PhD Student Position in NCN Project (Warsaw, Poland) Basic Information Institution: University of Warsaw, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Evolutionary Biology Funding scheme: NCN SONATA Project title: How changes in meristem patterning drive evolutionary innovations: insights from syncephalia in the sunflower family (Asteraceae) Project PI: Dr. Jakub Baczyñski Position: PhD student (fellowship) Number of positions: 1 Monthly stipend: ~3700 PLN net during years 1-2; increased to ~4900 PLN net after mid-term evaluation (in addition to the basic stipend provided by the doctoral school upon successful recruitment) Start date: October 1, 2025 Maximum duration of fellowship: 36 months Project Description The exceptionally diverse sunflower family (Asteraceae) owes much of its evolutionary success to the capitulum, a flower-like inflorescence, and in some species, to the even more complex syncephalium an aggregation of multiple capitula. This project investigates the poorly understood developmental mechanisms behind syncephalia evolution by testing whether they arise from condensed capitulescences or from modified capitulum programs. Using a combination of morphological, molecular, and bioinformatic approaches, we will study two ornamental species (Echinops ritro and Pycnosorus globosus) and compare their gene regulatory networks with those of relatives bearing simple heads. The findings will advance our understanding of how changes in meristem activity generate novel plant structures and contribute to evolutionary and economically important variation in plant architecture. Candidate Profile 1. Master's degree in Biology, Biotechnology, Environmental Sciences, or related fields 2. Basic knowledge of plant evolution and developmental biology 3. Familiarity with basic laboratory techniques (e.g., nucleic acid isolation: DNA, HMW-DNA, RNA; quality assessment techniques such as PCR, RT-PCR, electrophoresis) 4. Basic command of working in a Linux shell environment; experience with R and/or Python is a strong asset 5. Good command of English (spoken and written) 6. Additional achievements such as publications, conference presentations, project participation, or involvement in scientific societies will be considered an advantage! Responsibilities 1. Conducting research within the project scope, including comparative genomics/transcriptomics and developmental analyses of flowers/inflorescences and associated gene expression changes 2. Preparing scientific publications 3. Presenting project results at national and international conferences Application Documents 1. Academic CV including information on scientific achievements, skills, and research experience 2. Copy of Master's diploma 3. Letter of recommendation from a former academic supervisor 4. For non-EU candidates: current documents confirming legal residence in Poland Please include the following consent statement in your application documents: "I hereby consent to the processing of my personal data included in my application for the purposes of the recruitment process, in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR (Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016)." Recruitment Application e-mail: j.baczynski@uw.edu.pl Form: a single PDF file in Polish or English would be best! Application deadline: August 22, 2025 Announcement of results: September 1, 2025 The PhD student will be selected by the committee through a competitive process in accordance with the Regulations for awarding scientific scholarships in research projects funded by the National Science Centre (NCN Council Resolution No. 25/2024 of March 4, 2024). Selected candidates will be invited for a brief interview on August 29, 2025. For any additional questions regarding the offer, please contact the project PI directly. Jakub Baczyñski (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)