Host Institution

The Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences (IChF) is an independent research institute based in Warsaw, Poland, operating within the Polish Academy of Sciences research network.

Recognised for its scientific excellence, IChF ranks among the top 5% of research institutions in Poland (category A+). The Institute has been awarded the prestigious “HR Excellence in Research” distinction, which confirms our commitment to transparent recruitment practices, a supportive research environment, and excellent working conditions.

IChF is home to 31 research groups, bringing together about 300 researchers, including 30% international staff. The Institute has contributed to the creation of four successful spin-off companies:

• Scope Fluidics – microfluidic technologies for medical applications

• Curiosity Diagnostics – digital PCR diagnostics

• Fluence – advanced femtosecond laser systems

• BacterOMIC – diagnostic panels for antibiotic susceptibility testing.

We are also co-founders of three major research centres:

• International Centre for Translational Eye Research (partnering with the University of California) – advancing technologies for eye diagnostics and treatment,

• Dioscuri Centre for Physics & Chemistry of Bacteria (partnering with the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology) – combining experiments and modelling to study bacterial adaptation in animal cells and secretions,

• Centre for Chemical Biology – the first research centre of its kind within the Polish Academy of Sciences, led by Professor Marcin Drąg, focusing on cutting-edge research in chemical biology.

Each year, IChF researchers publish around 300 scientific articles (including in Nature, Science, JACS, Angewandte Chemie) and file approximately 15 patent applications. Around 50% of the Institute’s budget comes from competitive grants, with over 100 projects currently in progress, including several funded by the EU Framework Programmes.

IChF has hosted ERC grants and currently holds two ERA Chairs funded by the European Commission. It is also a founding member of the Warsaw PhD School in Natural and Bio-Medical Sciences (Warsaw-4-PhD) – a joint initiative of nine leading research institutes in Warsaw.