Additional recruitment to the Doctoral School of Exact Sciences beyond the limit of places

Project description:     

In this project, we intend to prove that intentionally designed selected group of chiral polyaza macro- and gigantocyclic compounds of periodical and symmetrical structure, may act as tunable and highly responsible sensors and tectons. The molecular and supramolecular systems designed and studied within this proposal will resemble macroscopic geometric objects such as figures, solids and helixes of natural origin. The mechanism of action of these compounds will be based on some fundamental processes, namely, molecular recognition, enantiodiscrimination, aggregation and assembly.

We intend to demonstrate the versatility of macro- and gigantocyclic (over 50-membered) derivatives as molecular receptors and chirality sensors. The change of the size of internal cavity and/or the possibility of formation of the receptor pocket allows for selective encapsulations of guests. The use of chiral but conjugated macrocycles of planar or tubular structure for recognition and in tectonics will be an important novelty. A simple change from dialdehyde to diketone will lead to formation of tubular-shape the “isosceles macrocycles”, where two sides are chemically and geometrically distinct from the third.

The presence of internal cavity makes rigid macrocycles good candidates for designing nanoporous molecular solids (cooperation with Stellenbosch University, SA). In this context, the antagonistic effects between shape non-complementarity and the presence of structure-forming supramolecular synthons will allow for obtaining materials characterized by the presence of “chiral pores” and capable of solid-state enantiodiscrimination.

Both, pre- and post-synthetic approaches will be used for synthesis and modifications of macro- and gigantocyclic compounds. To save time and resources, theoretical calculations will constitute the first stage of research followed by the stage of synthesis and verification of the theoretical results by comparing them with the experiment. These preliminary theoretical studies are essential for compounds that will be tested for their suitability as systems that are characterized by specific structural and/or spectroscopic properties. In order to design multicomponent crystals, the theoretical calculations seem to be a prerequisite for choosing suitable objects that are capable of noncovalent interactions. The bottom-up design strategy will be utilized in the design and solid-state synthesis of hierarchical non-intertwined ring-in-ring structures.

The introduction of polar substituent capable of hydrogen bonding formation to the macrocycle core will stabilize the structure. On the other hand, the substituent(s) not involved in XH…N interactions will constitute supramolecular synthon(s), important for further construction of supramolecular entities. The initially obtained macro- and gigantocyclic structures may constitute a starting point to the synthesis of molecules impossible to obtain by kinetically and/or thermodynamically controlled reactions. Post-synthetic modifications will include, among others, transformation of polyamines into polyamides. This type of chemical transformation, in relation to the chiral polyazamacrocycles, remains largely (or even at all) unexplored.

Principal investigator:  Prof  dr hab. Marcin Kwitt

Recruitment 

Selection Committee

          prof. dr hab. Marcin Kwitt – przewodniczący

          dr Agnieszka Czapik

          prof. UAM dr hab. Donata Pluskota-Karwatka

          prof. UAM dr hab. Paweł Skowronek

          prof.  dr hab. Przemysław Niedzielski

          mgr  Agnieszka Kurzajak   – sekretarz.

Schedule of  the Doctoral  School enrolment procedure: 

Recruitment fee

The recruitment fee is 75 EUR.

Form of the selection procedure

One stage procedure.

Language of the selection procedure, including interviews:

Polish or English language. 

Required documents:

 1.        Candidates who have obtained the necessary education outside the territory of the Republic of Poland, shall additionally submit:

1)    a photocopy of a document which confirms their education, certified to be a true copy of the original document, i.e. a diploma with a supplement confirming completion of first cycle studies (Bachelor degree) and a diploma with a supplement confirming completion of second cycle studies (Master degree, MSc, MA) in the original language and in a certified translation into English or into Polish,

            2)    a photocopy of their passport. 

 Evaluation criteria

 1)    the grade awarded for the diploma of the second cycle studies or single cycle five year master’s studies - maximum 10 points; in the case of candidates who seek admission on the basis of superior academic achievements ("Pearls of Science") - 10 points;

 2)    evaluation of the candidate's scientific activity and scientific achievements; the candidate indicates for evaluation up to three documented scientific achievements, in accordance with the achievement criteria adopted by the selection committee for a given discipline - maximum 15 points;

 3)    evaluation of the candidate's other documented activity, based on a maximum of three achievements consistent with the achievement criteria adopted by the selection committee for a given discipline - maximum 5 points

 4)    the result of the interview, with the scope of the interview including:

 a)    the candidate's knowledge and competencies relevant to the planned research and appropriate to the indicated scientific discipline,

 b)    elements of research methodology appropriate for the discipline indicated.

 No more than 50 points can be awarded for the interview; the maximum duration of the interview is 30 minutes.

 5)    evaluation of the research project prepared and submitted for assessment to the selection committee (maximum 20 points), with particular emphasis on:

 a)    the ability to formulate the research objective and present the research problem;

 b)    research idea and the ability to propose a solution;

 c)    methodology appropriate to the discipline indicated;

          d)    knowledge of the state of research with a basic bibliography. 

Condition of admission to the Doctoral School 

Education Program

Education at the doctoral school lasts 8 semesters. Education at the Doctoral School  is offered on the basis of a framework curriculum and an individual research plan and ends with the submission of a doctoral dissertation.

The framework curriculum at the doctoral school includes a catalogue of modules of compulsory classes, elective compulsory classes and optional classes. It also:

1)    defines their schedule

2)    defines the way in which the classes are taught

3)    defines how learning outcomes are verified.

Education begins on 1st October, 2024.

Supervisors

A doctoral student works under the supervision of a supervisor or supervisors, or a supervisor and auxiliary supervisor, who will be appointed by the Deputy Rector at the request of a doctoral student (within 3 months of the start of his or her studies at the Doctoral School).

Scholarships

Scholarship: 5000 PLN gross  per month until mid-term evaluation, then 6295 PLN gross (4440  PLN in net) till the end of the project. (48 months).

The amount should be reduced by 11,26% due to ZUS (social insurance) contributions.

Rules of admission to doctoral schools of Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań in the academic year 2024/2025, Appendix to Resolution No. 478/2023/2024 of UAM Senate of 18th  December, 2023.