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

Project description:      

The scientific goals of the project are investigations and development of novel optical, luminescent sensors of pressure (including high-pressure and vacuum ranges) and temperature (including cryogenic and high-temperature ranges), based on luminescence of the lanthanide-doped materials and nanomaterials. Sensing in the high-pressure region (up to around 10¹-10² GPa, i.e. 10⁵-10⁶ bar) will be performed by pressure-induced materials compression, i.e. correlation of the observed spectroscopic effects with pressure. Whereas, the possibility of pressure sensing in the vacuum region (below 1 bar) will be investigated based on the recently discovered phenomenon of pressure-governed and light-induced heating-cooling of materials, i.e. conversion of luminescent thermometers into the low-pressure (vacuum) sensors. On the other hand, the new luminescent thermometers and approaches/strategies for optical monitoring of temperature will be based mainly on the analysis of luminescence intensity ratios, band shift, emission lifetimes.  

In the most desired case, the developed sensors will work simultaneously in very broad pressure and temperature ranges, e.g. from ≈10^-5 to 10⁵ bar (i.e. over 10 orders of magnitudes) and from cryogenic up to ≈103 K. Moreover, the important part of the project will be the selection of new pressure sensors working at elevated temperature, which can be the good alternative for the commonly used ruby crystals. Another important aspect will be to find and characterize the optimal, bi-functional sensor/nanosensor of both pressure and temperature, working simultaneously under extreme conditions of both factors. Both groups of compounds will be studied, i.e. materials exhibiting classical Stokes emission, as well as upconverting ones showing anti-Stokes emission.

The performed research will also concern the analysis of structural and morphological alterations of the luminophores (nanoluminophores), subjected to high-pressure, temperature and laser-irradiation at ambient pressure and vacuum. The research will focus on the analysis of luminescence intensity alterations, changes of the excitation/emission bands shape, band intensity ratios, spectral shifts of the bands positions and shortening or prolongation of emission lifetimes during the compression of the materials, heating-cooling cycles and laser-irradiation (heating and potential refrigeration). Important aspects of the project will be investigation how the phonon energy of the crystal lattice, elemental composition, structure, morphology and size of the particles effect on the sensing performance. Additionally, the factors governing the cooling-heating of the materials under reduced pressure, i.e. the applied laser power density, excitation wavelength, vacuum level, dopants concentration, matrix type, phonon energy, size of the crystals, sample thickness, the presence of protective glass/quartz layer and initial temperature of the surroundings will be investigated, as well.

Principal investigator:  Prof UAM dr hab. Marcin Runowski

Recruitment 

Selection Committee

            prof. UAM dr hab. Marcin Runowski – chairman

            dr Kevin Soler-Carracedo 

            prof. dr hab. Michał Zieliński 

            dr Przemysław Woźny 

            prof. dr hab. Przemysław Niedzielski 

            mgr Agnieszka Kurzajak   – secretary

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:

Candidates applying based on exceptional academic achievements must include a scan of the following:  

1) For first-cycle graduates: the diploma and supplement. 

2) For students completing the third year of a unified master’s programme: a certificate indicating their academic average from years 1 to 3, along with a transcript. 

Candidates educated outside Poland must additionally submit: 

1) A scanned copy of their higher education diploma and supplement for both first- and second-degree qualifications (Bachelor’s and Master’s), in the original language and a certified translation into English or Polish.

2) A scanned copy of their passport (for foreign applicants). 

 Evaluation criteria

 1. A minimum grade of "very good" or equivalent from a second-cycle (master’s) or unified master’s degree diploma (5 points). Candidates applying on the basis of exceptional scientific achievements (e.g., grant awarded under the “Pearls of Science” competition) will also receive 5 points. 

2. Evaluation of up to three documented scientific achievements submitted during registration in the IRK system, assessed according to the detailed criteria of the candidate's accomplishments (maximum of 20 points). 

3. Assessment of other documented activities, based on up to three achievements indicated by the candidate, as per the specific criteria for the discipline (maximum of 5 points). 

4. The outcome of the interview, which assesses: 

a) The candidate’s knowledge and competencies relevant to their intended research, including discipline-specific expertise. 

b) Research methodology appropriate to the chosen discipline. The interview has a maximum duration of 30 minutes and awards up to 50 points. 

5. Evaluation of the research project prepared for admission, or in the case of recruitment tied to a grant project, the author’s concept for implementing the project (maximum of 20 points). Assessment focuses on: 

a) Formulation of the research objective and presentation of the research problem. Page 6 of 9 

b) Originality of the research idea and approach to solving the research problem. 

c) Methodology suited to the indicated discipline. 

d) Awareness of the current state of research, supported by a basic bibliography. 

e) The project’s significance for the development of the chosen discipline. 

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, 2025.

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

The scholarship is PLN 5.000 gross for 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 2025/2026, Appendix to Resolution No. 46/2024/2025 of UAM Senate of 27 January, 2025.