Postdoctoral Researcher in novel wavelength shifters and scintillators

Application deadline:  20 April 2026

Job type: employment contract (full time)

Scientific discipline: Physics, astroparticle physics, polymer chemistry, detector development, data analysis

Monthly gross salary before taxes: 9361 PLN gross/month (estimated value “on hand” = 7925 PLN net/month)

Maximum period of contract: The initial term is for two years with an option of renewal if mutually agreed.

Position starts on: immediately

Link to the job offer on Euraxess

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Offer description

Institution: Astrocent Department of the Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Project leader: Marcin Kuźniak

Project title: Astrocent: Particle Astrophysics Technology Centre

(Supported by the Foundation for Polish Science International Research Agendas Programme, financed from the European Funds for a Modern Economy programme)

Project description:

We offer 1 postdoctoral position in the field of experimental particle astrophysics at the Particle Astrophysics Technology Centre (Astrocent) implemented at the Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center as part of the International Research Agendas programme of the Foundation for Polish Science, supported by the European Funds for a Modern Economy. The main focus of Astrocent is to conduct research in science and technology in the areas of particle astrophysics that deal with exploring the hidden Universe.

Subject:  Development of novel wavelength shifters and scintillators

Supervisor: Prof. Marcin Kuźniak (mkuzniak@camk.edu.pl)

Our group leads the development and testing of materials converting UV into visible light (wavelength shifters, WLS; or luminescent downshifters, LDS), scalable to very large surface areas of hundreds and thousands of square meters, for applications in very large dark matter and neutrino detectors, and potentially also in photovoltaics.

While multiple alternatives are under consideration, we are currently focusing on polymeric foils, based on materials such as polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) or similar, because of their scalability potential, see e.g. https://indico.cern.ch/event/1390649/contributions/6061534. We aim to optimise their synthesis and production for the highest conversion efficiency and durability under UV exposure.

The successful candidate will lead the work on development, detailed characterisation and testing, including in extreme cryogenic environments under exposure to vacuum UV light, of new wavelength shifter and scintillator formulations. The research will be conducted in cooperation with the Łukasiewicz Industrial Chemistry Institute (Warsaw) and other partners in Poland and abroad.

This project offers a unique opportunity to gain multidisciplinary hands-on experience in precision instrumentation, novel materials, and data analysis within an international and collaborative scientific environment.

The group is active in DRD2, DarkSide-20k and ARGO collaborations and, with a network of industrial partners, explores practical and commercial applications of technologies developed in this context.

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Astrocent (https://astrocent.edu.pl) was established on 1 July 2018 within the framework of the International Research Agendas Programme of the Foundation for Polish Science. Its significant expansion has been recently made possible with a combined 30 MEur of funding from the Horizon Europe Teaming of Excellence programme, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and the Foundation for Polish Science.

At Astrocent, research is focused primarily on the areas of the detection of neutrinos, gravitational waves and dark matter using advanced technological instruments, whose development will be among the prime areas of activity of the Centre, as well as on theory.

Astrocent has developed close collaborative links with institutions in Europe and worldwide, in particular with our strategic partners APC (Astroparticle and Cosmology Laboratory) in Paris and the McDonald Institute in Canada.

Currently, IRAP Astrocent project comprises three international research groups of physicists and engineers:

1. Photonics for astroparticle physics and sustainable energy (leader: Prof. Marcin Kuźniak);
2. Medical physics and radiation detectors (leader: Prof. Masayuki Wada);
3. Electronics, seismic and environmental sensors (leader: Dr. Mariusz Suchenek).

Astrocent is formally an administrative division of Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center of the Polish Academy of Sciences (http://www.camk.edu.pl) – an internationally leading institute in astronomy and astrophysics. The transformation of Astrocent into a new independent institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences is currently in progress (https://astrocent.edu.pl/astrocent-becomes-a-new-international-institute-of-the-polish-academy-of-sciences/).

Astrocent strongly values the diversity of candidates and is committed to the equality of opportunities.

Key responsibilities include

1. Leading the R&D program on novel wavelength shifters and scintillators, with support from a PhD student, technicians and external national and international partners.
2. Simulation and modelling to optimise the performance.
3. Oversight, coordination, and active involvement in prototyping, characterisation and testing of the material samples.

Required Qualifications

1. Ph.D. in Physics, Applied Physics, Chemistry or a closely related field;
2. Proficient in programming in C++ or Python for data analysis;
3. Practical experience with optical characterisation techniques (spectrophotometry, fluorometry);
4. English language skills sufficient to communicate and collaborate effectively in an international research environment.

Desired Qualifications (optional but advantageous)

1. Practical experience with studies of luminescence;
2. Strong foundation in chemistry, in particular polymer chemistry
3. Practical experience in laboratory work with, ideally:

• Experience with key material analysis techniques: DSC, NMR, FTIR
• Experience in laboratory work with chemicals

4. Experience with analytic modelling or simulations of: optical transmission, reflection and absorption, fluorescence properties and yields (DFT, TD-DFT), familiar with basic quantum chemistry calculation toolkits

Required documents

1. A Curriculum Vitae including an education and employment record, list of publications, information on involvement in scientific activities – membership in scientific groups/societies, participation in scientific conferences, internships and training, awards and distinctions;
2. A brief statement of research interests and career goals (1–2 pages);
3. A publication list;
4. A photocopy of the PhD diploma;
5. A copy of the PhD thesis (if not confidential);
6. At least two, preferably three, letters of reference emailed by the referees directly to ac_recruitment@camk.edu.pl before the deadline;
7. A scan of the signed GDPD form (available at https://dream.camk.edu.pl/index.php/s/xxBVGNexqbFy2GB  or  https://dream.camk.edu.pl/index.php/s/iipbk0Fjm7s2KM3 )

We offer

1. An open, stimulating and friendly research environment with access to all the facilities.
2. Close collaboration with foreign institutions, with the necessary financial support for travel and scientific visits.

Please submit the following documents to: ac_recruitment@camk.edu.pl

Interviews for shortlisted candidates are planned for 21-22 April 2026

Apply now