Job details

Place of work

INSTITUTE OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY PAS, Team 3, ICTER International Centre for Translational Eye Research

Funding institution

NATIONAL SCIENCE CENTRE

Project description

Project title, type and project number

MAESTRO 16, project no. 2024/54/A/ST7/00379 “Optical measurements of retinal neuronal responses”, 59/2026

Project leader

Prof. dr hab. Maciej Wojtkowski

Description

The retina is a highly organised, layered neuronal tissue that transforms incident light into neural signals via a well-defined network of photoreceptors, interneurons (bipolar, horizontal, amacrine) in the INL and IPL, and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Because the receptive field of each RGC corresponds to a compact spatial set of photoreceptors, the retina offers an excellent model for studying a “biological retinal neural network” with defined input ports (rods and cones) and output ports (RGCs).

This project aims to create and validate novel, non-invasive optical imaging methods to monitor the functional activity of neuronal circuits in the retina. By delivering a method to monitor retinal neuronal circuits non-invasively, this work bridges the gap between cellular-level mechanisms and in-vivo functional outcomes. It offers a powerful tool for basic neuroscience, translational ophthalmology and the development of novel therapies for retinal neurodegenerative disorders.

Job description

Number of vacancies

1

Key responsibilities include

PhD student will assist in system developments and be responsible for performing measurements on animals and humans. She/he will also help in data processing from all methods.

Main tasks:

1. Development of a laboratory system for imaging retinal ganglion cells and their functional readout;

2. Verification of the new technique on animal models, determining its sensitivity, resolution and functional significance, with potential translation to human retinal studies.

Offer

Position in the project

PhD Student scholarship position

Job type

• Type of contract: temporary • Status: Other • Hours Per Week: 40

Salary

5000 PLN per month

Planned start of work in the project

1.10.2026

Planned period of contract/stipend agreement

Planned 24 months with possible extension

We offer

We offer a scholarship position in the Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS with a monthly stipend financed from the MAESTRO 16, project no. 2024/54/A/ST7/00379

Career development prospects at IPC PAS

We offer work in a young, dynamically developing team with modern research infrastructure. Funds are allocated to cover participation in international conferences and for short visits in collaborating laboratories. We plan to publish the results of the work in high impact factor journals.

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

More details

see website
Requirements

Scientific discipline

Physics, optics, photonics, biomedical engineering, or related disciplines

Scientific profile of a candidate

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Requirements

  • At the starting date of the work within the project, the applicant should be a student enrolled in first-cycle, second-cycle or long-cycle master's degree programmes at higher education institutions in Poland or participate in a doctoral programme (pursuant to the Act on Higher Education of 27 July 2005) or be PhD student at a doctoral school (pursuant to the Act on Higher Education and Science of 20 July 2018);
  • The preferred candidate will hold an MSc/MEng degree in a technical or engineering discipline and have relevant experience in optics, photonics, or a related field.
  • Documented experience in working with laboratory animals, including completion of the required training in accordance with applicable legislation and formal authorization to work with animals
  • Proficiency in English, both spoken and written.
  • Skills: biomedical imaging, optical engineering/ computer science.

Key assessment criteria

The recruitment committee shall evaluate the candidates’ scientific achievements, their achievements resulting from conducting scientific research and their competencies relevant to the performance of the specific tasks within the research project, expressed as a point score:

  • The candidate’s scientific achievements, including publications in prestigious scientific journals/publishers (50% of the final score):
  • Achievements resulting from conducting scientific research, scholarships, awards, and scientific experience gained in Poland or abroad, as well as participation in scientific workshops and training courses and involvement in research projects (20% of the final score)
  • Competencies relevant to the performance of the specific tasks within the research project (30% of the final score)
Required documents

Complete application should include the following items:

  • cover letter,
  • professional curriculum vitae with a list of scientific achievements (publications, patents, conference presentations, scholarships, awards, and scientific experience gained in Poland or abroad, as well as participation in scientific workshops and training courses and involvement in research projects),
  • A scanned copy of a valid certificate/document confirming the candidate’s qualifications to perform procedures involving laboratory animals (mice), in accordance with the Ordinance of the Minister of Education and Science of 30 November 2022 on training, practical training, and traineeship for persons performing activities related to the use of animals for scientific or educational purposes (Dz.U. 2022, poz. 2576).
Recruitment procedure

• The application deadline is on the 28.09.2026, 12:00 CET (UTC +1:00).

Applications should be sent to: mailto:rekrutacja@ichf.edu.pl IMPORTANT! email subject: “Recruitment no. 59/2026" (emails without this number will not be considered)

• The scholarship will be awarded in accordance with the rules defined by National Science Center’s document REGULATIONS FOR AWARDING NCN SCHOLARSHIPS FOR NCN-FUNDED RESEARCH PROJECTS https://www.ncn.gov.pl/sites/default/files/pliki/uchwaly-rady/2024/uchwala25_2024-zal1.pdf

• Top candidates can be invited for an online or in-person interview (29.09.2026). We reserve the right to contact and reply to only selected candidates.

• The incomplete applications will not be considered.

• 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 30.09.2026.

If the top candidate does not sign the contract due to the resignation, we reserve the right to choose the next candidate from the ranking list.

Additional information

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

For more details about the position please visit:

https://icter.pl/pl/grants/maestro-16-ncn/

Contact person: Dominika Życka-Malesa d.zyckamalesa@ichf.edu.pl

Name of the post and its definition in the meaning of the grant documentation:

NCN scholarships may be awarded to individuals who are not PhD holders and meet any of the following criteria:

a) are students enrolled in first-cycle, second-cycle or long-cycle master's degree programmes at higher education institutions in Poland;

b) participate in a doctoral programme (pursuant to the Act on Higher Education of 27 July 2005);

c) are PhD students at a doctoral school (pursuant to the Act on Higher Education and Science of 20 July 2018).

According to REGULATIONS FOR AWARDING

NCN SCHOLARSHIPS FOR NCN-FUNDED RESEARCH PROJECTS: https://www.ncn.gov.pl/sites/default/files/pliki/uchwaly-rady/2024/uchwala25_2024-zal1.pdf

Deadlines

Application deadline

28.09.2026 12:00

Planned date of settlement of the competition

30.09.2026

Send the application via the "Apply to the position" button, or to rekrutacja@ichf.edu.pl with the title 59/2026.

Apply to the position

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

Procedure for Reporting Internal Violations of the Law and Subsequent Actions together with Protection of Whistleblowers at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the PAS with its registered address in Warsaw (link)
Date of announcement: 15.09.2026

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