PhD Position in the Quantum Nanoelectronics and Nanomechanic

Quantum Flagship; Barcelona; Presencial; EUR 24.532 - 29.983; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Medical care coverage

Work accident insurance

Family allowance available on request

Descripción de la vacante

Quantum Flagship in Barcelona offers two PhD positions in Quantum Nanoelectronics for motivated students in a stimulating environment. Candidates will work with Prof. Dr. Morgan Mitchell's Atomic Quantum Optics group, focusing on quantum light-matter interactions and advanced sensors.

Ideal applicants possess a Master-equivalent degree in physics, have strong scientific backgrounds, and excellent English skills. The fellowship provides a gross annual salary of €27,257.83 and healthcare coverage.

Formación

• Excellent academic record and previous research experience.
• Must have completed the degree by the start of the PhD.
• Candidates with a PhD are not eligible.

Responsabilidades

• Join a team working on quantum systems and technologies.
• Participate in summer schools and international conferences.
• Publish experimental discoveries.

Conocimientos

Strong commitment for scientific research

High working knowledge of English

Educación

Master-equivalent degree in physics or related field

Descripción del empleo

PhD Position in the Quantum Nanoelectronics and Nanomechanic

ICFO is offering two PhD positions to highly motivated students who wish to start their scientific career in a friendly and stimulating environment. The successful candidates will be joining the Atomic Quantum Optics group led by Prof. Dr. Morgan Mitchell.

Our PhD‑program brings together top‑level training and teaching for young scientists, benefiting from the extensive course offerings of local universities and focused instruction by ICFO professors, in a stimulating, international and interdisciplinary environment. PhD‑students have the opportunity to take advantage of our network of excellence, consisting in partners of national and international research institutes and universities, as well as industrial partners in the field.

The successful candidate will be joining the Atomic Quantum Optics group led by Prof. Dr. Morgan Mitchell. The group uses the extraordinary coherence properties of atoms, together with an ever‑increasing sophistication in optical manipulation and measurement, to study fundamental physics of light‑matter interactions, quantum optical effects in advanced sensing, and new applications of extreme sensors.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

The Atomic Quantum Optics group studies how quantum physics manifests in atomic systems and the optical systems that interact with them. The research ranges from fundamental studies such as the nature of quantum light‑matter interactions, to technologies such as quantum sensors. The student will join a small team working on a specific experimental system, which may be a single‑atom optical tweezer, spinor Bose‑Einstein condensate, or atomic vapor. The student will play an active role in developing this science and technology, in collaboration with other students, post‑doctoral researchers, and in some cases international research collaborations. The student will participate in summer schools and conferences, and is expected to produce and publish experimental discoveries.

To be eligible for the position, candidates must:

• Have an internationally‑recognized Master‑equivalent degree preferably in physics. The degree must be completed by the start of your prospective PhD at ICFO, at the latest, and must be in a field of science and engineering related to the ICFO research activities. Degrees issued within the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) must have an equivalent to 300 ECTS, out of which a minimum of 60 ECTS must have been obtained in postgraduate studies.
• Candidates who have already been awarded a PhD are not eligible to apply.
• Have an excellent academic record, previous research experience and a strong commitment for scientific research.
• Have a high working knowledge of English.

ICFO is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are selected exclusively on merit and potential on the basis of submitted application material. No restrictions related to disabilities, citizenship or gender apply to ICFO positions. ICFO abides by the principles of openness, efficiency, transparency, supportiveness, and international comparability as stated in the European Charter for Researchers and the European Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.

Candidates with disabilities or other special needs are strongly encouraged to apply to the program. ICFO will provide all possible assistance to ensure the candidate’s application is fairly assessed.

Conditions

ICFO PhD positions are offered for a period of 4.5 years. The conditions of the positions awarded in the scope of the ICFO PhD fellowship program are as follows:

• Initial contract for a period of up to 6 months (referred to as the “initial trainee period”), while being pre‑admitted to the PhD program, with an explicit follow‑up/ renewal procedure at the end of this first stage. Note that in certain circumstances the initial trainee period might be shortened or not offered. During this period, students already take part in the ICFO working environment, join a research group, and work with their supervisor to define a research project.
• After the initial training period, students are formally enrolled in a PhD Program with a local university (as a general rule, the UPC PhD in Photonics program administered by ICFO), and the full PhD Fellowship activated. Fellowships are offered for periods of three years, renewable for an additional fourth year, and are formalized via a PhD‑contract. Continuity and renewal are subject to satisfactory performance in the PhD studies and related research activities, evaluated annually by the Thesis Director and the ICFO PhD Committee.
• ICFO offers a standard salary level for PhD Students of €27.257,83 gross annual salary. This applies to both the 6‑months Trainee Period and the 4‑years PhD Period.
• The starting date will be discussed with the Group Leader by selected candidate.
• All fellowships include medical care coverage and work accident insurance through the Spanish Social Security system, providing access to the Spanish public health care system.
• As part of the fellowship, ICFO will provide budget as deemed necessary and with the corresponding approval from the corresponding Group/Team Leader to enable the PhD fellow to complete his/her assigned research project. This budget is managed by the Group/Team leader, and will include consumables and other materials, training and other related costs, such as registration fees, travel and subsistence costs for participation in national or international events, conference, meetings, schools, and/or other training activities.
• Additionally, a family allowance is also available on request and after corresponding approval for people with family charges in the terms described in the corresponding policy.

Application deadline: 31st of August, 2026