The institution fully responsible for the organization and conducting the "Interdisciplinary NAnoscience School: from phenoMEnology to applicationS" is the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IPC), located in Warsaw, Poland.

IPC is one of the leading Polish research institutions dealing with widely understood chemistry. In the ranking of scientific institutions run by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, IPC is listed at the top (category: large scientific units). IPC has the right to confer doctoral degrees in chemical sciences in the discipline of chemistry.

The scientific profile of IPC is strongly linked with modern directions in physical chemistry and chemical physics as well as material and applied chemistry. The research work covers a wide range of physicochemical disciplines and is carried out in 7 departments and CHEMIPAN R&D Laboratories.

IPC employs more than 200 researchers, including 20 professors.

As a scientific institution IPC is vested with the authority to award academic degrees of doctor and habilitated doctor of chemical sciences.

Research:

Our 27 teams carry out ca. 100 projects, incl. joint projects with companies. We have modern equipment and extensive experimental & implementation experience. Our interdisciplinary approach lets us take benefit of the latest achievements of nanotechnology, which resulted in many research papers and patent applications. Although the primary purpose of establishing the IPC was to conduct fundamental research in physical chemistry, IPC refocused on research at the border of chemistry, physics and biology with possible implementation in medical industry, nanotechnology and environmental protection.

IPC research excellence was recognized by EC and by the Polish authorities - on the premises of IPC are located 3 European Centres of Excellence. IPC efforts were appreciated by being awarded the Regpot grant (7^th FP) and ERA Chair grant (Horizon 2020). IPC also hosts microCODEERC Starting Grant awarded in 2011 to Prof. Garstecki for his microfluidic research.

PhD programme:

IPC has had an extensive experience in organization of PhD Studies since 1965, when a first PhD Programme was established.  Since then, IPC has awarded few hundreds of PhD degrees. The interdisciplinary nature, cooperative culture intertwined with excellent research is the core of the IPC Doctoral School. We strive to enhance quality of our PhD programme by the inclusion of contemporary scientific topics. Currently, IPC offers PhD studies in:

• nanotechnology and new materials,
• photochemistry, photophysics and molecular spectroscopy,
• physical chemistry of solids, soft matter, and surface phenomena,
• supramolecular physical chemistry, 
• chemical kinetics and catalysis,
• thermodynamics and statistical mechanics,
• quantum chemistry, mathematical modeling and molecular dynamics,
• electrochemistry, mechanisms of electrode processes, corrosion prevention,
• environmental chemistry,
• astrochemistry.

IPC doctoral fellows (ca. 65 persons at the moment) perform experimental or theoretical studies to prepare a doctoral dissertation. In parallel to that, they participate in activities aimed at the acquisition of required specialized knowledge.

In 2009 the Institute won a prestigious competition, organized by the Foundation for Polish Science, which provides the financial support for the programme “International Ph.D. Studies for Bio- and Nanotechnology”.

 It has become a rule that young PhDs of the Institute, wishing to dedicate themselves to a scientific career, undergo a research training or postdoctoral fellowships abroad.  Several postgraduates of the IPC Doctoral School have already set up, at IPC, their own research groups (e.g. Prof. Garstecki after a visit to Harvard University organized the laboratory of microfluidics, Prof. Fialkowski after a postdoc at the Northwesten University successfully manages the group of “Nanoparticle Synthesis and Functionalization”).

Significant infrastructure:

Researchers have at their disposal the equipment gathered in 12 commonly accessible specialised laboratories: Laboratory of High Pressure, Laboratory of X-Ray Structural Analysis, Laboratory of Calorimetry, Laboratory of Chromatographic Analysis, Laboratory of Molecular Films, Laboratory for Solid State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Mazovia Center for Surface Analysis, Laboratory of X-Powder Diffractometry and Spectroscopy, Laboratory of Electrochemistry and Surface Analysis in Corrosion Studies, Laboratory of Spectroscopy and Photochemistry, Molecular Beam Laboratory, Laser Centre.

Collaboration:

IPC collaborates with over 40 universities and scientific institutions throughout the world, including those with the highest reputation, such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Max Planck institutes and the University of Cambridge. Scientists from IPC participate in many national and international research projects, including under Horizon2020.

IPC has a solid record in both - fundamental and application-oriented research esp. on sensors, new materials for nanotechnology, and chemical functionalization of nanomaterials. Our efforts and excellency in conducting research were appreciated by professional investor, who set up 2 spin-off companies with IPC.

Institution friendly to scientists:

As one of the first institutions in Poland, in 2014 the Institute was given the right to use the logo “HR Excellence in Research” and currently introduces to its internal regulations provisions of the “European Charter for Researchers” and the “Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers”.

Following these principles IPC wants to become an internationally attractive employer and top European research institution, mainly by attracting skilful scientists, supporting researchers career development and engagement of the Institute to the society.