Contents
Job openings
Post-doctoral Researchers
Group Opening
- Functional Optoelectronic Nanomaterials Group: Post-doctoral position in development of low-cost CMOS compatible intersubband optoelectronics (photodetectors and light emitters) in the MWIR and LWIR leveraging colloidal quantum dot technology
- CO2 Mitigation Accelerated by Photons Group: Post-doctoral positions in advanced water electrolysis and scale-up
- Quantum Nano-Optoelectronics Group: Post-doctoral position in science and technology of moire quantum matter
- Quantum NanoElectronics and NanoMechanics Group: Post-doctoral positions in analogue electron quantum simulator
- Optoelectronics Group: Post-doctoral position in integrated photonics design, simulation, fabrication, characterization and packaging
- Atomic Quantum Optics Group: Post-doctoral position in applications of magnetometry in nuclear magnetic resonance
- CO2 Mitigation Accelerated by Photons Group: Post-doctoral position in accelerating the development of sustainable energy materials
- Atomic Quantum Optics Group: Post-doctoral position in Quantum optics of single atoms interacting with single photons
- Optoelectronics Group: Post-doctoral Researcher or Research Engineer in Free-Space Quantum Key Distribution and Next-Generation QKD Transmitter Development
- Atomic Quantum Optics Group: Post-doctoral position in dark matter search with ultracold atoms
- Quantum Photonics with Solids and Atoms Group: Post-doctoral position in quantum repeaters with solid-state quantum nodes
- Quantum Photonics with Solids and Atoms Group: Post-doctoral position in Quantum technologies for quantum repeaters
- Optoelectronics Group: Post-doctoral position in quantum communication
- Organic Nanostructured Photovoltaics Group: Post-doctoral position to study and characterize solar cells
- Ultracold Quantum Gases Group: Post-doctoral position on quantum-gas microscopy of SU(N) Fermi-Hubbard models
- Quantum Photonics with Solids and Atoms Group: Post-doctoral position in Development of quantum network nodes with Rydberg superatoms
- Quantum Information Theory Group: Post-doctoral positions in quantum computation
- Quantum Information Theory Group: Postdoctoral position in quantum information theory
- Nanophotonics Theory Group: Post-doctoral position in design of integrated photonic waveguides with optimum in/out-coupling to light
- Molecular Nanophotonics Group: Post-Doctoral position in ultrafast spatio-temporal micro-spectroscopy
- Atomic Quantum Optics Group: Post-doctoral position in atomic vapor quantum sensors
- Medical Optics Group: Post-doctoral position in applications of near-infrared spectroscopy and diffuse correlation spectroscopy in critical care
- Medical Optics Group: Post-doctoral position in speckle contrast optical spectroscopy (SCOS) for non-invasive blood flow measurement
Staff Researchers
Project Engineers
Group Opening
- Optoelectronics Group: Research Engineer in quantum communication technologies
- Quantum Nano-Optoelectronics Group: Project Research Engineer position in Cryogenic Optical Quantum Tunneling Microscope Development
- Optoelectronics Group: Project Research Engineer position in in quantum communication systems and deployment
- Optoelectronics Group: Project Research Engineer position in in quantum communication systems and qualification
- Quantum Photonics with Solids and Atoms Group: Research Engineer position in building a Rydberg atoms quantum node
- PICs@ICFO Strategic Initiative: Engineer or Research Scientist in on-chip optical modulation materials and devices
- Optoelectronics Group: Project Engineer position in integrated photonics design, simulation, fabrication, characterization and packaging
- Optoelectronics Group: Project Engineer position in FPGA programming for quantum communication experiments
PhD-fellows
General Call
A rolling call of the ICFO PhD Program, with periodic deadlines, is always open for candidates applying to do a PhD at ICFO.
All candidates will be considered for all available fellowships for which they are eligible. Some specific fellowships are announced through targeted calls. Candidates applying to these calls are also considered for all other fellowships for which they are eligible.
Students may also join ICFO with their own funding or through external fellowships. Interested candidates should apply directly to such programs, and may wish to contact ICFO research groups they might be interested to join.
For further general information on fellowships and specific calls, please contact us at jobs@icfo.eu
Currently we have the following call(s) open
Group Opening
- Predoctoral position in optically hyperpolarized diamond sensors for NMR
- Predoctoral position on the development of infrared photodetectors based on colloidal quantum dot technology
- Predoctoral position to visualize ultrafast solar energy transport on the nanoscale
- Predoctoral position at the Neurophotonics and Mechanical Systems Biology Research Group
- Predoctoral position in atomic quantum technologies
Under- and Postgraduate Students
Admin & Technical Engineers
Head of Professional Development
Position Overview
ICFO is seeking a highly motivated and experienced leader for the role of Head of Professional Development, reporting to the Vice-Director of People, Education and Culture. This leadership position plays a crucial role to ensure that ICFO provides high-quality career development programs to support both current performance and long-term professional growth of all ICFOnians.
This call is issued under the framework of the approved ICFO Public Employment Offer (OPO 2025), as approved by the ICFO Board of Trustees and in accordance with Law 14/2011 on Science, Technology and Innovation, Law 9/2022 on the Catalan Science System, the Basic Statute of Public Employees (Royal Legislative Decree 5/2015 – EBEP), and Law 19/2014 on Transparency, Access to Public Information and Good Governance.
Key Responsibilities
- Deliver & continuously improve Professional and Career Development programs for ICFO’s operational teams. Implement annual individual career development planning and evaluation procedures in close collaboration with the Academic Affairs and Labor Affairs teams.
- Implement an in-house Leadership Development and Coaching program for ICFO’s Group Leaders and Team Leaders to ensure long-term sustainability of ICFO’s leadership and operational structures.
- Track Fellowships Programs for master’s, PhD and postdoctoral researchers, support people applying to these programs. Track relevant awards and prizes support nominations for these programs.
- Provide comprehensive Student & Researcher Support and Wellbeing Services in coordination with the Health and Safe Office ensuring a consistent and integrated approach to wellbeing across the organization.
- Design and implement methodologies for detecting institutional and individual development needs, ensuring alignment between professional growth opportunities and ICFO’s strategic goals.
- Collaborate with the Digital Transformation Lead to ensure that professional and leadership development are integrated into ICFO’s digital transformation strategy.
- Implement tools for data analysis, automation, and performance tracking. Monitor impact and outcomes for continuous improvement.
Why Join Us?
At ICFO, you will have the opportunity to lead innovation and engagement at a globally renowned research institution.
This role offers a platform to make a meaningful impact by recruiting outstanding students, researchers and staff to fulfill ICFO’s triple mission of performing groundbreaking research, educating the next generation of research leaders, and transforming research into solutions that benefit society.
ICFO provides an intellectually stimulating and inclusive environment, dedicated to fostering professional growth and advancing the frontiers of science and technology.
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https://jobs.icfo.eu/?detail=1048
Qualifications and Experience Required
- 5+ years of experience in professional development role in a research driven organization, including experience in designing and implementing professional development programs for students, researchers, and management professionals.
- 3+ years’ experience in leading and managing a team of direct reports.
- Proven experience in developing and delivering training programs across various formats.
- Knowledge of Catalan at level C1 or equivalent, or commitment to demonstrate equivalent proficiency through an internal test conducted under the standards of the Consorci per a la Normalització Lingüística (CNL), in accordance with Catalan public-sector requirements.
- Masters level qualification in teaching, professional development, or the equivalent.
- We will also value demonstrable experience in
- Experience with graduate education programs in the regional, national and/or European context.
- Ability to collaborate with senior leadership, including research group leaders, to align professional development strategies with institutional goals.
- Proficiency in using digitalization and automation tools, including AI, in the context of professional development, and ability to leverage data and generate insights to improve professional development programs.
Personal Characteristics & Skills
- Strong understanding of adult learning principles and instructional design methodologies.
- Strong leadership, relationship-building, and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to inspire trust, credibility and collaboration.
- Ability to anticipate future needs and align training programs with institutional strategic objectives.
- Ability to work in a diverse, international environment, understanding different cultural perspectives and adapting strategies accordingly.
- Exceptional communication skills, both oral and written.
- Fluency in English, Spanish and Catalan.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and facilitation skills
- Ability to analyze data and assess training effectiveness
- Leadership skills to influence and collaborate with stakeholders at different levels
- Knowledge of relevant industry trends and best practices in professional development
Conditions
This is a full-time position.
The contract offered will be a permanent contract (contracte indefinit) linked to the approved Public Employment Offer (Oferta Pública d’Ocupació – OPO) of ICFO and governed by the applicable public-sector labor framework.
A probationary period of 6 months will apply, in accordance with ICFO’s internal labor regulations and the applicable public-sector labor framework.
A salary according to ICFO’s approved salary scales will be offered, commensurate with the level of the position and the candidate’s experience.
The selected candidate will join ICFO under a permanent contract and will benefit from ICFO’s attractive working conditions, including a hybrid work model, flexible working hours, and access to professional development opportunities.
Selection Procedure
To apply, please submit your resume, a cover letter outlining your experience, and contact information for 2 professional references. Applications should be submitted via the ICFOjobs platform http://jobs.icfo.eu.
ICFO is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Selection will include a pre-screening of applicants based on eligibility and experience, followed by an interview with a short list of candidates.
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
The Evaluation Committee will include at least three members and ensure gender balance and impartiality.
Each phase will be documented, and candidates will be notified of the outcome within 15 days of the interview.
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: 1048
Application deadline: November 07, 2025
7th of November, 2025
Identify your interests
As your career goals and research interests are an integral part of the selection procedure itself, apart from the ICFOjobs site, we encourage you to browse ICFO’s corporate website to learn more about ICFO’s research activities and to identify the projects and/or areas that best match your background. We also recommend that you visit Careers @ ICFO. A clear indication of your interests and goals in your presentation letter will help us in reviewing your candidacy.
Did you identify an opening meeting your interest and career goals? Then, we are looking forward to your application!
Should there be no opening matching your interest or background, please contact us at jobs@icfo.eu or directly contact with the relevant ICFO Group Leaders or Unit Heads to explore potential future possibilities in their fields.
The application process
If you have identified an opening matching your interests, please read carefully the information about requirements, conditions and necessary application material and start the application process. Candidatures should be submitted online via ICFOjobs, our online application interface, in a 2-step procedure:
- Registration:
The button ‘Apply to this opening’ takes you to the online application form, gathering your personal data for identification purposes. Once submitted, you will receive a link by e-mail, which you must follow in order to continue the application process. - Application:
In this second step of the process you will be asked to provide further details and the necessary application material, as well as, in some of the openings, to indicate potential referees. All enclosed documentation must be in PDF format or plain text.
Once the application form is complete and the relevant material has been uploaded, submit your candidature by clicking on the ‘apply’ button. Candidates will receive an automatic reply acknowledging submission including a reference number for further enquiries or updates (within deadline).
By submitting an application, you grant ICFO permission to use the provided data for the recruiting process. (See Data Protection Policy.)
The review process
Applications will first be reviewed to assure that they meet the requirements and conditions as indicated in the job opening. Candidatures will then be evaluated by the corresponding Selection Committee according to the selection criteria of each opening. 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.
ICFO will notify candidates who are selected to pass to the next stage in the review process. Candidates who do not pass the first step of the review process will be notified of the outcome of their application at this time.
When requested, reference letters play an important role in supporting the candidate in the review process. Unless the call applied for indicate specific requirements in that sense, referees will be automatically contacted by ICFO requesting them to complete a standardized evaluation form and submit a letter of support for the candidates. Candidates should by no means submit a reference letter in support of their own candidature on behalf of their referees. The members of the selection committee will have access to reference letters.
On-site or online interviews (aiming at discussing the candidate’s suitability, project contents, hiring conditions and legal matters, etc.) with the Selection committee may be scheduled.
Notification of results
All candidates will be notified of the outcome of their application. Possible results are:
- Rejection:
The Selection Committee reaches the conclusion that the background of other candidate(s) appears to be more suitable for the position. - Waiting list:
Candidate(s) may be placed on a waiting list based on the shortlist proposed by the Selection Committee. Candidate(s) on this list may receive an offer in the event that the top-candidate does not accept the position. Waiting list candidates will receive a final decision as soon as the top-candidate confirms acceptance. - Acceptance / offer:
ICFO extends an official offer, asking the selected candidate for formal confirmation of acceptance.
The selection process is completed as soon as the candidate confirms acceptance of the offered position and a tentative starting date has been agreed.
After acceptance @ ICFO
Staff of the ICFO Human Resources and Education Unit will assist new ICFO members with the following procedures:
- Support with administrative and legal matters related to arriving and settling in, including immigration formalities (Visa application process, etc.) and personal assistance in relocation.
- Particularly for PhD-students: Information and advice on the necessary academic documentation to be gathered and submitted for enrollment in the PhD in Photonics program, including information about how to legalize previous studies (e.g. BSc, MSc, etc.) whenever necessary, as well as registration to the doctorate program and academic planning.
ICFO’s applicant database
The applicant database and all applications received through ICFOjobs, are managed by the staff of ICFO’s Human Resources and Education Unit. All information is handled with due confidentiality and solely for the purpose mentioned, and will be made available to the members of the Selection Committee in so far as they are necessary for the management of the process.
As indicated through the application process, other relevant information is also gathered for statistical purposes or in order to verify the eligibility requirements indicated in the corresponding call.
Do I have to submit my application exclusively online or may I also submit a hard copy?
ICFO only accepts applications submitted online via the ICFOjobs interface. As an exception, and only in case of force-majeure problems with electronic submission, candidates may submit their application in hard copy within the deadline.
Is it possible to apply for more than one opening? May I apply even if I have been considered for an ICFO opening in the past (i.e., re-application)?
Yes.
Do I receive a confirmation acknowledging reception of my application?
Yes.
Is it possible to update my personal data or application material? Likewise, will I be able to delete my application (and therefore all personal data)?
In the first step of application, through the online application form, you will have to provide your personal data including your contact e-mail. Once submitted, you will receive an acknowledging e-mail, containing a link which you have to follow in order to continue with the procedure (submission of application material, etc.). Via the link you receive by e-mail, you will also be able to update your data and application material (within the established deadlines) or even to withdraw your application.
In case of questions - whom shall I contact for help in submitting my application?
Please contact the recruiting staff of ICFO’s Human Resources at jobs@icfo.eu.
Particularly for PhD- and Postdoctoral openings: Is it possible to apply even if I have not yet finished the minimum academic qualification required?
Yes, unless the call explicitly indicates otherwise, but please indicate this clearly in your presentation letter. In general, candidates should hold an internationally-recognized degree or evidence of its completion before the prospective starting date.
Applications need to be supported by reference letters. How should these be submitted?
For exact details on how to proceed with reference letters, please check the specific opening you are applying for. In general, you will be requested to indicate name, institution, contact data, and relationship in the last part of the online application form. Depending on the opening, referees will be automatically contacted by ICFO requesting them to complete a standardized evaluation form and submit a letter of support for the candidates. Candidates should by no means submit a reference letter in support of their own candidature on behalf of their referees.
Submission of academic transcripts and degrees?
The required documentation to be submitted for application is indicated in the ‘application process’ of each opening. In general, ICFO will ask that you provide a copy of your most recent academic degree certificate. Additionally, and particularly for fellowships and internship positions, ICFO will also need you to submit scanned copies of your academic transcripts (current and previous studies). The academic transcripts contain the list of courses, including the credits and marks obtained. Provisional degree certificates are generally accepted by ICFO.
The application form requires the indication of my GPA – what shall I indicate?
GPA stands for Grade Point Average. Apart from other criteria, selection for ICFO positions, above all for fellowships and internships, is measured in terms of the academic performance. In this regard, ICFO needs an indication of the average of your final overall grade obtained in your studies (stated in your transcripts), the minimum grade required to pass in your university and the maximum grade that can be achieved or the overall qualification obtained in your PhD-studies (for applicants with a PhD-degree).
Retrieve your application
Contact
You can write an email to Human Resources and Education at ICFO.