Research assistant

30 Mar 2026
Job Information

Organisation/Company

University of Warsaw

Department

Faculty of Physics Institute of Geophysics

Research Field

Physics » Electromagnetism
Physics » Optics

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Positions

Other Positions

Application Deadline

30 Apr 2026 - 16:00 (Europe/Warsaw)

Country

Poland

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

40

Offer Starting Date

1 Sep 2026

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Horizon Europe - MSCA

Reference Number

WF-1210-6/2026

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

DATE OF PUBLICATION 31 March 2026

We are seeking two candidates for a doctoral position (Research assistant) within the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks – High-Power Optical Vortices (HiPOVor) funded by the European Commission. 

HiPOVor is an international collaborative effort aimed at overcoming the challenges of creating light beams that carry optical angular momentum with both very high peak and average powers. A group of young researchers will explore the entire development chain of these beams, including the devices used to generate them, their physical properties, their amplification, their behavior during propagation, and their practical uses. The project will train 15 doctoral candidates to become the first specialists able to produce powerful light beams carrying optical angular momentum and to advance their use in both academic and industrial settings. The work is supported by an interdisciplinary consortium of eight leading universities and nine industry partners. The academic partners are Tampere University in Finland, the University of Stuttgart in Germany, the University of Warsaw in Poland, the University of Glasgow in the United Kingdom, the University of Bucharest in Romania, Université libre de Bruxelles in Belgium, Université Paris Saclay in France, and the CNRS center known as Femto ST in France. The project partners from industry, together with academic institutions, will support research expected to strengthen European scientific excellence, enable new optical technologies, improve methods for producing nanometre-scale structures, and contribute to more sustainable and energy-efficient solutions.

The project will develop two approaches based on hot-embossing and nanostructurization.

1.         Hot-embossing.

High power vortex components for Mid IR with hot embossing technology

Hot-embossed optical elements are widely used in commercial applications to produce low-cost optics of arbitrary shape. However, polymer components have limited applications in high-power optics and have low infrared transmission. Hot-embossing is used to mass-fabricate CD player lenses, camera lenses, and aspherical lenses for the visible and near-infrared wavelength ranges. The main advantage of hot-embossing is the ability to create free-form components without the constraints of rotational symmetry, unlike typical machined lenses. Hot-embossing is a fast technique well suited to mass production and can be used as a continuous process, unlike conventional mechanical shaping of individual components. The aim of using hot-embossing is to fabricate optical components for high-power optical vortex generation.

2.         Nanostructurization

High-power all-fiber vortex beam generators for mid-IR

A technique to fabricate optical components with a gradient refractive index distribution - GRIN - compatible with fiber optics. In this method, the micro-optical components consist of a set of nanorods made from a pair of thermally matched glasses arranged in a pre-calculated binary pattern. According to the Maxwell-Garnett effective medium model, the binary patterns mimic a continuous gradient index distribution for wavelengths much larger than the size of a single nano-rod. This enables the fabrication of flat-surface GRIN micro-optical components with any two-dimensional refractive-index distribution. The capabilities of this method have previously been demonstrated in the visible and near-infrared wavelength range by fabricating parabolic and elliptical GRIN microlenses, axicons, diffractive optical elements (DOEs), and birefringent artificial glass materials. The aim of using nanostructurisation technology is to fabricate a phase element that generates an optical vortex in the mid-infrared range, and integrate it into an optical fiber, and fabricate an optical fiber that guides the vortex mode.

The employment will take place in accordance with the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks and University of Warsaw regulations, in particular, the employed person must meet the following conditions:

–   Fulfilment of the requirements set out in Article 113 of the Law on Higher Education and Science (Journal of Laws of 2024, item 1571, consolidated text)

–   Master's degree in physics, photonics, materials engineering, or related sciences;

–   The candidate may not hold a doctoral degree on the date of employment;

–   Knowledge of basic research techniques;

–   Knowledge of basic physical modelling techniques;

–   Proficiency in spoken and written English at least at the B2 level;

–   The candidate will begin studies at a doctoral school;

–          MSCA Mobility Rule: at the time of recruitment by the host organization, the researcher must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of his/her employer (Warsaw University, Poland) for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to his/her recruitment. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not considered.

Where to apply

E-mail

sekretariat.IGF@fuw.edu.pl

Requirements

Research Field

Physics » Electromagnetism

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field

Physics » Optics

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

• Master's degree in physics, photonics, materials engineering, or related sciences;
• Knowledge of basic research techniques;
• Knowledge of basic physical modelling techniques;
• Proficiency in spoken and written English at least at the B2 level;
• Knowledge of optical issues;
• Knowledge of software for modelling physical experiments;
• Knowledge of software such as Comsol, Lumerical, Optical Studio;
• Knowledge of programming languages: Matlab, Python;
• Ability to solve technical problems;
• Creativity and communication skills;

Manual skills enabling experimental work, including work with small elements under an optical microscope.

Specific Requirements

• Fulfilment of the requirements set out in Article 113 of the Law on Higher Education and Science (Journal of Laws of 2024, item 1571, consolidated text)
• Master's degree in physics, photonics, materials engineering, or related sciences;
• The candidate must not hold a doctoral degree on the date of employment;
• Fundamentals of research techniques;
• Fundamentals of physical modelling techniques;
• Proficiency in spoken and written English at least at the B2 level;
• The candidate will undertake doctoral studies;
• MSCA Mobility Rule: at the time of recruitment by the host organization, the researcher must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of his/her employer (Warsaw University, Poland) for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to his/her recruitment. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not considered.

In addition, we expect:

• Knowledge of optical issues;
• Knowledge of software for modelling physical experiments;
• Knowledge of software such as Comsol, Lumerical, Optical Studio;
• Knowledge of programming languages: Matlab, Python;
• Ability to solve technical problems;
• Creativity and communication skills;

Manual skills enabling experimental work, including work with small elements under an optical microscope.

If hired, we expect the University of Warsaw to be the primary workplace for the successful candidate.

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Research Field

Physics » Computational physicsPhysics » ElectromagnetismPhysics » Optics

Years of Research Experience

1 - 4

Additional Information
Benefits

Full-time temporary employment at the Facult of Physics, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 5, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland for up to 36 months. 

Basic remuneration 2971.41 Euro/month (gross-gross). 

Net salary will be calculated after deducting all mandatory social security contributions and taxes.

Allowances:

– Equivalent to €710 per month in mobility allowance (€8,520 per year)

– The equivalent of €495 per month in family allowance (€5,940 per year), payable only if the doctoral candidate has family responsibilities in accordance with the Marie Skłodowska-Curie program rules, i.e., if the doctoral candidate has persons related to him or her:

1. marriage, or

2. a relationship equivalent to marriage, recognized by the legislation of the country or region where the relationship was formalized, or

3. dependent children who are actually supported by the candidate.

Eligibility criteria

1. Scientific achievements (publications, projects, presentations)

– The number and quality of scientific publications (including those in JCR-listed journals), assessed in the context of the length of the candidate’s academic career;

– Participation in research projects (national and international);

– Presentations at scientific conferences.

2. Research experience and competencies

– Consistency of experience with the project’s subject matter;

– Knowledge of tools, methods, and techniques relevant to the given project.

3. Soft and organizational skills

– Communication skills and ability to work in a team;

– Independence in planning and conducting research;

– Ability to present results (both orally and in writing).

In total, a maximum of 100 points can be awarded by each member of the selection committee. The candidate who meets the eligibility requirements for the competition and obtains the highest number of points provided that this score is not lower than 60% of the total possible number of points shall be declared the winner.

Selection process

The candidate should provide the following documents:

Electronically to the following address:

Institute of Geophysics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 5, 02-093 Warsaw, loc. B4.41, or send to the following address sekretariat.IGF@fuw.edu.pl , in electronic form (with the subject line „HiPoVoR- Asystent”)

Required documents:

• Candidate’s questionnaire link https://rekrutacja-i-rozwoj.bsp.uw.edu.pl/wp-content/uploads/sites/43/2…
• CV containing a detailed description of qualifications and experience confirming that the requirements and abilities to perform the duties specified in this announcement are met;
• Copies of documents confirming education, course of study to date, employment, and qualifications;
• A list of publications and conference presentations with a description of your contribution;
• A list of projects in which you have participated, with a description of your contribution;
• Letter of recommendation from at least two academic teachers sent by the authors directly to sekretariat.IGF@fuw.edu.pl .

The competition consists of the following stages: 

• Stage I - formal evaluation of documents,
• Stage II - substantive evaluation on the basis of submitted documents,
• Stage III - interview with selected candidates,
• Stage IV - final evaluation of competence, experience, and scientific achievements,
• Stage V - adjudication of the competition and announcement of results.

The entire procedure is expected to be concluded on 30.06.2026. The candidates will be informed about the recruitment results individually by email. In the event of a selected candidate's resignation, the position will be offered to subsequent candidates on the selection ranking list.

The candidate selected in the competition is required to submit original documents before starting employment. 

This announcement is the first step in the process of employing an academic teacher, and its positive outcome will serve as the basis for subsequent steps.

Additional comments

Candidates with disabilities or special needs may report their accessibility requirements for the recruitment process.

This announcement is the first step in the process of employing, and its positive outcome will serve as the basis for subsequent steps.

The University of Warsaw follows an Open, Transparent, and Merit-Based Recruitment Policy, the content of which can be accessed at: https://rekrutacja-i-rozwoj.bsp.uw.edu.pl/polityka-rekrutacji

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

2

Company/Institute

University of Warsaw, Faculty of Physics

Country

Poland

City

Warsaw

Postal Code

02-093

Street

Pasteura 5

Geofield

Contact

State/Province

Draft

City

Warsaw

Website

http://www.fuw.edu.pl

Street

Krakowskie Przedmieście 26/28

Postal Code

00-927

E-Mail

kasztel@igf.fuw.edu.pl

Phone

+48 22 55 32 006

STATUS: EXPIRED

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