R1 – PhD position in Neuromorphic Devices and Hardware Implementation

IREC - Institut de Recerca en Energia de Catalunya; Barcelona; On-site; EUR 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

The Catalonia Institute for Energy Research (IREC) in Barcelona invites applications for a PhD position within the SELDON project. The successful MSc graduate will work at the interface of iontronic devices, microfabrication and neuromorphic electronics, advancing from single synapses to arrays and hardware demonstrations.

Research will include device fabrication, electrical characterization and neural-network mapping onto hardware, with collaboration across IMB-CNM and UOC for satellite GNSS

Qualifications

• Completed Master’s degree in Physics, Electronic Engineering, Materials Science, Nanoscience, or a closely related field.
• Interest in experimental device research, neuromorphic computing and hardware implementation.
• Ability to analyze quantitative data and work independently.
• Good written and spoken English and collaboration skills.
• Experience with electrical measurement, microfabrication or thin-film deposition.
• Programming and data-analysis skills (Python or MATLAB).

Responsibilities

• Fabricate and optimize oxide-ion synaptic transistors and arrays using thin-film deposition and microfabrication.
• Characterize synaptic devices and assess conductance modulation, programming speed, retention and energy use.
• Develop automated electrical measurements and programming protocols for device weights.
• Implement analog computing operations and neural networks in hardware.
• Collaborate with partners on circuit integration and hardware demonstrations.

Skills

Experimental research

Neuromorphic computing

Hardware implementation

Python

MATLAB

Data analysis

Education

Master's degree in Physics / Electronic Engineering / Materials Science / Nanoscience

Tools

Python

MATLAB

Thin-film deposition

Microfabrication

Electrical characterization

Job description

The Nanoionics and Fuel Cells group at the Catalonia Institute for Energy Research (IREC) is seeking a motivated MSc graduate in Physics, Electronic Engineering, Materials Science, Nanoscience or a related field to pursue a PhD within SELDON – Smart Edge and Low-power Neuromorphic Computing Devices for Internet of Things (IoT) Nodes. Led by Prof. Albert Tarancón and Dr. Francesco Chiabrera, SELDON is part of a coordinated project with the Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona–National Microelectronics Centre (IMB-CNM) and the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC). The research will focus on developing oxide-ion synaptic transistors and integrating them into neuromorphic chips to implement neural networks directly in hardware.

The successful candidate will work at the interface of iontronic devices, microfabrication and neuromorphic electronics, progressing from individual artificial synapses to functional arrays and hardware demonstrations. These devices use controlled oxygen-ion motion to tune and store their electrical conductance, enabling analog in-memory computing. The research will combine device fabrication, electrical characterization and programming with the implementation and validation of neural networks for low-power edge computing. The position offers hands-on training in advanced fabrication and measurement techniques and close collaboration with partners working on microelectronics, algorithms and system integration.

Research activities:

• Fabricate and optimize oxide-ion synaptic transistors and arrays using thin-film deposition and microfabrication techniques.
• Characterize synaptic devices and arrays, assessing conductance modulation, programming speed, retention, endurance, variability and energy consumption.
• Develop automated electrical measurements and programming protocols to address devices and set synaptic weights, including thermally assisted programming with integrated micro-heaters.
• Implement and validate analog computing operations and neural-network functions in device arrays, linking measured device properties to computational accuracy and energy efficiency.
• Collaborate with IMB-CNM and UOC on circuit and system integration, contributing to hardware demonstrations for satellite navigation (GNSS) signal processing and intelligent IoT nodes. Share findings through scientific publications and international conferences

Qualifications and experience

• A completed master’s degree in Physics, Electronic Engineering, Materials Science, Nanoscience or a closely related field by the appointment date.
• An interest in experimental device research, neuromorphic computing and hardware implementation, together with the ability to analyze quantitative data.
• Good written and spoken English and the ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Experience with electronic devices, electrical characterization, microfabrication or thin-film deposition.
• Knowledge of, or interest in, neuromorphic computing, analog electronics, neural networks, electrochemistry or solid-state ionics.
• Programming and data-analysis skills, for example in Python or MATLAB, and an interest in measurement automation, device modelling or mapping neural networks onto hardware.