R2 – Postdoctoral Position in Oxide Membranes and Devices for Brain-Inspired Computing

FUNDACIO INSTITU DE RECERCA EN ENERGIA DE CATALUNYA; España; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

FUNDACIO INSTITU DE RECERCA EN ENERGIA DE CATALUNYA invites applications for a five-year postdoctoral position in the TOPOIONICS project, based in Barcelona, Spain. The appointee will work in the Nanoionics and Fuel Cells group to develop oxide thin films, freestanding membranes, and iontronic devices within an ERC Starting Grant framework.

Responsibilities include materials synthesis, membrane fabrication, device integration, advanced characterization, data analysis, mentoring PhD students, and

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field by the appointment date.
• Experience with oxide materials and thin-film fabrication.
• Ability to plan independent research and communicate in English.
• Experience in device integration and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize oxide thin films and freestanding membranes for iontronic applications.
• Design and fabricate experimental devices, integrating oxide membranes with functional components.
• Investigate how ionic processes influence material properties and device performance.
• Develop experimental approaches and advanced characterization methods and guide analysis.
• Mentor PhD students, coordinate activities with collaborators, and disseminate findings.

Skills

Oxide thin-film fabrication

Microfabrication

Electrochemical devices

Characterization techniques

English communication

Mentoring PhD students

Collaborative research

Education

PhD in Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, Nanoscience or related field

Tools

X-ray diffraction

SEM/FESEM

Raman spectroscopy

AFM/Profilometry

Epitaxial growth

Job description

FUNDACIO INSTITU DE RECERCA EN ENERGIA DE CATALUNYA

Organisation/Company FUNDACIO INSTITU DE RECERCA EN ENERGIA DE CATALUNYA Research Field Other Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 4 Nov 2026 - 13:01 (Europe/Madrid) Country Spain Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The Nanoionics and Fuel Cells group at IREC is seeking a motivated postdoctoral researcher to join TOPOIONICS - Topological Ionics for Adaptive Neuromorphic Networks, an ERC Starting Grant project led by Dr. Francesco Chiabrera, exploring new materials for brain-inspired computing. The project aims to use ionic motion to reshape the structure and electrical properties of oxides, enabling devices that adapt their internal connectivity in response to external signals.

The successful candidate will play a central role in developing oxide thin films, freestanding membranes and iontronic devices. The research will combine materials synthesis, membrane fabrication and integration, and advanced characterization to explore how ionic processes can enable new neuromorphic functionalities. This five-year position offers the opportunity to develop original research directions within TOPOIONICS, contribute to the growth of the team and collaborate with an international network of researchers.

Research activities:

• Develop and optimize oxide thin films and freestanding membranes for iontronic applications.
• Design and fabricate experimental devices, integrating oxide membranes with functional components.
• Investigate how ionic processes and structural changes influence material properties and device performance.
• Develop experimental approaches and advanced characterization methods, and guide the analysis and interpretation of results.
• Contribute to mentoring PhD students, coordinate research activities with collaborators, and disseminate findings through publications and international conferences.

Employment and application

We offer a five-year postdoctoral position in an international research environment at IREC in Barcelona. Salary and employment conditions will follow IREC policy and the applicable call.

• Curriculum vitae, including a publication list and relevant research experience.
• Motivation letter outlining research interests and suitability for the position.

Requirements

Research Field Engineering Education Level PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

• A PhD in Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, Nanoscience or a closely related field by the appointment date.
• Demonstrated experimental research experience in oxide materials, thin-film fabrication, microfabrication or electrochemical devices, supported by relevant scientific publications.
• Ability to plan and conduct independent research, work collaboratively, and communicate effectively in written and spoken English.
• Experience in epitaxial thin-film growth, freestanding oxide membranes or device integration.
• Knowledge of solid-state ionics, electrochemistry, defect chemistry or neuromorphic devices, and experience with relevant characterization techniques.
• Experience in mentoring students, collaborating across disciplines, or developing measurement and data-analysis tools.