Position of PhD student in the project

Updated: over 1 year ago
Deadline: 10 Oct 2022

Project title:


Fly ashes as the precursors of functionalized materials for applications in environmental engineering, civil engineering and agriculture.
Project is carried out within the TEAM-NET programme of the Foundation for Polish Science.

Job type (employment contract/stipend): scholarship

Remuneration/stipend amount/month:  3 800 PLN of full remuneration cost (scholarship)

Maximum period of contract/stipend agreement: 12 months

This TEAM-NET joint project assumes using fly ashes as a precursor for the synthesis of novel functionalized materials with the structure of not only zeolites, but also mesoporous silica materials and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Then produced materials will be tested for possible applications in agriculture, civil and environmental engineering. With the implementation of new technologies of coal combustion and flue gas treatment, new types of fly ashes with increased content of unburned carbon (up to 30%) have been produced. Such byproducts will be used in this project for the synthesis of novel zeolite-carbon composites. Previous work related to the use of this type of fly ashes was focused on the separate production of zeolites or activated carbons, which did not fully exploit the potential of the above-mentioned byproducts. Their use as a precursor to the synthesis of a zeolite-carbon-vermiculite composite in this project will also pave the way for developing a novel material to replace vermiculite raw materials in agricultural applications.

With this announcement we are looking for a Ph.D. student for the work-package #6 "Production of biostimulants of crop plant growth and of composting process and production of bioinhibitors of phytopathogen growth based on functionalized materials derived from fly ash and bacterial inoculants”. The aim of WP #6 is to develop microbial biostimulants of crop plant growth and of biocomposting as well as biological inhibitors of phytopathogen growth. Strains selected from the culture collection of the University of Warsaw will be analyzed for their ability to survive in soil environment (including extreme conditions, e.g. low temperature). The influence of the application of microbial strains on plant biomass, plant resistance to unfavorable environmental conditions and phytopathogen growth in soil will also be analyzed. In the next stage, a process manual for the immobilization of selected strains on functionalized materials and on natural carriers (e.g. zeolites) will be developed. The influence of carrier conditioning on the survival and activity of immobilized microorganisms will also be investigated. Experimental verification of biopreparations on the laboratory and pilot scales (pot experiments and micro-field/biocomposter experiments, respectively) will also be carried out. In addition, the effect of biopreparation application on the structure and biodiversity of the soil microbiome (both bacterial and fungal) will be determined.


Key responsibilities:

  • Valorization of agro-waste for the production of value added products
  • Molecular study to identifying the key responsible genes required for the production of value added products
  • Preparing and writing scientific articles for international journals.
  • Tracking current research trends in the scientific literature.

  • Required documents:

  • Written application for the competition
  • Curriculum vitae including:
    • A detailed description of the academic degrees and titles, titles of theses (bachelor and master, along with short description of main achievements in each thesis – up to 300 characters including spaces), years of receiving the degree/academic title, names and affiliation of supervisors and reviewers of each thesis.

    • The academic career – chronological indication of places of employment with the indication of posts and contact details of the direct supervisor.

    • List of scientific publications/monographs/books/chapters – including the full list of authors, an indication whether the candidate was the corresponding author of the given publication, title, full title of the journal and 5-year IF.

    • Participation in conferences (list of conferences in which the candidate took an active part, stating whether it was a lecture or a poster), internships abroad (research stays), and most important trainings.

    • List of awards and distinctions, including their range (international/national) 

    • Recommendation letter from the last employer (direct supervisor)

  • Copies of obtained diplomas.
  • Documented information about completed courses and trainings.
  • Other activities (scientific clubs/circles, student conferences).
  • All documents must be prepared in the English language



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