Call for Applications for a Post-Doc Position in the National Science Centre (NCN) OPUS Grant ‘Post-pandemic countryside. Is Polish agriculture in constant crisis? The case of foodways in Podlasie' No. 2024/53/B/HS3/03192.
The Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, under the leadership of Dr. Joanna Mroczkowska, invites applications for a post-doctoral position within the NCN OPUS research project.
Information about the project:
The aim of the project is to analyse the impact of the pandemic as a social phenomenon on rural local communities, with a particular focus on the food production and foodways (food circuits and modes of food production and consumption) conducted within them. Ethnographic research (including interviews) will be conducted in Podlasie region, Poland.
A summary of the project is available at: https://www.ncn.gov.pl/sites/default/files/listy-rankingowe/2024-03-15-oppr4giwi8/streszczenia/614746-pl.pdf
Position overview:
Job title: post-doc
Number of vacancies: 1
City: Warsaw, Poland
Preferred date of employment: 1 March 2026
Period of employment: 36 months (evaluation after 12 months)
Tasks:
- Conducting ethnographic fieldwork, comparative research – minimum 60 days in the field during the first 2 years of the project and min. 7 days in the third year, conducting a total of min. 40 ethnographic interviews (plus min. 5 expert interviews);
- Cooperation with the project manager in the development of the research methodology;
- participation in a library and online search covering literature on the subject, media discourse and materials on agriculture in Poland and Podlasie
- Preparation of academic publications (at least 3 academic articles in English published/accepted for publication in SCOPUS list journals of international reach by the end of the project, midterm review of progress);
- Preparation of research reports; preparation, cataloguing and administration of research data in accordance with the Institute's regulations and the DMP according to NCN regulations;
- Compiling and archiving research data;
- Developing and posting project information on social media;
- Participation in scientific conferences min. 4 international conferences;
- Participation in research team meetings;
- Participation in administrative and organisational work related to the project.
Requirements:
- PhD degree in the humanities or social sciences (ethnology, socio-cultural anthropology, qualitative sociology); a degree by the date of signing the employment contract is acceptable;
- research experience/interests: theories on the crisis and/or agriculture in Poland, politics/village/anthropology of food; experience in conducting research in rural communities and/or in the Podlasie region will be considered an additional advantage
- excellent knowledge of the Polish language (research in Polish);
- proficiency in English (allowing independent writing of scientific texts and preparation of conference presentations); also evidenced by publications in English
- experience in conducting qualitative research, preferably: ethnographic fieldwork;
- independence and ability to organise own academic work;
- ability to write academic articles accepted by SCOPUS-listed journals, confirmed by list of such publications;
We offer:
- A 36-month contract (full-time position, 8 hours per day) for a post-doc position in an ambitious and interdisciplinary NCN-funded research project that combines ethnography, food anthropology and rural studies.
- Monthly salary of approximately PLN 9770 gross, (approximately PLN 7300 net)
- The opportunity to conduct research in an inspiring team and collaborate with experienced researchers, with an openness to new ideas and methodological approaches.
- Access to the extensive library and digital resources of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
- Administrative and organisational support in handling the grant, accounting for research costs, publications and participation in conferences.
- Flexibility of work organisation, including the possibility to adapt the research schedule and material analysis to individual needs.
- Friendly working environment in Warsaw - possibility to use the institute's research space and to work remotely to do the extent required by the character of the project, an office space (laptop computer for the duration of the project).
- Opportunity to travel to scientific conferences and support in preparing scientific publications in prestigious journals (professional proofreading).
- Realisation of in-depth field research in Podlasie region, Poland, with participation in shaping the methodology and analysis of results.
Additional information:
In accordance with NCN regulations, during the period of employment in the project, a post-doc may not receive:
a) other remuneration from funds allocated as direct costs from research projects financed under NCN competitions,
b) remuneration from another employer based on an employment contract, including an employer based outside Poland,
c) retirement benefits from the social security system;
The post-doc position may be filled by a person who obtained a doctoral degree in the year of employment in the project or within 7 years prior to 1 January of the year of employment in the project. This period may be extended by the time of being on long-term (more than 90 days) documented sickness benefits or rehabilitation benefits due to incapacity for work during this period. In addition, this period may be extended by the number of months spent on leave related to the care and upbringing of children granted in accordance with the rules set out in the Labour Code and, in the case of women, by 18 months for each child born or adopted, if such a method of indicating breaks in scientific careers is more favourable. The post-doc position is open to a person who has obtained a doctoral degree in an entity other than IAE PAN or who has completed at least 10 months of continuous and documented post-doctoral training in an entity other than the entity implementing the project and in a country other than the country in which the doctoral degree was obtained.
Required documents:
- cover letter (max. 1 page);
- academic CV with a list of academic publications;
- 1 academic publication in English;
- scan of the doctoral diploma or information on the date set for the defence of the doctoral thesis;
- 1 recommendation on the applicant from a person with at least a doctoral degree.
Please include this clause in your CV, together with the date and your signature:
I consent to the processing of my personal data by the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences based in Warsaw, Al. Solidarności 105, for the purposes of the recruitment procedure/ Wyrażam zgodę na przetwarzanie moich danych osobowych (zawartych w dokumentach aplikacyjnych) przez Instytut Archeologii i Etnologii PAN z siedzibą w Warszawie, Al. Solidarności 105, w celach przeprowadzenia postępowania rekrutacyjnego.
If you are interested in applying, please submit the required documents electronically to j.mroczkowska@iaepan.edu.pl by 15 January 2026. Only complete applications including all necessary documents will be considered.
The Recruitment Committee reserves the right to invite selected candidates for an interview and to close the recruitment process without selecting a candidate. The results are expected to be announced on 10 February 2026.
For any inquiries regarding the recruitment process, please contact j.mroczkowska@iaepan.edu.pl.
GDPR (RODO) information clause
In accordance with Article 13(1) and (2) of the General Data Protection Regulation of 27 April 2016. (hereinafter RODO), we inform you that:
The Administrator of your personal data is the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, based in Warsaw at 105 Solidarności Avenue
The Administrator has appointed a Personal Data Inspector, Ms Weronika Krakowka. The DPO can be contacted by e-mail at: iod@iaepan.edu.pl.
1) Your personal data will be processed for the purpose of recruitment conducted by the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences pursuant to Article 6(1)(a) of the RODO.
2) The recipients of your personal data will be the Administrator's employees within the scope of their duties on the basis of authorization.
3) Your personal data will be stored until the recruitment processes are completed.
4) You have the right of access to the content of your data and the right to rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, the right to object, the right to data portability.
5) You have the right to lodge a complaint with the supervisory authority - the Office for the Protection of Personal Data, if you consider that the processing of personal data concerning you violates the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation of 27 April 2016.
6) Your provision of personal data is voluntary, but necessary in order to proceed with the recruitment. If you do not consent to the processing of your personal data, the Administrator will not include you in the recruitment process.
7) your data will not be processed in an automated manner including profiling, i.e. no decisions producing legal effects or similarly significantly affecting a person will be based solely on the automated processing of personal data and will not involve such an automatically taken decision.