Biological Sciences - Development of phage-based tool with the potential to treat antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea

In power from: 30 May 2023

Registration criteria

 Project title: Development of phage-based tool with the potential to treat antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea

Principal Investigator: dr hab. Monika Adamczyk-Popławska

E-mail: m.adamczyk-pop@uw.edu.pl

Project description

The main goal of the project is to develop phage-derived therapy as an alternative or a supportive medical procedure for the treatment of gonorrhea. During the proposal we aim to (i) identify, characterize and enhance the therapeutic potential of prophage-encoded lytic proteins (ii) obtain an engineered lytic phage killing gonococci; (iii) perform a screening of clinical swabs/sewage waters for the presence of natural virulent gonococcal phages; (iv) investigate the therapeutic potential of obtained phage-derived agents in gonorrhoeae treatment (v) evaluate the biosafety of obtained tools to human cells and commensal flora.

Requirement

The  call  is  open  to  all  those  who  are  not  PhD  holders  and  are  not  students  at  the  doctoral  schools.

- The candidate will obtain a master's degree in biology, biotechnology or related field before October 1, 2023.

- is interested in microbiology and virology (background knowledge in microbiology, molecular biology of bacteria and bacteriophages, biochemistry and genetics)

- background experience in working with bacteria and bacteriophages

- background knowledge of techniques of microbiology, molecular biology and genetic engineering (bacterial cultures, molecular cloning, PCR, transformation)

- fluent in English written and spoken (able to  read of scientific literature, write publications and present the results at international conferences)

- experience management, creativity and systematic work

- strongly motivated to scientific work and teamwork

- the doctoral student should apply (NAWA) for a internship to the University of Valencia (up to 6 months) internship during the doctoral internship

Admission limit: 1

Recruitment schedule

Recruitment fee

The admission fee is PLN 200 and is paid to the candidate's individual account generated in the IRK system.

Form of the selection procedure

Evaluation of the following elements shall be taken into account in the selection process:

1) scientific activity of the candidate based on a CV or resumé, documented with scans of materials attached to the application for admission to the School;

2) interview with the candidate / qualification examination;

3) other achievements.

Language of the selection process, including the interview

The interview shall be carried out in Polish or English – in accordance with the candidate’s preferences presented in IRK. If the Polish language is selected, the interview may include parts in English.

Required documents

The candidate shall submit a School admission application only through the IRK. The application shall include the following:

1)     indication of the selected discipline in which the candidate plans to pursue education, PESEL number or passport number, nationality, contact information (residence address, e-mail address, telephone number), information whether the candidate agrees to receive administrative decisions by means of electronic communication, consent for processing of personal data for the purposes of the admissions procedure;

 2)    a scan of the graduation diploma of uniform master’s degree or postgraduate studies or an equivalent diploma obtained under separate regulations, or in the case of candidates pursuing education in the European Higher Education Area – a certificate of holding a master's degree or a statement that the diploma or certificate conforming the award of a master's degree will be delivered by 21st of September 2023, in the case of a diploma equivalent to a uniform master’s degree or postgraduate studies graduation diploma, a candidate shall justify such equivalence. In case the diploma was issued in a language other than Polish or English, the candidate shall attach its certified translation; 

3)   a resume or CV outlining the candidate’s scientific activity, including scholarly interests and achievements during the five calendar years preceding the application (if a candidate became a parent during this time, as evidenced by a scan of the child’s birth certificate attached to the application, this period shall be extended by two years for each child), including, but not limited to:

-        publications,

-        research and organizational work at student research groups,

-        participation in scientific conferences,

-        participation in research projects,

-        awards and honorable mentions,

-        research internships,

-        research skills training programs completed,

-        activities promoting science,

-        activity in science movement representative bodies,

-        average of their university grades,

-        professional career,

-        level of proficiency in foreign languages;

4)     scans of materials evidencing scientific activity mentioned in their CV and/or resume;

5)     a document confirming at least B2 proficiency level in English or a declaration of the level of proficiency in English allowing education at the School;

6)     the scan of a declaration by the planned supervisor, confirming their agreement to undertake the duties of a supervisor and of the number of doctoral students, for whom they perform the duties a designated supervisor, in accordance with the template constituting Appendix no.4 to the Resolution no. 17 of the Senate of the University of Warsaw of 20th January 2021 on rules of admission to doctoral schools at the University of Warsaw (the University of Warsaw Monitor of 2023, item 43), the candidate may also attach a scan of opinions of other academics about the candidate and their scientific activity. Template of the supervisor’s statement

7)     the photograph of a candidate’s face that allows for their identification;

8)     a declaration confirming whether the candidate was or is a doctoral student or a participant of doctoral studies or whether they have initiated a doctoral dissertation process or whether proceedings to award them a doctoral degree have been initiated – and if yes, the title of their doctoral dissertation or the research project prepared by a candidate, including the name and last name of the candidate’s tutor or supervisor;

9)    a declaration confirming that they have reviewed the Resolution no. 17 of the Senate of the University of Warsaw of 20th January 2021 on rules of admission to doctoral schools at the University of Warsaw (the University of Warsaw Monitor of 2023, item 43) and Articles 40 and 41 of the Code of Administrative Procedure;

10)  scanned transcripts of records of the graduate and postgraduate studies or the uniform Master’s degree studies, or equivalent documents (e.g. diploma supplement);

11)  abstract of the master’s thesis or master’s project in English (up to 3,000 characters with spaces);

Evaluation criteria

The committee shall evaluate the candidates by awarding them points for their competencies to  perform specific tasks in a research project and scientific achievements to date. On the basis thereof, the committee shall rank the candidates according to the following criteria:

 a) competencies to perform specific tasks in a research project (70% of the final score)

 b)  publication track record, including publications in renowned scientific papers / magazines (30% of the final score)

Scholarships

PRELUDIUM BIS doctoral scholarships shall amount to:

shall be awarded pursuant to the Act on Higher Education and Science of 20 July 2018.

Recruitment Legislation and Acts to Know