UNESCO Chair on Ecohydrology and Applied Ecology

Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection

University of Lodz

will employ

adjunct researcher

  

INSTITUTION: UNESCO Chair on Ecohydrology and Applied Ecology , Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz

CITY: Łódź

POSITION: adjunct researcher (Polish: adiunkt), post-doc

HOURLY DIMENSION: full time

SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINE: biological sciences

DATE OF ANNOUNCEMENT: 20 March 2025

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF OFFERS: 20 May 2025

LINK TO THE UNIVERSITY WEBSITE: www.uni.lodz.pl

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: application should be submitted to the following address: magdalena.urbaniak@biol.uni.lodz.pl

KEYWORDS: competition for the position adjunct researcher (Polish: adiunkt), phytoremediation, genetics, plant gene expression.

DESCRIPTION :

The proposed position is funded within the framework of the NCN OPUS project titled Controlling bioaccumulation potential of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in cucurbits: safe crop production vs. effective pharmaceuticals removal (SafePhaRem) (PI: Dr. hab. Magdalena Urbaniak, Prof. UŁ). The goal of the project is to assess the possibility of controlling the bioaccumulation process of selected non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in plants from the Cucurbitaceae family to accelerate the phytoremediation capabilities of these plants (induction of major latex-like protein - MLP gene expression) or obtain crops free from the studied pharmaceuticals (suppression of MLP gene expression). As part of the project, a series of greenhouse experiments will be conducted using two varieties of zucchini, two selected pharmaceuticals, and four regulators of MLP gene expression (active substances of fungicides and insecticides).

The work at the adjunct researcher (post-doc) position within this project will involve assessing the impact of selected active substances of fungicides and insecticides on MLP gene expression, accumulation of selected pharmaceuticals in plant tissues, and the effect of both pharmaceuticals and gene expression regulators on plant health.

Contract duration: 24 months
Start date: July 15, 2025

REQUIREMENTS:

The candidate for the above position should have an impeccable ethical attitude and meet the requirements of Articles 113 and 116 of the Law on Higher Education and Science of July 20, 2018, as amended, and the Statute of the University of Lodz.

The candidate must meet the condition of not having a criminal record for offenses specified in Chapters XIX and XXV of the Penal Code, in Articles 189a and 207 of the Penal Code, and in the Act on Counteracting Drug

Addiction of July 29, 2005 (consolidated text: Journal of Laws of 2023, item 1939), as well as for corresponding offenses specified in foreign laws.

We reserve the right to leave the Candidate's application unprocessed if the above statements are not submitted by the recruitment deadline.

The candidate should meet the following criteria and have:

• Possess a doctoral degree, recognized in Poland, in biology, biotechnology, or agriculture obtained in the year of employment in the project to which the competition relates or within 7 years before January 1st of the year of employment in the project (for individuals who have obtained more than one doctoral degree, the reference date is the date of obtaining the first one). This period may be extended by the time spent on long-term (over 90 days) documented sick leave or rehabilitation benefits due to incapacity for work. Additionally, this period can be extended by the number of months spent on parental and childcare leave granted under the Labor Code, and for women applying for the competition – by 18 months for each child born or adopted, if this method of indicating career breaks is more beneficial.
• The project leader has not been the supervisor or co-supervisor of the candidate's doctoral thesis.
• The candidate obtained their doctoral degree from a different institution than the one where employment is planned for this position, or has completed at least a 10-month continuous and documented postdoctoral internship at an institution different from the one implementing the project, and in a country other than the country of obtaining the doctoral degree.
•  During the period of receiving remuneration from this project, the candidate will not receive any other remuneration from direct costs in research projects funded under NCN competitions.
•  During the period of receiving remuneration from this project, the candidate will not receive remuneration from another employer based on an employment contract, including from an employer based outside of Poland.
•  During the period of receiving remuneration from this project, the candidate will not receive pension benefits from the social security system.
• Possess at least 300 points from publications ≥ 100 points MEIN/MNISW or patents, including at least one publication ≥ 100 points MEIN/MNISW as the first author or corresponding author.
• Have experience in molecular analysis.
• Have experience working with plant material.
• Have practical experience using the qPCR method (quantitative polymerase chain reaction).
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate fluently in English (both spoken and written).

ADDITIONAL ADVANTAGES:

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Strong motivation to work, ask scientific questions, and seek answers to them.
•  Creativity and analytical thinking.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conducting and participating in scientific research planned within the framework of the project, including:

-         Performing experiments using plants from the Cucurbitaceae family,

-         Collecting and securing material for genetic studies,

-         Quantitative analysis of plant genes,

-         Analysis of plant gene expression,

-         Statistical analysis of obtained results (conducting statistical analyses on collected data, applying statistical tools for interpreting and drawing conclusions from the results);

•  Disseminating research results – participation in the preparation or independent preparation of at least 2 scientific publications;
•  Active participation in scientific conferences and seminars.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR RECRUITMENT:

Persons entering the competition should submit an application for employment addressed to Rector of the University of Lodz with the attachments listed below:

• personal questionnaire for the applicant for employment and statements available on the website of the University of Lodz ( https://www.uni.lodz.pl/kariera ) – including a statement that the University of Lodz will be the candidate's primary place of work and statement about Standards for the Protection of Minors at the University of Lodz;
• motivation letter;
• curriculum vitae, including a list of scientific achievements to date (publications, conference presentations, internships and scientific projects, etc.);
• information about the level of the Polish language competences (for foreigners);
• information about the level of the English language competences (and any others languages);
• a copy of the doctoral diploma or a certificate of the award of a doctoral degree;
• the RODO clause available on the University of Lodz website ( https://www.uni.lodz.pl/kariera ).

Competition settlement deadline: 10 June 2025

We reserve the right to interview selected people.

Winning the competition does not guarantee employment at the University of Lodz.

biological sciences

competition for the position adjunct researcher (Polish: adiunkt), phytoremediation, genetics, plant gene expression.