Predoctoral Researcher CHEMOPTFOR

IQS; Barcelona; On-site; EUR 13,392 - 17,856; Full time

Job summary

IQS in Barcelona seeks a predoctoral researcher to join an interdisciplinary and international team. You will pursue optical trapping studies, chemical modulation of light-matter interactions, and collaboration with partner laboratories to strengthen your research portfolio.

The role involves applying for fellowships (e.g., FPU, FI) and developing first-author publications while contributing to cutting-edge photonics and soft-matter chemistry projects in real-world media.

Qualifications

• Predoctoral researcher with interest in physical chemistry, photonics, soft matter.
• Experience with soft-matter experiments, dye chemistry, or optical trapping is desirable.
• Ability to work in interdisciplinary, international teams and to develop and communicate research ideas clearly.
• Willingness to apply for fellowships and funding opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Design chromophore-doped particles whose color or excited-state lifetime changes reversibly with simple chemical inputs (pH, ions, quenchers).
• Develop chemically modulated optical trapping experiments and work with state-of-the-art optical traps and microscopes.
• Demonstrate chemically modulated optical trapping for (bio)chemical sensing in complex media.
• Collaborate across chemistry, physics, materials, and bioengineering; pursue first-author opportunities and international collaborations.
• Plan and perform research stays at collaborator laboratories.

Skills

Physical chemistry

Photonics

Soft matter

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Tools

Optical trapping

Dye chemistry

Soft-matter experiments

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated predoctoral researcher who will work in an interdisciplinary and international environment with leading groups in the field. It is foreseen that the candidate will perform some research stays in our collaborator laboratories. The candidate will apply for other Predoctoral fellowships such as FPU (Spanish Government) or FI (Generalitat de Catalunya), as well as other similar Fellowships from other agencies.

Research Topic

In living systems, tiny chemical signals switch complex processes on and off. CHEMOPTFOR brings that idea to photonics: instead of controlling optical forces only by tweaking laser settings (color, power, polarization), we will use molecules as the remote control for light’s push and pull. You’ll design chromophore‑doped particles whose color or excited‑state lifetime changes reversibly with simple chemical inputs (pH, ions, quenchers). Those molecular switches will let us strengthen or weaken optical forces on demand: first on single particles, then in self‑assembling “optical matter” that forms reconfigurable patterns for photonic crystals, sensing, and smart materials. Along the way you’ll work with state‑of‑the‑art optical traps and microscopes, learn practical soft‑matter and dye chemistry, and turn models into experiments in fluids, not just in ideal vacuum conditions.

Your research aims to demonstrate chemically modulated optical trapping for (bio)chemical sensing in complex media, creating a new class of optochemically responsive materials. This is frontier territory: chemistry has largely sat on the sidelines of optical forces. We plan to change that, positioning physical chemists at the heart of optical manipulation. If you’re excited by hands‑on experimentation, elegant physical ideas, and real‑world impact, you’ll find plenty of first‑author opportunities, international collaborations, and mentoring across chemistry, physics, materials, and bioengineering. Bring your curiosity; we’ll help you build the skills to make adaptive, light‑driven materials that think (and react) like living systems.

Join AppLightChem: make light respond to chemistry inputs.

Responsibilities

• Design chromophore‑doped particles whose color or excited‑state lifetime changes reversibly with simple chemical inputs (pH, ions, quenchers).
• Develop chemically modulated optical trapping experiments and work with state‑of‑the‑art optical traps and microscopes.
• Demonstrate chemically modulated optical trapping for (bio)chemical sensing in complex media.
• Collaborate across chemistry, physics, materials, and bioengineering; pursue first‑author opportunities and international collaborations.
• Plan and perform research stays at collaborator laboratories.

Qualifications

• Predoctoral researcher with strong interest in physical chemistry, photonics, soft matter, or related fields.
• Experience with soft‑matter experiments, dye chemistry, or optical trapping is desirable.
• Ability to work in interdisciplinary, international teams and to develop and communicate research ideas clearly.
• Willingness to apply for fellowships and funding opportunities.