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Dear Visitors,

on this page you will find information on Doctoral Schools at the University of Warsaw. Teachers interested in acting as thesis supervisors are invited to  present their offers , and candidates for the Doctoral Schools are encouraged to  browse through the presented offers .

We recommend also reading articles presenting the rules of recruitment, as well as detailed information on education at the Doctoral Schools. The articles are available on subpages dedicated to particular School. More information

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Doctoral studies

Dear Graduate of MA Studies,

The Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, University of Warsaw, offers you full-time doctoral studies in English. The PhD programme is addressed to graduates of second-cycle studies (full Masters programme or equivalent) – with no restrictions concerning the field. The aim of the studies is for the graduates to be educated specialists with the academic degree of doctor of social science in the field of political science, doctor of social science in the field of security studies, doctor of social science in the field of  public policy.

It is noteworthy that the University of Warsaw ranks in the third hundred (places 201-300) of the Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2018 in the field of social sciences – political sciences. The Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, University of Warsaw, is reported as the best in Poland in the fields of political science and international relations (2018).

Our PhD programme is conducted in a two-way system. On the one hand, the students conduct their own research projects under the care of the supervisor or the support supervisor, and on the other hand, they participate in classes (obligatory or to choose) and didactic practices. The learning cycle includes a group of general subjects, and related to the chosen specialization (discipline), elective courses (optional), preparing a doctoral student to do research activities and developing teaching skills, as well as didactic practices. The programme of the research, performed under the care of the supervisor or the support supervisor, covers three learning paths of political science, public policy, and security studies. The PhD student can also pursue an interdisciplinary path.

The doctoral studies programme is intended for active and creative people who wish to develop their research interests. You can pursue further studies and comprehensively develop your skills by broadening academic knowledge and conducting research. You will have the opportunity to spend one semester at one of 90 universities in Europe under the Erasmus scholarship, as well as  the opportunity to spend one semester at one of the most reputable universities anywhere in the world. You will also get the chance to participate in many international seminars and conferences. Last but not least: you will gain an experience in working in multinational environment.

Our competences and openness will help you fulfil your ambitions. We will be pleased to welcome you to our group of PhD students!

Prof. dr hab. Stanisław Sulowski Dean of the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies

WARNING! Due to RESOLUTION NO. 412 OF THE SENATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WARSAW of 17 April 2019 on the terms and conditions, and procedure of enrolment for Doctoral Schools at the University of Warsaw in the academic year 2019/2020 the admission process for PhD studies has changed.

The document

In order to complete Year 1 the student should[2]:

• Obtain at least 14 ECTS credits .
• Complete all courses according to the program of the 1 st year of study (confirmed in  the student’s book or exam card).
• Complete teaching practices (at least 10, but not more than 90 teaching hours) and obtain written confirmation of the placement.
• (* as a part of individual research activity connected with the PhD thesis) present the concept of the doctoral thesis accepted by the supervisor and confirm participation in at least 1 scientific conference.
• Submit the report on the research and scientific activity in a given academic year approved by the supervisor.
• The deadline for submission of all required documents is outlined by the detailed rules of the doctoral studies and organization of an academic year schedule set by the Rector of the University of Warsaw.

In order to complete Year 2 the student should[4]:

• Obtain at least 29 ECTS credits till the end of the 2 nd academic year.
• Complete all courses according to the program of the 2 nd year of study (confirmed in  the student’s book or exam card).
• (* as a part of individual research activity connected with the PhD thesis) present the developed concept of the doctoral thesis accepted by the supervisor, as well as present:

– fragments of the PhD dissertation with the approval of the supervisor;

– at least 1 research note, or elaboration of thematic bibliography (approved by the supervisor), or at least 1 review article, or publication of the       research note or the review article should be evidenced by the copy of the publication (for inspection), or (in case of adoption for printing) by the       confirmation signed by the scientific journal’s chief editor or assistant editor

[1] Teaching classes in the university or participation in their conducting, including the preparation or participation in the preparation of e-learning courses,

under the supervision of a tutor, a supervisor or other experienced academic teacher

[1] Achievements of the doctoral studies are taken into account to pass the subsequent year of studies, only

In order to complete Year 3 the student should[6]:

• Obtain at least 38 ECTS credits till the end of the 3 rd academic year.
• Complete all courses according to the program of the 3 rd year of study (confirmed in the student’s book or the exam card).
• (* as a part of individual research activity connected with the PhD thesis) present fragments of the PhD dissertation with the approval of the supervisor, as well as present at least 1 paper or communiqué at a scientific conference, confirmed by the conference’s organizer.
• The deadline for submission of all required documents is outlined by the detailed rules of the doctoral studies and organization of an academic year             schedule set by the Rector of the University of Warsaw.

PhD students who manage to realize the full program of study and prepare a doctoral thesis can graduate in 3 years (it demands to complete at least 45 ECTS credits till the end of the 3rd academic year).

In order to complete Year 4 the student should[8]:

• Obtain at least 45 ECTS credits till the end of the 4 th academic year.
• Complete all courses according to the program of the 3 4th year of study (confirmed in the exam card).
• (* as a part of individual research activity connected with the PhD thesis) present fragments of the PhD dissertation with the approval of the supervisor, as well as at least 1 scientific article published in a peer reviewed journal or book, evidenced by the journal’s/book’s table of contents, or (in case of adoption for printing) by the confirmation signed by the scientific journal’s chief editor/assistant editor or the publishing house’s editor (in case of a book).
•  Submit the report on the research and scientific activity in a given academic year approved by the supervisor.

[2] Achievements of the doctoral studies are taken into account to pass the subsequent year of studies, only

[5] Teaching classes in the university or participation in their conducting, including the preparation or participation in the preparation of e-learning courses,

   under the supervision of a tutor, a supervisor or other experienced academic teacher

[6] Achievements of the doctoral studies are taken into account to pass the subsequent year of studies, only

[7] Teaching classes in the university or participation in their conducting, including the preparation or participation in the preparation of e-learning courses,  under the supervision of a tutor, a supervisor or other experienced academic teacher

[8] Achievements of the doctoral studies are taken into account to pass the subsequent year of studies, only, also from the previous years if not obtained

Credit of earlier stages of studies based on them.

–> !!! List of academic tutors !!! <–

RESOLUTION NO. 3/2017

OF THE BOARD OF THE FACULTY OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

of 25 January 2017

on appointing an academic tutor to a doctoral student

and a supporting supervisor of a doctoral thesis

In order to ensure academic supervision of doctoral students and to support them in their independent research work, the Board of the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies resolves as follows:

• Pursuant to the Ordinance of the Minister of Science and Higher Education of 13 April 2016 on doctoral degree programmes and doctoral scholarships, an academic tutor to a doctoral student at the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies must be an academic teacher employed at the Faculty and holding at least the degree of doktor habilitowany in the disciplines of science in which the Board of the WNPiSM Faculty is authorised to award the degree of doktor or in related disciplines, and with academic research published within the previous 5 years.
• In exceptional circumstances, the Dean of WNPiSM may consent to the role of an academic tutor to a doctoral student studying at the Faculty being performed by an academic teacher or a research employee employed at another unit, if he or she meets the conditions specified above.
• A doctoral student is required to initiate cooperation with an academic tutor by the end of the first year of studies and to deliver to the head of the doctoral programme the academic teacher’s written consent to such supervision immediately. The written consent must also include a statement of the academic teacher on the number of persons who prepare their doctoral theses under his/her supervision at the given time, including the doctoral student to whom the submitted consent pertains, as well as including any persons who are not students of the doctoral programme at WNPiSM but who plan to defend their theses before the Board of the WNPiSM Faculty.
• If a doctoral student has difficulty finding an academic tutor, he/she is required to report this problem to the head of the doctoral programme by the end of the first year of studies in order to obtain assistance.
• An academic tutor is approved by the Dean. The Dean may authorise the head of the doctoral programme to perform this role.
• A doctoral student or the head of the doctoral programme may apply to the Dean for a change of the academic tutor. Such an application should be submitted together with a justification, in writing and signed.
• Out of concern for the quality of cooperation with doctoral students, it is hereby established that one academic teacher may provide supervision for no more than 6 doctoral students at the same time, including any persons who are not students of the doctoral programme at the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies.
• The limit of persons under the supervision of an academic teacher includes also any persons for whom the academic teacher acts as the supervisor of a doctoral thesis which has not been defended yet.
• If at the time when the resolution comes into force, the limit specified in point 1 above is exceeded, the academic teacher may not become tutor to any additional doctoral students until the number of doctoral students under his/her supervision is lower than 6 persons.
• The Board of the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies may appoint a supporting supervisor in relation to a specific doctoral assessment procedure, at the written request of the candidate for the position of a supporting supervisor and of the doctoral student.
• Appointment of a supporting supervisor takes place – in a vote by secret ballot – at the time when the doctoral assessment procedure is initiated and the thesis supervisor is appointed.
• The role of a supporting supervisor may be performed by an employee of the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, or of another unit, holding the degree of doktor and whose academic and research achievements and qualifications are compliant with Article 20(7) of the Act of 14 March 2003 on academic degrees and titles and on degrees and titles in art s, and they are related to the subject of the supervised doctoral assessment procedure.
• A person may perform the function of a supporting supervisor in relation to only 2 doctoral assessment procedures at the same time.
• If at the time when the resolution comes into force the limit specified in point 2 above is exceeded, the employee may not be appointed as supporting supervisor until the number of doctoral students under his/her supervision is lower than the limit set above.
• A supporting supervisor works under the guidance of the thesis supervisor who sets the principles of cooperation between the supporting supervisor and the doctoral student.
• Appointing a supporting supervisor may be preceded with an agreement concluded between the thesis supervisor, the supporting supervisor and the doctoral student, specifying the duties (tasks) of the supporting supervisor and the manner of their performance during the preparation of the thesis by the doctoral student
• By submitting a thesis for assessment, the thesis supervisor confirms in writing that the supporting supervisor has fulfilled his/her tasks and thus the information on the supporting supervisor’s participation in the work is to be included on the thesis’ title page.
• The Dean of the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies confirms that the supporting supervisor has fulfilled his/her tasks with an appropriate certificate. The specimen certificate is provided as an appendix to this resolution.
• A supporting supervisor may be dismissed from his/her role at any stage of the doctoral assessment procedure in relation to which he has been appointed if the thesis supervisor submits a request to this effect to the Faculty Board.
• The role of a supporting supervisor expires automatically upon the change of the thesis supervisor.
• In the case of circumstances described in point 1 and 2 above, the employee may not include the information on his/her role of a supporting supervisor in his/her academic record.

The Faculty Board may appoint the supporting supervisor – without the right to vote – to sit on the commission for the doctoral assessment procedure in relation to which he/she performs the role of a supporting supervisor.

Participation of a supporting supervisor in the doctoral assessment procedure is not subject to any form of contract which would result in payment of a salary

The following resolutions of the Board of the Faculty of Journalism and Political Science of the University of Warsaw hereby expire:

–    on the rules of appointing a supporting supervisor in the doctoral assessment procedures of 29 May 2013,

–    on the maximum number of doctoral students mentored by a supervisor or a supporting supervisor of 26 February 2014.

The resolution comes into force on the day of its adoption.

Dean of the Faculty

of Political Science and International Studies of the University of Warsaw

Prof. UW dr hab. Stanisław Sulowski

Head of doctoral studies

Head of programmes in international relations.

Professor Barbara Szatur – Jaworska

[email protected]

Office hours and venue:

— Room 210 (2st floor) Auditorium Building Krakowskie Przedmieście 26/28

ORDINANCE NO. 4/2017  

OF THE DEAN OF THE FACULTY OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WARSAW

of 2 October 2017

on the rules of conducting a doctoral assessment procedure

at the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies

of the University of Warsaw

The Faculty of Political Science and International Studies of the University of Warsaw is authorised to confer the degree of doktor nauk społecznych [doctoral degree in social sciences] in the discipline of:

• political science,
• security science,
• public policy.
• Examination of the application for the doctoral assessment procedure
• A doctoral assessment procedure is initiated at the request of the person applying for the degree of doktor in the discipline of: political science, security science, public policy.
• For the doctoral assessment procedure to be initiated, the candidate for the degree must be an author of a scientific book published or accepted for publishing, or of at least one scientific article published in a peer-reviewed journal from the list of scientific journals announced by the minister competent for science based on the regulations on financing science, or of a publication being a part of peer-reviewed materials published following an international scientific conference.
• An application for the doctoral assessment procedure, including a detailed synopsis of the doctoral thesis, should be first discussed and approved at a meeting of an appropriate unit or chair. An approved application is then submitted to the Office for Academic Degrees and Doctoral Programmes [Sekcja ds. stopni i studiów doktoranckich]. The Office for Academic Degrees and Doctoral Programmes submits the documents related to the doctoral assessment procedure to the teams for doctoral assessment procedures appointed by the Faculty Board in the discipline of: political science, security science and public policy.
• The teams for doctoral assessment procedures determine whether the subject of the thesis falls within the scope of the Faculty Board’s authorisation to confer the degree of doktor , whether the submitted documents, and in particular the synopsis of the doctoral thesis, demonstrate appropriate scientific quality and indicate that the works on the thesis are highly advanced, which is the basis for initiating the doctoral assessment procedure, and whether the title of the thesis has been properly formulated. If the thesis synopsis and/or title require supplementation or amendments, the application is returned to the candidate.
• The academic staff member who has consented to be the thesis supervisor may be present at the team’s meeting (without the right to vote). Such an academic staff member may, with the consent of the candidate, make changes in the submitted application during the team’s meeting.
• If the candidate has met the requirements, the relevant team submits to the Faculty Board its recommendation to initiate the doctoral assessment procedure, appoint the thesis supervisor (and a co-supervisor, if applicable) and (if a relevant request has been submitted) a supporting supervisor.
• A specimen application and the list of other documents required for initiating a doctoral assessment procedure have been provided as Appendix 1 to these Rules .
• The application for the doctoral assessment procedure is examined at the meeting of the Faculty Board. The candidate’s academic tutor applying for the position of the thesis supervisor is also present at the meeting. The Faculty Board, by secret ballot and with an absolute majority of the votes cast with at least half of the members entitled to vote present, adopts the resolutions on:

– initiation of a doctoral assessment procedure

– appointing a thesis supervisor

– appointing a supporting supervisor

• The Faculty Board may terminate a doctoral assessment procedure if a doctoral student fails to submit his/her doctoral thesis within four years from the initiation of a doctoral assessment procedure.
• If a resolution on rejection of the application for the doctoral assessment procedure is adopted, the Chairperson of the Faculty Board notifies the candidate of this decision in writing and with a justification.
• In justified circumstances, a candidate may request a change of supervisor, supporting supervisor or the subject of the doctoral thesis. Such changes are approved with a resolution of the Faculty Board, upon consulting the relevant team for doctoral assessment procedures.
• Doctoral thesis
• A doctoral thesis should present an original solution to a scientific problem and demonstrate the candidate’s general theoretical knowledge in the given discipline of science as well as the ability to conduct independent research. A doctoral thesis must be its author’s individual achievement; it may also constitute an independent and distinct part of a collective work if it demonstrates the candidate’s individual contribution to the development of the work’s concept, performance of the experimental part, preparation and interpretation of the results.
• A doctoral thesis should be submitted in four copies together with a summary in English and in Polish and an opinion from the thesis supervisor presenting the description and assessment of the thesis.
• A doctoral thesis prepared in a language other than Polish should include a summary in English and in Polish.

III. Doctoral degree exams

• The Faculty Board appoints members to the examination committees for conducting doctoral degree exams. The examination committee is composed of persons holding the academic title of profesor or the academic degree of doktor habilitowany . This requirement does not concern examiners conducting exams in a modern foreign language.
• Doctoral degree exams are conducted within the following scopes:
• a) the primary discipline compliant with the subject of the doctoral thesis – with the examination committee composed of at least four persons holding the title of profesor in the field of science or art to which the given discipline of science belongs, or the degree of doktor habilitowany in the given discipline of science, or persons who have acquired qualifications equivalent to those resulting from holding the degree of doktor habilitowany under Article 21a of the Act and who conduct research or teaching activity in relation to this discipline of science, including the thesis supervisor, the second supervisor or a co-supervisor;
• a) an additional discipline – with the examination committee composed of at least three persons among whom at least one holds the title of profesor in the field of science or art to which the given discipline of science belongs, or the degree of doktor habilitowany in the given discipline of science, or who has acquired qualifications equivalent to those resulting from holding the degree of doktor habilitowany under Article 21a of the Act and who conduct research or teaching activity in relation to this discipline of science;
• c) a modern foreign language – with the examination committee composed of at least three persons among whom at least one teaches this language in a higher education institution and the remaining persons hold the degree of at least doktor .
• If the candidate fails to pass one of the doctoral degree exams, the candidate may apply to the Faculty Board for re-taking the exam. Such an exam may be held no sooner than after the lapse of three months from the date of the first exam and no more than once.
• Appointing reviewers
• The teams for doctoral assessment procedures in the discipline of: political science; security science; public policy submit to the Faculty Board their recommendations on two reviewers for the submitted doctoral thesis. A reviewer must hold the title of profesor or the degree of doktor habilitowany . The role of reviewer may not be performed by a person in relation to whom there are justified doubts as to his/her impartiality.
• Upon receiving the last review, all reviews and the thesis summary are immediately sent in an electronic form to the Central Commission for Degrees and Titles.
• Accepting the doctoral thesis and its approval for a public defence
• The Faculty Board, at the request of the relevant team, appoints the Doctoral Commission responsible for: accepting the doctoral thesis, approving it for a public defence and accepting the defence. The Commission is composed of the members of the Faculty Board holding the title of profesor or the degree of doktor habilitowany in the field of science to which the primary discipline relevant for the thesis subject belongs, and the members of the Faculty Board holding the title of profesor or the degree of doktor habilitowany in a related discipline of science, the thesis supervisor and the reviewers. The supporting supervisor may be present at the meetings of the commission conducting doctoral degree exams and of the Doctoral Commission, upon the invitation of the chairperson of the Faculty Board and without the right to vote.
• The Doctoral Commission, having read the doctoral thesis and the opinions of the supervisor and the reviewers, adopts by secret ballot a resolution on acceptance of the doctoral thesis and its approval for a public defence and sets the date of the defence. In the event a doctoral thesis is not accepted and not approved for a defence, the Doctoral Commission presents this matter to the Faculty Board together with a justification and the Faculty Board adopts a resolution on this matter.

A summary of the doctoral thesis is posted on the Faculty’s website directly after the Doctoral Commission adopts the resolution on acceptance of the doctoral thesis, while the reviews are posted on the day on which they are submitted by the reviewers. The summary and the reviews are available on the website at least until the day on which the degree of doktor is awarded.

• Defence of the doctoral thesis
• Information on the date of the public defence is sent to organisational units authorised to award the degree of doktor nauk społecznych [doctoral degree in social sciences] in the discipline of: political science, public policy, security science. No later than ten days before the date of the defence an announcement on the defence of the doctoral thesis is posted on the noticeboard for doctoral students and on the Faculty’s website.
• The doctoral thesis defence takes places at an open meeting of the Doctoral Commission with the thesis supervisor, supporting supervisor and reviewers present.
• The course of the doctoral thesis defence is minuted.
• During a doctoral thesis defence:
• a) The Chairperson of the Commission announces that the candidate has met the conditions specified by regulations on the doctoral assessment procedure, has passed the doctoral degree exams, has submitted a doctoral thesis which has received positive opinions from the reviewers and the thesis supervisor, has been accepted and approved for a defence.
• b) The thesis supervisor presents the candidate and his/her academic achievements.
• c) The candidate presents the main aims of the doctoral thesis – a summary of his/her academic achievements, which has been also submitted in a written form, and the reviewers present their opinions on the doctoral thesis.
• d) If a reviewer is absent, the chairperson of the Doctoral Commission decides that a review is read out by one of the Commission members.
• e) The Candidate expresses his/her opinion on the reviews.
• f) The Chairperson opens a discussion during which all those present at the meeting may voice their opinions and the candidate answers any questions asked.
• After the doctoral thesis defence, the Doctoral Commission holds a closed meeting at which it adopts a resolution on accepting (or rejecting) the public defence of the doctoral thesis.
• The Doctoral Commission prepares a draft resolution on the award of the degree of doktor and submits it to the Faculty Board.
• A doctoral thesis may be awarded distinctions according to the rules specified in a relevant resolution of the Faculty Board.
• The Faculty Board, by secret ballot and with an absolute majority of the votes cast with at least half of the members entitled to vote present, adopts the resolutions on the award of the degree of doktor .
• The resolution of the Faculty Board on the award of the degree of doktor becomes valid upon its adoption.

VII. Terminating a doctoral assessment procedure

• A doctoral assessment procedure is terminated at the Dean’s request if:
• a) the candidate has not taken the doctoral degree exams or has failed to pass them,
• b) the Doctoral Commission has not accepted the doctoral thesis and has not approved it for a public defence.
• A doctoral assessment procedure may be terminated at the request of the Dean or the thesis supervisor if the candidate has not submitted his/her doctoral thesis within four years from the date of initiating the procedure.
• The Faculty Board may terminate a doctoral assessment procedure at the request of the candidate.

This ordinance enters into force on the day of its signing. Ordinance no. 3/2017 of 15 May 2017 becomes ineffective.

The above Rules have been specified pursuant to the following acts: Act of 14 March 2005 ‘Law on Higher Education’, as amended

Act of 14 March 2003 on academic degrees and titles and on degrees and titles in arts, as amended

Ordinance of the Minister of Science and Higher Education of 26 September 2016 on a detailed course of actions in the doctoral assessment procedure, the procedure for award of the degree of doktor habilitowany and the procedure for award of the title of profesor

Appendix 1  

Documents required for initiating a doctoral assessment procedure

Doctoral programme students and graduates

• Application to the Board of the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies of the University of Warsaw for initiation of a doctoral assessment procedure, together with the proposed subject of the thesis and indication of the thesis supervisor.

The application must include:

– information on the area of knowledge, field and discipline of science in relation to which the doctoral assessment procedure is to be initiated;

– application for a consent to submit a doctoral thesis in a language other than Polish;

– information on the chosen foreign language (doctoral degree exam);

– information on the chosen additional discipline for the doctoral degree exam (please choose from: political science, philosophy, public policy, security science).

• A scientific book published or accepted for publishing or at least one scientific publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal of at least national reach, as specified by the minister competent for science based on the regulations on financing science, or in a peer-reviewed report from an international scientific conference.
• Consent from the academic tutor to provide academic supervision and adopt the role of the thesis supervisor.
• Consent from the second academic tutor to provide academic supervision and adopt the role of the thesis co-supervisor, if applicable.
• The candidate’s recommendations regarding the thesis supervisor (and co-supervisor, if applicable).
• Application of the academic tutor for appointment of a supporting supervisor, if applicable.
• Consent of the supporting supervisor to provide academic supervision.
• Opinion of the academic tutor (with an indication of the percentage of the thesis already written and accepted).
• List of the candidate’s scientific publications.
• Synopsis of the doctoral thesis.
• Plan of the doctoral thesis.
• List of references collected for the purpose of the doctoral thesis.
• Résumé/CV.
• Declaration on the payment of costs of a doctoral thesis defence if the thesis is submitted more than two years after the date of graduation from the doctoral programme (applies to doctoral programme students and graduates).
• Information on the course of the doctoral assessment procedure if the candidate has already applied for the degree of doktor in the past.

Persons who apply for a doctoral assessment procedure as part of an individual procedure must submit also:

• higher education diploma,
• declaration on the payment of costs of the doctoral thesis defence,
• personal questionnaire form.

A candidate who is a beneficiary of the ‘Diamond Grant’ [Diamentowy Grant] programme established by the minister competent for science must submit an application for a doctoral assessment procedure together with:

1) copy of a document certifying his/her status of a beneficiary of the programme ‘Diamentowy Grant’;

2) opinion referred to in Article 11(3) of the Act.

RESOLUTION NO. 88/2017

of 26 April 2017

on the principles of awarding Distinctions to doctoral theses

A doctoral thesis may be awarded distinctions if all of the following criteria are met:

• a) the doctoral thesis defence has taken place no later than 4 years after the initiation of the doctoral assessment procedure;
• b) the doctoral degree exams have been passed by the candidate for a doctoral degree with the grade ‘very good’;
• c) the request for awarding distinctions to a doctoral thesis has been submitted by the thesis reviewer or reviewers;
• d) the request for awarding distinctions to a doctoral thesis has been approved by a qualified majority of two-thirds of the members of the Doctoral Commission, after the acceptance of the public doctoral thesis defence.

The request for awarding distinctions to a doctoral thesis should be submitted by the Chairperson of the Doctoral Commission during the meeting of the Faculty Board at which the matter of conferring the doctoral degree is considered.

A doctoral thesis has been awarded distinctions if the request of the Doctoral Commission has been approved with the absolute majority of votes of authorised members of the Faculty Board.

Head of the PhD Student Union: Rafał Więckiewicz M.A. [email protected]

Phone number & e-mail: + 48 22 55 20 187 [email protected]

Office hours:

Office Venue: Auditorium Building Krakowskie Przedmieście st. 26/28, 00-927 Warsaw Room no. 210, 2 floor

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Warsaw Doctoral School of Mathematics and Computer Science

Warsaw Doctoral School of Mathematics and Computer Science (WDSMCS) is a part of Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences. It is led jointly by Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics, and Mechanics University of Warsaw (MIM UW) and Institute of Mathematics of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IMPAN) . The mission of WDSMCS is the continuation of the 100-years old tradition of Warsaw School of Mathematics.

This mission is realized by maintaining the highest research standards in mathematics and computer science and preparing our PhD students to independent research work. Each student works on an individual PhD project under the supervision of researchers of UW and IMPAN. Moreover, the students attend courses taught both by researchers of these institutions and invited external experts (see PhDOpen and Simons semesters ).

Lists of our researchers: IMPAN , MIM UW

Lists of the PhD graduates for both institutions: IMPAN , MIM UW

Application process

The first step is finding a candidate for PhD supervisor and obtaining her/his declaration about the willingness to play such a role. Then you should register in via the internet recruitment webpage (follow the link below to see the list of required documents). Submission of ducuments using  IRK   06.05.2024 - 17.06.2024

More information

• Lists of supervisors in mathematics
• Lists of supervisors n computer science
• The rules of recruitment in 2023
• Recruitment webpage

Open days in previous years:

• Computer Science 2021 (recordings)
• Mathematics 2021
• Computer Science 2023

Financial Support

During the four years of study, each PhD student receives a scholarship in the amount of PLN 2667.70 monthly for the first two years of studies (before the mid-term evaluation) and PLN 4109.70 monthly in the next two years after the mid-term evaluation. Supplement for people with disabilities: PLN 800.31 monthly. Supervisors may offer an addtitional scholarship funded by a research grant. Moreover, host institutions offer travel support for research visits and conference participation. PhD students can apply for 3-6 month internships worldwide funded by University of Warsaw.

Important links

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• [email protected]

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• Rafał Latała (MIMUW)
• Tomasz Adamowicz (IMPAN)

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• Łukasz Kowalik (MIMUW)

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The SGH Doctoral School

Cel Szkoły Doktorskiej SGH to przygotowanie do prowadzenia prac badawczych, niezbędnych do napisania i obrony rozprawy doktorskiej oraz przekazanie najnowszej, światowej wiedzy z wybranych obszarów nauk społecznych oraz metodologii badań w zakresie efektów uczenia się dla kwalifikacji na poziomie 8 Polskiej Ramy Kwalifikacji.

Szkoła Doktorska SGH

Dlaczego warto studiować w sgh.

Dofinansowanie publikacji, badań i udziału w konferencjach

Oferta skierowana do doktorantów oraz młodych pracowników nauki

Stypendium ministra dla młodych naukowców, kredyt studencki

Przydatne informacje

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Praktyczne informacje dla osób spoza Warszawy

The aim of the SGH Doctoral School is to prepare students to conduct research work essential for writing and defending a doctoral dissertation and to provide state-of-the-art global knowledge in selected areas of social sciences and research methodology in the field of learning outcomes for qualifications at the 8th level of the Polish Qualifications Framework.

The list of persons admitted to the Doctoral School at the SGH Warsaw School of Economics in the academic year 2023/2024

PHD DOCTORAL SCHOOL

Additional information.

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University of Warsaw

Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak was re-elected by the Electoral College of the University of Warsaw for a second term as the Rector of the University of Warsaw on 18th April, having received 281 electoral votes.

Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak re-elected UW Rector for the 2024-2028 term

On 6th June, the University of Warsaw will open the registration for the first-cycle and long-cycle studies as well as some second-cycle studies. Candidates are offered about 300 study programmes. The first qualification results will be available on 22nd July.

Admissions for 2024/2025

On linguistic exclusion in “Read with the UW”

Kick-off meeting of the “ 4eu+ for ukraine ii” project, informational meetings on the legalisation of stay in poland, doctor honoris causa on prof. françois englert, the ultra-long-period cepheid, uw open day 2024, qs world university rankings by subject 2024, two erc advanced grants for uw, bayero university kano delegation at uw, record-mass black hole discovered by the gaia mission, lithuanian parliament speaker at uw, doctor honoris causa title upon prof. dieter vollhardt.

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University of Warsaw

Please note that students pursuing a PhD degree must first complete a master's degree program.

To enroll in PhD studies, the following documents must be submitted:

• Copy of the Master’s Diploma +transcript of records.
• PhD research plan (you should contact one of our professors in order to find a PhD supervisor)
• Copy of the passport
• English language certificate

The curriculum of doctoral studies at the University of Warsaw, Faculty of Management, having the right to confer doctoral degree in economics and management, comprises 400 hours and is divided into four modules (of a similar duration):

• The first module includes methodological classes such as general methodology of scientific research, qualitative research methods for organization and the use of statistical methods. It also includes classes aimed to prepare students to write a doctoral thesis, including practical workshops.
• The second module involves lectures designed to update the foundations of economic knowledge (history of economics, macro and microeconomics, theory of organization and current issues in management).
• The third module offers specialized lectures on current issues in economics and management, separately for PhD students working on thesis in economics and for students working on thesis in management.
• The fourth module consists of short (4 hour long each) seminars conducted by domestic and foreign experts. The seminars’ topics are chosen every year based on students’ interests.

The Faculty of Management does not offer PhD programs in English, which means that foreign students prepare their PhD thesis on individual basis. Therefore personal/individual consultations/sessions with the supervisor serve as the foundation to prepare the thesis.

STUDYFINDER

• Doctoral School

• Program listing

About the programme

The goal of the studies.

We expect those completing the PhD programme to be able to: 

• analyse and formulate relevant research questions aimed to make a significant contribution to their respective fields of research.     
• conceptualise and implement research designs and methodologies that make it possible to push the boundaries of knowledge in their respective research fields 
• communicate orally and in writing effectively and clearly, participate actively in international conferences, collaborate in international research groups, and publish in top journals 
• hold positions in leading academic and research institutions, conduct research, development, and innovation projects in various organisations outside the academic environment 

Applicants must have an interest in research in addition to excellent academic transcripts. The programme is open to graduates of various disciplines (including e.g. management, finance, economics, law, engineering, psychology, and other related disciplines), who aspire to make significant theoretical and methodological contributions to the development of the field of social sciences through their scientific and research activity.

Target audience

We are looking for early-stage professionals who have a passion for research and an ambition to become leading researchers in the field of social and legal sciences.

• analyse and formulate relevant research questions aimed to make a significant contribution to their respective fields of science     
• hold positions in leading academic and research institutions or conduct research, development, and innovation projects in various organisations outside the academic environment 

The perfect applicant deciding to pursue doctoral studies at Kozminski University: 

• is ambitious;   
• aspires to pursue a career in research in the field of social sciences;  
• is able to analyse complex problems and issues;   
• is highly proficient in English;  
• has a documented record of excellent study results achieved in the past;   
• holds a master’s degree in the field of social sciences, legal sciences or in a related discipline; 

Learn more about the doctoral school, our students and supervisors

• Courses taught by internationally acclaimed faculty;
• An inspiring, creative, challenging, and supportive environment that stimulates its members to explore issues that matter to them;
• An atmosphere of collegiality and mutual support;
• An opportunity to engage at deep levels of research, a chance to create, question, and reflect on knowledge.

The standard duration of doctoral studies is four years. In the first two years, doctoral students are required to complete their scientific-methodical courses. Years 3 and 4 focus mainly on writing the doctoral dissertation. The course of study ends with a “defence” of the dissertation. In the course of study, doctoral students gain experience in the area of conducting research and disseminating its results as well as planning, implementing, and applying for funds for research projects - everything under the supervision of experienced researchers.

Those doctoral students who find the researching and teaching activities of KU’s faculty members highly relevant to their interests are given four years to conduct a personal research project from start to end. These four years are an opportunity for them to prepare for their future entry into the world of international academia by means of publishing activity and through participation in scientific conferences. 

KU doctoral school has two processes in place aimed to monitor students’ progress: 

• Research Seminars: each of the doctoral students presents their progress in their research at least once per year. The objective is not to evaluate the work performed but to help the student in their research orientation. This workshop-type meeting brings together doctoral students, dissertation supervisors, the programme director, and other faculty members from KU or from outside KU, selected in accordance with the subject of the dissertation. 
• Annual Assessment: each of the doctoral students presents and discusses the results of their activity (progress made in their independent research project, dissemination of research results, involvement in research projects, etc.) and their plans for the following year. The objective is to review the work performed in a given year and to prepare a plan for the year to follow. Participants include: the supervisor of the dissertation, the programme director, and - possibly - other faculty members from KU or from outside KU. It takes place in June. 

Class Schedule

The main goal of the PhD programme is to help its participants acquire and develop the skills required in the practice of a researcher and of an academic teacher. Doctoral students also work on their dissertations - research project of great significance and of the utmost quality. Apart from the dissertation element, doctoral studies include also a general and thorough research training, a chance to explore a chosen specialization, and a teaching training module.

Doctoral school programme

Doctoral School Director

Do you wish to become a researcher prepared to work at the world’s best universities? Are you looking for a rigorous PhD programme run by one of the best research institutions/business schools in Central Europe? If so, Kozminski University’s full-time PhD programme in social and legal sciences is the programme for you.  

Taking part in the doctoral programme at Kozminski University offers a chance for high-calibre researchers exploring disciplines such as management, economy, finance, or law to to work closely with academics at the forefront of their respective fields, to become part of a vibrant research community, and to benefit from the resources and reputation of the university. 

The doctoral programme at Kozminski University provides a rigorous framework of training modules and courses that cover a wide range of topics and research methods. The curriculum involves also working closely with dissertation supervisors. Kozminski University is a relatively young school but it is also a research centre whose list of achievements in different scientific disciplines is already very impressive. 

The PhD programme is an opportunity for doctoral students to get prepared to enter the world of international academia by taking part in scientific projects and industry-specific events as well as by means of their publishing activity. 

We attach great significance to three criteria: your prior academic background; the relevance of your proposed research problem; the fitness of your proposal for the overall research activity of our faculty.

Applicants to the Kozminski University PhD program must hold a master’s degree or equivalent and need to have documented proficiency in the English language.

1. The list of potential supervisor:

• Economy and finance

2. The list of potential auxiliary supervisor:

1. Deadlines 

• Official call publishing – February 2024 
• Application opening date – 25 June 2024 
• Application closing date – 2 July 2024 
• PhD admission results (ranking for interviews) – 8-16 July 2024
• PhD admission results – 22 July 2024

2. Financial Conditions 

Doctoral school funded by the Ministry of Education and Science 

3. Requirements 

Applications can be submitted by candidates of any citizenship who: 

a) have completed or are completing their graduate (master) degree  (e.g. level 7 European Qualification Framework) recognized by the Admission Board, 

b) have at least a “proven” C1 (CEFR) level of competence in English - Date of the exam: not before  October 31, 2020, 

c) have a confirmation of support from a potential supervisor (among KU faculty), 

d) self-declare that the candidate if committed to a full time Ph.D. programme. 

e) have at least a “proven” B2 (CEFR) level of competence in English - Date of the exam: not before  October 31, 2020. The minimum score corresponding to the level B2: 

• International Certificate: FCE, CAE, CPE, BEC Vantage, BEC Higher – more then 173 points, 
• International Certificate: IELTS – average 6.5; no part lower than 5, 
• International Certificate: TOEFL iBT – 84 points. 

But if you don't have an internationally recognized certificate, you will have to self-declare: 

• you are a native speaker of English, 
• you have attended a university program in English. 

4. Selection Criteria 

We attach great significance to three criteria: your prior academic background; the relevance of your proposed research problem; the fitness of your proposal for the overall research activity of our faculty. 

The first step assessment is based on a candidate’s: 

• personal curriculum;  
• academic records;  
• research proposal; 
• statement of purpose;  
• up to three reference letters; 
• other relevant documents (maximum five). 

The qualifications assessment criteria are as follows: 

• a maximum of 40 points for the applicant’s curriculum vita, academic records and thesis' abstract; 
• a maximum of 30 points for statement of purpose, research proposal and reference letters; 
• a maximum of 10 points for other relevant elements. 

The second step assessment is based on the interview, whose maximum score is 20 points. 

The Admission Board will interview applicants who have obtained at least 60 points in the qualifications assessment. An applicant will be eligible for admission to the PhD program if he or she has obtained at least 60 points in the qualifications assessment and at least 15 points out of 20 in the interview. 

Interviews may be held by communications technology which does not require the physical presence of the applicant. 

The purpose of the interview is to better assess applicants’ qualifications; discuss their research proposal (relevance, international approach, issues involved) and their publications, if any; test their aptitude for the program; ascertain their proficiency in English and other foreign languages (when only self-certified), and ascertain their competence in a subject of their choice, which is part of the PhD curriculum. 

5. Documents for Selection 

A wide range of information is needed in order to assess the applicants' strengths and potential for academic success. In particular, the following elements are considered: 

• Application ( appendix 1 ), 
• Application form ( appendix 2 ), 
• A confirmation of support from a potential supervisor (among KU faculty) ( appendix 3 ), 
• Personal curriculum: full CV: education, work experience, language skills, study/work abroad, other relevant skills and experiences, 
• Academic records: transcript of exams and certification of undergraduate and graduate degrees awarded and final grade (if any); if the graduate program has not been completed , an enrollment document with the full study plan, the exams taken and the grades achieved, 
• Statement of purpose:  short description (max 1200 words) of your motivation for enrollment in Koźmiński University PhD program and of your professional goals, 
• Reference letters: up to three reference letters send directly to KU by referees. Referees can be academic (first best) or non-academic (second best) ( appendix 4 ), 
• Research proposal: detailed description of research proposal ( appendix 5 ), 
• Abstract of the thesis only if included in your graduate program (maximum length: one page); 
• Other relevant documents (maximum five): e.g. publications, other programs attended, etc. 
• Documentary evidence of English language competence, 
• Self-declare that the candidate if committed to a full time Ph.D. programme, 
• Copy of the national ID or a passport, 
• Proof of payment of the admission fee (non-refundable). 

6. Application Procedure  

Candidates submit their recruitment documents between 25 June and 2 July 2024. 

The documents can be sent by email to: [email protected] , traditional post or leave in A7a room. 

This deadline is not negotiable.

7. Results: Communication Procedure 

Applicants are ranked according to merit. 

Final ranking: 

• by 22 July 2024 you will be sent a personal e-mail to the address provided in which information about the final outcome of the application will be found. 

8. Financial Matters 

Admission fee: 200 pln/46,72EUR (Exchange rates according to NBP table of 2024-04-08)     

Scholarship per month – 3466,90 pln/809,93 EUR Exchange rates according to NBP table of 2024-04-08)

9. Full Official Call 

Please carefully read the Full Official Call in order to get detailed information about the set of rules and guidelines to apply for the PhD you are interested in. 

More information

This deadline is not negotiable. 

Admission fee: 200 pln/46,72EUR (Exchange rates according to NBP table of 2024-04-08)

Please carefully read the Full Official Call in order to get detailed information about the set of rules and guidelines to apply for the PhD you are interested in.

Enrolment fee: 200 pln/46,72EUR (Exchange rates according to NBP table of 2024-04-08)

Bank account to which you can pay the registration fee:   Kozminski University    03-301 Warsaw,  ul. Jagiellońska 57/59    BANK PEKAO SA in Warsaw 20 1240 1024 1111 0010 1646 0637 SWIFT: PKOPPLPW Title: Doctoral School + full name

Program is free of charge na Doctoral school funded by the Ministry of Education and Science

Warsaw PhD School in Natural and BioMedical Sciences

Sekretariat:

[email protected]

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• Research projects
• Projects archive
• Admissions archive

Admissions deadlines – candidates could apply online to the Doctoral School for the academic year 2024-2025 by submitting their documents:

• from 20 May 2024 to 02 June 2024 – first admission round
• from 26 July 2024 to 9 August 2024 – second admission round
• from 19 December 2024 to 06 January 2025 – third admission round

Interviews of candidates are held:

• from 24 June 2024 to 3 July 2024 – first admission round
• from 2 September 2024 to 11 September 2024 – second admission round
• from 27 January 2025 to 30 January 2025 – third admission round

Candidates who are selected for the second stage of the recruitment process will be invited for interviews by email.

Recruitment Policy of the Warsaw PhD School in Natural and BioMedical Sciences [Warsaw-4-PhD]

We encourage  you to contact  Lab supervisors to obtain more information about scientific work in the Institutes. In order to contact a lab supervisor please check contact information on the webpage of a particular institute.

Results of the admissions for the academic year 2023/2024

[2023.09.21] Results of the third admission round to the Warsaw4PhD Doctoral School [2023.09.21] Results of the second admission round to the Warsaw4PhD Doctoral School [2023.07.10] Results of the first admission round to the Warsaw4PhD Doctoral School

PhD student in Dr Vascotto Group – ONs

Job information, offer description.

The International Institute of Molecular Mechanisms and Machines (IMol) Polish Academy of Sciences, was constituted in December 2020, in partnership with the University Medical Centre Göttingen, Germany and the University of Warsaw, Poland. IMol has been established to conduct scientific research and provide training in the fields of biological, chemical, medical, biotechnological, bioinformatics, biophysical, pharmacological, and similar sciences, in the international environment conducive to collaborative efforts, research and development interactions with the biotechnological industry, and wide dissemination of our results. We aim at the development of solutions that will help everyone on this planet live a safer life.

Currently, IMol is seeking highly motivated candidates for the position of Student

Job start date: 1st of August 2024 Deadline for applying: 15th of May 2024

About the research group:

Mitochondria are the primary endogenous source of reactive oxygen species (ROS): highly reactive molecules that can modify proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. To ensure the stability of mitochondrial DNA and the functionality of transcription and translation processes, cells have evolved repair mechanisms and signalling pathways to detect and respond to ROS production. In the Laboratory of Mitochondrial Nucleic Acids, we study the molecular mechanisms responsible for the repair of mtDNA lesions, the degradation processes of damaged mitochondrial mRNAs, and the characterization of mitochondrial-nucleus crosstalk in the regulation of mitochondrial functions. https://www.imol.institute/vascotto-group

A few words about the research project:

Oligonucleotides (ONs) are a category of nucleic acids-based therapeutics, which includes short, single- or double-stranded DNA or RNA molecules, as antisense oligonucleotides (ASO), RNA interference (RNAi), and aptamer RNA. Several modifications have been developed in the past to significantly increase the stability, potency, and pharmacologic properties of ONs. However, ONs have low bioavailability to traverse the phospholipid bilayer and enter cells. Moreover, it is still extremely challenging to localize a molecule in a specific compartment within the cell. Several systems have been studied in an attempt to target mitochondria efficiently, but none has been demonstrated to be more valuable than the others.

• Start date: 1st August 2024
• Full-time position for up to 1 year
• Salary of ca. 4.500 PLN net / month
• Medical care package and social benefits
• Flexible working hours
• Collaborative and supportive work culture
• Participation in an ambitious interdisciplinary project
• Working with state-of-the-art research equipment
• Opportunity to gain unique professional experience

Key responsibilities:

The successful candidate will work with several delivery systems to uncover the molecular mechanisms driving the delivery and to identify the best approach to target mitochondria. Labeled ONs will be used to evaluate the efficiency of delivery using up-to-date microscopy systems in collaboration.

Profile of candidates/requirements:

• Previous experience in microscopy and molecular biology
• Good command of English is essential
• Good communication skills

Required documents (in English):

• Cover letter
• List of publications
• Reference contacts (please do not send generic letters, contact details only)

If you think you are the person we are looking for, please apply by filling in this form: https://forms.gle/Exoy7iw4U8cYLL9C6

Requirements

Additional information, work location(s), where to apply.

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• NATURE INDEX
• 01 May 2024

Plagiarism in peer-review reports could be the ‘tip of the iceberg’

• Jackson Ryan 0

Jackson Ryan is a freelance science journalist in Sydney, Australia.

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Time pressures and a lack of confidence could be prompting reviewers to plagiarize text in their reports. Credit: Thomas Reimer/Zoonar via Alamy

Mikołaj Piniewski is a researcher to whom PhD students and collaborators turn when they need to revise or refine a manuscript. The hydrologist, at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, has a keen eye for problems in text — a skill that came in handy last year when he encountered some suspicious writing in peer-review reports of his own paper.

Last May, when Piniewski was reading the peer-review feedback that he and his co-authors had received for a manuscript they’d submitted to an environmental-science journal, alarm bells started ringing in his head. Comments by two of the three reviewers were vague and lacked substance, so Piniewski decided to run a Google search, looking at specific phrases and quotes the reviewers had used.

To his surprise, he found the comments were identical to those that were already available on the Internet, in multiple open-access review reports from publishers such as MDPI and PLOS. “I was speechless,” says Piniewski. The revelation caused him to go back to another manuscript that he had submitted a few months earlier, and dig out the peer-review reports he received for that. He found more plagiarized text. After e-mailing several collaborators, he assembled a team to dig deeper.

Meet this super-spotter of duplicated images in science papers

The team published the results of its investigation in Scientometrics in February 1 , examining dozens of cases of apparent plagiarism in peer-review reports, identifying the use of identical phrases across reports prepared for 19 journals. The team discovered exact quotes duplicated across 50 publications, saying that the findings are just “the tip of the iceberg” when it comes to misconduct in the peer-review system.

Dorothy Bishop, a former neuroscientist at the University of Oxford, UK, who has turned her attention to investigating research misconduct, was “favourably impressed” by the team’s analysis. “I felt the way they approached it was quite useful and might be a guide for other people trying to pin this stuff down,” she says.

Peer review under review

Piniewski and his colleagues conducted three analyses. First, they uploaded five peer-review reports from the two manuscripts that his laboratory had submitted to a rudimentary online plagiarism-detection tool . The reports had 44–100% similarity to previously published online content. Links were provided to the sources in which duplications were found.

The researchers drilled down further. They broke one of the suspicious peer-review reports down to fragments of one to three sentences each and searched for them on Google. In seconds, the search engine returned a number of hits: the exact phrases appeared in 22 open peer-review reports, published between 2021 and 2023.

The final analysis provided the most worrying results. They took a single quote — 43 words long and featuring multiple language errors, including incorrect capitalization — and pasted it into Google. The search revealed that the quote, or variants of it, had been used in 50 peer-review reports.

Predominantly, these reports were from journals published by MDPI, PLOS and Elsevier, and the team found that the amount of duplication increased year-on-year between 2021 and 2023. Whether this is because of an increase in the number of open-access peer-review reports during this time or an indication of a growing problem is unclear — but Piniewski thinks that it could be a little bit of both.

Why would a peer reviewer use plagiarized text in their report? The team says that some might be attempting to save time , whereas others could be motivated by a lack of confidence in their writing ability, for example, if they aren’t fluent in English.

The team notes that there are instances that might not represent misconduct. “A tolerable rephrasing of your own words from a different review? I think that’s fine,” says Piniewski. “But I imagine that most of these cases we found are actually something else.”

The source of the problem

Duplication and manipulation of peer-review reports is not a new phenomenon. “I think it’s now increasingly recognized that the manipulation of the peer-review process, which was recognized around 2010, was probably an indication of paper mills operating at that point,” says Jennifer Byrne, director of biobanking at New South Wales Health in Sydney, Australia, who also studies research integrity in scientific literature.

Paper mills — organizations that churn out fake research papers and sell authorships to turn a profit — have been known to tamper with reviews to push manuscripts through to publication, says Byrne.

The fight against fake-paper factories that churn out sham science

However, when Bishop looked at Piniewski’s case, she could not find any overt evidence of paper-mill activity. Rather, she suspects that journal editors might be involved in cases of peer-review-report duplication and suggests studying the track records of those who’ve allowed inadequate or plagiarized reports to proliferate.

Piniewski’s team is also concerned about the rise of duplications as generative artificial intelligence (AI) becomes easier to access . Although his team didn’t look for signs of AI use, its ability to quickly ingest and rephrase large swathes of text is seen as an emerging issue.

A preprint posted in March 2 showed evidence of researchers using AI chatbots to assist with peer review, identifying specific adjectives that could be hallmarks of AI-written text in peer-review reports .

Bishop isn’t as concerned as Piniewski about AI-generated reports, saying that it’s easy to distinguish between AI-generated text and legitimate reviewer commentary. “The beautiful thing about peer review,” she says, is that it is “one thing you couldn’t do a credible job with AI”.

Preventing plagiarism

Publishers seem to be taking action. Bethany Baker, a media-relations manager at PLOS, who is based in Cambridge, UK, told Nature Index that the PLOS Publication Ethics team “is investigating the concerns raised in the Scientometrics article about potential plagiarism in peer reviews”.

How big is science’s fake-paper problem?

An Elsevier representative told Nature Index that the publisher “can confirm that this matter has been brought to our attention and we are conducting an investigation”.

In a statement, the MDPI Research Integrity and Publication Ethics Team said that it has been made aware of potential misconduct by reviewers in its journals and is “actively addressing and investigating this issue”. It did not confirm whether this was related to the Scientometrics article.

One proposed solution to the problem is ensuring that all submitted reviews are checked using plagiarism-detection software. In 2022, exploratory work by Adam Day, a data scientist at Sage Publications, based in Thousand Oaks, California, identified duplicated text in peer-review reports that might be suggestive of paper-mill activity. Day offered a similar solution of using anti-plagiarism software , such as Turnitin.

Piniewski expects the problem to get worse in the coming years, but he hasn’t received any unusual peer-review reports since those that originally sparked his research. Still, he says that he’s now even more vigilant. “If something unusual occurs, I will spot it.”

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01312-0

Piniewski, M., Jarić, I., Koutsoyiannis, D. & Kundzewicz, Z. W. Scientometrics https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-024-04960-1 (2024).

Article   Google Scholar  

Liang, W. et al. Preprint at arXiv https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2403.07183 (2024).

Download references

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