Young researcher (m/f)

Pursuant to Article 17 of the General legal act on stable funding of scientific research activities (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 87/22, as amended, hereinafter referred to as 'the Act') and Article 40 of the Rules on stable funding at the Institute of Chemistry of 24 August 2022 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Rules') National Institute of Chemistry Hajdrihova 19, 1000 Ljubljana announces a call for applications for young researchers in 2026 Subject of the call The subject of the call for applications is the selection of candidates for the positions of young researchers in the year 2026 with the selected mentors, in the research fields defined in point 2 of this call. Number of vacancies per field, with an indication of the available mentors: Chemistry – 4 vacancies (mentors: Dr. Jure Borišek, Dr. Primož Jovanovič, Dr. Kristijan Vidović, and Dr. Matjaž Mazaj) Biochemistry and Molecular Biology – 3 vacancies (mentors: Dr. Vojč Kocman, Dr. Maja Marušič, and Prof. Dr. Gregor Anderluh) Materials – 2 vacancies (mentors: Prof. Dr. Robert Dominko and Dr. Petra Utroša) Biotechnology and Immunology – 1 vacancy (mentor: Prof. Dr. Roman Jerala) Chemical Engineering– 2 vacancies (mentors: Assist. Prof. Dr. Uroš Novak and Dr. Albin Pintar) Computationally Intensive Methods and Applications – 2 vacancies (mentors: Dr. Tilen Potisk and Dr. Daniel Svenšek)

To be considered as a young researcher, the candidate must meet the following conditions: - He/she has not yet completed his/her PhD or obtained the title of Doctor of Science; - He/she has, as a general rule, an average grade of 8.00 in all examinations and tutorials in a first-level study programme or a degree corresponding to the level of education obtained in first-level study programmes and classified as level 7 in accordance with the law governing the Slovenian Qualifications Framework, or in a comparable study programme taken abroad, and in a second-level study programme or a degree corresponding to the level of education obtained in second-level study programmes and classified as level 8 in accordance with the law governing the Slovenian Qualifications Framework, or in a comparable study programme taken abroad (also included in this grade is the final thesis grade, if any); No more than 4 years have elapsed since the year of completion of the second-level study programme or the degree corresponding to the level of education obtained in the second-level study programmes (the year of completion is considered), which is classified as level 8 in accordance with the law governing the Slovenian Qualifications Framework, or of a comparable study programme obtained abroad. The period referred to in the preceding sentence may be extended on the grounds of justified absences in cases and in the manner as provided for in Article 61(5) of the Scientific Research and Innovation Activity Act (ZZrID). - Enrolment in the doctoral programme must be via the eVŠ online portal. In addition to the above, the candidate for the position of young researcher must also meet the conditions for election to the academic title of assistant, which are as follows: - The level of education obtained under a master's degree programme or the level of education obtained under a study programme corresponding, by law, to the level of education obtained under a master's degree programme. - Ability to conduct research. - Enrolment in a doctoral programme. Criteria for the assessment of candidates for the positions of young researchers For the selection of candidates for the positions of young researchers, the mentors shall apply the criteria of merit (e.g. academic, scientific, social, etc.) and of interviews with the candidates. Only applications by candidates who meet the conditions set out in the preceding point of this call will be accepted for assessment. Funding period The training of young researchers shall be funded until the completion of their PhD studies, which is typically four years, and a contract shall be signed at the beginning of the study period. Selection procedure for young researchers Upon the expiry of the deadline for submitting applications for this call, as defined in point 8, the Human Resources Department will verify that the formal conditions have been met. The complete applications of the candidates for the positions of young researchers who meet the formal requirements will be sent by the Human Resources Department to the mentors referred to in point 2 of this call, who will interview the candidates for the positions of young researchers and communicate their selection decision to the Human Resources Department. The Director will issue a decision on the selection of the candidate for the position of young researcher, which will be given to the selected candidate for the position of young researcher. Conclusion of an employment contract and an agreement to provide training and education Upon receipt of the selection decision and before the start of the study programme, the young researcher shall provide the Human Resources Department with a certificate of enrolment in a third-level study programme. The certificate of enrolment in the doctoral programme is a condition for the conclusion of the employment contract and the training and education agreement and for the award of the temporary research title of assistant. Method of application and deadline for submission of applications The application for the public tender must include: - the application form and 3 statements by the candidate (see “annexes” below): - evidence of professional qualifications: - a photocopy of the diploma (VII/2. Bologna degree diploma, with attachment) or a statement that the candidate will obtain their diploma or have it recognized by 15 September 2026 (the ultimate date for submission of the documentation to the Institute of Chemistry): - evidence of the average grade of all examinations and tutorials of the Bologna level undergraduate study (the diploma thesis grade excluded), accompanied by a statement of the educational organization. - in case of a completed master’s degree – attach certificate. - in case of enrolment in a PhD study programme – attach the certificate. - in case of received awards and recognitions – attach suitable evidence. - in case of published scientific articles, indicating authorship or co-authorship (with proportion of work done) – attach a COBISS record. - in case of any previous participation in research work – attach a statement accompanied by a detailed description of previous participation and any referrals. Applications, including proof of education, the application form, and the three statements by the candidate for the Young Researcher position, will be accepted by the Human Resources Office of the National Institute of Chemistry from 16 March 2026 to 31 May 2026 via the Institute’s website, at the following link https://www.ki.si/en/tenders/career/ For further information, please call 01/47 60 544 (Ivana Popov Jovanović), weekdays between 9.00 and 11.00.