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Growth of cells in viscoelastic medium

Objectives

Typically, the complex environments in which living systems reside are viscoelastic fluids. For example, the extracellular matrix comprises cross-linked, semiflexible polymeric filaments that respond sensitively to even small stresses generated by cells. This in turn relates to many aspects of cellular function, from cell spreading and division to tissue development. The mechanical feedback between a cell or cell colony and the viscoelastic environment can lead to interesting self-organisation processes that result in the emergent patterns. The objective of this project is to explore this feedback loop of viscoelasticity of environment on the growing cell and cell colonies. The emphasis is on the nonlinear responses of the viscoelastic medium, which, compared to the linear regime, can significantly change the strains and stresses generated by growing cells in a long-range manner. This may also be relevant for interactions of cells in nonlinear biopolymer media.

Job type

• Type of contract: temporary, Status: Employment Contract
• Hours Per Week: 40

Doctoral Candidate will be employed on the basis of a temporary employment contract, valid in Poland, for the duration of the project. Pay and other benefits will follow the general Doctoral Network conditions, see the Eligibility page for details. https://cafe-bio.org/projects/eligibility

Period of Doctorate and Funding

Doctorates at the Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS take by default 4 years. Unspent local CAFE-BIO funds as well as the standard scholarship for a Doctoral School of the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences will be used to support the Doctoral Candidate in year 4 as required.

Salary/Stipend amount/month

https://cafe-bio.org/projects/eligibility

Doctoral Candidate will be employed on the basis of a temporary employment contract, valid in Poland, for the duration of the project. Pay and other benefits will follow the general Doctoral Network conditions, see the Eligibility page for details https://cafe-bio.org/projects/eligibility

Period of Doctorate and Funding

Doctorates at the Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS take by default 4 years. Unspent local CAFE-BIO funds as well as the standard scholarship for a Doctoral School of the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences will be used to support the Doctoral Candidate in year 4 as required.

• Participation in developing concepts and tools  to realize the aims of the project. Specifically, for the first goal of the project it will be theoretical and numerical  determination of the aggregation phenomena for the mixture of two types of colloids differing in size suspended in the binary liquid mixture near its critical point. Based on the obtained theoretical results designing colloidal alloys finely tunable by fluctuation-induced forces. Exploring the impact of nonequilibrium conditions.
• Scientific initiative and contribution through regular reporting and publishing, as well as presenting at network meetings and workshops, national and international conferences;

- the opportunity to work in an interdisciplinary, international research team

- engagement into an ambitious research program and possibility to build the academic career

- medical care – basic package financed by the employer, possibility of additional payment by the employee to higher packages

- spubsidized vacations, recreational, tourist, cultural, educational, and sports activities;

- possibility to join the Multisport program;

- Polish language learning opportunities financed entirely by the Institute;

• Possibility to take advantage of a trip abroad under the Erasmus+ program.

The successful candidate will be eligible for all programs at the IPC PAS, including the IPC PAS Young Scientists competition.

Candidates are eligible to apply for CAFE-BIO positions if they have (or expect to have by September 2026) an excellent first degree that qualifies for PhD study in physics, mathematics and adjacent fields, with preferably a strong background in statistical physics.

Candidates with a degree in the biological sciences with strong quantitative skills are also encouraged to apply.

Candidates must not be in possession of a doctoral degree (PhD) at the date of recruitment.

Candidates can be of any nationality.

At the time of recruitment no candidate may have resided or carried out their main activity (work, study etc.) in the country of the eventual host institution for more than 12 months in the last 3 years.

CAFE-BIO aims to promote gender equality. Suitably qualified female candidates, and candidates from any other under-represented group, are therefore explicitly encouraged to apply.

The committee will consider the following criteria:

• Competence to carry out specific tasks in the research project
• Previous scientific achievements
• Fluency in English