Post-doctoral position in functional nanostructured surfaces

ICFO is offering a postdoctoral position to a well-qualified, highly motivated and dynamic scientist who wishes to enhance their scientific career in a friendly and stimulating environment.

The successful candidate will be joining the Optoelectronics group led by Prof. Dr. Valerio Pruneri.

The Optoelectronics Group carries out fundamental and applied research in advanced optical materials, devices and systems, with a strong interest in translating scientific concepts into technologies relevant to industrial applications.

The successful candidate will contribute to research activities focused on the modification and nanostructuring of glass and other optical surfaces to engineer their optical, physical and functional properties. The research will investigate how surface morphology, composition and nanoscale structure can be controlled to develop multifunctional surfaces for applications in photonics and related technologies.

Research activities may include the development of nanostructured surfaces with tailored properties such as optical transmission and reflection, light scattering, surface durability, wettability, adhesion, contamination resistance or other surface functionalities.

Key responsibilities

The selected candidate will be expected to:

• Develop and optimize processes for the modification and nanostructuring of glass and optical material surfaces.
• Investigate relationships between fabrication parameters, surface morphology and resulting optical and functional properties.
• Perform structural, morphological and optical characterization of fabricated surfaces using appropriate experimental techniques.
• Develop strategies to obtain surfaces combining multiple functionalities while maintaining the optical quality required for photonic applications.
• Study the performance, stability and reliability of the developed surfaces under relevant operating and environmental conditions.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of experimental methodologies for surface characterization and performance evaluation.
• Collaborate with researchers, engineers and external partners working on surface processing, optical materials and photonic technologies.
• Contribute to the preparation of scientific publications, conference presentations, technical reports and research proposals.
• Participate in the supervision and scientific support of students and junior researchers involved in related activities.

Candidates must hold, at the time of contract initiation, an internationally-recognized Ph.D.-equivalent degree (or evidence of its completion in the nearest future) in Physics, Photonics, Materials Science, Nanotechnology, Chemistry, Engineering, or a closely related field

• Quantum communication Optical and Electronic systems

Candidates should have a strong experimental background in one or more of the following areas:

• Surface modification and surface engineering.
• Micro- and nanofabrication.
• Plasma processing, dry etching or related surface-processing techniques.
• Nanostructured or functional optical surfaces.
• Optical materials, particularly glass and dielectric materials.
• Surface and morphological characterization. Optical characterization of materials and surfaces.

Experience with techniques such as reactive ion etching, plasma processing, thin-film processing, scanning electron microscopy, atomic-force microscopy, profilometry, spectroscopy, reflectance/transmittance measurements or surface-property characterization will be considered an advantage.

Experience in the development of nanostructured optical surfaces, metasurfaces, antireflective structures, wettability control, self-cleaning surfaces, antimicrobial surfaces or other multifunctional surface technologies will also be valued, but is not mandatory.

The candidate should demonstrate:

• Ability to independently plan, execute and analyse experimental research.
• Strong problem-solving skills and interest in interdisciplinary research.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative and international research environment.
• Good scientific communication and technical writing skills. Motivation to contribute to research spanning fundamental science, technology development and potential industrial applications.

ICFO is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are selected exclusively on merit and potential on the basis of submitted application material. No restrictions related to disabilities, citizenship or gender apply to ICFO positions. ICFO abides by the principles of openness, efficiency, transparency, supportiveness, and international comparability as stated in the European Charter for Researchers and the European Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.

Salaries for ICFO Postdoctoral positions are assigned by the Selection Committee, based on experience and seniority of the applicant, as well as the assigned tasks and responsibilities within the group. Standard salaries range from a lower level aligned with national Ramon-y-Cajal fellowships to higher levels aligned with Marie Skłodowska-Curie individual fellowships.

The contract is offered initially for a period up to 1 year.

Additionally, a family allowance is also available on request and after corresponding approval for people with family charges in the terms described in the corresponding policy.

Suitable candidates are requested to submit:

• Presentation letter with a declaration of interest,
• Curriculum Vitae, including contact details, The contact e-mail of two potential referees.

The selection process will follow open, transparent, and merit-based recruitment (OTM-R) principles.

It will consist of:

• 1. Eligibility check of applications.
• 2. Assessment of merits (education, experience, and language) 3. Interview with shortlisted candidates, if needed

Candidates may contact jobs@icfo.eu for formal enquiries regarding the application, as well as address scientific enquiries to valerio.pruneri@icfo.eu.

For update information about the hosting group, please visit https://www.icfo.eu/research-group/15/optoelectronics/home.

For updated information about ICFO, please visit https://www.icfo.eu.

Data Protection

In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) and Organic Law 3/2018, ICFO informs applicants that their personal data will be processed exclusively for recruitment purposes.

• Controller: Fundació ICFO – Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, Av. Carl Friedrich Gauss 3, 08860 Castelldefels (Barcelona).
• DPO: dpo@icfo.eu
• Legal basis: performance of a task in the public interest.
• Rights: access, rectification, erasure, restriction, and opposition.
• Supervisory authority: Catalan Data Protection Authority (APDCAT) https://apdcat.gencat.cat.

All recruitment files will be retained in accordance with the Catalan public-sector archival retention schedule (DOGC 2117).

Reference: 1141

9th of September, 2026