Project title: Photonic platforms for the detection of pathogens in food production
Recruiting institution: Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish
Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
Background
Over the past four decades, glass, glass-ceramics and composites have contributed
to the most advanced socio-economic breakthroughs as high-tech materials. To
compete with emerging economies such as China and India, the European glass
sector must strive for product leadership by investing more in research and
innovation to develop new materials and train specialists for a competitive but
promising market. Contributing to this challenge is the main objective of the ‘Structured functional glasses for lasing, sensing and health applications’ (FunctiGlass) project, dedicated to advanced high-tech materials for three sectors: light sources, sensors and biological applications.
FunctiGlass, supported by the CNRS, is a unique interdisciplinary research and
training programme with a double degree as part of Horizon Europe’s Doctoral
Networks (Marie-Sklodowska Curie Actions). It will train 11 doctoral candidates who
will take part in a joint research training programme based on very close cooperation between academia and industry. It will ensure that the trainees are exposed to 11 academic environments (universities and research institutes) and 9 non-academic environments (industry and SMEs) representing 9 different countries. Each PhD candidate will be supervised by two academic tutors from different units and one mentor (industrial partner) to ensure cross-sector knowledge sharing and the acquisition of transferable skills with a focus on entrepreneurship and innovation.
Through the multi-dimensional training of the FunctiGlass programme, the 11 PhD
candidates will excel in the future economy by acquiring a multi-dimensional
perspective and mindset to become future leaders in glass science and in particular
glass-based nano/micro-structured materials. Through this programme, they will find
their own path of innovation in academia or industry.
The project will create the conditions necessary for the establishment of long-term
relationships between the academic and private sectors for the transfer of
technologies and skills.
5 institutions will award the double degrees: Université Côte d’Azur (Nice, France), Tampere Universities (Finland), Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover (Germany), University Milano-Bicocca (Italy) and the Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy of Sciences (Wroclaw, Poland).
Industrial partners: AOI Tech (France), Corning (France), Fastlite (France), Klearia (France), Else Nuclear (Italy), Nobula3D (Sweden), Nyfors Teknologi (Sweden), Rosendahl Nextrom (Finland), Scout Scientific Outsourcing Adam Junka (Poland).
Other universities involved in the project as partners (not awarding doctoral degrees): University of Cergy-Pontoise (France), University of Gent (Belgium), University of Pardubice (Czech Republic), University of Nazarbayev (Kazakhstan), Umeå University (Sweden).
Description of the PhD project
The detection of food pathogens is a critical aspect of food safety, as it ensures the quality of the food supply and helps prevent food-related illnesses. Traditional methods of detecting food pathogens, such as culturing and PCR tests, can be time-consuming, labor-intensive, and may not provide real-time results. This is where newly-proposed photonic structures can be helpful.
Photonic structures, such as optical fibers and other waveguides, optically active nanoparticles, or metamaterials, have the potential to revolutionize (bio)sensing by enabling rapid, sensitive, and selective optical detection. These structures can be specifically designed (functionalized) to interact with light in ways that enhance the detection of specific biomarkers or signals associated with bacteria, fungi, or other species. For example, functionalized waveguides can be used in sensing by registering changes in refractive index, Raman scattering, or fluorescence associated with the presence of analytes [1-5]. Development of such optical structures could contribute to overall food safety and consumers’ health.
The goal of the research will be design, fabrication, and testing glass-based
structures able to give an optical response to selected food pathogens. The
experimental work will be preceded by literature research in current development of
the proposed optical sensing in the food industry, particularly for bacteria detection.
Structures proposed for detection of selected pathogens will be fabricated by a
chemical synthesis using sol–gel technology. Different glass-based compositions,
metal nanoparticles, system configurations, biomolecules, and surface
functionalization for selective pathogen identification will be tested. Studies will include morphological, structural, mechanical, and optical characterization of the developed photonic systems. Particular attention will be devoted to investigating the interaction of light with the glass and nanoparticles as well as the changes caused by the presence of microorganisms. Eventually, response of the optical platform as a function of pathogen concentration will be described. The expected result is the development of sensitive and selective platform for optical detection of chosen food pathogens.
Here are few references related to the proposed project:
Song et al., Recent progress in nanomaterial-based fluorescence assays for the detection of food-borne pathogens, Sensors 2024, 24(23), 7715; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24237715
Abuhelwa et al., Fiber optics-based surface enhanced Raman Spectroscopy sensors for
rapid multiplex detection of foodborne pathogens in raw poultry, Microsyst Nanoeng 2024, 10, 199, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41378-024-00834-x
Kourti et al., Optical immunosensors for bacteria detection in food matrices,
Chemosensors 2023, 11(8), 430; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors11080430
Servarayan et al., Optical immunosensor for the detection of listeria monocytogenes in food matrixes, ACS Omega 2023, 8, 15979, https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.2c07848
Zhao et al., Detection of foodborne pathogens by surface enhanced raman spectroscopy, Front. Microbiol. 2018, 9, 1236, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.01236
Practical information
● Contract will start in October 2025, for 4 years
● Recruiting institution: Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, PolishAcademy of Sciences, Wrocław (Poland)
● Doctoral school: Wrocław Doctoral School of Institutes of Polish Academy of Sciences (ILTSR PAS)
● Host laboratory: Division of Optical Spectroscopy, ILTSR PAS
● Supervisor: Prof. Maciej Ptak (ILTSR PAS)
● Co-host laboratory: University of Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy
● Co-supervisor: Prof. Roberto Scotti (University of Milano Bicocca, Italy)
● Industrial mentor from Scout Scientific Outsourcing Company (Poland)
● Secondments: University of Milano Bicocca, Italy (second host institution, about 20 months), Université Côte d’Azur, Institut de Physique de Nice, France (one month)
● The gross monthly salary based on the MSCA rules varies between 1920€ and 4063€,
depending on the country of recruitment
● The student will also receive a mobility allowance and a family allowance (depending on family situation) of up to 600 € and 495€ per month, respectively
Recruitment criteria
● MSCA Mobility Rule: researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary (Poland) for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their date of recruitment
● Candidate must not have a doctoral degree on the date of recruitment
● Possession of a Master’s degree before the start date of the contract. The diploma must be recognized in Poland not only for the purposes of pursuing further education, but also for the rights arising from holding a professional master’s degree (requirement to sign a contract)
● Confirmed fluent (oral and written) English skills at B2 level or higher (proper certificate or diploma supplement required)
Criteria specific for PhD4
● Knowledge in materials science
● Knowledge in inorganic materials processing and characterization
● Knowledge in microbiology and work experience in microbiological laboratory will be considered a merit
● Work experience in chemical laboratory
● Scientific interests to fit the PhD project (in optics, spectroscopy, and/or biosensing).
● Master’s degree in Chemistry, Materials Science or related disciplines
Application
Documentation to be sent in by the applicants
● Application form completed
● CV
● Motivation letter
● Contact of two reference persons to be contacted by the selection committee (name, relation to the candidate, e-mail address and phone number)
● Complete list of publications and academic works with proper documents
● Proof of language proficiencies
● Proof of master diploma or 2024 registration to master degree
How to apply?
● Download application form and fill it indicating the offer you wish to apply for
● Send your application by email to recruit@functiglass.eu The title of your email must be: FunctiGlass PhD 4 application
● Be careful to join all documentation required (see list above)
● In the following step, the documents with a WDS application form and a letter of
recommendation from the Project Coordinator should be also sent till September 4 th to the Wrocław Doctoral School of Institutes of Polish Academy of Sciences (
wsdipan@intibs.pl ), where an interview is planned in mid-September. Please read detailed information and check list of required documents at https://www.intibs.pl/en/for-
students/rules-of-recruitment/special-recruitment.html choosing the proper project
Deadline for application
25th August 2025 (11.59 pm CEST time, Paris)
Contact
contact@functiglass.eu