PhD Position: Liquid-Crystalline Materials for Catalytic Light Conversion Technologies (LC-SUNTECH)

Program & Institutional Overview

- Program: TERRA-MED Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND Doctoral Program (Euroregion Pyrenees-Mediterranean: Occitanie, Catalonia, Balearic Islands).
- Host Institution: University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), Spain — Functional Organic Systems (FOS) Group.
- Co-host Institution: Université de Toulouse — Laboratoire Hétérochimie Fondamentale et Appliquée (LHFA, UMR CNRS 5069), France — SYMAC Research Team.
- Co-supervisors: Bartolomé Soberats Reus (UIB; [email protected]), Daniel Pla & Montserrat Gómez (UT).

Project Summary The LC-SUNTECH project focuses on the Water-Land-Energy nexus by developing advanced hybrid liquid-crystalline membranes for solar-driven CO2 reduction and N2 conversion. By exploiting the self-organizing and self-healing properties of nanostructured liquid crystals integrated with light-harvesting units and metal-based catalysts, the project aims to establish sustainable, continuous-flow technologies for generating high-value chemicals (e.g., formic acid, urea) and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.





Key Position Details

- Duration: 48 months (approx. 34–36 months at UIB; 9–11 months at UT; 3 months non-academic secondment).
- Indicative Start Date: September 2027.
- Gross Salary: ~€2,400/month + family allowance (€50/month if eligible).
- Benefits: Dual PhD degree (France/Spain where applicable), tuition/visa fees fully covered, MSCA standard salary, extensive training in scientific and transferable skills, and access to top-tier laboratories.

Candidate Requirements
- Education: Master’s degree (M2R) in Chemistry, Nanotechnology, Materials Science, or related fields with a strong background in organic/inorganic chemistry and spectroscopy.
- Language: Minimum B2 proficiency in English.
- MSCA Mobility Rule: Candidates must not have resided or worked in the host country (Spain/France) for more than 12 months in the 36 months prior to recruitment.
- Prerequisites: Must not hold a doctoral degree and must meet doctoral program enrollment criteria.

Application Deadline: December 31, 2026

📌 PHD (Palma)
🏢 Universitat de les Illes Balears
📍 Palma