MSCA PF Hosting Offer - Interfacial and Confinement Physics of Amyloid Fibrils

Host Institution: Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences (IKiFP PAN), Krakow, Poland

Research Group: Interfacial Interactions in Dispersed Systems

Primary Supervisor: Dr. Georgi Gochev, PhD, DSc

Advisory Team: Prof. Jan Zawała (Deputy Director for Research of IKiFP PAN) and Prof. Piotr Warszyński (Director of IKiFP PAN; President of IACIS)

 📅 MSCA PF Deadline: 09 September 2026

📩 Expression of Interest Deadline: 30 June 2026 (applications reviewed as received)

⚠️ Important: This is a hosting offer to jointly prepare a competitive MSCA PF proposal. Appointment depends on successful funding.

 🌍 About MSCA PF Eligibility

Full criteria at: https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/postdoctoral-fellowships, among others the candidate:

• Must hold a PhD degree and a maximum of eight years of experience in research, from the date of the PhD degree award (career breaks, maternity leave, etc. do not count; PhD awarded after 09/09/2018 automatically comply with the 8-year rule)

• Should comply with the MSCA Mobility Rules: Must not have resided or carried out main activity in Poland for more than 12 months during the 3 years immediately preceding 09 September 2026).

 🎯 What We Offer

• Dedicated support during proposal preparation (July–August 2026)

• Direct scientific supervision and mentoring

• Integration into international colloid and soft-matter networks

• Access to advanced interfacial characterization infrastructure

• Opportunity to develop an independent research profile in soft matter, colloid science and biomolecular self-assembly

 🔬 Project Overview

Amyloid fibrils derived from non-pathogenic proteins are emerging as exceptional stabilisers of foams and emulsions, outperforming native proteins. However, the physicochemical mechanisms governing their performance remain poorly understood.

This project uses foam as a model system to establish structure-property relationships linking fibril characteristics, interfacial organisation and foam stability.

The central focus is the first systematic investigation of thin liquid films (TLFs) stabilised by amyloid fibrils. TLFs are nanometre-thick liquid layers separating neighbouring bubbles and constitute the key mesoscale element governing coalescence of foam bubbles.

By investigating the electrostatic and steric surface forces acting within these films, the project aims to uncover how highly anisotropic biomolecular assemblies generate stabilising forces under confinement conditions.

Research Plan

Fibril Architecture

• Supramolecular structure

• Morphology

• Physicochemical properties

Interfacial Architecture

• Adsorption dynamics

• Surface dilational rheology

• Nanoscale organisation at liquid/gas interfaces

Thin Liquid Films

• Film drainage

• Disjoining pressure

• Ultrathin black film formation

 The final proposal will be co-developed with the selected candidate and aligned with their expertise and career goals.

 🧪 Methodology & Mobility

The fellow will be hosted in Krakow within a collaborative international research environment.

Fibril and Interfacial Characterisation

• TEM, AFM, cryo-EM (SOLARIS)

• Profile analysis tensiometry

• Surface dilational rheology

• Spectroscopic null ellipsometry

Foam Film Studies

• Film drainage

• Critical rupture pressure

• Ultrathin black-film formation

Neutron Facilities

• Preparation of beamtime proposals at ILL (Grenoble, France)

5–8 Month Secondment (Institute of Physical Chemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria)

• Thin liquid film interferometry

• Film thickness measurements

• Disjoining pressure isotherms Π(h)

 🎯 Expected Outcomes

• Fundamental understanding of confinement-induced stabilisation mechanisms in fibril-based colloids

• Relevance to food colloids, sustainable formulations and bio-inspired materials

 👤 Candidate Profile

We welcome expressions of interest from candidates who:

• Hold a PhD in Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Physics, Biophysics or a related discipline by the MSCA call deadline.

• Have a strong interest in soft matter, colloids, fluid interfaces, biomaterials and protein-based systems.

• Demonstrate creativity, motivation and willingness to learn advanced interfacial characterization techniques.

• Readiness to implement a several months secondment in Sofia.

 📩 Application

Send to: georgi.gochev@ikifp.edu.pl

• CV (2–3 pages).

• Cover letter (1 page) outlining potential synergy with the project's scope.