The successful candidate will join the NN research group to develop nanomaterials for imaging blood flow dynamics in cancer using nuclear imaging techniques. This position involves pursuing a PhD thesis under the supervision of Dr. Pellico as part of the project "NanoFLOW” funded by the European Research Council (ERC-CoG2025).

Main tasks

This project aims to develop smart imaging agents based on single particle tracers to image alterations of the blood flow dynamics in cancer by positron emission particle tracking. The candidate is expected to carry out the following tasks:

• Design and synthesise polymeric nanoparticles with high colloidal stability, controlled elasticity and low adhesion to cells.
• Carry out comprehensive characterisation of the novel materials including analysis of protein corona, evaluation of the mechanical properties and in vitro performance under simulated in vivo conditions.
• Conduct in vivo imaging studies in healthy and cancer mouse models with our collaborators.

Requirements

• Bachelor´s degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, Nanotechnology, Biomedicine or similar.
• Official master´s degree, essential for enrolment in the PhD programme, with strong background in Materials Science, Nanomedicine, Nanotechnology or related disciplines.
• Fluency in written/spoken English.
• Prior experience in laboratory techniques for synthetic chemistry.
•  Availability to carry out short stays in other laboratories within Spain.

Personal skills & others

• High motivation for experimental research and good attitude for collaborative work.
• Strong time management skills, working independently in an organized and project-focused manner.
• Willingness to travel to attend conferences, meetings with collaborators, etc.

What it will also be valued

• Previous experience in synthesis of polymeric nanomaterials will be highly valued.
• Experience in nuclear imaging techniques will be also positively considered.
• Experience in characterisation techniques such as TEM/SEM/IR/DLS/XRD is desired but not mandatory.

About N&N group and ICMAB

The N&N is a multidisciplinary group mainly focused in the rational synthesis of nanoparticles and nanocomposites and the study of their structural-functional properties including those related to the nano/bio interfaces. The group vision is to see our materials impacting in Nanomedicine, Information Technologies or Energy and Environment.

ICMAB – CSIC is a multidisciplinary global reference centre for the cutting-edge research of functional materials for electronics, energy and health which fosters knowledge transfer and it is characterized by its internationalization and its education, inclusion and diversity policies. ICMAB-CSIC is committed to know-how transfer to productive sectors as well as to participate in educational and outreach activities. Since 2016, ICMAB -CSIC has been awarded for three consecutive periods with the Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence distinction.

ICMAB-CSIC, with over 250 members from 47 nationalities, is a more than three decades old research institute located at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) campus, surrounded by other research and technological centres and with access to many state-of-the art equipment and scientific facilities. Moreover, ICMAB-CSIC has its own scientific services equipped with the newest scientific instrumentation and with highly specialised technical staff available to the scientific community.

Your PhD at ICMAB: ICMAB-CSIC stands out for its great training activity at the doctoral level. Training on technical, scientific and transversal skills are offered to ICMAB-CSIC personnel. Moreover, ICMAB-CSIC has coordinated 2 Marie Sklodowska-Curie COFUND doctoral training programs on advanced functional materials: DOCFAM (2017-2022) and DOCFAM+ (2023-2028) where a total of 48 doctoral students have been trained (18 at the ICMAB).

Project Description

SPIN4DATA encompasses concepts and methods in the rapidly evolving area of functional materials for information technologies. It deals with the synthesis and fabrication of different ferrite families as nanostructures or in bulk form (including crystals). We focus on exceptional new ferrite families with very strong magnetic coupling (to overcome the problem of too low transition temperatures) and different types of frustrated configurations that lead to unique properties at ambient temperature. Among them, exotic magnetic structures such as magnetic spirals, chiral and non-collinear magnetic orders that can generate magnetoelectricity, improper ferroelectricity induced by spin ordering, multiferroicity or high magnetic anisotropy for next-generation multifunctional electronic devices. SPIN4DATA: “Spin-driven phenomena in frustrated magnets for a sustainable data-centric society”.

Main tasks

• Materials preparation: synthesis and growth methods adapted to obtain nanoparticles, heterostructures, bulk ceramics or crystals.
• Macroscopic magnetic and physical characterization at ICMAB.
• Structural and magnetic transitions investigated as a function of temperature and external fields.-Chemical and magnetic structures, magnetoelectric characterization by
  synchrotron and neutron scattering techniques in European sources.
• Analyse complex data to unveil microscopic structural and magnetic details and model the resulting configurations.

Candidate profile

• Degree in Physics, Material Science, Nanoscience, or similar with a solid CV. 
• Master + Bachelor degrees (300 ETCS in total) or Bachelor degree (300 ETCS). Or currently involved in a Master program ending in the 2025-26 academic year.
• Background of experimental techniques for Condensed Matter research.
• Good communication skills in English.
• Willingness to learn and engage in challenging research.

Project Description

TOPIC: Integración de nanoestructuras fotónicas en LEDs
LUGAR: Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC) (España)
DURACIÓN: 12 meses (inicio previsto: julio de 2026)
FINANCIACIÓN: La persona seleccionada se incorporará al proyecto europeo HORIZON-EIC-2023-PATHFINDEROPEN RADIANT (Chiral LEDs based in Photonic Architectures):
https://radiant-pathfinder.eu/ 

En nuestro grupo (https://nanophotonics.icmab.es) nos centramos en la exploración de propiedades nanofotónicas en la interacción luz-materia con un enfoque distintivo: nuestras nanoestructuras fotónicas se fabrican mediante litografía de nanoimpresión blanda, lo que permite su producción eficiente y su integración en múltiples aplicaciones y dispositivos. 

Main tasks

• Fabricación de diferentes nanoestructuras con propiedades fotónicas (muy valorable experiencia en sala blanca, spin coating, fabricación de recubrimientos, etc).
• Integración de nanoestructuras fotónicas en distintas tecnologías de LEDs.
• Preparación de informes técnicos en inglés
• Caracterización de muestras (SEM y medidas ópticas)

Candidate profile

Buscamos un/a técnico/a de laboratorio en nanofabricación con titulación de Máster en Física, Ingeniería de Materiales, Nanociencia o áreas afines. Se valorará experiencia en:

• Procesos de nanofabricación (litografía, nanoimpresión, técnicas de sala blanca)
• Fotónica/ espectroscopía
• Buen nivel de inglés (oral y escrito) 

This Project has received funding from the European Union Horizon Europe Research and Innovation program under grant agreement Nº 101162112.

Postdoc position: Functional Molecular Interfaces for Electronic Device Engineering

We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join our team to work on the integration of functional molecular assemblies into electronic devices, with a strong emphasis on the role of interfaces in device performance.

The successful candidate will work in collaboration between the e-MolMat and FunNanoSurf research groups at the Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), in a highly interdisciplinary environment at the interface of chemistry, materials science, and device physics. The candidate will have access to chemical laboratories, state-of-the-art (nano)fabrication and characterization facilities (at ICMAB and nearby institutions)

We are part of ICMAB (www.icmab.es), a research institute of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). ICMAB is a globally recognized, multidisciplinary center for cutting-edge research in functional materials for electronics, energy, and health. The institute promotes knowledge transfer and is distinguished by its international outlook and policies on education, inclusion, and diversity. Our facilities are located in the research park of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB).

Project Description

The project focuses on molecularly engineered interfaces as active functional elements in two- and three-terminal devices. Rather than acting as passive interlayers, molecules will be exploited as an additional, non-conventional gating mechanism that can respond to electrical and optical stimuli, or act as doping agents through charge-transfer. The candidate will work with a variety of electrode materials (metals, oxides, graphene), including soft liquid metal electrodes (EGaIn) as top contact for two-terminal junctions. The molecular materials employed will range from commercially available compounds to molecules synthesized within the groups. The postdoctoral researcher is expected to work with a high degree of independence while closely collaborating with other group members, in particular with ongoing activities on phototransistors.

Main tasks

• Design and integrate functional molecular assemblies at electrode interfaces.
• Surface characterization by XPS, UPS, AFM, electrochemistry, etc.
• Develop and characterize two- and three-terminal devices, including electrical and optoelectronic measurements.
• Explore integration in OFET-like architectures

Candidate profile

The ideal candidate will have a PhD in Physics, Materials Science or Chemistry with strong interest in interfaces in electronic and optoelectronic devices. Experience in molecular electronics/junctions or molecular self-assembly and device fabrication/characterization will be highly valuable. Good communications skills in English are mandatory.