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Location: Warszawa Ref. no.: 1176/IP/WWA/26
Research Fellow
Institute of Psychology
Neurocognitive Research Center
Employment group: research
Research profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)
Duties:
- analysis and interpretation of the collected quantitative data
- participant care and oversight, as well as supervision of the conduct of individual study sessions
- collection of behavioral and EEG data
- data preprocessing
- data analysis under the supervision of the Principal Investigator (PI)
- contribution to the preparation of conference presentations and materials during the final two years of the project
- preparation of initial drafts of scientific manuscripts
- contribution to the preparation of publications and the dissemination of research findings
Requirements:
- holding a Master's degree in social sciences or humanities in the discipline of psychology or a related field (e.g., biology, computer science)
- research experience, including proficiency in conducting behavioral and psychophysiological (EEG) measurements
- proficiency in applying statistical methods to the analysis of experimental data
- knowledge and understanding of the principles of research ethics, along with a commitment to applying these principles in practice
- advanced proficiency in both English and Polish, spoken and written (minimum C1 level), enabling effective communication, critical analysis of academic literature, and independent preparation of research reports and scholarly manuscripts
- willingness to learn and apply new data analysis methods, including multilevel modeling techniques
Preferred qualifications:
- proficiency in programming and scripting for the management and administration of research procedures, as well as for data analysis
- experience in the collection and analysis of psychophysiological data
We offer:
- employment based on a fixed-term scholarship agreement from October 1, 2026, through January 31, 2030, with the possibility of an extension for an additional eight months
- a doctoral scholarship of PLN 3,570.50 gross per month, in accordance with the currently applicable regulation of the relevant Minister
- support for academic development from the Research and Projects Department in obtaining and managing grants
- opportunity to participate in scientific conferences
- bonuses for high-scoring publications affiliated with SWPS University
- support for the commercialization of research projects
Required documents:
- CV with a list of academic, teaching, and administrative achievements (with reference to the criteria specified above), as well as a description of other professional experience and research interests
- a scanned copy of a diploma confirming a Master's degree
- a certificate confirming knowledge of a foreign language at the required proficiency level
- a reference letter from the candidate’s academic supervisor addressing the candidate’s previous collaboration, research competencies, and aptitude for academic research
Formal criteria:
- academic achievements, including publications in reputable journals/publishers and active participation in national and international conferences: 20% of the final grade
- competencies relevant to the tasks in the research project: 60% of the final grade
- distinctions resulting from scientific work (scholarships, awards), experience gained outside the home institution (domestically or abroad), workshops, training, and participation in research projects: 20% of the final grade
Important dates:
the deadline for submission of documents is: 2026-08-29
successful candidates will be announced on: 2026-09-21
date of commencement of work: 2026-10-01
Competition Committee:
- Professor Aneta Brzezicka - Chair of the Committee
- Associate Professor Sylwia Bedyńska - Member of the Committee
- Aleksandra Prusinowska - Member of the HR
- Zuzanna Świtalska - Committee Secretary
Regulations on awarding NCN research scholarships in research projects
The Competition Committee reserves the right to contact only selected candidates.
The candidates who receive the highest scores from the Committee will be invited for an interview.
For any additional information please contact [email protected] referring to ref. no. 1176/IP/WWA/26.
Applications should be submitted electronically using the application form available by clicking on the APPLY button.
Research project description:
OPUS 29: Differentiating Types of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Predicting Their Risk of Progression Based on Neurocognitive, Dietary, and Gut Microbiota Markers
We increasingly recognize that diet and lifestyle play an important role in cognitive and emotional health. An anti-inflammatory diet, particularly the Mediterranean diet, and regular physical activity are associated with slower cognitive ageing and a lower risk of depression.
The project focuses on mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an intermediate state between normal ageing and dementia. MCI involves cognitive decline that exceeds typical age-related changes but does not yet meet the diagnostic criteria for dementia. In some individuals, MCI progresses to Alzheimer’s disease, whereas in others it may develop into different forms of dementia.
Research indicates that individuals with MCI differ from cognitively healthy peers in the composition of their gut microbiota. However, it remains unclear whether these alterations are a cause or a consequence of cognitive decline, or merely an accompanying phenomenon. An additional source of heterogeneity in MCI may be late-life depression, which shares biological mechanisms with cognitive impairment, including chronic inflammation and gut dysbiosis. The project will include individuals with a history of depression to determine whether depression-related cognitive impairment represents a distinct subtype of MCI or an alternative pathway leading to neurodegeneration.
The main objective of the project is to identify cognitive, psychophysiological, dietary, and gut microbiota-related markers that will enable more accurate differentiation between MCI subtypes and help predict the risk of progression to dementia. We hypothesize that gut microbiota profiles, dietary patterns, and environmental factors contribute to the heterogeneity of MCI and are associated with the nature and severity of cognitive impairment.
