Specialist in Applied Vapor-Phase Deposition & Nanomaterials (ALD, MLD, VPI)

CIC nanoGUNE; España; Presencial; EUR 60.000 - 90.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

CIC nanoGUNE in Spain's Basque Country invites applications for a research position in the Nanomaterials Group led by Prof. Mato Knez.

The group focuses on synthesis, chemical functionalization, and nanoscale engineering of novel materials, bridging fundamental nanoscience with high-impact industrial applications. The successful candidate will design and execute applied research using ALD, MLD and VPI, collaborate with industry partners, and drive proof-of-concept solutions while developing

Formación

• Holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science, Chemical/Mechanical Engineering, Applied Physics, Chemistry, or a closely related discipline.
• Demonstrates a proactive, application-driven mindset with a strong motivation to interface with industry, manage technology transfer initiatives, and deliver against collaborative R&D milestones.
• Possesses strong interpersonal and cross-functional communication skills, with full professional and technical fluency in both English and Spanish.

Responsabilidades

• Industrial & Applied Project Execution: Leading the experimental design, execution, and delivery of applied research projects involving ALD, MLD, and VPI tailored to target industrial specifications.
• Partner & Stakeholder Management: Serving as the key technical liaison for industrial partners and applied technology centers, translating commercial needs into structured research roadmaps.
• Process & Materials Engineering: Developing, optimizing, and scaling up novel vapor-phase deposition recipes, surface functionalization strategies, and organic–inorganic hybrid materials.
• Application-Specific Testing & Reporting: Designing and coordinating functional testing regimens tailored to target sectors, analyzing material performance and delivering high-quality technical reports, project deliverables, and patent applications.
• Business Development & Funding Acquisition: Supporting the group leader in identifying public and private funding opportunities, co-authoring collaborative grant proposals (regional, national, and EU), and presenting proof-of-concept solutions to prospective industrial clients.

Conocimientos

English fluency

Spanish fluency

Cross-functional collaboration

Educación

Ph.D. in Materials Science or related discipline

Herramientas

ALD systems

MLD processes

VPI processes

SEM

XRD

AFM

FTIR/Raman

Descripción del empleo

Organisation/Company CIC nanoGUNE Department Nanomaterials Research Field Physics Chemistry Engineering Researcher Profile Other Profession Positions Other Positions Application Deadline 23 Oct 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Madrid) Country Spain Type of Contract Permanent Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 Offer Starting Date 1 Nov 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

NanoGUNE is a research center devoted to conducting world-class nanoscience research for a competitive growth of the Basque Country. NanoGUNE is a member of the Basque Research and Technology Alliance ( BRTA ) and is recognized by the Spanish Research Agency as a María de Maeztu Unit of Excellence.

The position is offered in the the Nanomaterials Group , led by Prof. Mato Knez ( [e-mail] ), The Group focuses on the synthesis, chemical functionalization, and nanoscale engineering of novel materials. The group’s research spans atomic-scale thin-film coatings, organic–inorganic hybrid materials, and biomimetic nanomaterials, bridging fundamental nanoscience with high-impact technological and biomedical applications.

• Holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science, Chemical/Mechanical Engineering, Applied Physics, Chemistry, or a closely related discipline.
• Demonstrates a proactive, application-driven mindset with a strong motivation to interface with industry, manage technology transfer initiatives, and deliver against collaborative R&D milestones.
• Possesses strong interpersonal and cross-functional communication skills, with full professional and technical fluency in both English and Spanish.

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Industrial & Applied Project Execution : Leading the experimental design, execution, and delivery of applied research projects involving ALD, MLD, and VPI tailored to target industrial specifications.
• Partner & Stakeholder Management : Serving as the key technical liaison for industrial partners and applied technology centers, translating commercial needs into structured research roadmaps.
• Process & Materials Engineering : Developing, optimizing, and scaling up novel vapor-phase deposition recipes, surface functionalization strategies, and organic–inorganic hybrid materials.
• Application-Specific Testing & Characterization : Designing and coordinating functional testing regimens tailored to target sectors, analyzing material performance and delivering high-quality technical reports, project deliverables, and patent applications.
Business Development & Funding Acquisition : Supporting the group leader in identifying public and private funding opportunities, co-authoring collaborative grant proposals (regional, national, and EU), and presenting proof-of-concept solutions to prospective industrial clients.

The successful candidate will possess

Expertise (or demonstrated drive to rapidly acquire expertise) in:

• Operating and developing processes on ALD, MLD, and VPI reactor platforms, including materials engineering and recipe tuning.
• Surface and thin-film characterization techniques (e.g., SEM, XRD, AFM, and FTIR/Raman).
• Application-driven material qualification and benchmarking protocols aligned with industrial standards.

Proficiency in:

• Technical communication, with a proven ability to write structured technical documentation to both academic and non-technical industrial stakeholders.
• Managing applied research workflows, including milestone tracking and reporting.

We promote teamwork in a diverse and inclusive environment and welcome all kinds of applicants regardless of age, disability, gender, nationality, race, religion, or sexual orientation.