Offer Description

ICFO is offering one PhD position to a well-qualified graduate student, who wish to obtain a doctoral degree in the led by Prof. Dr. Pablo Loza-Alvarez

Our PhD-program brings together top-level training and teaching for young scientists, benefiting from the extensive course offerings of local universities and focused instruction by ICFO professors, in a stimulating, international and interdisciplinary environment. PhD-students have the opportunity to take advantage of our network of excellence, consisting in partners of national and international research institutes and universities, as well as industrial partners in the field.

The successful candidate will be joining the led by Prof. Dr. Pablo Loza-Alvarez. The group conducts research in bioimaging through the development of cutting-edge advanced microscopy techniques. Its main focus lies in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of photonics and biology.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

- Design and build a light-sheet encoded-illumination microscope
- Characterize the system
- Sample Chamber Development
- Development of Decoding Algorithms
- Single-Plane SR Imaging

Volumetric Imaging of selected biomedical applications

Proyecto PID2025-169761OB-I00, financiado por MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 y por el FSE+

Where to apply Website

Requirements

Research Field Physics » Biophysics Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Required Experience

- Notion of Optics, Photonics, Optical Engineering, Optical Microscopy.
- Understanding of imaging optics, Fourier optics, and diffraction theory.
- Familiarity with laser-based optical systems and alignment.
- Strong foundation in signal processing and Fourier analysis.
- Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, or similar scientific programming languages for data analysis.

Desirable Experience

- Fluorescence microscopy techniques
- Optical design and simulation.
- Hardware-software integration (with cameras, detectors, stages, …).
- FPGA or GPU-based processing.
- Wet lab handling biological samples for imaging.
- Statistics and multidimensional analysis.

Desired Personal Attributes

- Highly motivated and self-driven researcher.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Interest in translating technology developments into biomedical impact.
- Motivation to work in a multidisciplinary team.

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Additional Information

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for the position, candidates must:

- Have an internationally-recognized Master-equivalent degree. The degree must be completed by the start of your prospective PhD at ICFO, at the latest, and must be in Physics, Engineering, Biophysics, Bioengineering, Biomedicine or any related field covering basic concepts of optics, photonics, microscopy, programming and a keen interest in biology. Degrees issued within the European Higher Education Area (EHEA)



must have an equivalent to 300 ECTS, out of which a minimum of 60 ECTS must have been obtained in postgraduate studies. Please, if in doubt regarding your academic eligibility, contact us at
- Candidates who have already been awarded a PhD are not eligible to apply.
- Have an excellent academic record, previous research experience and a strong commitment for scientific research.
- Have a high working knowledge of English.

Selection process

Application procedure

To apply, suitable candidates are requested to submit (in English) online the following material:

- A Cover Letter addressing research interests and motivation for application, as well as specific indication of ICFO research group of interest,
- A Curriculum Vitae, including contact details,
- Scanned copies of the complete (Bachelor and Master equivalent) official academic transcripts in English or Spanish,
- Scanned copies of the degree certificates, if available at the time of application,
- Holders of degrees issued within European Higher Education Area outside Spain shall also submit the European Diploma supplement, if available. If not submitted during the application, this will be compulsory to be submitted in further steps of the selection process.
- Holders of degrees issued in outside European Higher Education Area shall submit documentation that explicitly indicate equivalence of degree and/or admissibility in a PhD program in the country where it was issued. If not submitted during the application, this will be compulsory to be submitted in further steps of the selection process. Examples of documents we accept are:

- Official document or website from the degree granting university
- Academic transcript including this explicit description
- Letter or certificate from faculty, school or department, addressed to ICFO on official letter-head, signed by a person responsible for admissions into the PhD program
- If available, scanned copy of standardized test results (GRE, TOEFL, etc.). Note that submission of test results is optional, but they can be particularly helpful for evaluating candidates with degrees obtained outside the European Higher Education Area.
- The names and contact details of 2 referees.

Candidates may contact for formal enquiries regarding the application.

For further information about ICFO, please visit

Selection process

All students admitted into the ICFO PhD program must pass through a selection process involving the evaluation of submitted documents, an eligibility and admissibility check and an interview with a selection committee.





ICFO Selection Committees are appointed in line with the recommendations of European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, in terms of gender balance, diversity of discipline, expertise and necessary competence for a proper evaluation and assessment of the candidates.

Selection committee interviews include a presentation of the candidate's background, research interests and motivations, followed by questions from the committee. Candidates may explain their experience, highlight their achievements, and describe their career aspirations and relevant personal or professional details. Candidates invited to the interviews receive detailed guidelines about the selection process and the interview day(s).

Additional comments

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.

Candidates with disabilities or other special needs are strongly encouraged to apply to the program. ICFO will provide all possible assistance to ensure the candidate's application is fairly assessed.

A dedicated, external and independent Appeals Panel will be established to rule on the outcome of appeals from the applicants.

At all stages of the process, candidates may contact the Talent Attraction Team via ; for complete information about the PhD Admissions process at ICFO, please see

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:
- Legal basis: performance of a task in the public interest.
- Rights: access, rectification, erasure, restriction, and opposition.
- Supervisory authority: Catalan Data Protection Authority (APDCAT)

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

Reference: 1138
Application deadline: September 15, 2026 Website for additional job details

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute ICFO Country Spain State/Province Barcelona City Castelldefels Postal Code 08860 Street Av. Carl Friedrich Gauss, num. 3 Geofield

Contact State/Province

Barcelona City

Castelldefels Website

Street

Av. Carl Friedrich Gauss, 3 Postal Code

08860 E-Mail

[email protected]

STATUS: EXPIRED

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📌 PhD student for the project Encoded Light Illumination FOR Scan-less volumetric microscopy Imaging at high-Resolution in 4D (ELiXSIR) (Castelldefels)
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