Local recruitment: Assistant Professor (Adiunkt) in the Department of Hydrology and Hydrodynamics via EURAXESS

Offer Description

                                                                                  FORM FOR EMPLOYERS

INSTITUTION: Institute of Geophysics Polish Academy of Sciences 

CITY: Warsaw

POSITION: Assistant Professor (Adiunkt) in the Department of Hydrology and Hydrodynamics

DISCIPLINE: Earth and Environmental Sciences

POSTED:  19.12.2025

EXPIRES:  28.01.2026

WEBSITE www.igf.edu.pl 

KEYWORDS: Geophysics, physics, Earth and Environmental Sciences, environmental hydraulics; field research; riverine vegetation; remote sensing; UAV/drones; GIS; environmental data analysis; machine learning; numerical modelling; tracer experiments; dispersion and mixing.

DESCRIPTION (topic, expectations, comments):

We are seeking a researcher holding a PhD degree for a scientific position of Assistant Professor (Adiunkt) within the VEGMIX project, which focuses on the impact of natural vegetation on flow and mixing in small watercourses. The research is based on field campaigns involving tracer experiments, supported by remote sensing (including drone data), data analysis, and numerical computations. A short description of the project is available on the NCN website: https://projekty.ncn.gov.pl/opisy/620203-en.pdf

The project is interdisciplinary, combining field studies, environmental observations, laboratory analyses, and computational data-processing methods. The project is run in cooperation with scientists from the University of Sheffield (UK) and the Finnish Environment Institute, Syke (Finland).

Project title:

Impact of vegetation on flow and mixing in small watercourses (VEGMIX) 
– from laboratory to natural environment NCN call type: OPUS 27

Scope of duties:

• participation in field campaigns, including hydrodynamic measurements, tracer experiments and monitoring of environmental parameters;
• participation in processing and analysis of collected data, including the use of programming languages (Python and/or C++), GIS methods, and machine learning algorithms;
• integration of vegetation information with hydrodynamic data and tracer experiment results;
• interpretation of results in the context of physical and environmental processes;
• support in organising and conducting field campaigns, including communication with local communities and administrative institutions;
• preparation and maintenance of structured research documentation (including data descriptions and metadata);
• active participation in the preparation of scientific publications, presentation of research results, popular science activities, and dissemination of project outcomes;
• ongoing collaboration with the project leader, international partners, and the research team.

Required:

• very good command of English;
• solid background in mathematics and physics;
• experience in data analysis;
• programming skills in Python and/or C++;
• strong analytical thinking and ability to solve research problems independently;
• willingness to work regularly in the field;
• ability to work in a team.

Desirable:

• category B driving license (frequent field trips);
• knowledge of Polish sufficient for effective communication in the field with local communities and administrative institutions;
• experience in conducting field research or working with data collected under field conditions.

Assets (experience in one or more of the following areas):

• experience in analysing drone (UAV) data and/or working in a GIS environment;
• experience in applying machine learning algorithms;
• experience in observing aquatic or riparian vegetation;
• knowledge of vegetation functioning in the context of environmental processes (hydrological, hydraulic, ecological, and biogeochemical);
• experience in numerical modelling of flow and transport;
• laboratory experience;
• education (or research experience) in a science or engineering background, e.g., physics, applied mathematics, engineering, and willingness to work with real-world data;
• experience in operating and adapting measurement equipment and solving technical problems in the field.

According to the NCN requirements, only a person whose PhD degree must be conferred in the year of employment in the project or within 7 years before 1 January of the year of employment in the project. This period may be extended by a time of long-term (in excess of 90 days) documented sick leaves or physiotherapy leaves granted on account of being unfit to work. In addition, the period may be extended by the number of months of a childcare leave granted pursuant to the Labour Code and, in the case of women, by 18 months for every child born or adopted, whichever manner of accounting for career breaks is preferable.

The person to be employed in this position must have been awarded a PhD degree by another institution than the one planned to employ them at this post or they have completed a continuous and evidenced post-doctoral fellowship of at least 10 months in another institution than the host institution for the project and in another country than the one in which they have been conferred a PhD degree.

At the time of receiving remuneration, the person will not be receiving any other remuneration paid from the funds granted to research projects under NCN calls under the heading of direct costs, in the period of receiving the remuneration they will be receiving no remuneration from another employer pursuant to an employment contract, including an employer with registered office outside of Poland, no retirement benefits will be drawn from the social security system.

https://www.ncn.gov.pl/sites/default/files/pliki/uchwaly-rady/2024/uchw…

Required documents:

Candidates are requested to submit the following documents electronically (PDF format):

1. CV including information on scientific achievements (including a list of publications, participation in projects, internships – if applicable), as well as organisational experience;
2. Document confirming the award of a PhD degree;
3. Motivation letter (approx. 5,000 characters including spaces);
4. Electronic versions of selected publications (up to 2) that the candidate considers representative of their scientific output;
5. Two letters of recommendation with contact details of the referees, along with the candidate’s declaration confirming that consent has been obtained from the referees for contact by the recruitment committee.

The competition is open and includes a formal and substantive evaluation of applications. Selected candidates will be asked to complete a short practical task and—if necessary—to provide additional explanations via electronic communication. Final candidates will be invited for an interview (preferably an in-person interview at the Institute of Geophysics, PAS; in exceptional cases, an online interview is possible).

Employment conditions:

• full-time employment contract;
• employment period: 6 months (with the possibility of extension up to 3 years in accordance with the project schedule and budget);
• planned start date: February / March 2026;
• salary: approximately PLN 9,500 gross per month;
• place of work: Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw;
• work in an interdisciplinary research team, providing exposure to diverse research methods and collaboration with national and international partners.

Applications should be submitted by 28 January 2026 to:
kariera@igf.edu.pl

Email subject: “Adiunkt VEGMIX – [first name and last name]”

Competition results announcement: February 2026.

Where to apply

E-mail

kariera@igf.edu.pl