Recruitment

Institution: Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences (HIIET PAS)

City: Wrocław

Position: PhD student

Scientific discipline: Biological sciences

Announcement date: July 18, 2025

Application deadline: September 10, 2025

Result announcement: September 26, 2025

WSD IPAN website: http://wsdipan.intibs.pl

IITD PAN website: http://hirszfeld.pl

Keywords: Bacteriophage formulations; combination therapy; pneumonia; urinary tract infection; animal model

The Wrocław Doctoral School of Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences (WDS IPAS) announces a special recruitment for a PhD student – scholarship holder in the research project titled " Phage-Antimicrobial combination strategies for management of multidrug-resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae", commissioned by the National Science Centre (grant no. UMO-2024/06/Y/NZ7/00178) at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Bacteriophages, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy
Polish Academy of Sciences.

We offer work in a dynamic and friendly research team focusing on the influence of the bacterial microbiome and virome on human health.

Laboratory website: https://hirszfeld.pl/struktura/laboratoria/laboratorium-biologii-molekularnej-bakteriofagow/

I. Project description

The project aims to investigate the immunogenicity of bacteriophages as potential antimicrobial agents to address the growing challenge of antibiotic resistance. It comprises both bioinformatic and experimental components. The bioinformatic analysis will involve screening over 12,000 previously identified immunogenic oligopeptides against predicted phage proteomes to select candidate strains with minimal immune recognition. Selected phages will then be tested in vivo to evaluate the induction of IgM, IgG, IgA, and IgE antibodies, cytokine responses (including IL-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-13, and TNFα), and the formation of neutralising antibodies. The doctoral student will compare the immunogenic profiles of top phage candidates to identify those with the highest safety potential for human use. The findings will also contribute to establishing general principles for predicting phage immunogenicity based on molecular features that can be assessed using bioinformatic tools.

II. What we offer

• Opportunity to gain a broad range of scientific and technical skills.
• Career development support through internal/external training and personal mentoring.
• Collaboration with national and international research centers.
• A four-year PhD scholarship (funded by NCN and IITD PAN).

III. Scholarship regulations

As part of the research project, the PhD candidate–scholarship holder will receive a scholarship for a period of 48 months. This includes a doctoral scholarship, the amount of which is regulated by Article 209(1) of the Act of 20 July 2018 (Journal of Laws 2023, item 742), and is partially funded by the National Science Centre (NCN) as part of the awarded research project. The PhD candidate will also have social insurance contributions covered, in accordance with Article 6(1)(7b) of the Act of 13 October 1998 on the social insurance system (Journal of Laws 2024, item 497). As of January 1, 2024, the scholarship amounts to:

• Years 1 and 2 (before mid-term evaluation): PLN 3,466.90 gross/month
• Years 3 and 4 (after mid-term evaluation): PLN 5,340.90 gross/month

The scholarships will be disbursed under a scholarship agreement that includes a component funded by the National Science Centre. The terms of payment and the amounts are governed by the provisions of the Act of 20 July 2018 – Law on Higher Education and Science (Journal of Laws 2023, item 742) and the Regulations on awarding research scholarships in research projects funded by the National Science Centre, adopted by NCN Resolution No. 25/2024 of March 4, 2024.

The research and doctoral dissertation will be carried out as part of the project entitled: "Phage-Antimicrobial combination strategies for management of multidrug-resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae", funded by the National Science Centre (grant no. UMO-2024/06/Y/NZ7/00178).

Recruitment is conducted in accordance with the Regulations on awarding research scholarships in research projects funded by the National Science Centre, the consolidated text of which is an annex to NCN Resolution No. 25/2024 of March 4, 2024, the Act of 20 July 2018 – Law on Higher Education and Science, and the Recruitment Rules of the Wrocław Doctoral School of Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

The scope of work within the research project and the terms of financial support are specified in the "Agreement for the implementation of the doctoral scholarship funded by the National Science Centre."

IV. Responsibilities of the PhD candidate

• Conducting scientific research within the project aimed at assessing the molecular determinants of bacteriophage immunogenicity, including microbiological, immunological, and cellular studies, as well as bioinformatic analyses; working with animal and human-derived materials; performing laboratory work in BSL-2 conditions.
• Diligently carry out assigned research tasks.
• Engage in continuous learning and scientific development.
• Fulfill all program requirements of the Wrocław Doctoral School of Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

V. Candidate requirements

• Possession of a Master's degree in medical biology, biotechnology, microbiology, or related fields.
• Experience with molecular biology techniques
• Experience with microbiological techniques
• Experience with cell biology techniques
• Experience with immunological techniques
• Experience with bioinformatic methods
• Master's-level expertise appropriate for conducting research in the fields of microbiology, cell biology, and immunology.
• Motivation for laboratory work, scientific curiosity, and willingness to learn.
• Willingness to collaborate with national and international partners.

VI. Required documents

• Application for admission to the WSD IPAN along with a statement of familiarity with the recruitment regulations for WSD IPAN (https://www.intibs.pl/en/for-students/rules-of-recruitment.html ).

• CV and completed personal questionnaire including a list of publications, scholarships, awards, conferences attended (with presentation titles and authors).
• Motivation letter describing research interests, achievements, and reasons for applying.
• Statement confirming that WSD IPAS will be the only doctoral school attended if admitted.
• Copy of MSc diploma or certificate of completion. Diploma and transcript from outside the EU must be apostilled or legalized by a Polish consulate.
• Transcript or diploma supplement from Bachelor and Master’s (or integrated Master’s) studies.
• English language certificate at B2 level or higher (not required if the candidate completed university-level coursework at that level).
• Contact details of 1–2 referees or 1–2 reference letters from previous supervisors/employers.

VII. Application deadline

Deadline: September 10, 2025, at 15:00 (CEST)

Submit applications:

- By e-mail (preferred): (subject: JPIAMR recruitment) — originals must be submitted before program start

- In person: IITD PAN Secretariat, ul. Weigla 12, Wrocław (9:00–15:00)

VIII. Candidate evaluation criteria

Candidates will be evaluated in accordance with the NCN regulations for awarding research scholarships (Resolution No. 25/2024 of March 4, 2024) and the Regulations of the Wrocław Doctoral School of Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

The institute reserves the right to leave the position unfilled.

Information clause

Based on Article. 13 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46 / EC (General Data Protection Regulation) (Journal of Laws UE L 119 of 04/05/2016, p. 1), hereinafter referred to as "GDPR", I would like to inform you that:

• The administrator of your personal data is the Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Wrocław, ul. Rudolf Weigl 12, 53-114 Wrocław.
• The administrator of personal data can be contacted by letter to the address given in point 1 above, or by phone at 71 3709940, and the data protection officer appointed by him can be contacted in all matters regarding data processing via the e-mail account:  or by post to the registered office address.
• Personal data will be processed in order to perform the administrator's tasks related to recruitment for a research project entitled " Phage-Antimicrobial combination strategies for management of multidrug-resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae", commissioned by the National Science Centre (grant no. UMO-2024/06/Y/NZ7/00178) and to the Wrocław Doctoral School of Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences, thus Your personal data will be processed on the basis of the Act of 20 July 2018 Law on Higher Education and Science (Article 6 (1) (c) of the GDPR), the Controller's legitimate interest in the implementation of the research project (Article 6 (1)) f GDPR) and in connection with their necessity to conclude the NCN scholarship agreement (Article 6 (1) (b) of the GDPR).
• Providing your personal data by you is voluntary, but necessary to achieve the above-mentioned purposes.
• Personal data collected in the current recruitment process will be kept during the recruitment period.
• The person whose data is processed has the right to: access personal data, request the rectification of personal data, request the deletion of personal data, request to limit the processing of personal data, object to the processing of data due to a special situation.
• The person whose data is processed also has the right to lodge a complaint with the President of the Personal Data Protection Office, if it is found that the Administrator has breached the provisions on the protection of personal data.
• As a result of processing, decisions will not be made in an automated manner (without human intervention), including not based on profiling.
• Personal data may be made available to our authorized employees, processors, i.e. those performing activities on our behalf (eg IT and accounting services), and the personal data of a Candidate selected in the competition may then be made available to third parties authorized by law.