For the next 3 years, the NCBJ (National Centre for Nuclear Research) and IChTJ (Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology) Graduate School of Physics and Chemistry will participate in the STER program – Internationalization of Doctoral Schools by NAWA. This will allow young scientists from around the world to gain education and conduct research in cooperation with the best research centers.

The new version of the Graduate School is possible thanks to the grant for the project „International Doctoral Program at NCBJ & IChTJ” (IDP) under the STER program – Internationalization of Doctoral Schools. The program aims to support institutions running doctoral schools, in particular to improve the quality of education and research, increase international mobility of doctoral students and support long-term international cooperation.

A significant part of the IDP project is to consist of scholarships for the most talented doctoral students, which will facilitate the conduct of innovative research in many areas of physics and chemistry. They are also aimed at attracting the most talented candidates, thus contributing to the maintenance of the highest level in the Doctoral School.

The IDP program will also significantly facilitate the conduct of doctoral studies, the co-supervisors of which will be scientists from foreign research centers, as well as enable the organization of lectures delivered by scientists from such centers, included into the study program. The project will also support international mobility, first of all the participation of doctoral students in large collaborations and conducting research in foreign institutions such as CERN or DESY as well as international projects, such as LIGO, VIRGO, T2K.

It is also planned to organize interdisciplinary workshops during which doctoral students will be able to work with scientists from foreign research centers, as well as with doctoral students from foreign doctoral schools. There are also plans to join the international network of doctoral schools, which will create an opportunity to establish and strengthen cooperation with institutions around the world.

”Currently, the NCBJ and IChTJ Graduate School educates 34 doctoral students, 23 of whom are young scientists from abroad. Participation in the STER program will allow us to accept many ambitious new students during these 3 years and we estimate that 24 of them will receive higher scholarships thanks to NAWA’s support." – informs Professor Michał Spaliński, project manager and director of the Graduate School. „Thanks to the funds from the STER program, our doctoral students will be able to cooperate with leading research centers in the world, both through trips and participation in research conducted in these centers, as well as participation in lectures or workshops conducted by affiliated researchers. It will also broaden the possibilities of further scientific careers of our graduates after obtaining their doctorate. All this will significantly contribute to the expansion of the group of very talented and energetic young people associated with our institutes."

Both the National Center for Nuclear Research and the Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology have been educating doctoral students in physics and chemistry for many years. In 2019, thanks to the combined forces of both Institutes, an interdisciplinary Graduate School was created. It allows for the education of scientists in many fields, such as: nuclear physics and chemistry, radiopharmacy and astrophysics. Doctoral students can participate in large research projects thanks to modern equipment and enormous intellectual potential of the Institutes, as well as thanks to close cooperation with leading research centers around the world.

The project „International Doctoral Program at NCBJ & IChTJ” will be implemented for 36 months, from 3.01.2022 to 31.12.2024. It obtained funding under the STER program – Internationalization of Doctoral Schools, organized by the National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA). The project manager is Professor Michał Spaliński. The amount obtained for the implementation of the project is PLN 1,994,706.