Offer No.: 4937
Institution: Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics
City: Toruń
Position: assistant professor (adjunkt) - research staff
Discipline: The Field of Exact and Natural Sciences - Physical Sciences
Posted: 2026-07-10
Expires: 2026-08-10
Keywords: cryogenic temperature and pressure metrology, molecular hydrogen spectroscopy, cavity-enhanced laser spectroscopy, molecular collisions
Description (field, expectations, comments):
The competition is open to persons who meet the conditions set out in Article 113 of the Act of 20 July 2018 - Law on higher education and science (Journal of Laws of 2018, item 1668) and the following qualification criteria:
1. Required: PhD in physics, chemistry or a closely related field
2. Required: publication record in the field of atomic/molecular physics
3. Required: Experience in molecular physics theory and calculations
4. Required: programming skills and experience in numerical methods
5. Preferred: Knowledge of the theory of H2 structure calculations
6. Required: good English (spoken and written)
7. Ability to work in a team and strong motivation for scientific work
We are offering employment as a postdoc under a research grant financed by the National Science Centre under the Opus 28 call. The candidate must meet requirements of the Center, in particular have a doctoral degree obtained not earlier than 12 years before the year of employment in the project (this period may be extended in the event of breaks in the scientific career as defined by the Center). A person employed at the postdoc position cannot be employed under another employment contract at the same time.
The project aims to develop a new method for realizing temperature (Kelvin) and pressure (Pascal) units in the very low temperature range (5–20 K). Hydrogen molecules will be used as quantum sensors, along with a unique cryogenic optical cavity combined with advanced molecular spectroscopy techniques. Analysis of hydrogen spectral lines will allow for direct determination of temperature and pressure without the need for calibration against other standards – the only reference will be a cesium atomic clock.
The developed methodology will enable, among other things, precise study of the hydrogen phase diagram, independent determination of the hydrogen triple point, and realization of kelvin and pascal units in a wide temperature range – from 5 K to room temperature.
Key responsibilities include:
1) Work on the theoretical part of the project.
2) Calculations of molecular properties that are necessary to design the experimental setup, plan the measurements, and analyze the experimental spectra.
3) Development of a quantum-calculation computer codes.
4) Validation of ab initio calculations on experimental data.
5) Support for students and PhD students involved in the project.
Skills/Qualifications:
• PhD in physical sciences or a closely related discipline, or a declaration of planned completion of a doctoral program (a PhD is required before commencing employment),
• Publications in the field of atomic/molecular physics,
• Good command of written and spoken English.
Preferred :
• Skills and experience in numerical methods and programming (knowledge of FORTRAN).
• Software knowledge: Fortran, Python .
• Knowledge of molecular-physics theory.
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills.
• Written and oral communication and presentation skills.
• Teamwork skills.
We offer:
• position in a professional, dynamically developing team, recognizable in its research field,
• possibility of conference trips,
• cooperation with the best molecular spectroscopy teams,
• no teaching duties
Salary amount:
PLN 170,000 /year gross gross ( i.e. full salary costs including full social and health insurance), approximate salary amount PLN 8.500.00 net/month.
Number of offers: 1
Contract type: Temporary
Job status: Full-time
Hours per week: 40 hours/week
Full-time employment.
Contract period: 12 months with the possibility of extension to 48 months
Position starts on: 15/10/2026
Project manager: Prof. Dr. hab. Daniel Lisak
Project title: "New optical technologies based on cryogenic hydrogen for quantum measurements temperature and pressure"
Required documents:
Additional information: Please send the above documents (scans or PDFs) to karolina.kitkowska@umk.pl with the reference " Postdoc Opus28.DL.1"(offer no. 4937). For detailed information, please contact karolina.kitkowska@umk.pl We reserve the right not to select candidates. The Project Manager reserves the right to interview selected candidates. Application deadline: 10/08/2026 The competition will be decided no later than September 30, 2026 . The university does not provide accommodation. UMK declares the right not to elect any Candidate.
Please be informed that the person selected through the competition will be obliged to submit a certificate from the National Criminal Register with regard to offences specified in Chapters 19 and 25 of the Penal Code (including offences against sexual freedom and morality), in Article 189a and Article 207 of the Penal Code and in the Act on Counteracting Drug Addiction of 29 July 2005 (Journal of Laws of 2023, item 1939 and of 2022, item 2600), or for the corresponding offences defined in foreign law. The obligation to verify applies to a person whose tasks will be related to the protected activity referred to in Article 21. of the Act of 13 May 2016 on counteracting the threat of sexual offences and the protection of minors (Journal of Laws of 2024, item 560).
Pursuant to art. 24 paragraph 6 of the Act of June 14, 2024 on the protection of whistleblowers (Journal of Laws of 2024, item 928), information on the internal reporting procedure at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń is available at: https://www.umk.pl/en/contact/internal-reporting/
If you wish to apply for this position, please do so online by clicking on the "Apply" button below (email address required).
If you do not consent to providing your email address, please deliver the required documents by post to:
Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu
marked: Application form for job offer no. 4937
