ICFO is offering a PhD position to highly motivated student who wish to start their scientific career in a friendly and stimulating environment. The successful candidate will be joining the Macroscopic Quantum Optics Theory group led by Prof. Dr. Oriol Romero-Isart .

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 join a research project funded by a “la Caixa” Junior Leader Fellowship at ICFO. The project, “Tabletop Tests of Fundamental Physics with Levitated Nanoparticles,” will be carried out within the Macroscopic Quantum Optics Theory group Macroscopic Quantum Optics Theory group led by Prof. Dr. Oriol Romero Isart and aims to explore how levitated quantum optomechanical systems can be used to investigate fundamental questions in physics, including the search for new fundamental interactions, dark matter, and signatures of the quantum nature of gravity.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

The candidate will conduct theoretical research at the intersection of quantum optics, quantum information, and fundamental physics. Their work will involve developing analytical and numerical tools to model quantum systems and designing experimentally feasible protocols for precision sensing and tests of fundamental physics.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the position, candidates must:





- Have an internationally-recognised Master-equivalent degree, The degree must be completed by the start of your prospective PhD at ICFO, at the latest, and must be in a field of science and engineering related to the ICFO research activities. 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.

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.





Candidates who have extenuating circumstances that may explain gaps in the academic career or other potentially negatively evaluated aspects of their application are invited to volunteer, if they wish, personal information that the selection panel may consider in their evaluation. Such information may include details of family obligations, severe illness or disability, refugee situation, etc. If the selection panel decides to shortlist a candidate based in part on such extenuating circumstances, it may require the candidate to provide reasonable supporting documentation.

Conditions

ICFO PhD positions are offered for a period of 4.5 years. The conditions of the positions awarded in the scope of the ICFO PhD fellowship program are as follows:

- Initial contract for a period of up to 6 months (referred to as the “initial trainee period”), while being pre-admitted to the PhD program, with an explicit follow-up/ renewal procedure at the end of this first stage. Note that in certain circumstances the initial trainee period might be shortened or not offered. During this period, students already take part in the ICFO working environment, join a research group, and work with their supervisor to define a research project.
- After the initial training period, students are formally enrolled in a PhD Program with a local university (as a general rule, the UPC PhD in Photonics program administered by ICFO), and the full PhD Fellowship activated. Fellowships are offered for periods of three years, renewable for an additional fourth year, and are formalized via a PhD-contract. Continuity and renewal are subject to satisfactory performance in the PhD s

📌 PhD position in Macroscopic Quantum Optics Theory (Castelldefels)
🏢 Icfo – The Institute Of Photonic Sciences
📍 Castelldefels