PhD student (MCBO_R_5/2026)

The International Centre for Translational Eye Research (ICTER) is a multi-investigator center for eye research as related to imaging and biochemical techniques to support advances in understanding the etiology and treatment of human blinding diseases. The new research agenda (carried under International Research Agenda’ project no. FENG.02.01-IP.05-T005/23) aims to develop new tools for safer and more effective surgical interventions, new therapies for eye diseases, and diagnostic methods to improve prognosis and restore vision. The main technology to be developed under this program will be a novel robotic system for delivering drugs to the eye and performing a tissue biopsy, in which a robotic system will assist the micromanipulation of the injection device with 3-D localized imaging.

ICTER is looking for candidates with a Master’s degree experience in physics, optics and photonics, biomedical engineering data processing algorithms, and experimental optics. Candidates should be interested in translational research and and the development of non-invasive optical imaging techniques aimed at improving human health, quality of life, and longevity.

The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary and dynamic team focused on cutting-edge imaging systems development. The group’s work is characterized by the synergistic interplay of physics, biology, and chemistry, and is recognized internationally for advancing technologies .The PhD scholar will directly impact lab development and its success in publishing in high-impact factor journals. The person will also be responsible for performing dynamic research to create a competitive research group. The position will be assigned to the Optical Imaging Group led by Prof. Maciej Wojtkowski, focused on developing new imaging techniques aiming at achieving speckle-less imaging based on full-field swept-source optical coherence tomography for diagnosis, screening and monitoring of blinding eye diseases.

Key responsibilities include:

1. Designing and building experimental setups;
2. Implementation and development of data processing algorithms;
3. Validaton of theoretical models using experimental results;
4. Conducting studies involving human participants;
5. Performing statistical evaluation of collected data;
6. Writing publications and reports
7. Engaging in scientific conferences and presenting research findings.

Salary/Stipend amount/month: 3850 gross/month (0,5 FTE) (remuneration will be calculated proportionally in case of lower FTE value)

Position starts on: 01 April 2026 (and onwards, depending on applicant’s availability)

We offer:

We offer:

1. Full-time employment contract;
2. Opportunity to work in an innovative scientific environment;
3. international cooperation with experienced researchers;
4. Competitive salary.

Requirements:

1. MSc diploma in physics, photonics, engineering or similar field;
2. PhD student;
3. Knowledge of the structure and function of the human eye;
4. Experience in laboratory measurements;
5. Excellent communication and organizational skills;
6. Analytical problem-solving skills mindset;
7. Proficiency in English, both spoken and written.

Key assessment criteria:

1. Competences of the candidate with respect to specific tasks in a research project; 

2. Documented work experience in eye research; 

3. Previous educational/scientific achievements of the candidate; 

4. Awards and distinctions of the candidate.

Required documents:

1. CV (including a list of projects/publications);

2. Cover letter;

3. Copy of MSc diploma (or equivalent);

4. Confirmation of attendance at a Ph.D. school or, in other cases, a declaration of commitment to work towards doing external Ph.D. studies.

Recruitment procedure:

Application deadline: 19 March 2026 Successful candidates fulfilling the selection criteria and qualifications will be invited for an interview (which will most likely take place in an hybrid format on March 2026). The competition results shall be announced by the end of March 2026.The competition may be extended until a suitable candidate fulfils all requirements. The International Centre for Translational Eye Research (Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS) is committed to employment equality (esp. European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers). It welcomes applications from all qualified candidates who fulfil the requirements specified in this announcement. Please submit the following documents to: icter_jobs@ichf.edu.pl Kindly specify in the application topic: MCBO_R_5/2026_ICTER