Job Information
- Organisation/Company: Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences
Offer Description
Recruitment for a Post-doc position in the field of stable isotope biogeochemistry at the Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences, in Warsaw
PROJECT SUMMARY:
The general objective of the project is to recognize the patterns of variability of the stable isotope (δ13C and δ15N) baselines for protein fraction in terrestrial temperate ecosystems: in plants and mammalian herbivores. In particular, the project main focus is checking if more-than-one isotopic baselines may occur within a community (of plants, or of mammalian herbivores) in an ecosystem. Our preliminary data suggests that this may be the case. If this hypothesis will be confirmed, it would mean that several independent baselines should be included in the isotope flux models, even for a single ecosystem.
The geological actualism approach in this project is to check: which exactly modern subcommunities of forest plants and herbivores have distinctly different baselines (subcommunities that differ in phylogeny, habitat, physiology?), if any; and whether such situation of multiple variable baselines is common in micro-ecosystems (e.g., dense canopy vs. open environment, conifer vs. deciduous forest?). The ultimate goal is to use these patterns of the modern isotopic variability in plants, herbivores, and plants-to-herbivores system, to better interpret the isotope flux in fossil assemblages, with the focus on bone collagen – usually the only organic material preserved in fossils. We focus on terrestrial temperate ecosystems, because such ecosystems are common in European Quaternary record (especially forest and mammoth steppe) and are among the majority of paleoecosystems studied in Europe, North America, Siberia, Beringia, and Patagonia. We focus on modern and fossil ecosystems from Poland: modern temperate forest (the Białowieża Forest), Early-to-Late Holocene forest paleontological assemblages (Perspektywiczna Cave, Shelter in Smoleń III); and mid-Vistulian mammoth steppe assemblage (Perspektywiczna Cave). A Late Glacial tundra assemblage (Perspektywiczna Cave) will be added for comparison.
The project methods are analyses of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in plants (protein, cellulose, lignin) and herbivores (bone collagen) material. Modern material (Białowieża Forest) will be used to refine the methodology: establishing the variability in plants and in herbivores; understanding the plant-to-collagen isotope fractionation; and to depict the complexity of the carbon and nitrogen isotopic flux within a plant-to-herbivore trophic network, where the Białowieża Forest is an actualistic model. Fossil material (from cave sites located in Polish Jura) of the Holocene forest ecosystem will be used to compare the fossil isotopic baselines with the modern ones and to test for the universality of the baseline variability among temperate forest ecosystems. Pleistocene assemblages (Perspektywiczna Cave) will be used to check the variability of the isotopic baselines in other ecosystems (mammoth steppe and tundra). We will further use the C-N flux model obtained for the modern ecosystem to better interpret the trophic relationships in fossil assemblages.
Among novel approaches is the individual amino acid isotopic analysis for terrestrial paleoecosystems. Until now, only few studies have undertaken this topic, mostly from the archaeological perspective. Other novel approaches include: searching for seasonal isotopic changes in plants; investigation of the local Suess effect through tree rings study; systematic analysis of the isotopic variation between ungulates, rodents and lagomorphs; assumption of several isotopic baselines within one ecosystem.
Isotopic baselines are necessary for stable isotope-based paleodietary modeling. In particular, the knowledge of the baseline variability is crucial at the planning phase of studies – to assume how much baseline samples is needed and what taxonomic variability is enough to represent baselines. In Quaternary sciences, such studies are common in paleoecology, with special focus on ancient hominines, extinct mammals, and the evolution of synanthropism. All such studies will largely benefit from this project’s results. Modern mammal-focused isotopic ecology will benefit as well, as it utilizes the same modeling methods. We can see the high importance of our study for: paleontology, archaeology, anthropology, environmental science, plant physiology, herbivore physiology, biochemistry, and indirectly for paleogeography and paleoclimatology.
Project acronym: “Post-doc - Isobase”
Funding: National Science Centre (NCN, Poland), OPUS-29 Programme
Project title: “Variability of carbon and nitrogen isotopic baselines in Quaternary terrestrial ecosystems”
Summary https://projekty.ncn.gov.pl/en/index.php?projekt_id=644096
Project leader: Dr hab. Maciej T. Krajcarz (e-mail: mkrajcarz@twarda.pan.pl)
Application deadline: August 31st,2026, 15:00
Form of submitting offers: e-mail
Announcement of recruitment results: by September 30, 2026
Start of employment: November 1st, 2026
Duration of employment: 48 months
Remuneration arrangements: Employment contract, full-time
Remuneration: PLN 11,600 per month gross-gross (i.e., including employer’s costs)
Location: Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences (IGS PAS), Research Centre in Warsaw (ul. Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warszawa), Quaternary GeoEcology Research Group (https://www.ing.pan.pl/en/research-groups/quaternary-geoecology-research-group)
Where to apply
E-mail: rekrutacja_ingpan@twarda.pan.pl
Requirements
Research Field: Geosciences » Geology
Education Level: PhD or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
REQUIREMENTS / EXPECTATIONS:
- A doctoral degree in Earth science/environmental science/chemistry/biology or related disciplines, a PhD degree must be conferred in the year of employment in the project or within 12 years before 1 January of the year of employment in the project (career breaks, e.g. maternity/paternity leave, are taken into account: https://ncn.gov.pl/sites/default/files/pliki/uchwaly-rady/2024/uchwala84_2024-zal1_ang.pdf);
- Experience in biochemical/geochemical analyses, documented by publications;
- Experience in laboratory work with chemical compounds (e.g. GC, LC, mass spectrometry, IRMS, or similar methods);
- Experience in stable isotope analysis will be an additional advantage;
- Experience in operating and servicing/building measurement equipment will be an additional advantage;
- Availability for full-time work;
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to multitask;
- Independence, analytical thinking, and a professional approach to duties;
- Experience in writing scientific texts in English, documented by publications;
- Very good knowledge of spoken and written English, enabling participation in scientific discussions within an international research team, reading scientific literature, and presenting research results at international scientific conferences.
Specific Requirements
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:
- A CV containing information on education, employment history, scientific achievements, publications, conferences, organisation of scientific events, internships, training, research trips, awards and distinctions, and participation in research projects;
- A cover letter justifying the wish to apply for the proposed post-doctoral position and a description of the research experience;
- A copy of the doctoral (PhD) degree diploma or A copy of the document confirming the award of a doctoral degree*;
- Scans of documents confirming work placements, scientific trainings, fellowships or apprenticeships;
- List of publications;
- List of conference presentations (oral and poster);
- Information on research projects;
- List of inventions and patents;
- List of awards;
- Other documents confirming qualifications and scientific achievements;
- A statement that, if employed, the Institute of Geological Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw will be employee’s primary place of work;
- Consent to the processing of personal data for the purposes necessary to carry out the recruitment process (in accordance with the Act of 10 May 2018 on the protection of personal data and Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016);
- Certificates or other documents confirming knowledge of English (if available);
- At least two letters of recommendation – one from the doctoral thesis supervisor and one from another researcher.
Note: No other documents should be sent. All required documents should be combined into a single PDF file in the order 1–14.
* In accordance with NCN requirements, only a person who obtained a doctoral degree no earlier than 12 years prior to 1 January of the year in which the person is employed in the project. This period may be extended by the duration of any long-term (over 90 days) documented sick pay or rehabilitation benefits received during that period due to incapacity for work. In addition to this period, the number of months spent on leave related to the care and upbringing of children, granted in accordance with the provisions of the Labour Code, may be added; in the case of women, 18 months may be added for each child born or adopted, if this method of calculating breaks in the academic career is more favourable.
In accordance with the requirements of the National Science Centre (NCN), only a person who has obtained a doctoral degree at an institution other than the Institute of Geological Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences or has completed at least a 10-month, continuous and documented postdoctoral fellowship at an institution other than the one implementing the project and in a country other than the one in which the doctoral degree was obtained.
Languages: ENGLISH
Level: Excellent
Research Field: Geosciences » Geology
Years of Research Experience: 4 - 10
Internal Application form(s) needed
FINAL_POST DOC_ISOBASE_EN (1).pdf English (237.09 KB - PDF)
Additional Information
Benefits
WE OFFER:
- Full-time employment in an assistant professor (Polish: adiunkt) position at the leading geo- and environmental science research centre in Poland;
- A monthly gross-gross salary of PLN 11,600 for 48 months;
- Participation in an international research team led by Dr hab. Maciej T. Krajcarz, as part of a project funded by the NCN (grant no. 2025/57/B/ST10/02969);
- Collaboration with experienced researchers;
- Access to high-class geochemical facilities;
- The opportunity to take part in international conferences;
Eligibility criteria
REQUIREMENTS / EXPECTATIONS:
- A doctoral degree in Earth science/environmental science/chemistry/biology or related disciplines, a PhD degree must be conferred in the year of employment in the project or within 12 years before 1 January of the year of employment in the project (career breaks, e.g. maternity/paternity leave, are taken into account: https://ncn.gov.pl/sites/default/files/pliki/uchwaly-rady/2024/uchwala84_2024-zal1_ang.pdf);
- Experience in biochemical/geochemical analyses, documented by publications;
- Experience in laboratory work with chemical compounds (e.g. GC, LC, mass spectrometry, IRMS, or similar methods);
- Experience in stable isotope analysis will be an additional advantage;
- Experience in operating and servicing/building measurement equipment will be an additional advantage;
- Availability for full-time work;
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to multitask;
- Independence, analytical thinking, and a professional approach to duties;
- Experience in writing scientific texts in English, documented by publications;
- Very good knowledge of spoken and written English, enabling participation in scientific discussions within an international research team, reading scientific literature, and presenting research results at international scientific conferences.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Conducting scientific research on isotopic variability of amino acids in modern and fossil plant and animal tissues;
- Laboratory work: documentation, selection, and preparation of samples; extraction of analytical fractions (collagen, amino acids); derivatisation of amino acids for GC analysis;
- Laboratory analyses: EA-IRMS, GC-FID/MS, and GC-C-IRMS of stable carbon and nitrogen isotope composition;
- Other laboratory work: refining the GC-C-IRMS method, including measurement techniques and derivatisation methods;
- Analysis and interpretation of all collected data;
- Preparation and submission of articles to scientific journals;
- Presenting research results at international conferences;
- The place of work will be the IGS PAS Research Centre in Warsaw, but foreign trips related to training and conferences will be necessary.
Selection process
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:
- A CV containing information on education, employment history, scientific achievements, publications, conferences, organisation of scientific events, internships, training, research trips, awards and distinctions, and participation in research projects;
- A cover letter justifying the wish to apply for the proposed post-doctoral position and a description of the research experience;
- A copy of the doctoral (PhD) degree diploma or A copy of the document confirming the award of a doctoral degree*;
- Scans of documents confirming work placements, scientific trainings, fellowships or apprenticeships;
- List of publications;
- List of conference presentations (oral and poster);
- Information on research projects;
- List of inventions and patents;
- List of awards;
- Other documents confirming qualifications and scientific achievements;
- A statement that, if employed, the Institute of Geological Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw will be employee’s primary place of work;
- Consent to the processing of personal data for the purposes necessary to carry out the recruitment process (in accordance with the Act of 10 May 2018 on the protection of personal data and Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016);
- Certificates or other documents confirming knowledge of English (if available);
- At least two letters of recommendation – one from the doctoral thesis supervisor and one from another researcher.
Note: No other documents should be sent. All required documents should be combined into a single PDF file in the order 1–14.
* In accordance with NCN requirements, only a person who obtained a doctoral degree no earlier than 12 years prior to 1 January of the year in which the person is employed in the project. This period may be extended by the duration of any long-term (over 90 days) documented sick pay or rehabilitation benefits received during that period due to incapacity for work. In addition to this period, the number of months spent on leave related to the care and upbringing of children, granted in accordance with the provisions of the Labour Code, may be added; in the case of women, 18 months may be added for each child born or adopted, if this method of calculating breaks in the academic career is more favourable.
In accordance with the requirements of the National Science Centre (NCN), only a person who has obtained a doctoral degree at an institution other than the Institute of Geological Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences or has completed at least a 10-month, continuous and documented postdoctoral fellowship at an institution other than the one implementing the project and in a country other than the one in which the doctoral degree was obtained.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE AND CONTACT:
Applications should be sent in a single PDF file to: rekrutacja_ingpan@twarda.pan.pl and to the project leader, Dr hab. Maciej T. Krajcarz: mkrajcarz@twarda.pan.pl.
Please add the e-mail heading: "Post-doc - Isobase" in the subject line of the email.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
- The Selection Committee reserves the right to interview selected candidates (candidates will be informed of the venue and time of the interview by email),
- one person will be recommended for appointment,
- please address any enquiries regarding the competition to Dr hab. Maciej T. Krajcarz, prof. IGS PAS (project leader) by email: mkrajcarz@twarda.pan.pl
Additional comments
Information and Consent Clauses for Recruitment Purposes in accordance with the GDPR
Pursuant to Article 13(1) and (2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council 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 Regulation) (O J EU L 119, p. 1), please be informed that in connection with the recruitment process:
- the Controller of your personal data is the Institute of Geological Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, ul. Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warszawa, REGON (Polish Business Register Number) 000326345, NIP (Tax Identification Number) 5250008896.
- In order to contact the Data Protection Officer of the Institute of Geological Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences, please send an e-mail to ingpan@twarda.pan.pl, indicating in the subject "GDPR" and case type.
- CVs which have not been considered in a given recruitment process, submitted by candidates who gave their consent to the processing of their personal data by the Institute of Geological Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences only as part of a given recruitment process shall be deleted without unnecessary delay after the completion of the recruitment process, in compliance with the requirements of GDPR.
- CVs which have not been considered in a given recruitment process, submitted by candidates who gave their consent to the processing of their personal data for the purpose of future recruitment processes shall be retained for the period of 12 months for the purpose of further recruitment processes. After the afore-mentioned period they shall be deleted and candidates’ personal data shall be processed for no other purpose.
- You have the right to access the content of your personal data, to rectification of your personal data, erasure or restriction of processing, or to object to processing as well as the right to data portability. You may also at any time, make a declaration on withdrawal of your consent. The withdrawal of the consent shall not affect the lawfulness of the processing made on the basis of the consent before the withdrawal.
- Processing of the provided personal data in the course of the current recruitment process or further recruitment processes is based on the voluntarily given consent, in compliance with Article 6(1)(a) and (b) of the GDPR.
- Your personal data shall not be transferred to a third country or international organisation.
- Your personal data shall not be subject to automated decision-making, including profiling, in the course of the recruitment process.
- You may also lodge a complaint in connection with the processing of the afore-mentioned data with the authority competent for personal data protection.
Website for additional job details: https://www.bip.ing.pan.pl/ing/oferty-pracy
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: Instytut Nauk Geologicznych PAN
Country: Poland
State/Province: Warszawa
City: Warszawa
Postal Code: 00-818
Street: Twarda 51/55
Geofield
Contact
State/Province: mazowieckie
City: Warsaw
Website: http://www.ing.pan.pl/
Street: Twarda 51/55
Postal Code: 00818
E-Mail: e.gogacz@twarda.pan.pl
Phone: +48226978700
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