Research Support Technician - Inorganic Particles

Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia; España; On-site; EUR 25,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Insurance

Work-Life Balance

Holidays 28 per year

Flexible compensation plan

International multidisciplinary enviro

Data-driven materials research

Job summary

Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (ICN2) invites applications for a Research Support Technician in Laboratory Automation and Nanomaterials Characterization. Join the Inorganic Nanoparticles Group to support robotic synthesis and automated materials analysis, improving reproducibility and throughput.

You will operate and maintain the robotic platform, assist in synthesis and characterization workflows, and contribute to data management.

Qualifications

• Degree in Chemistry, Nanoscience, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• FP Superior in Chemistry, Laboratory Analysis, Chemical Processes, or a related technical field.
• Knowledge: Familiarity with chemical synthesis, sample preparation, and standard laboratory procedures.
• Professional Experience: Practical experience in a chemistry, materials science, or related laboratory environment.
• Personal Competences: Good organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to maintain accurate experimental records.
• The following will be considered an advantage: Experience in the synthesis and characterization of inorganic nanoparticles; Familiarity with UV–Vis spectroscopy, DLS, XRD, XPS, ICP-OES; Experience with robotic platforms; Basic knowledge of Python, data processing, or lab databases; Experience with standardized protocols, data quality control and sample tracking.

Responsibilities

• Robotic platform operation: Operate, maintain and manage the robotic platform for automated and high-throughput nanoparticle synthesis, including reagent preparation, consumables management, routine maintenance and troubleshooting.
• Nanoparticle synthesis and characterization: Support the synthesis and characterization of inorganic nanoparticles using techniques such as UV–Vis spectroscopy, DLS, XRD, XPS and ICP-OES.
• Integration of experimental workflows: Assist in connecting automated synthesis with sample preparation and characterization procedures, improving reproducibility, efficiency and throughput.
• Data management and traceability: Collect, organize and document experimental data, ensuring reliable sample identification and integration into the group’s experimental database.
• Laboratory organization: Manage reagents, samples, consumables and equipment for the robotic platform.
• User support and training: Provide technical assistance and training to researchers and students in the use of the robotic platform and established protocols.
• Research support: Coordinate sample preparation, characterization requests and material distribution within the group and collaborating teams.
• Estimated Incorporation date: as soon as possible.

Skills

Chemical synthesis knowledge

Laboratory procedures

Independent work

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor-level degree in Chemistry / Nanoscience / Materials Science / Chemical Engineering

High technical diploma (FP Superior) in Chemistry / Laboratory Analysis / Chemical Processes

Job description

Organisation/Company Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia Research Field Engineering » Chemical engineering Chemistry Technology » Nanotechnology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Bachelor Positions Application Deadline 1 Dec 2026 - 00:00 (Europe/Madrid) Country Spain Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 37.5 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number Grant No 101265532 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

As a flagship research center in nanoscience and nanotechnology, our mission is to open and explore new frontiers of knowledge at the nanoscale and bring value to society in the form of new understanding, capabilities, and innovation, while inspiring and providing broad training to the next generations of researchers. Our values are Commitment, Collaboration and Transformation.

Our research lines focus on the newly discovered physical and chemical properties that arise from the behaviour of matter at the nanoscale. ICN2 has been awarded the Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence distinction for three consecutive periods (2014-2018, 2018-2022 and 2023-2026). ICN2 comprises 20 Research Groups, 7 Technical Development and Support Units and Facilities, and 2 Research Platforms, covering different areas of nanoscience and nanotechnology.

Job Title: Research Support Technician

Department: Inorganic Nanoparticles

Description of Group/Project:

Research Support Technician – Laboratory Automation and Nanomaterials Characterization

The Inorganic Nanoparticles Group at ICN2 is seeking a motivated and hands‑on Research Technician to support the operation and development of robotic platforms for the automated synthesis and characterization of inorganic nanomaterials.

The position will focus on integrating automated nanoparticle synthesis with experimental characterization and data management, contributing to the development of efficient, reproducible and traceable experimental workflows.

The successful candidate will support the daily operation of the robotic synthesis platform, assist in the optimization of experimental protocols and facilitate its use by researchers within the group and collaborating teams.

Main Tasks and responsibilities:

• Robotic platform operation: Operate, maintain and manage the robotic platform for automated and high-throughput nanoparticle synthesis, including reagent preparation, consumables management, routine maintenance and troubleshooting.
• Nanoparticle synthesis and characterization: Support the synthesis and characterization of inorganic nanoparticles using techniques such as UV–Vis spectroscopy, DLS, XRD, XPS and ICP-OES.
• Integration of experimental workflows: Assist in connecting automated synthesis with sample preparation and characterization procedures, improving experimental reproducibility, efficiency and sample throughput.
• Data management and traceability: Collect, organize and document experimental data, ensuring reliable sample identification, traceability and integration into the group’s experimental database.
• Laboratory organization: Manage reagents, samples, consumables and equipment associated with the robotic platform, ensuring efficient daily operation and compliance with laboratory safety procedures.
• User support and training: Provide technical assistance and training to researchers and students in the use of the robotic platform and established synthesis and characterization protocols.
• Research support: Coordinate sample preparation, characterization requests and material distribution within the group and with collaborating research teams and external users.
• Degree in Chemistry, Nanoscience, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• FP Superior in Chemistry, Laboratory Analysis, Chemical Processes, or a related technical field.
• Knowledge: Familiarity with chemical synthesis, sample preparation, and standard laboratory procedures.
• Professional Experience:
  • Practical experience in a chemistry, materials science, or related laboratory environment.
  • Previous experience with robotic platforms is not required.
• Personal Competences:
  • Good organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to maintain accurate experimental records.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research team.
  • Good communication skills and willingness to learn new experimental techniques.
• The following will be considered an advantage:
  • Experience in the synthesis and characterization of inorganic nanoparticles.
  • Familiarity with UV–Vis spectroscopy, DLS, XRD, XPS, ICP-OES, or related techniques.
  • Experience with robotic platforms, liquid-handling systems, laboratory automation, or high-throughput experimentation.
  • Basic knowledge of Python, experimental data processing, or laboratory databases.
  • Experience with standardized experimental protocols, data quality control and sample tracking.
• Salary will depend on qualifications and demonstrated experience.
• Support for relocation issues.
• Life Insurance.
• Work-Life Balance and Flexibility with flexible work schedules
• 28 holidays per year
• Flexible compensation plan: tax advantages forcontracting some products (health insurance, childcare, training, among others)
• A position in an international and multidisciplinary research environment at ICN2.
• The opportunity to contribute to the development of reproducible and data-driven materials research workflows.

Specific benefits from this position:

• Training in laboratory automation, high-throughput experimentation and experimental data management.
• Specific training onrobotic synthesis platforms and advanced nanomaterial characterization will be provided.
• Collaboration with researchers working at the interface of nanomaterials, automation and artificial intelligence.

Estimated Incorporation date: as soon as possible.

Selection process

Equal opportunities:

At ICN2, we foster an inclusive and safe work environment, free from any form of discrimination—whether based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, origin, culture, religion, disability, or any other personal or social condition. We are committed to ensuring equal treatment and opportunities in all our processes, especially in recruitment, which is based solely on talent, experience, and ability. We implement proactive policies for inclusion and harassment prevention that reinforce our commitment to respect and fairness. If you share these values and are looking to grow in an open and diverse environment, ICN2 is ready to welcome you.