PhD student-scholarship holder

Requirements :

1. Completed Master’s degree in biology, biotechnology or a related field
2. At least one year of research experience in microbiology or molecular biology
3. Knowledge of basic issues related to environmental microbiology and genomics
4. Very good command of English, both spoken and written
5. Ability to work in a team, independence and willingness to acquire new competences 6. Experience in microfluidic technologies and high-throughput screening methods, bioinformatics data analysis and ornithological experience
will be an additional advantage

Description of tasks :

1. Experimental work:
a. analysis of bacterial community diversity in stool samples using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and whole metagenome sequencing;
b. selection and biochemical characterization of bacterial strains and microbial consortia capable of degrading lignocellulose;
c. development of new methods for testing microbiological activity using ultra-high-throughput microfluidic technology;
d. analysis and interpretation of research results using appropriate statistical and bioinformatics methods.
2. tracking the current state of knowledge and research trends based on the scientific literature;
3. participation in the preparation of scientific publications, patent applications, and potential commercialization of project results;
4. participation in conferences and other scientific events related to the project topic;
5. optional supervision of students involved in the implementation of research in the project.

NCN competition type : SONATA – NZ
Deadline for submitting offers : October 25, 2026, 8:00 p.m.
Form of submitting offers : email
Employment conditions :

Monthly salary: PLN 5,000
Starting date: November 1, 2026
Period: 25 months, with the possibility of extension by a maximum of 11 months
Location: Laboratory of Microfluidics and Single Cell Analysis

Additional information :

Application documents:
● Short cover letter
● Curriculum vitae containing, in particular, information on education and degrees obtained; titles of theses; information on previous research experience and implemented projects;
a list of scientific publications; participation in scientific conferences; other achievements related to scientific activity;
● Contact details of at least one person who can recommend the candidate, in particular the direct academic supervisor.
● Copies of diplomas obtained.
● Signed consent from the candidate to the processing of personal data for the purposes necessary to carry out the recruitment process, with the following content: “I consent to the processing of my personal data for the purposes of carrying out the recruitment process and selecting a scholarship holder and concluding a scholarship agreement at the University of Warsaw. I acknowledge that the controller of my personal data is the University of Warsaw (ul. Krakowskie Przedmieście 26/28, 00-927 Warsaw). I am aware of my rights.”
● Application documents should be sent, in a single PDF file, by email to: a.pyzik@uw.edu.pl. The email and file should be titled according to the template “Doktorant-
stypendysta_2026_Name and Surname”

Additional information:
The recruitment committee reserves the right to interview candidates selected after reviewing the offers submitted electronically.
The condition for commencing scholarship payment is that the selected candidate has the status of a doctoral student at the doctoral school https://szkolydoktorskie.uw.edu.pl
Additional information is provided by the project manager: Dr. Adam Pyzik
Project title: Studying the conifer-specialized microbiome of the Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus): implications for animal sciences and biotechnological approaches to lignocellulose biodegradation.

The scholarship holder will be selected on the basis of a competition conducted in accordance with the Regulations for awarding scholarships in research projects financed by the National Science Centre, in accordance with the content of the resolution of the NCN Council No. 25/2024 of March 4, 2024.

Deadline for submitting applications: October 25, 2026.
Deadline for announcing the results: October 29, 2026.