OPENING FOR PHD SCHOLARSHIP

IN QUANTUM INFORMATION  

AT THE CENTER FOR THEORETICAL PHYSICS PAS

We are seeking candidates for one PhD position at the Center for Theoretical Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw within the SONATA BIS project titlted “Characterization and certification of quantum resources” financed by the Polish National Science Centre (grant agreement no. UMO-2019/34/E/ST2/00369). The project’s leader is dr hab. inż. Remigiusz Augusiak (http://raugusiak.weebly.com/).

Background:

Quantum correlations, such as quantum entanglement and Bell nonlocality, are among the most fundamental, if not the most important, resources in quantum information theory. They are used, for example, in the quantum cryptographic key distribution protocols.

With the rapid development of quantum technologies in recent years such as random number generators and quantum computing devices the problem of thorough characterization and detection of these resources in realistic physical systems has become increasingly important. These include, in particular, many-body quantum states and quantum networks, i.e., systems composed of nodes connected in arbitrary ways via classical communication channels and entanglement sources, which are crucial for instance for quantum communication protocols.

Another fundamental challenge in the field of quantum technologies is the development of effective tools for certifying and validating the behavior of quantum devices, that is, verifying whether they operate according to specification, truly exploit quantum effects, and produce correct results. A key question in this context is whether a given device operates on a specific quantum state and performs the intended quantum operations. Of particular importance is the device-independent approach, which makes no assumptions about the internal workings of quantum devices. In this setting, Bell nonlocality plays a central role as the key phenomenon enabling such certification.

Main aims of the project:

(i) Development of metods of characterization and detection of quantum entanglement and Bell nonlocality in many-body systems and quantum networks, with particular emphasis on systems with subsystems of arbitrary dimension;

(ii) Application of Bell nonlocality for development of experimentally feasible methods for the certification of entangled quantum states and quantum measurements (so-called self-

testing).

The research has a fundamental character and will be conducted in collaboration with ICFO in Barcelona.

Requirements:

• Master’s degree in physics or mathematics
• Very good command of English
• Very good knowledge of quantum physics
• Familiarity with basic concepts of quantum information theory
• High motivation for scientific research
• Good programming skills
• Knowledge of mathematical methods in physics will be considered an asset
• Research experience in the field of quantum information will be considered an asset

Terms of Employment:

Scholarship: 4.700 zł net/month.

The employment period is 48 months, with the first 12 months funded under the SONATA BIS

research project “Characterization and Certification of Quantum Resources”, based on grant

agreement no. UMO-2019/34/E/ST2/00369 from the National Science Centre (NCN). The

remaining 36 months will be financed from other sources.

The scholarship will be awarded in accordance with the applicable laws in Poland and in accordance with the Resolution of the NCN Council no. 25/2019 of March 14, 2019, regarding the Regulations for the Awarding of NCN Scientific Scholarships in Research Projects Funded by the National Science Center.

Required documents:

1. The scientific CV, including the progress in the university studies, scientific achievements (publications, participation in research projects and conferences), with the clause “I agree to the processing of my personal data contained in the application documents for the purposes necessary for the implementation of the process recruitment by the doctoral school WARSAW-4-PhD”.
2. A cover letter, including a brief overview of previous achievements and planned future research.
3. A copy of the Master's diploma or a statement from the supervisor confirming the planned date of the Master's thesis defense.
4. Copies of documents confirming scientific or professional achievements.
5. At least one letter of recommendation from an academic staff member with a doctoral degree or higher, evaluating the candidate and their previous research activity.
6. Application for admission to the Warsaw4PhD Doctoral School.

Application submission:

Documents must be submitted electronically through the recruitment system available at https://warsaw4phd.eu/en/admissions/ between July 25, 2025 and August 8, 2025.

All inquiries should be directed to the project leader at: augusiak@cft.edu.pl.

Selection Process:

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview, which will be conducted via online communication platforms.

The final decision of the selection process will be announced by September 15, 2025. Candidates will be informed of the results by email.

Admission to the Doctoral School and the beginning of the fellowship are scheduled for October 1, 2025.