Project description:

Pregnancies obtained by assisted reproduction technologies (ART) and at advanced maternal age (AMA) are characterised by low implantation success and foetal growth alternations on the placenta-brain axis. ART and AMA pregnancies are at higher risk of neurodevelopmental alternations. Low implantation success is associated with deficient embryo-maternal communication i.e. deficient secretion of membrane vesicles, called exosomes (Arena at al., PNAS, 2021).  Bioactive phospholipids has been previously implicated in early stages of implantation (Ye et al., 2005, Nature). Some of them were found to be critical for implantation (Song et al., 2002, Development). Altogether, it suggests that the preimplantation abundance of exosomes secretion ensures normal implantation and pregnancy progression, while their deficiency cause low implantation success, developmental alterations on placenta-brain axis, and postnatally, neurodevelopmental disorders. The hypothesis of this project is that the addition of exosomes before implantation (in utero) prevents the occurrence of neurodevelopmental alternations of the progeny at high risk. This project aims to increase the implantation success and the neurodevelopmental health of offspring by increasing the abundance of lipid vesicles in the mouse uterus before implantation.

How to apply?

Please send your application documents to the following e-mail addresses: biomedical.phd@uj.edu.pl and to the Project Manager prof. dr hab. inż Grażyna Ptak (g.ptak@uj.edu.pl).

Schedule of the competition:

• Opening of the competition: 08.11.2022
• Application submission deadline: 10.11.2022, noon CET
• Entrance exams: 24.11-25.11.2022
• Committee meeting - no later than: 25.11.2022
• Exam results: 28.11.2022
• Entries to the Doctoral School: 29.11-01.12.2022
• Entries to the Doctoral School - reserve list: 02.12.2022

Detailed terms and procedures of admission.

Documents required at the recruitment application stage:

• a curriculum vitae (CV) with particular emphasis on scientific achievements;
• a motivation letter, explaining how the applicant’s background and research interests make
• them a suitable candidate for the position;
• the names of the researchers giving references to the candidate (their contact number
• and academic title);
• documents demonstrating the scientific achievements listed in the curriculum vitae, e.g. first
• page of the article;
• transcript of grades: diploma supplement or the official transcript of grades, or another
• document listing completed courses and grades. Information about the grading scale must be
• included.

In the event of the persons referred to in Article 186, section 2 of the Act,

• two opinions confirming the high quality of their research work and the high level of
• advancement of such work, issued by: a research fellow holding at least the academic degree
• of doctor habilitated or being an employee of a foreign higher education institution or a
• research institution, that has significant achievements in academic issues related to the
• curriculum.

Any document submitted in a language other than Polish or English must be accompanied by a certified translation into Polish or English.

Documents required for enrollment:

• the original application and a photograph;
• a photocopy and the original for inspection:
• a. a diploma certifying the holding of a degree of Master, Master Engineer or equivalent in a field of study from among those indicated in the detailed conditions of recruitment, or
• b. a diploma of completion of studies abroad, giving the right to enrol in a course of doctoral  studies in the issuing country or recognised as equivalent to the appropriate Polish diploma confirming the qualifications of the second degree;
• if the candidate has not yet been issued such a diploma by the deadline for admission,
• he/she shall submit a certificate of completion of such studies and a written undertaking to provide the diploma of higher education entitling to enrol in a course of doctoral studies within the prescribed deadline;
• for inspection: identity document (passport in case of foreigners);
• originals of all other documents provided at the registration stage in the form of a scan.
• In the event of exposure to harmful, noxious or hazardous factors, the applicant will, at the time of registration, be referred for a medical examination by an occupational medicine physician. The candidate shall be obliged to deliver, within the time limit set by the programme manager, a medical certificate confirming the absence of contraindications to take up education.

Higher education diplomas awarded abroad should:

• bear an apostille clause if the issuing country is covered by the Convention abolishing the requirement legalisation for foreign public documents, done at The Hague on 5 October 1961 (Journal of Laws of 2005, No. 112, item 938) or
• be subjected to legalisation, in other cases.

Any document submitted in a language other than Polish or English must be accompanied by a certified translation into Polish or English.

Insurance:

Each doctoral student, including a foreigner, admitted to the doctoral school is obligatorily subject to health insurance if he/she is not covered by such insurance on other grounds (e.g. employment relationship, contract of mandate, business activity, insured as a family member under 26 years of age, as the spouse of an insured person). The health insurance contribution is paid by Jagiellonian University and is financed from the State budget. In addition, a doctoral student receiving a doctoral scholarship is subject to compulsory retirement and disability insurance and accident insurance.

IMPORTANT:

A person admitted to the doctoral school begins education and acquires doctoral student rights upon taking the oath. The Department of Personal Affairs reports each doctoral student admitted to the School to compulsory health and social insurance at the commencement of education, i.e. from 1 October at the earliest. Until that time foreign candidates are obliged to cover the costs of insurance for the time of travel, treatment, etc. individually.