Senior Research Specialist (POST-DOC) (F/M) / Chief Research Specialist (POST-DOC) (F/M) NCN SONATA-19 (2023/51/D/NZ7/02596)
MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS:
The ideal candidate for the postdoctoral position in the Nanomaterials, Biophysics, and Medical Biotechnology Research Group at the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Krakow Institute of Technology should:
- hold a doctoral degree in materials engineering, nanotechnology, chemistry, chemical engineering, or a related scientific discipline,
- have practical laboratory experience in the synthesis, modification, and characterization of nanomaterials,
- have experience in designing and producing nanocarriers, polymer nanoparticles, or other systems intended for the delivery of biologically active substances,
- be familiar with the experimental procedures used in the synthesis and characterization of nanostructured materials,
- have experience in characterizing the physicochemical properties of nanomaterials using methods such as DLS, LDV, FT-IR, Raman, UV-Vis, and HPLC,
- understand the basics and applications of SEM and TEM electron microscopy in the analysis of nanomaterial morphology,
- have knowledge of the surface chemistry of materials, the stability of colloidal systems, and the functionalization of nanomaterials,
- be familiar with methods for studying the kinetics of active substance release from nanoformulations
under simulated and biological conditions, - have knowledge of methods for determining the physicochemical properties of biologically active compounds,
- understand the basic mechanisms of drug-protein and drug-molecular-target interactions, as well as the relationships between the physicochemical properties of the active substance and its biological activity,
- be able to independently plan experiments, analyze data
, and critically interpret the results obtained, - have experience in preparing scientific reports, publications, and presentations of research results,
- be highly proficient in spoken and written English, to the extent necessary to prepare publications and reports and present research findings,
- have excellent communication skills and the ability to work
in an interdisciplinary research team, - demonstrate creativity, independence, responsibility, and commitment
to carrying out assigned tasks, - be able to conduct several research projects simultaneously and have excellent organizational skills.
- meet the formal requirements for employment in a post-doc position
in a project funded under the NCN SONATA 19 call for proposals, i.e., hold a doctoral degree obtained in the year of employment in the project or within 7 years prior to January 1 of the year of employment, with the possibility of taking into account breaks in the research career as provided for by the NCN; the project manager may not be the candidate’s doctoral dissertation advisor or co-advisor; the candidate must also have obtained a Ph.D. from an institution other than the one where employment is planned, or have completed at least a 10-month, continuous, and documented postdoctoral fellowship at another institution, as well as a “
” in a country other than the one where the Ph.D. was obtained, - be ready to be employed under a full-time employment contract and comply with NCN restrictions, according to which, while receiving compensation in a post-doc positionposition, the candidate may not receive any other compensation funded from the direct costs of NCN projects, be in an employment relationship with another employer—including a foreign one—or receive retirement benefits from the social security system.
Additional requirements:
Hiring in the research division of the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Krakow Institute of Technology is based on the qualifications specified in the Regulation of the Minister of Science and Higher Education dated March 27, 2019, and additional qualifications specified by the Institute Director, in accordance with the guidelines of the Łukasiewicz Center, as set forth in Order No. 6 of the Institute Director dated February 17, 2026. See description below.
SENIOR SPECIALIST, RESEARCH DIVISION
- Education: a Ph.D. and 2 years of experience in the research and development sector, or a master’s degree and 3 years of experience in the research and development sector, including participation in research projects.
- Communicative proficiency in English or another modern language (minimum B2/C1).
- Meet at least 3 of the following additional criteria:
- Involvement in organizing at least one academic or industry conference and active participation in at least 3 international conferences (e.g., presentation, poster, panel discussion),
- Participation in at least 2 research and development projects (including projects funded by subsidies, grants, and commissioned tasks) as an active team member, including at least 1 project funded by external domestic or foreign sources,
- Experience collaborating with the business sector on the implementation of research findings, e.g., active participation in projects related to commercialization,
- Authorship or co-authorship of scientific publications (at least 3 publications that earn points, including at least 1 on the SCOPUS TOP 10% list),
- Receiving a national or international research fellowship (e.g., NAWA, Fulbright, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, ERC, NCN),
- At least 1 award or distinction for scientific research (e.g., institutional or industry awards, fellowships for young researchers, distinctions in scientific competitions),
- Membership in at least one national or international scientific organization, committee, or expert panel
The candidate should – meet the additional qualifications for the position of Senior Research Specialist (POST-DOC), in accordance with the guidelines of the Łukasiewicz Research Network available at the following link: Additional Qualifications for Positions in the Research Division at Łukasiewicz – KIT;
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Daily tasks
The postdoctoral researcher will be involved in project work in the fields of nanotechnology, materials chemistry, and the development of nanoformulations with potential antimicrobial applications. The position is for a period of 7 months. The main responsibilities will include:
- design, synthesis, and development of incorporation matrices intended for the encapsulation of biologically active substances,
- developing methods for incorporating antibiotics, adjuvants, and other compounds that enhance antimicrobial activity,
- synthesis of polymer nanocores and development of final nanoformulations with antimicrobial activity,
- optimization of synthesis conditions, composition, and properties of the resulting nanomaterials,
- characterizing the physicochemical properties of the obtained nanomaterials using spectroscopic, chromatographic, and microscopic methods,
- conducting analyses using techniques such as UV-Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR/Raman spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential measurements using the LDV method,
- participation in the characterization of the morphology of nanomaterials using SEM and TEM electron microscopy,
- a study of the kinetics of active substance release from nanoparticles under conditions simulating the target environment,
- conducting analyses of the release of drugs and other biologically active compounds under biological conditions,
- analysis of the surface properties of nanomaterials and their impact on stability, the release of active substances, and interactions with biological systems,
- evaluation of the physicochemical properties of biologically active substances and their potential interactions with selected molecular targets,
- compilation, analysis, and interpretation of experimental results,
- maintaining laboratory records and preparing reports describing the syntheses performed, the characteristics of the materials obtained, and the test results,
- Collaborating with members of an interdisciplinary research team and participating in the preparation of scientific publications, presentations, and project reports.
Benefits
Terms of Employment:
– employment under a full-time employment contract for a period of 7 months,
– compensation based on the NCN rates for this position (i.e., 140,000.00 PLN gross/year),
– a position at a research organization focused on carrying out innovative, prestigious R&D projects,
– 36 days of vacation per calendar year,
– benefits package (vacation subsidies, supplementary health care package, option to enroll in a life insurance program),
– opportunities for ongoing professional development and the Institute’s support in this area,
– free parking space,
– a work environment that supports sustainable development and is based on the principles of equality.
The hiring process will be conducted in accordance with NCN regulations; in particular, the successful candidate must meet all of the following requirements:
– the project manager was neither the advisor nor the co-advisor for her doctoral dissertation,
– during the period in which they receive this compensation, they will not receive any other compensation from funds allocated as direct costs under research projects funded through NCN competitions,
– during the period in which they receive this compensation, they will not receive compensation from another employer under an employment contract, including an employer with its registered office outside Poland,
– During the period in which he or she receives this compensation, he or she will not receive retirement benefits from the social security system.
The application should include:
– a scan of the doctoral degree certificate,
– a resume (CV) detailing your academic activities to date (participation in research projects, authorship/co-authorship of scientific articles, participation in conferences, competitions, awards, activities for the academic community, membership in research clubs, etc.),
– a cover letter explaining how the candidate meets the competition requirements,
– a letter of recommendation and/or references from previous employers or academic advisors,
– Statement of consent to the processing of personal data, as follows: I consent to the processing of my personal data contained in the job offer for the purposes necessary to carry out the recruitment process (in accordance with the Personal Data Protection Act, Journal of Laws 2002, No. 101, item 926, as amended).
Additional information:
The Selection Committee reserves the right to conduct interviews with selected candidates (candidates will be notified of the time and place of the interview via email).
Please submit documents in electronic form only.
Documents must be submitted by August 8, 2026.
The expected date for selecting the winning candidate is August 11, 2026, at the latest .
Work on the project is scheduled to begin on August 14, 2026.
We kindly ask that you include the following clause in the body of the resume you submit to the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Krakow Institute of Technology:
Pursuant to Articles 221a and 221b of the Act of June 26, 1974—the Labor Code—I consent to the processing of my personal data contained in my application documents by the Łukasiewicz Research Network — Kraków Institute of Technology, ul. Zakopiańska 73, 30-418 Kraków — for the purposes necessary to carry out the current recruitment process. At the same time, I declare that I have been informed of my rights: to access and correct my data, to request its deletion, to restrict its processing, to transfer my data, to object to the processing of my personal data, withdraw my consent to its processing at any time, and file a complaint with the President of the Personal Data Protection Office if I believe that my data is being processed in violation of legal requirements, as well as that the provision of this data is voluntary.
If you are interested in participating in future recruitment processes conducted by the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Krakow Institute of Technology, please include the following clause in your resume:
I consent to the processing of my personal data by the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Krakow Institute of Technology, ul. Zakopiańska 73, 30-418 Kraków, for the purposes of future recruitment processes conducted by the Institute. I also declare that I have been informed of my rights (as described above).
Please be advised that the controller of your personal data is the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Krakow Institute of Technology (hereinafter: the Institute), with its registered office at ul. Zakopiańska 73, 30-418 Kraków. Your personal data will be processed by the Institute for the purpose of conducting the current recruitment process for a specific job position, and, if you provide your explicit and voluntary consent, also for the purposes of future recruitment processes. Providing your personal data is voluntary.
For more information on the protection of personal data, see:
https://kit.lukasiewicz.gov.pl/dane-osobowe/