Why work with us?

You wonder why working with us may seem a good idea? Why join forces with the Scholarly Communication Research Group? You probably have seen some of our profiles, descriptions of our projects; maybe you have even read some of our publications. All of that is important. But let us tell you few crucial things that you may consider if you think seriously about a year or two years stay in Poland.

First, we are a team, and we work as a team. We support each other and each other’s research projects. We are open to learning from each other, and we do our best to offer our various competencies to strengthen each other’s pursuits.

Second, we are a really inter and transdisciplinary team. We are not afraid to ask research questions that go beyond the traditional borders of disciplines. We are well-prepared to answer them by any means necessary. Therefore, we experiment with quantitative and qualitative research designs. We mix bibliometrics studies with philosophical reflection on the ontology of metrics. It is because we see the strength in our diversity and our diverse backgrounds (not just epistemic but also cultural and political).

Third, we love to have fun. Social sciences are fun when done together in teams when you can learn new things and acquire new skills. Research is also a kind of play – when you keep the rigor and mastered your craft, then the time for virtuosity began.

We organize seminars and conferences, read each other’s papers, and often join forces to write experimental pieces that emerge from our daily conversations. We teach each other new skills and help each other prosper. So we definitely can find common ground in various research areas. Yet what is essential when you decide on your future life in the academe – even if that is one or two years – is to know that you would be joining a successful and friendly team of real people. Come and join us!

At this moment we have following open calls for positions at SCRG:

• Post-doc (24 months) in NCN SONATA BIS  “Origins and development of peripheral academic capitalism in Poland (1990-2021)” led by dr hab. Krystian Szadkowski [here]

Additional Benefits Stipendees and Post-Doctoral Researchers

• Integration into a Recognized Research Centre
  Appointment within the Scholarly Communication Research Group—an interdisciplinary and international team addressing research problems from transdisciplinary perspectives, drawing on sociology of science, higher education research, and bibliometrics.

• Participation in a Flagship Research University Program
  AMU is among Poland’s ten Initiative of Excellence – Research Universities, receiving a 10% increase in funding between 2020 and 2026 to enhance research quality, boost teaching, and increase international cooperation. The employed candidate will have access to the excellence funding streams supporting publications, international conference participation, proofreading.

• Opportunities for Mentoring and Co-supervision
  SCRG’s projects actively involve junior researchers, doctoral students and students, enabling the postdoc to gain hands-on experience in mentoring and collaborative academic leadership. Moreover, affiliation with the AMU School of Humanities and the Faculty of Philosophy allows for the possibility of offering individual teaching courses or delivering guest lectures.

• Access to Competitive Research Infrastructure
  Full access to university research infrastructure, including institutional library services, dedicated workspace, IT support for online conferences, and access to leading bibliometric and qualitative research tools.

• Individual Career Development Support
  Possibility to apply for individual grants and university-level career development resources, including:

  • Participation in training workshops and visiting fellowships abroad.

  • Research funding from internal university competitions.

  • Application support for national and European postdoctoral funding schemes (e.g. National Science Centre).

• Engagement in International Academic Networks
  Involvement in internationally collaborative projects and established networks of partner institutions in Europe, Asia, Latin and North America, enabling active participation in co-authored publications, conferences, and comparative research activities.

• Collegial and Egalitarian Research Environment
  A non-hierarchical, politically engaged, and collaborative research culture that values critical scholarship, mutual support, and collective knowledge production.

• Cost of Living and Relocation
  Poznań offers a high quality of life at a moderate cost, including access to cultural life, public services, and accommodation. Technical support with onboarding and relocation may be provided depending on the candidate’s needs and circumstances.

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Below, you can read about a few projects and experience of our dear colleagues who spent some productive time at SCRG.

Dr. Zehra Taşkın worked with us, thanks to the NAWA ULAM Program, between November 2019 and November 2021. 

Prof. Lynne Bowker joined us for a year in October 2022, thanks to the ULAM Program 2021 edition. 

Dr. Ivan Kislenko is working with us since December 2024 thanks to NCN.

Dr. Rasmus Harsbo is working with us since July 2025 thanks to Carlsberg Foundation.

Elia Alberici visited SCRG for a 1,5 month PhD research stay in January-February 2026 thanks to University of Urbino Carlo Bo (Italy).

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From content-based citation analysis to well-designed research evaluation systems: ULAM Program to broaden the research

In 2019, my project proposal titled “Creating a content-based citation analysis system for English and Polish” was awarded by NAWA Poland’s ULAM Program. I moved to Poznań in November 2019 to conduct my project. I have been living in Poznań for 18 months with my family. Before I came to Poznań, I was thinking that I would only focus on my project here. However, everything is more than my expectations and dreams now. I am working on my research project and the preliminary findings of the project have already been published in Scientometrics. Currently, the tagging process, which is the second phase of my project, continues, and I plan to finish the project on time despite the pandemic. Because my main motivation channel is a good working environment and fortunately, the pandemic could not change it.

Besides my project, the ULAM program provides me with the opportunity to work with an interdisciplinary team including philosophers, sociologists, applied linguist etc. It gives me new collaboration opportunities, new insights and great discussions on various subjects. In the beginning, the question was “what does an information scientist working on content-based research evaluation systems do for an interdisciplinary research group?”. It did not take long to find the answer for me: There is no limit!

Now, we, as a research group, are working on content-based analysis for predatory citations, finding the leading figures in linguistics, searching for secret legacies in science, trying to find problems of current research evaluation systems based on counting everything… I am very happy to be able to combine my scientific experiences with SCRGs’. Also, I have a great title given by my friends here: “master of rainbows” because of my visualization abilities. This is the great title I’ve ever awarded.

My project is limited to 2 years and there are just 6 months left to finish, but the collaboration will never end. I am very happy that this collaboration happens thanks to NAWA. My suggestion to the researchers who plan to apply for ULAM program this year is “Keep calm, find your dream team and write your proposal!”

Dr. Zehra Taşkın

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From multilingual scholarly communication to a multicultural and
interdisciplinary sabbatical experience!

With support from a NAWA Ulam fellowship, I had the very good fortune to spend the 2022-2023 academic year working with members of the SCRG at AMU in Poznań. My research project explored the potential of using machine translation tools (e.g., Google Translate) for scholarly publishing, including the translatability of plain language summaries. Following my sabbatical year, I have continued working with members of the SCRG – as well as with other scholars that I met through this group – on additional projects about multilingual scholarly communication. This has led to joint grant applications and joint publications. In case you are wondering what it might be like to work in Poznań, here are a few observations based on my experience:

• – The SCRG is a very welcoming and highly interdisciplinary group. My own background is in Translation Studies, and it was very rewarding to exchange views with colleagues from sociology, philosophy, economics, education, applied linguistics, and more. You won’t find a smarter or friendlier bunch!
• Polish is challenging language, but as an English-speaker, I had no major problems navigating daily life in Poznań. The SCRG members are very fluent in English (among other languages!) and will offer practical support when needed (e.g., to obtain a transit pass). The NAWA Ulam fellowship also included a bursary to take a course or two in Polish, which I highly recommend. You probably won’t become fluent, but it is a great opportunity, and even small gestures go a long way (dzień dobry, dziękuję, and let’s not forget proszę powtórzyć!).
• Poznań is a modern city with a good public transit system, a beautiful historic district, nice restaurants and cafés (including vegetarian options), affordable accommodation, and a very pleasant quality of life.
• As a North American, I am used to having to travel long distances to experience different things. In Poznań, you are in the centre of Europe and can easily access other parts of Poland (Warsaw, Wrocław, Toruń, and Krakow were some of my favourites—besides Poznań, of course!), as well as other countries (e.g., Berlin is just 3 hours away by FlixBus). I was able to take advantage of my time there to visit places such as Estonia and Bulgaria, among others.

If you want to know more, don’t be shy about reaching out to any member of the SCRG or to me – I will be happy to share more about my wonderful year as part of the SCRG team in Poznań!

Prof. Lynne Bowker

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Life as a Post-Doc in Poznań: A Welcome Change

I joined the Scholarly Communication Research Group (SCRG) in December 2024 to work on the project “Investigating the Relationship between Science Diplomacy and Global DGT: The Role of Inclusive Metascience Observatories (IMSO4DIPLO)”, where I will be involved for the next two years.

Before coming to Poznań, I led the precarious life typical of many recent PhD graduates—moving between four visiting fellowships across six countries in just two years. While each of these fellowships offered valuable experiences in vibrant academic settings, they were also shaped by the isolating model of the solo researcher. Short-term appointments often meant that I had to start applying for the next position almost immediately—and in my case, always with the added stress of visa uncertainties.

Here, things are completely different. From the very beginning, I received support in organizing all necessary documents and even in securing accommodation. This makes a real difference: you feel welcomed, rather than left to figure everything out alone. AMU also has a helpful Welcome Point that assists with visa procedures and other practical matters. At SCRG, you become part of a collective—research is organized collaboratively, not around isolated individuals. The working atmosphere is supportive and dynamic, with many opportunities to engage beyond your main project. If you encounter a problem, someone is always ready to help—and mutual support creates a strong sense of trust and community.

Poznań, the fifth-largest city in Poland and home to the country’s third-largest university, is not a metropolis, but it’s lively and cozy. It has a welcoming atmosphere, a great selection of cafés, and is well-connected, both within Poland and internationally. Travel options are affordable and convenient. English is widely spoken, though learning a few words in Polish certainly helps.

The cost of living is reasonable—significantly lower than in cities like Warsaw or Kraków. Public transport is well-organized (I’m especially fond of the trams!) and budget-friendly. The city offers green spaces, lakes, and access to nature, perfect for relaxing weekends. Surprisingly, Poznań also boasts a rich cinema culture, with numerous theaters—many of them very affordable—screening films with subtitles. My personal favorite is Kino Muza, one of the oldest cinemas in Poland, in operation since 1908.

If you’re wondering whether life here might feel limiting—don’t worry. Poznań may not be a global capital, but it offers the charm of a smaller city combined with rich cultural and scientific life. It’s a place where you can focus on your research and enjoy your time outside of work, while preparing for your next academic steps.

If you have any questions or would like to know more, feel free to reach out!

Dr. Ivan Kislenko

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An Academic Home for Collaborative and Critical Research

Dr. Rasmus Harsbo is working with us since July 2025 thanks to the Carlsberg Foundation.

I was very pleased to join the professionally and socially vibrant work environment of SCRG in July 2025 as a postdoctoral fellow. My research project, titled “Negotiating Neo-nationalist University Imaginaries and Geopolitical Class Cleavages in Denmark and Poland,” has greatly benefited from the Group’s continuous critical and supportive engagement, both in seminars and in everyday collegial discussions.

My fortuitous connection to SCRG began during my PhD studies, when a fellow PhD student invited me to visit the Group. To my luck, the visit resulted in sustained contact and from there grew into fruitful collaboration. As a Danish researcher examining the politics surrounding universities in Poland, I found the Group’s support, experience, and insights invaluable to the success of my dissertation, both in terms of empirical access and the development of my theoretical and analytical framework. I have remained in contact with Dr. Szadkowski since then, and when I later had the opportunity to return to Poznań with a postdoctoral grant from the Carlsberg Foundation, SCRG was the natural choice as my host institution.

Having been academically socialized in environments characterized by constant time pressure and limited opportunities for direct feedback — due to ongoing budget cuts and low expectations regarding teaching engagement — my first visits to SCRG felt like a culture shock in the most positive sense. Choosing SCRG as a host partner was therefore an easy decision. It was the right fit not only for my interdisciplinary research interests at the intersection of higher education and nationalism, but also for my preferred way of working: a collaborative academic culture in which colleagues are consistently curious, open to discussion, and generous with feedback — whether in informal conversations over coffee or in analytically and philosophically in-depth exchanges.

The city of Poznań is a great place to live. My wife and I (and our dog) are more than satisfied with what the city has to offer – a vibrant and charming centre, plenty of fascinating historical sites to visit, delicious and diverse restaurants and bars with cool and cozy atmospheres. Additionally, since Poznań is located in the middle of Poland, there are convenient connections from the central train station to the Sudeten and Carpathian mountains in the south and the Batlic sea in the north, and also to the metropolitan centers of Warsaw and Cracow as well as culturally rich cities such as Toruń, Wrocław, Łódź and Gniezno.

I can sincerelly recommend working with and in SCRG!

Feel free to direct any questions you may have about the Group to me, I would be happy to share my experience.

Dr. Rasmus Harsbo

 

 

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Collective spirit of the institution of the common

I visited the Scholarly Communication Research Group (SCRG) for a month and a half at the beginning of 2026. The reason for my visit was closely connected to my doctoral research: Prof. Krystian Szadkowski is the co-supervisor of my PhD at the University of Urbino Carlo Bo (Italy), a project that explores experiences of counter- or alternative education from the perspective of “insurgent universities as institutions of the common”.

Starting from the material conditions, at the SCRG I was assigned a desk. This might seem like a minor detail, but for Italian PhD candidates it is far from obvious to have a fixed office space where one can work on a daily basis. Most of us end up working in public libraries, constantly moving between temporary places.

Yet the desk was only the material aspect of what turned out to be a much richer experience of human relations and cooperation. I would like to reflect on this experience from two perspectives.

First, at the SCRG weekly research seminars are organised, where members present their ongoing work in order to receive feedback. Anyone working in academia knows how crucial this practice is for being able to move forward with one’s research. I would also like to stress that, for a PhD student, it is not only important to receive feedback on one’s own work, but also to attend and engage with the work of others. In Poznań, I was able to benefit fully from both dimensions.

Second, the SCRG also organises collective reading seminars. For some, this may appear as a secondary or marginal activity — after all, academic work often privileges quantity over quality when it comes to reading. I want to emphasise this practice precisely because it signals the cooperative spirit of the group: reading together as a shared intellectual labour, rather than as an individual act.

In short, whether one prefers to call it the common or the undercommons, at the SCRG cooperation takes precedence over competition, collectivity over individualism. It is a small oasis that reminds us that alternative ways of organising intellectual labour are possible.

Elia Alberici

 

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