The competition is open for PhD student in the NCN SONATA BIS-14 Project (No. 2024/54/E/ST3/00298): “STARSHIP: Structural Transformations Across Chemical Routes of Stabilization in Hybrid Intercalated Perovskites”
Position: PhD student
Project description:
– Participation in the experimental part of the STARSHIP project focused on reduced-dimensionality hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite materials and their chemical stabilization;
– Synthesis and chemical modification of selected hybrid perovskite materials;
– Characterization of the obtained materials using techniques such as X-ray diffraction, solid-state NMR spectroscopy, IR/Raman/THz spectroscopy, neutron-scattering methods, DSC/TGA, and related techniques;
– Participation in experiments carried out at national and international research facilities, including large-scale infrastructures (neutron scattering and synchrotron radiation facilities);
– Investigation of local structure, intermolecular interactions, structural phase transformations, and molecular dynamics in the synthesized materials;
– Collaboration with the computational part of the project in the interpretation of experimental results;
– Analysis and interpretation of experimental data;
– Participation in national and international scientific conferences;
– Participation in the preparation of research proposals, scientific publications, and project reports;
– Preparation of a doctoral dissertation within the framework of the project.
Background or specialization in one of the project-related research areas will be considered an asset, particularly in crystallography, structural studies of materials, molecular spectroscopy, solid-state spectroscopy, materials chemistry, or solid-state physics.
Requirements:
1. MSc degree in chemistry, physics, materials science, or a related discipline;
2. Status of a doctoral student at the BioMedChem Doctoral School or willingness to apply for admission to the doctoral school;
3. Experimental experience acquired during MSc studies, internships, placements, or participation in a research project will be considered an advantage;
4. Willingness to develop competencies in synthesis, structural characterization, spectroscopy, and data analysis of functional materials;
5. Readiness to participate in experiments conducted outside the home institution, including short-term national and international research visits;
6. Very good command of written and spoken English;
7. Strong motivation for scientific research, independence, accuracy, and openness to interdisciplinary collaboration.
The conditions of employment:
Project location: Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences, Łódź, Poland.
Project type: NCN SONATA BIS-14 ST3
Project leader: Kacper Drużbicki, DSc, associate professor at CMMS PAS
The scholarship will be awarded contingent upon obtaining PhD student status or admission to the BioMedChem Doctoral School.
Application deadline: continuous recruitment until September 30, 2026 (23:59); the competition may be closed earlier.
Competition results: applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis according to the order of submission. The competition will be considered resolved upon selection of a suitable candidate.
The project provides:
– PhD scholarship;
– Funding for participation in national and international scientific conferences;
– Funding for participation in experimental campaigns carried out at large-scale research infrastructures;
– Opportunity to participate in short-term national and international research training courses and scientific internships;
– Opportunity to gain experience in an interdisciplinary research team combining materials chemistry, spectroscopy, neutron scattering, and materials modelling.
Required documents:
1. Cover letter including contact details and a justification of the candidate’s interest in participating in the project together with a description of competencies relevant to the competition requirements;
2. Scientific CV including previous scientific achievements, publications, distinctions resulting from research activities, scholarships, awards, participation in research projects, conferences, workshops, and scientific training activities;
3. Copy of the MSc diploma or an official document confirming the planned date of the MSc thesis defense;
4. At least one recommendation letter from the candidate’s supervisor or academic mentor.
Applications should be sent by e-mail to: with CC to: , with all required documents attached in PDF format. Additional information can be obtained from Kacper Drużbicki, DSc, Prof CMMS PAS, e-mail:
Please attach the statement: I agree for the processing of personal data necessary to carry out the recruitment process (in accordance with the Law on the Protection of Personal Data of 29.08.1997, Journal of Laws No. 133, item 833).
Information clause: The holder of your personal data is Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences with its registered office in Lodz, NIP: 7240004662 (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.
