PhD Student – Scholarship Position in Neuroplasticity and Addiction (OPUS-28 Project)

The Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology in Warsaw, Poland, is offering a fully funded PhD student position as part of the OPUS-28 project, focusing on the modulation of neuroplasticity with psilocybin and its therapeutic potential in fentanyl addiction. Fentanyl addiction is a significant and growing public health issue due to the drug's potency and high risk of overdose. This research aims to determine whether psilocybin can prevent or reverse fentanyl-induced neuronal changes in rats, utilizing behavioral paradigms such as locomotor activity and ultrasonic vocalizations, alongside molecular profiling techniques including qRT-PCR and next-generation sequencing (NGS). The project will employ an integrative bioinformatics approach to identify molecular networks involved in addiction-related processes, with the ultimate goal of discovering new therapeutic mechanisms and supporting the future application of psychedelics in opioid addiction treatment. The successful candidate will be responsible for conducting behavioral experiments in rats, preparing tissue samples for immunohistochemistry and RNA isolation, performing qPCR analyses for selected mRNA and miRNA targets, conducting RNA-seq and small RNA-seq data analyses, and integrating behavioral and molecular results using bioinformatics tools. The position offers a net scholarship of 276,000 PLN over 48 months, along with comprehensive training and supervision in behavioral testing, bioinformatics data analysis, and scientific writing. Applicants must hold a master's degree or equivalent in biology, biotechnology, medicine, pharmacy, or related fields from a Polish university, or be an active PhD student in the same disciplines. Experience with animal models and basic molecular biology techniques is desirable, and good English skills, teamwork, and motivation for research are essential. The host institution is the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology (IPiN), located at Jana III Sobieskiego 9, Warsaw. Applications should be sent by email to Prof. Ewa Taracha ([email protected]) with the subject line 'OPUS-28 PhD position' before the deadline of February 12, 2026. For more information, visit the institute's website or the official position link.