield