HeartVision - PhD candidate in Optical Microscopy

Universitat de Barcelona; España; On-site; EUR 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

The Dynamic Optical Systems Lab at Universitat de Barcelona invites applications for a PhD position focused on developing and characterizing the In-vitro scope, an advanced three-dimensional optical microscope for millimetre-scale samples.

Candidates hold a BSc/MSc in Physics, Optics or Engineering and have strong English skills. The project includes experimental work, some optical design, and mentorship in manuscript preparation and grant writing; the start date around Nov 2026.

Qualifications

• Requires BSc or MSc in Physics, Optics, or Engineering and admission to the Physics PhD program at UB.
• English proficiency required for interdisciplinary work.
• 1-4 years of research experience in engineering/physics fields.

Responsibilities

• Experimental development and characterization of the In-vitro scope.
• Contribute to optical design of the project.
• Participate in group activities and mentorship in manuscript preparation.

Skills

English (Excellent)

Optics design

FPGA

Python

Matlab

LabVIEW

Education

BSc/MSc in Physics/Optics/Engineering

Tools

FPGA

Python

Matlab

LabVIEW

Job description

Organisation/Company Universitat de Barcelona Department OPIR Research Field Engineering Physics Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 20 Oct 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Madrid) Country Spain Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 37,5 Offer Starting Date 2 Nov 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - EIC Reference Number 101258941 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Are you fascinated by optics and micro-/nano- scale phenomena? Do you want to develop new technologies for high throughput imaging at sub-cellular resolution? Are you holding a master degree in Physics or Engineering? A PhD position within the framework of an EIC-Pathfinder Open project is available!

The position is offered at the Dynamic Optical Systems Lab at Universitat de Barcelona.

Fast, high-resolution three-dimensional optical imaging of bulky samples remains extremely challenging. Current optical microscopes are generally optimized for high-resolution imaging over small fields of view, which are limited by the camera sensor size and the magnification of the optical system. Extending the imaging range typically requires mechanical scanning and computational stitching of multiple acquired images. This approach inevitably reduces the acquisition speed, a limitation that is further exacerbated in three-dimensional imaging by the need for axial scanning of the sample.

This project aims to develop an original, potentially low-cost, high-resolution three-dimensional optical microscope capable of imaging millimetre-scale samples without the need for image stitching or sample translation. The resulting microscope, named the In-vitro scope, will enable the characterization of organoids and engineered heart tissue samples.

The PhD candidate's main task will be experimental – development and characterization of the In-vitro scope – with some optical design.She/he will actively participate in group activities (journal clubs and group meetings, mentoring undergraduate students) and receive extensive mentorship in manuscript preparation and grant writing.

Gross Salary per year: €25.000

The application period is from 6 to 20 October 2026.

We are looking for a highly motivated and academically curious team player who:

• Holds a BSc/MSc in Physics/Optics/Engineering and fulfil the requirements to be admitted into the Physics PhD program at the Universitat de Barcelona.
• Is responsible for the progress and quality of projects;
• Has independent working skills and strong communication skills in both spoken and written English to work on an interdisciplinary project.

Specific Requirements

The ideal candidate should possess (but it is not required):

• A background in optical design or optical microscopy
• Experience in designing optical systems - from hardware to software implementation, including FPGA controlling
• Programming skills in Python, Matlab, or LabView

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Research Field EngineeringPhysics Years of Research Experience 1 - 4

Additional Information

A full-time work contract (37.5 hrs/week). The researcher will have the possibility to participate in teaching activities for professional development (not obligatory, though).

Eligibility criteria

A specific committee will evaluate the applications using the following criteria:

• Grade point average of the academic transcripts from the applicant's bachelors or master's degree studies (or 1st and 2nd cycle): up to 5 points out of a total of 10.
• Curricular merits: up to 1 point out of a total of 10 in accordance with the specific criteria listed in Annex 1.
• Suitability for the tasks to be performed within the framework of the research project or research support position to which the successful candidate will be attached: up to 4 points out of a total of 10.

Selection process

The specific committee will agree upon an award proposal and draw up a prioritized shortlist of candidates who have achieved a minimum of five pointsor declare the call for applications null and void if none of the applicants reach the minimum score.

The award proposal will be published in the UB's electronic office and must include the total scores of the candidates that have received a total of at least five points.

Application Process:

According to the specific requirements and selection criteria, the candidates are expected to provide at least the following documents:

• Full CV

BSc and MSc academic transcripts

Additional comments

The candidate proposed for hiring must accept the job offer within 5 working days from the date of notification of the selection.

Be aware that the starting date sets in this offer is an estimate date. The official starting date will depend on the time necessary for administration to prepare the labour contract and present the necessary documents for the selected candidate to be hired.

Priority will be given to people with disabilities (Law 89/2015 of June 2, reserve of quota 2% in favour of people with disabilities in companies of 50 or more people).