Competition for the post of an assistant (M/F/X)at the Department of Fertilization and Nutrient Management

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Director of the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation– State Research Institute

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In accordance with the Organisational Regulations and Order
No. 020-54/2026, announces a competition for the post of an assistant (M/F/X)
at the Department of Fertilization and Nutrient Management

Job title and description in accordance with the European classification:

Job title and description in accordance with the European classification:

First Stage Researcher (R1) This profile covers individuals conducting research under supervision at research universities or research institutes. It applies to candidates until they have obtained a doctoral degree, or

Recognised Researcher (R2): a researcher holding a master’s or doctoral degree. This profile applies to individuals who are not yet fully independent researchers.

Scope of research work

1. Analysis of the functioning of agricultural holdings and production management, with particular emphasis on issues relating to fertilisation.
2. Analysis and resolution of problems arising from agricultural activities in relation to the protection of soil, water and air.
3. Assessment of the current challenges facing agriculture, and identification of the opportunities and constraints in addressing them arising from applicable legislation, strategies and international agreements.
4. Analysis of the potential for utilising and processing waste for fertiliser purposes within a circular economy.
5. Participation in the implementation of current and future research projects carried out at the Department of Fertilization and Nutrient Management.
6. Participation in tasks carried out under a specific grant from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Requirements for candidates

Mandatory requirements:

1. A Master’s degree or a PhD in agricultural sciences or in the disciplines of earth sciences, biological sciences, chemical sciences and related fields.
2. Willingness to undertake research topics justified by the Institute’s needs.
3. At least two years’ experience in scientific and research work, or in professional work thematically related to the field of research (e.g. postgraduate or doctoral studies, a research internship, participation in research teams).
4. Achievements in previous work, including authorship or co-authorship of scientific publications with a total value of at least 40 points, based on an assessment according to the list and publications from the Ministry of Education and Science’s list of journals, and the presentation of research results at scientific conferences or workshops (paper, poster).
5. Aptitude for academic work (e.g. a willingness to seek new solutions in agriculture through experimentation and to compare these with the literature, participation in research projects, and the presentation of research findings at academic conferences and workshops).
6. Ability to work as part of a team.
7. Proven proficiency in spoken and written English.
8. Ability to use computer hardware and knowledge of basic office software.

Additional skills useful for the role:

1. An overseas research placement and/or participation in an international research project.
2. Experience in conducting field and pot experiments (planning, setting up and managing experiments, collecting plant and soil samples).
3. Ability to perform statistical data analysis and use statistical software.
4. Knowledge of fertiliser requirements and application methods, and the impact of fertilisation on plants, soil and the environment.
5. Knowledge of, and ability to use, scientific literature on fertilisation and the protection of the agricultural environment.
6. Teaching skills (e.g. delivering training sessions and classes to students)
7. Category B driving licence.

Career development prospects:

An assistant may be promoted to the post of assistant lecturer upon fulfilling the following conditions:

1. Hold a PhD in agricultural sciences or an earth sciences discipline, including biological, chemical, economic and related sciences.
2. Achievements in their academic work to date, including authorship or co-authorship of academic publications with a total value of at least 300 points calculated (for the entire assessment period) on the basis of the current list of journals and publishers of peer-reviewed academic monographs, as announced in a notice by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (at least 3 publications in journals indexed by the Journal of Citation Reports), of which at least 70 points must have been earned after obtaining a PhD.
3. Preparation and submission of a formally correct research proposal to the National Science Centre (NCN), the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) or another research funding body.
4. Demonstrable motivation for academic work, evidenced by publications and participation in academic life (including serving as a co-supervisor, research placements and participation in academic conferences)
5. Documented proficiency in spoken and written English.

An assistant professor may be promoted to the post of institute professor upon fulfilling the following conditions:

Criteria for candidates holding a postdoctoral degree:

• A habilitation degree or a doctoral degree in the field of agricultural sciences or in the disciplines of earth sciences, biological sciences, chemical sciences, economics and related disciplines.
• Willingness to undertake research topics justified by the Institute’s needs.
• Leadership of a research project or equivalent undertaking funded from external sources.
• A research placement in Poland or abroad, or comparable collaboration with a foreign research institution, documented by joint projects and/or research output.
• Achievements in the training of academic staff – acting as a supervisor in at least one doctoral programme that has been initiated.
• Achievements in previous academic work, including authorship or co-authorship of academic publications with a total value of at least 900 points (for the entire assessment period), calculated on the basis of the current list of journals and publishers of peer-reviewed academic monographs, as announced in a notice by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
• Active involvement in academic life and organisational skills (reviewing doctoral theses and habilitation proceedings, as well as publications and/or research projects; organising and participating in conferences; organising workshops, courses, etc.).

Criteria for candidates holding a doctoral degree:

• Demonstration of outstanding academic achievements in the relevant field, totalling at least 900 points (for the entire assessment period), calculated on the basis of the current list of journals and publishers of peer-reviewed academic monographs, as announced in a notice by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education
• Having served as a co-supervisor in at least one doctoral thesis defence.
• Possession of recognised organisational achievements in the implementation and dissemination of research results (e.g. obtaining a patent or documented implementation).
• Qualifications are assessed by the Scientific Council on the basis of the opinions of two reviewers, including one from outside the Institute.

• Remuneration for an employee in the post of assistant:

• The basic salary ranges from 105% to 220% of the applicable minimum wage.
• Where an employee participates in research programmes or projects, they receive additional remuneration as provided for in the IUNG-PIB Collective Agreement.
•  Required documents:
• Documents certifying educational qualifications,
• Curriculum Vitae,
• A cover letter briefly outlining the candidate’s interests,
• Previous research and academic achievements and plans for future career development,
• A list of academic achievements,
• A declaration that, upon taking up employment, the Institute will be the candidate’s primary place of work,
• Consent to the processing of personal data.

Format, deadline and place for submitting documents:

The required documents should be sent by post to the following address: Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute, street Czartoryskich 8, 24-100 Puławy, marked: ‘HR – application for the post’, or submitted in person at the Institute’s HR department, open Monday to Friday from 7^.00–15^.00,or by email to: kadry@iung.pulawy.pl by 15 September 2026.

The results will be announced no later than two weeks after the conclusion of the selection process.

• Competition results and appointment:
• The results will be announced no later than 2 weeks after the conclusion of the competition process,
• The Institute will employ the successful candidate from the 1st day of the month following the announcement of the competition results and a favourable opinion from the Scientific Council of IUNG-PIB,
• The Institute has implemented and maintains the standards of the European Charter for Researchers and the principles of the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, as well as the OTM-R policy, in accordance with the guidelines and recommendations of the European Commission.

Information notice on the processing of personal data of persons participating in the recruitment procedure

With reference to Article 13 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) – (OJ EU L 119 of 4 May 2016, p. 1, and OJ EU L 127 of 23 May 2018, p. 2; hereinafter ‘the Regulation’ ), the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute in Puławy hereby informs you that:

1. The controller of your personal data is the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute (address: street Czartoryskich 8, 24-100 Puławy, tel. 81 4786 700 or 800, email:iung@iung.pulawy.pl iung@iung.pulawy.pl).
2. The data controller has appointed a data protection officer, whom you may contact regarding matters relating to data processing and the exercise of your rights in connection with such processing, via the email address: iod@iung.pulawy.pl, telephone number − 81 4786 738, or in writing to the personal data controller’s postal address specified in point 1.
3. Purposes of processing and the legal basis for data processing
   • Your personal data, to the extent specified in labour law (Article 22^{(1) of}the Labour Code and § 1 of the Regulation of the Minister of Labour and Social Policy of 28 May1996 on the scope of documentation to be kept by employers in matters relating to the employment relationship and the manner of maintaining employees’ personal files) will be processed by the Data Controller pursuant to Article 6(1)(b) of the Regulation for the purpose of conducting the  selection procedure for the post of assistant professor.
   • Article 6(1)(c) of the Regulation: processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the controller is subject — the Act of 16 December 2016 on the principles of state property management. The source of the personal data will be the information and documents provided by the data subject.
   • With regard to data not required by law, the legal basis for processing will be your consent (Article 6(1)(a) of the Regulation). You may withdraw your consent at any time, without affecting the lawfulness of the processing carried out prior to its withdrawal.
4. Duration of personal data processing – personal data will be processed until the end of the selection process.
5. Recipients of the data – authorised employees of the Controller – members of the selection panel – may have access to your data.
6. Rights relating to data processing – you have the right to access your data, to request its rectification, erasure or restriction of processing, to object to processing, and to data portability, in the cases specified in the Regulation.
7. Consent to the processing of personal data may be withdrawn at any time, without affecting the lawfulness of the processing carried out prior to its withdrawal.
8. If you consider that the processing of your personal data infringes the provisions of the Regulation, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the President of the Office for Personal Data Protection.
9. Information on automated decision-making and profiling – The Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – PIB in Puławy will not use your data for automated decision-making or profiling.
10. The provision of personal data contained in your application for the post is voluntary, but is a condition for taking part in the recruitment procedure in question. The personal data obtained will not be transferred to a third country or an international organisation.