Hosting opportunities for MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships

euraxess.ec.europa.eu - Jobboard; Town of Italy (NY); On-site; USD 40,659 - 52,276; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Access to high-performance computing facilities

International research environment

Scientific mentorship

Job summary

A leading research university seeks a talented postdoctoral researcher to advance studies in computational modelling of nanomaterials at the nanoQlab. You will have the opportunity to work on a competitive Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship proposal under the guidance of Prof. Cristiana Di Valentin. This role involves collaboration with an interdisciplinary team and access to high-performance computing facilities, significantly contributing to the fields of medicine, energy, catalysis, and sensing.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in computational modelling techniques.
• Excellent communication skills, especially in writing proposals.
• Motivated to develop an independent research project.

Responsibilities

• Develop an original MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship proposal.
• Collaborate with nanoQlab team under supervision.
• Utilize high-performance computing facilities for research.

Skills

Computational modelling

Communication

Proposal writing

Education

PhD in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Biotechnology, Engineering or related disciplines

Tools

DFT

Molecular Dynamics

Machine Learning

Job description

Organisation / Company Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca Department Department of Materials Science Laboratory nanoQlab Is the Hosting related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Advance Your Career in Computational Modelling of Nanomaterials

Join nanoQlab – Department of Materials Science, University of Milano-Bicocca (Italy)

Are you a talented postdoctoral researcher eager to push the frontiers of nanomaterials science using state‑of‑the‑art computational simulations?
The nanoQlab at the University of Milano‑Bicocca offers a dynamic, interdisciplinary, and internationally connected environment where you can develop your own research project under the mentorship of Prof. Cristiana Di Valentin (ERC Grantee).
This is your chance to prepare a competitive Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship proposal and take your career to the next level, working at the intersection of medicine, energy, catalysis, or sensing.

Organisation Description

The Department of Materials Science at the University of Milano‑Bicocca is a leading Italian centre for advanced research and education in materials science and nanotechnology.
Our activities range from fundamental studies to applied research in collaboration with international partners and industry.
The Department offers access to state‑of‑the‑art computational and experimental facilities, including high‑performance computing clusters, spectroscopy and microscopy laboratories, and advanced synthesis facilities.

The selected MSCA‑PF fellow will join the team of nanoQlab directed by Prof. Cristiana Di Valentin:

The lab focuses on quantum‑mechanical modelling and multiscale molecular dynamics simulations of nanostructured materials and biological systems, with applications in:

• Nanomedicine – interactions of nanomaterials with biological systems and targeted drug‑delivery processes;
• Catalysis – modelling of nanocatalysts for green and sustainable chemistry;
• Energy – materials for energy conversion and storage (photocatalysis, photovoltaics, electrocatalysis);
• Sensing – nanomaterials for chemical and biosensing applications.

Prof. Cristiana Di Valentin is Full Professor of Chemistry at the University of Milano‑Bicocca and head of the nanoQlab.
She has extensive experience in computational chemistry, biochemistry and materials science and has coordinated several national and international research projects.
She was awarded a prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Grant, and her scientific activity has led to more than 230 peer‑reviewed publications.
Her group maintains strong international collaborations and an interdisciplinary approach combining theory, simulation, and experiment.

The fellow will work closely with Prof. Di Valentin and the nanoQlab team to develop an original MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship proposal, benefitting from scientific mentoring, research infrastructure, and administrative support.

Candidate Profile

• PhD (or equivalent) in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Biotechnology, Engineering or related disciplines;
• Proven experience in computational modelling (e.g. DFT or molecular dynamics or machine learning);
• Interest in applying simulations to nanomaterials for medicine, catalysis, energy, or sensing;
• Excellent communication and proposal‑writing skills in English;
• Motivation to develop an independent MSCA‑PF research project in collaboration with nanoQlab.

What We Offer

• Scientific supervision by Prof. Cristiana Di Valentin (ERC Grantee);
• Access to high‑performance computing facilities and research infrastructure at the Department of Materials Science and CINECA Supercomputing Center;
• Full guidance in preparing and submitting the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship proposal;
• International and interdisciplinary research environment in the heart of Milan.
• Short statement of research interests and MSCA‑PF project idea (1 page).

Host Institution

nanoQlab – Department of Materials Science
University of Milano‑Bicocca
Via Roberto Cozzi 55, 20125 Milano, Italy
🌐 https://www.mater.unimib.it/

🔹 About the Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA‑PF)

The Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA‑PF) are prestigious European fellowships funded by the European Commission’s Horizon Europe Programme.
They support experienced researchers (holding a PhD) who wish to carry out their own research project in collaboration with a host institution in Europe or beyond.

These are the most common type of MSCA‑PF.

• The research project is carried out in a European host institution (like the University of Milano‑Bicocca).
• Open to researchers of any nationality.
• Duration: typically 12–24 months.
• The mobility rule applies: candidates must not have lived or worked in Italy for more than 12 months in the 36 months before the call deadline.
• Aim: enhance the researcher’s career through international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral mobility.

These fellowships allow researchers to carry out their project outside Europe, followed by a mandatory return phase in a European host institution (such as Milano‑Bicocca).

• Open to EU or Horizon Europe Associated Country nationals.
• Duration: typically 24 months outside Europe + 12 months in Europe.
• Ideal for researchers aiming to build global collaborations while maintaining a strong European link.
• The return phase ensures reintegration into the European Research Area.

Funding and Evaluation

• 💶 Funding: covers researcher’s salary, mobility and family allowances, and a contribution to research, training and networking costs.
• Excellence of the candidate and project;
• Impact on the researcher’s career development;
• Quality and efficiency of the implementation.

Next Call (expected timeline)

• Call opening: April 2026 (tentative)
• Submission deadline: September 2026 (to be confirmed)