Research Assistant and Phd Candidate

Job ID: #JOB 11/2026

Job Description

Job Title: Research assistant and Phd Candidate

Job Summary: The winning candidate will work as a ¾-time research assistant at the International Centre for Interfacing Magnetism and Superconductivity with Topological Matter – MagTop of the Institute of Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and will prepare a doctoral thesis in extramural mode, attending lectures at the Warsaw-4-PhD Doctoral School. The job involves theoretical or experimental studies on quantum materials and their design, leading to a Ph.D. degree. The successful candidate will pursue a scientific career in one of the following related topics researched at MagTop, depending on their individual skills and experience.

The Ph.D. candidate should choose one of the following topics:

Theoretical investigations of the band structure topology and/or magnetism via density functional theory.
Effective Hamiltonian methods for quantum phenomena in solids.
Development of machine learning tools for topological materials.
Experimental studies of magnetotransport in quantum materials and structures.

Job Description: The Material Design Group at MagTop conducts theoretical and experimental research on quantum and topological materials in several directions. The Material Design Group provides a quantum-mechanical description (primarily via density functional theory, effective Hamiltonian methods, and machine-learning tools) of the unique properties of topological materials and devices, including interpretation of experiments conducted both in-house and by external collaborators.

Another focus is the experimental magnetotransport investigations of quantum structures and materials, prepared using MagTop’s broad spectrum of epitaxial and device-processing facilities, and conducted in collaboration with theoretical teams.

Requirements:

A Master’s degree in Physics or in related fields, such as e.g., materials engineering and electronics, is required (or an equivalent that qualifies one for PhD studies in physics in the country of issue),
Prior experience of working with density functional theory codes and/or machine learning algorithms will be an advantage, or hands-on experience in physics laboratories.
A good knowledge of English is required

Main research field: Physics

Sub Research Field: Condensed matter physics, Materials physics

Career Stage: Early-stage researcher or 0-4 yrs. (Post-graduate)

Research Profile (details): First Stage Researcher (R1)

Type of Contract: Initial employment for a fixed term of 24 months, including a 3-month probationary period. Prolongation of employment until May 31, 2029 (end of the project) will be based on performance and successful completion of a mid-term evaluation performed at a level analogous to that in the PhD school. The doctorate will be pursued in an extracurricular manner.

Status: Part -time employee hired at ¾ of a full-time contract

Salary: The person will be employed as a research assistant in a ¾ full-time position (with all employee benefits and an additional medical insurance package) with a gross salary of PLN 7354,50 per month, which is approximately PLN 5,550 net/month (1,300 EUR). The MagTop project (FENG.02.01-IP.05-0028/23) is implemented as part of the MAB FENG action of the Foundation for Polish Science, co-financed by the European Union from the 2nd Priority funds of the Programme European Funds for Smart Economy 2021-2027 (FENG).

Contact

More information can be obtained from Dr. hab. Carmine Autieri (e-mail: autieri@MagTop.ifpan.edu.pl) and Dr. hab. Marcin M. Wysokinski (e-mail: wysokinski@MagTop.ifpan.edu.pl), https://magtop.ifpan.edu.pl/

Application details

Application deadline: 17.04.2026. Later applications will not be considered.

Required materials:

Scientific CV
Cover letter
Scan of MSc diploma or equivalent (or an explanation of when one is expected)
Academic record (for finalized semesters)
Recommended: A recommendation letter by an academic, or their contact email,
A statement by the candidate of consent to the processing of personal data for the purposes of recruitment (as below).

All required materials for the position must be sent in electronic form to open_positions@MagTop.ifpan.edu.pl and rekrutacja@ifpan.edu.pl with the Job ID# as a subject.

The Institute of Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences has Rules for Internal Reports specifying the procedure for reporting violations of law and taking follow-up actions, which can be found on the Institute’s website at the link: https://www.ifpan.edu.pl/en/institute/internal-reports-concerning-violations-of-law.html

DATA PROCESSING UNDER CONSENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF RECRUITMENT

Under Art. 13 sections 1 and 2 of the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) 2016/679 of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons 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 Resolution), EU OJ L 119 of 04.05.2016, page 1, as amended, hereinafter referred to as „GDPR”, we hereby inform as follows:

The Data Controller of the provided personal data is the Institute of Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Lotników 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, phone (22) 116-2111, e-mail director@ifpan.edu.pl.
Contact details to the Data Protection Officer are as follows: e-mail iodo@ifpan.edu.pl
Your personal data shall be processed for the purpose of carrying out the recruitment process for the position of Research assistant
Processing of your personal data in scope of: full name, date of birth, correspondence address, information about education and course of past employment shall take place under Art. 22¹ § 1 of the Act of 26 June 1974 – Labour Code. In the scope in which you sent to us more personal data than indicated above, we process your data under the consent granted by you.
Your personal data shall be stored for 1 month from completion of the recruitment process. If you grant consent for processing of personal data for future recruitments, we shall process your data until withdrawal of the consent by you, however, no longer than for the period of 6 months from the day of submittal of the application by you.
Provision of the abovementioned data in the scope indicated above is a statutory requirement resulting from Art. 22¹ § 1 of the Act of 26 June 1974 – Labour Code, in the remaining scope it is voluntary. Failure to provide the data referred to in Art. 22¹ § 1 of the Act of 26 June 1974 – Labour Code precludes consideration of your candidacy for the offered position.
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Consent content:

[ ] I grant my consent to the Institute of Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences to process my personal data contained in the sent recruitment documents for the purpose of carrying out the recruitment process for the position of Research assistant.

If you want us to consider your candidacy also in the future recruitment processes, please grant the additional consent:

[ ] I grant my consent to the Institute of Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences to process my personal data contained in the sent recruitment documents in future recruitment processes taking place during 6 months from the day of appearance of this job advertisement.