Call for Applications: PhD Student-Scholarship Holder Position within the SONATA19 Project

Call for Applications: PhD Student-Scholarship Holder Position within the SONATA19 Project

Institution Name: Department of Plant Taxonomy and Nature Conservation, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland

Position Title: Scholarship Holder within the NCN SONATA19 Project: “ORCHIDBIOM – The Relationship Between Plant–Pollinator Interactions and the Floral Microbiome in Bee- and Bird-Pollinated Orchids”

Project Leader: Dr. Monika M. Lipińska

Requirements:

1. Master’s degree in biology or a related field.
2. At the time of starting the project, the candidate must be a PhD student enrolled in a Doctoral School.
3. The candidate must meet the eligibility criteria specified in the Regulations on Awarding Research Scholarships in Research Projects Funded by the National Science Centre, introduced by the NCN Council Resolution No. 124/2022 of 1 December 2022.
4. Good command of spoken and written English, preferably confirmed by a certificate, allowing fluent communication and preparation of scientific publications.
5. Willingness to undertake short-term international research stays (1–3 months).
6. Experience with techniques involving plant material.
7. Familiarity with histochemical techniques and sample preparation for scanning and transmission electron microscopy is an asset.
8. Ability to work independently and in a team, with creativity and innovation.

Description of Tasks:

Supporting team members in laboratory work and during project outreach events. Independently conducting basic experiments/analyses. Preparing plant material for histochemical staining and electron microscopy (SEM, TEM). Performing histochemical staining. Analyzing video recordings. Participating in research group/laboratory meetings. Contributing to the preparation of scientific and popular science publications.

NCN Grant Type: SONATA – NZ

Application Deadline: September 15, 2025, 00:00

Application Format: Email with subject line "SONATA19 application"

Conditions of Employment:

Duration of contract: 24 months

Start date: October 1, 2025

Scholarship amount: 3,000 PLN/month

Total scholarship amount: 72,000 PLN

Trial period: 6 months

Application Documents:

Please send the following documents to: monika.lipinska@ug.edu.pl by the deadline:

1. Curriculum Vitae addressing the listed requirements (including scientific achievements, such as publications, awards, conference participation, internships, etc.), and a motivation letter.
2. Proof of Master’s degree (or confirmation of thesis defense date from the supervisor).
3. Declaration of intent to apply or confirmation of acceptance to a PhD program starting on October 1, 2025.
4. Contact details of at least one referee (minimum PhD degree), preferably the Master’s thesis supervisor.

Assessment of candidates' qualifications and experience will follow the principles outlined in the Regulations on Awarding Research Scholarships in NCN-Funded Research Projects (NCN Council Resolution No. 124/2022 of 1 December 2022).

Selected candidates will be individually invited for an interview. The call may be closed without selecting a candidate.

Please include the following clause in your application:

“I consent to the processing of my personal data contained in the scholarship application documents for the purposes necessary for the recruitment process, in accordance with the Act of 29.08.1997 on the Protection of Personal Data, Journal of Laws No. 133, item 883.”

For further inquiries, please contact: monika.lipinska@ug.edu.pl