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Science for Business

We are an interdisciplinary scientific team investigating the environmental impact on the well-being of human and animals. We appreciate cooperation and put a significant emphasis on the quality.

We conduct basic and applied research using a modern research infrastructure, providing access to a variety of research models in the area of food technology and food analysis, biotechnology, microbiology, molecular biology, as well as human and animal health.

We offer research and development partnerships, analyses, expert assessments, internships, training, and implementation of joint projects aimed to foster the development of the agri-food sector.

We focus on development and innovation, as well as individual and complex problem-solving. A considerable international experience proves that cooperation of science and business brings tangible benefits. These benefits are mutual and contribute to an improved quality of life, promote entrepreneurship and strengthen a favourable image of the scientific centers, the region and the country.

Our cooperation offer is addressed to both livestock and fish farmers, producers of feed, raw materials, components and food packaging, as well as manufacturers and producers from other sectors of the agri-food industry: dairy, meat, fish, bakery and confectionery, fruit and vegetables, beverages and juices, cereal-milling.

You are welcome to cooperate with us.

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Research & Dissemination

Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research ​runs basic and applied research in the disciplines of animal sciences and fisheries, food technology and nutrition.

Scientific groups

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Core Facilities

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Integrated Laboratories

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General information

Mission

Carrying out interdisciplinary research explaining the mechanisms of environmental impact on the well-being of humans and animals, and dissemination of results obtained.

Strategic objectives

  • Institute’s research excellence in interdisciplinary studies on the factors influencing physiological and pathological processes in humans and animals.
  • Consistency of Institute’s research priorities with the socioeconomic needs of the country and the region.
  • Integration of Institute’s infrastructure.

Impementation of strategic objectives

  • Continuation of efforts aimed at establishing long term partnership of the Institute with leading national and European research units with similar or complementary scientific and technological profiles in order to implement common research initiatives.
  • Investment in Institute’s creative human capital and research infrastructure for strengthening its capacity to conduct research at a level that ensures maintaining of the leading position in the country.
  • Offering compelling forms of employment which will counteract ”brain drain” and attract top-class scientists to the Institute.
  • Improvement of internal organizational structure of the Institute leading to the integration of divisions, change in the number of departments and creation of commonly available core facilities.
  • Stimulating scientific and administrative environments for the realization of investments ensuring integration of Institute’s quarters.
  • Dissemination and popularization of the achievements of the Institute and the Polish Academy of Sciences.

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Institute

Established in 1988, the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn holds the prestigious status of a Leading National Science Centre (pol. KNOW) „Healthy animal – safe food”, and the highest in Poland A+ category awarded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, being recognized as the best in the areas of agriculture, forestry and veterinary, and with a strong position in life sciences. Furthermore, Institute is a member of a prestigious pan-European EIT-Food Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) that aims to build sustainable end-to-end food supply chains realized through transformative innovation and education initiatives, with a central role for the consumer.
The Institute has the mission of carrying out interdisciplinary research investigating the mechanisms of environmental impact on the well-being of humans and animals. This objective is pursued through activities that include training young scientists, investing in modern technologies, disseminating research findings to society, and stimulating cooperation between science and business to foster socioeconomic development. The Institute’s staff of over 152 people, 35 PhD students supported by maintenance service and administration, carries out basic and applied research focused on:

  • quality of life with particular emphasis on the influence of environment, including food, on etiology of infertility, prophylaxis of type 2 diabetes, allergies and obesity, as well skin regeneration and development of diagnostic biosensors;
  • mutual interactions between food components and the human body; identification, assessment and implementation of strategies for improving nutritive and pro-health values of food, identifying harmful reaction in humans to food ingredients, including intolerances, allergies and pathogenicity;
  • identification of reproduction disturbances in animals and humans, introducing new therapeutic techniques and biotechnical methods of infertility prophylaxis and treatment, and designing new tools for protecting biodiversity of animal production and selected species threatened by extinction.

These scientific activities are conducted in 13 research departments (Hormonal Action Mechanisms, Team of Reproductive Pathology and Translational Medicine, Physiology and Toxicology, Physiology and Toxicology, Gamete and Embryo Biology, Bioelectroanalytics, Biological Function of Food, Immunology and Food Microbiology, Chemistry and Biodynamics of Food, Chemical and Physical Properties of Food, Prophylaxis of Metabolic Diseases, Biology and Pathology of Human Reproduction, and Conservation Biology), which are further supported by highly specialized core facilities of: Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Sensory Analysis, In Vitro, Animal Facility and integrated laboratories of: Proteomics, Reproduction Biotechniques and Biotechnology, Bioelectroanalysis, Immunodiagnostics and Metabolomics, all equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure.
Furthermore, having recently incorporated into its structure the Research Station in Popielno, the Institute has considerably extended the scope of its research within the field of animal reproduction and food safety. Current activities of the Station focused on the protection of natural resources and implementation of Polish konik horses and local cattle breeding program, are complemented with the research on reproduction of wild animals and conservation biology, as well as the studies on traditional and ecological food as regard to its pro-health properties.
Each year, on average, the Institute publishes over 140 peer-reviewed publications listed in Journal Citation Reports. Institute’s research staff have been increasingly successful in leveraging national funds, currently carrying out around 50 scientific projects, funded by i.a. National Science Centre and National Centre for Research and Development, focused on the pursuit of pioneering research and bolstering innovation. The subsidies connected with the status of the Leading National Science Centre allow the Institute to strengthen its research potential, facilitate career development of scientists and training of PhD students.

Postgraduate training is an integral part of Institute’s mission, and aims to provide the students with cross-disciplinary knowledge and transferable skills to be used both in commercial and academic centres. Institute is entitled to confer the degree of PhD (doctorate) in agricultural sciences in the field of animal husbandry and food technology and nutrition. Young researchers are actively engaged in research performed in Institute, being given the opportunity to participate in international studies involving short-term scientific missions and trainings. What is more, they are equipped with tools enabling them to develop and manage their own research endeavours with the access to highly specialized scientific facilities.

In addition, Institute runs a wide scientific cooperation through partnerships established with world-renowned research centres, stimulation of joint projects, twinning agreements, organization of international conferences and participation in EU-wide actions. At present, it is coordinating or participating in several international programs (FP7, HORIZON 2020 – Joint Programming Initiative, Marie Skłodowska – Curie Actions, COST Actions), fostering its interactions with leading scientific partners and reinforcing integration with the European Research Area.

One of the strategic objectives of the Institute is to transfer its research results to boost industrial effectiveness, keeping its research priorities consistent with the socioeconomic needs of the country and the region. It provides rapid, confidential consultancy and custom-tailored food, health and reproductive biology research services to the sectors of medicine, veterinary, animal breeding, and food processing, offering high quality expertise, training and analysis along with direct access to the Institute’s science specialists through a network of science-business partnerships.The activities are facilitated by the Liaison Officer and institute’s Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) INOBIOTEK LLC.

The Institute publishes two scientific journals, both covered by Journal of Citation Reports: Polish Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences (since 1991) and Reproductive Biology (since 2001).

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Immunodiagnostics

General profile

Integrated Immunodiagnostic Laboratory was organized as common initiative of the Department of Team of Reproductive Pathology and Translational Medicine and the Department of Food Immunology and Microbiology. The Laboratory was created within the project entitled: “Equipment and modernization of integrated educational and research laboratories in the Centre of Excellence BIOANIREP” supported by EU funds.

The Laboratory will conduct scientific researches and provide services within:

  • diagnosis of inflammation, allergy and cancer processes,
  • determination of efficacy of new anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory therapy and new methods of reproduction control and animal production, alternative to classical methods of chemotherapy (antibiotics, synthetic, hormonal preparations).

The Laboratory’s equipment includes:

  • Work station designated to immunoenzymatic analysis (ELISA) and immunoisotopic analysis (RIA), (DRIP),
  • Work station designated to morphometric and immunochemical analysis of blood (DRIP),
  • Work station designated to determination of specific immunoglobulin (DFIM)
  • Work station designated to cytokine analysis ELISpot (DFIM).

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Assistant Professor in the Regenerative Biology Team

The Director of the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of Polish Academy of Sciences announces an open competition for the full-time position of:

Assistant Professor in the Regenerative Biology Team

Job description:

  • conducting scientific research and applying for research projects,
  • designing, conducting and analyzing laboratory experiments,
  • preparation of scientific publications,
  • cooperation in a research team and individual work.

We expect:

  • focusing on realizing research interests,
  • motivation for scientific work,
  • communication skills and good work organization,
  • specialist knowledge of the physiology and function of the skin is a necessary condition.

Candidate qualification requirements:

  • a doctoral degree in agricultural, biological, veterinary or related sciences,
  • documented experience in working with laboratory animals ( Pollas ) – pig, mouse,
  • postdoc type research internship,
  • contractor in at least one research project financed from external funds,
  • documented scientific career:
    • participation in national and international conferences,
    • first author of at least 2 scientific publications from the Philadelphia list,
  • fluent knowledge of English, spoken and written,
  • references regarding experience in scientific and research work will be an additional asset.

Required experience in:

  • conducting cell cultures of primary cells and cell lines both in monolayer and coculture,
  • work with viral vectors (adenovirus, lentivirus),
  • molecular biology techniques (Western blot , RTq-PCR, Fluorescence in situ hybridization),
  • histological techniques (immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent staining),
  • operation of microscopes (fluorescent and confocal) and software for processing and analyzing microscopic images (CellSens , ImageJ),
  • knowledge of statistical programs,
  • an additional advantage will be the ability to use publicly available databases for processing proteomic or transcriptomic data.

Working conditions:

Place of work: Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Regenerative Biology Team,

Address: ul. Trylińskiego 18, 10-683 Olszytn,

Salary: PLN 6,850 gross,

Additional information: work on weekdays, with the possibility of task-based work in the case of specific experiences.

Perspectives:

  • working in a close-knit team, in an atmosphere focused on support,
  • work aimed at achieving ambitious results,
  • scientific work without the need to conduct classes with students,
  • technical, administrative and organizational support,
  • the opportunity to engage in activities popularizing science,
  • motivation in the form of participation in scientific conferences, courses and scientific training.

Required documents:

  • copy of the doctoral diploma,
  • cover letter,
  • scientific curriculum vitae with a list of publications, conferences and other achievements;
  • letter of reference confirming skills,
  • Other documents which, in the Candidate’s opinion, are important for considering his/her Candidacy.

Entries for the competition should be sent to the following e-mail address: j.papurzynska@pan.olsztyn.pl or to the following address:

Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences,
Human Resources Department
Tuwima 10,
10-748 Olsztyn

The deadline for submitting documents is 23/12/2024 at 12:00.

After initial analysis of the submitted applications, we will contact selected candidates to conduct further stages of the recruitment process.

The Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn complies with the provisions of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (OTMR).

Any person who feels aggrieved due to the manner in which recruitment and competitive selection were conducted should first file a complaint in writing to the Head of the HR and Payroll Department within 2 weeks of the announcement of the completion of the recruitment process.

E-mail address: j.papurzynska@pan.olsztyn.pl.

The complaint should specify the name of the position for which the competition was held, as well as a detailed description of the stage of the recruitment process in relation to which the comments are presented. The complainant should clearly present his position and justify it.

In your CV, please include a clause of consent to our processing of personal data in the recruitment process:

„I consent to the processing of my personal data contained in the application documents by the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn with its registered office at 10-748 Olsztyn ul. Tuwima 10, in order to carry out the recruitment process and publish the full competition results on the Institute’s website.

Information clause:

  1. The administrator of personal data processed as part of the recruitment process is the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn with its registered office at 10-748 Olsztyn ul. Tuwima 10, tel. 89 523 46 86, e-mail: institute@pan.olsztyn.pl .
  2. Contact with the personal data protection officer is possible at the above-mentioned address.
  3. The provided personal data will be processed for the purpose of implementing the current recruitment process and stored until its completion based on the consent given (in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR).
  4. The data subject has the right to withdraw consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.
  5. The data subject has the right to access his or her personal data, request its rectification or deletion. Submitting a request to delete data is tantamount to resigning from participation in the recruitment process. In addition, she has the right to request restriction of processing in the cases specified in Art. 18 GDPR.
  6. The data subject has the right to lodge a complaint with the President of the Personal Data Protection Office regarding unlawful processing of his or her personal data. This body will be competent to consider the complaint, however, the right to lodge a complaint only concerns the lawfulness of the processing of personal data and does not concern the recruitment process.
  7. The data provided will not be subject to profiling or made available to entities or third countries. The recipients of the data may be institutions authorized by law.
  8. Providing the data contained in the recruitment documents is not obligatory, but it is a necessary condition for participating in the recruitment process.

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Competition for the position Specialist / Senior Specialist in the Research Team

Competition for the position:

Specialist / Senior Specialist in the Research Team entitled” Personalized diagnostics of vascular endothelium in oncological therapy; towards modern vasculo-oncology” (acronym: ADEVASCO) financed by the Polish Science Fund

Place of work:

Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn,
street Trylińskiego 18,
Bioelectroanalytics Team.

Scope of tasks:

conducting research related to the development of an electrochemical aptasensor for detecting biomarkers of vascular endothelial dysfunction induced by anticancer treatment

Role in the Team:

The person employed in this position will assume the role of a Technical support/PhD Student as described in the project proposal. The role of the Employee will involve responsibility for specific stages of the research work, coordination of certain experiments, and supporting the methodology.

Requirements for candidate qualifications and experience :

  • master’s degree/doctoral degree in chemical or biological sciences or related fields,
  • knowledge of electroanalytical methods of analysis, especially voltammetric ones,
  • knowledge and experience in the construction of (bio)electrochemical sensors,
  • documented scientific achievements.

Additional requirements :

  • good knowledge of English, spoken and written,
  • ability to prepare reports and present the results of scientific work,
  • motivation for scientific work,
  • communication skills and very good work organization,
  • ability to work independently and in a team.

Type of contract, period, scope of commitment, financial conditions :

  • Employment contract, full time,
  • Employment for 60 months,
  • Salary PLN 7,000 – PLN 10,000 gross (depending on experience),
  • Position opening date: January 2025.

Working conditions :

  • work on working days, with the possibility of task-based work in the case of specific experiments, also at the Faculty of Chemistry of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow,
  • The candidate will be required to comply with the non-competition rules in accordance with the WIB program guidelines.

Required documents :

  • copy of higher education diploma/PhD degree,
  • CV,
  • cover letter,
  • references (if the candidate has any).

Application method:

  • Entries for the competition should be sent to the following email address: i.grabowska@pan.olsztyn.pl,
  • Deadline for submitting documents: December 6, 2024,
  • Estimated recruitment result date: 12.12.2024.

After initial analysis of the submitted applications, we will contact selected candidates to conduct further stages of the recruitment process.

The Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn complies with the provisions of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (OTMR).

Any person who feels aggrieved due to the manner in which recruitment and competitive selection were conducted should first file a complaint in writing to the Head of the HR and Payroll Department within 2 weeks of the announcement of the completion of the recruitment process. E-mail address: j.papurzynska@pan.olsztyn.pl;

The complaint should specify the name of the position for which the competition was held, as well as a detailed description of the stage of the recruitment process in relation to which the comments are presented. The complainant should clearly present his position and justify it.

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In your CV, please include a clause of consent to our processing of personal data in the recruitment process:

„I consent to the processing of my personal data contained in the application documents by the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn with its registered office at 10-748 Olsztyn ul. Tuwima 10, in order to carry out the recruitment process and publish the full competition results on the Institute’s website.

Information clause:

  1. The administrator of personal data processed as part of the recruitment process is the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn with its registered office at 10-748 Olsztyn ul. Tuwima 10, tel. 89 523 46 86, e-mail: institute@pan.olsztyn.pl .
  2. Contact with the personal data protection officer is possible at the above-mentioned address.
  3. The provided personal data will be processed for the purpose of implementing the current recruitment process and stored until its completion based on the consent given (in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR).
  4. The data subject has the right to withdraw consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.
  5. The data subject has the right to access his or her personal data, request its rectification or deletion. Submitting a request to delete data is tantamount to resigning from participation in the recruitment process. In addition, she has the right to request restriction of processing in the cases specified in Art. 18 GDPR.
  6. The data subject has the right to lodge a complaint with the President of the Personal Data Protection Office regarding unlawful processing of his or her personal data. This body will be competent to consider the complaint, however, the right to lodge a complaint only concerns the lawfulness of the processing of personal data and does not concern the recruitment process.
  7. The data provided will not be subject to profiling or made available to entities or third countries. The recipients of the data may be institutions authorized by law.

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NFAT genes in subcutaneous adipose tissue vs insulin resistance

14 November is World Diabetes Day. Diabetes is an increasing health and social problem and is associated with insulin resistance, i.e. reduced sensitivity of tissues to the effects of insulin. Researchers at the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn are investigating the pathogenesis of this condition. In their recent research, they looked at NFAT genes in subcutaneous adipose tissue that may regulate insulin sensitivity.

– Subcutaneous adipose tissue, as the main ‘storehouse’ of lipids, can protect other tissues from the harmful effects of excess lipids (i.e. from lipotoxicity) and thus protect against the development of insulin resistance. Necessary for this action is adipogenesis, i.e. the process of forming new fat cells (adipocytes). Proteins of the NFAT family are involved in this process and may therefore be important in the regulation of insulin sensitivity – explains Professor Marek Strączkowski, head of the Prophylaxis of Metabolic Diseases Team at the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn (IAR&FR PAS).

The specific aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) family genes in subcutaneous adipose tissue in normal-weight and overweight or obese subjects, and to assess the effect of weight reduction under a low-calorie diet on NFAT gene expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue in overweight or obese subjects.

In other words, it is about investigating what the expression of these genes is in normal-weight people and those who are overweight or obese, and also whether and what role weight reduction plays in this.

The results of the study have just been published in the journal Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases. The authors of the publication are: Magdalena Danowska (PhD student, IAR&FR PAS), Dr Magdalena Stefanowicz (Medical University of Białystok) and Prof. Marek Strączkowski (IAR&FR PAS).

The main result is the demonstration that NFAT gene expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue is associated with insulin sensitivity and adipogenic gene expression.

– This suggests that NFAT genes may play a role in maintaining normal subcutaneous adipose tissue function. By maintaining the capacity for adipogenesis (i.e. the formation of new adipocytes), they protect against the development of lipotoxicity (i.e. against the detrimental effects of free fatty acids on other organs and tissues, e.g. liver, skeletal muscle, heart). This way, they may contribute to an improvement in insulin sensitivity, also under the influence of weight reduction – explains Professor Marek Strączkowski, who is involved in research into the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in people at risk of type 2 diabetes.

The researchers also showed that reduced NFAT gene expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue in overweight and obese individuals is partially reversible under weight reduction.

– The results suggest new mechanisms for improving insulin sensitivity and thus reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, occurring under the influence of weight reduction. They also point to potential new handle points for drugs that could play a role in the prevention and treatment of diseases associated with insulin resistance, concludes Prof Marek Strączkowski.

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Insulin resistance is a reduced sensitivity of tissues to insulin, a hormone that increases the transport of glucose into cells, which in turn lowers blood glucose levels.

Insulin resistance is not a disease, but it is a condition that can lead to the development of many diseases: first and foremost type 2 diabetes, but also cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers or neurodegenerative diseases.

According to recent estimates by the National Health Fund, around 3 million people in Poland suffer from diabetes, and it is expected that by 2030, one in ten Poles will be affected by the disease.

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Read about our research around the topic of insulin resistance:

Biological clock genes, insulin and obesity – what do they have in common?

Structures around skeletal muscle linked to insulin resistance

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Anti-Müllerian Hormone and its Role in Endocrinology and Oncology

Drewhow, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is widely recognized as a key marker of ovarian reserve, used to assess a woman’s fertility, especially before undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, AMH is also gaining attention in oncology due to its potential role in diagnosing and treating various cancers.

A recent review article, published in Frontiers in Endocrinology by an international team of researchers, focusses into the biology of AMH and its multifaceted roles in both endocrinology and oncology. The senior author, Prof. Carsten Carlberg, who leads the Nutrigenomics Team at the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn, contributed to this comprehensive analysis. However, major contributions came from the first author, Dr. Marek Gowkielewicz, a gynecologist from the School of Medicine of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn.

The review organizes current knowledge about AMH, examining its roles across different life stages: from fetal development, childhood, and adolescence, to its involvement in the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, ovarian function, and menopause. The researchers also explore AMH’s relevance in reproductive technologies, such as ovarian tissue cryopreservation, and its implications for the cell cycle and cancer biology.

According to Prof. Carlberg, “AMH has complex effects on the development and function of various human tissues.”

Currently, AMH is most commonly used to measure ovarian reserve, which indicates a woman’s reproductive potential by assessing the ovaries’ ability to provide viable eggs. This is particularly relevant in fertility treatments like IVF, where AMH levels are checked to optimize the chances of success.

However, AMH’s ability to inhibit the cell cycle and induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) has sparked growing interest in its oncological applications.

„One promising area of research focuses on antibodies targeting the AMH receptor, AMHR2, which plays a key role in signaling and modulating the expression of hundreds of genes,” explains Prof. Carlberg. „In animal models, antibodies conjugated with radioactive isotopes that target AMHR2 have shown potential in destroying cancer cells.”

AMH may also have a protective effect on the ovarian reserve during chemotherapy, which is known to be toxic to ovarian tissue. „By stabilizing the pool of primary ovarian follicles, AMH could help enhance the resistance of ovarian tissue to cryopreservation, a procedure used to preserve fertility,” notes Prof. Carlberg.

In addition to its reproductive functions, AMH is present in motor neurons, where it acts as a protective growth factor, potentially influencing learning and memory processes. This has led to speculation that AMH might support treatments for neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.

AMH has also been linked to ovarian and endometrial cancers, though much remains to be discovered.

„Despite significant progress, further research is needed to fully understand the potential of AMH,” concludes Prof. Carlberg. „While today’s knowledge primarily benefits fertility specialists, AMH holds promise for future applications in oncology.”

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Prof. Carsten Carlberg is the ERA Chair of the WELCOME2 project, „Creating the Centre of Excellence in Nutrigenomics to Optimize Health and Well-Being,” at the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research PAS in Olsztyn.

Read more: WELCOME2 Project.

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