IChF invites applications to establish new research groups
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The Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences (IChF), has opened a call for applications to establish new research groups. The selected group leaders are expected to establish their groups at the Institute in 2027. Up to three new groups are expected to be created. The call is open to both current IChF employees and external candidates.
IChF conducts interdisciplinary research at the interface of chemistry, biology and physics. It received an A+ category in chemical sciences in each of the three most recent evaluations of scientific activity. The Institute has 32 research groups, which share access to 11 specialised laboratories. Proposed research should fall within one of IChF’s three Excellence Clusters: Advanced biomaterials and technologies for health; Photonics and light-driven processes; or Catalysis and materials for sustainable transformations. The Institute also includes the International Centre for Translational Eye Research (ICTER).
Applicants must hold at least a doctoral degree, have significant scientific and/or industrial achievements, experience leading a competitively funded research project, and at least 12 months of postdoctoral experience at an institution other than the one where they earned their doctorate. The project they led must have ended no earlier than one year before the planned start of the new group.
IChF’s offer includes, among other things, funding for the group leader’s position, adapting laboratory and quiet-work spaces to the group’s needs, and funding to launch the proposed research. The start-up package will be negotiated with the Director during the recruitment process. Selection comprises an assessment of the submitted documents, an online presentation of the proposed research programme, negotiations on the terms for establishing the group, and an opinion from the IChF Scientific Council.
Applications must be prepared in English unless otherwise specified in the announcement. They should include an application to establish a group describing the proposed research, the reasons for choosing IChF, a research funding plan and a group management concept; an indication of the relevant Excellence Cluster and potential IChF collaborators; a CV covering education, employment history, research projects, scholarships and awards, conference presentations, organisational and teaching experience, and a key scientific achievement; and a list of publications and patents identifying publications for which the applicant was the corresponding author.
The complete application must be emailed to rekrutacja@ichf.edu.pl with “Recruitment No. 69/2026” in the subject line. The deadline is 30 October 2026 at 12:00. Results are expected to be announced on 18 December 2026. The procedure is described in detail in Director’s Order No. 52.2026. All applicants will receive feedback. A decision not to establish a group is final but does not preclude reapplying in a subsequent call.
Call details:
- Date: 9.10.2026
