Professor Pablo Garrido Barros, from the Department of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Granada, welcomes postdoctoral candidates interested in applying for a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA-PF) in 2026 at this University. Please note that applicants must comply with the Mobility Rule (for more information about the 2026 call, please consult this link).

Brief description of the institution:

The University of Granada (UGR), founded in 1531, is one of the largest and most important universities in Spain. With more than 57,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students and almost 7,000 members of staff, the UGR offers 97 undergraduate degrees, 157 master’s degrees (7 of which are double degrees) and 28 doctoral programmes via its 124 departments and nearly 50 centers. Accordingly, the UGR offers one of the most extensive and diverse ranges of higher education programmes in Spain.

The UGR has been awarded with the "Human Resources Excellence in Research (HRS4R)", which reflects the institution’s commitment to continuously improve its human resource policies in line with the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. The UGR is also internationally renowned for its excellence in diverse research fields and ranked among the top Spanish universities in a variety of ranking criteria, such as national R&D projects, fellowships awarded, publications, and international funding.

The UGR is one of the few Spanish Universities listed in the Shanghai Top 500 ranking - Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). The 2025 edition of the ARWU places the UGR in 301-400th position in the world and as the 3-8 highest ranked University in Spain, reaffirming its position as an institution at the forefront of national and international research. From the perspective of specialist areas in the ARWU rankings, the UGR is outstanding in Mathematics, Artificial Intelligence and Dentistry & Oral Sciences (ranked between 51th-75th position), Computer Science & Engineering, Education and Hospitality & Tourism Management (between 76-100th position), and in the areas of Food Science & Technology and Business Administration (between 101-150th position). A little lower in the ranking, the UGR also stands out in the areas of Earth Sciences, Law, Management, Nursing, Psychology and Statistics, in which the UGR is positioned in the 151-200th position.

Additionally, the UGR counts with 4 researchers at the top of the Highly Cited Researchers (HCR) list, most of them related to the Computer Science and Mathematics scientific areas. It is also well recognised for its presence in the top 200 Universities in Europe at 83th place.

Internationally, the University of Granada is firmly committed to its participation in the calls of the Framework Programme of the European Union. For the duration of the prevoius Framework Programme, Horizon 2020, the UGR obtained a total of 124 projects with a total funding of more than €30 million. For the current Framework Programme, Horizon Europe, the UGR has obtained 136 projects, so far, with a total funding of more than €38 million.

Brief description of the Centre/Research Group:

We are a young and dynamic team of researchers with strong expertise in photochemistry, electrochemistry, coordination chemistry, and homogeneous catalysis. Our work emphasizes the detailed interrogation and control of reaction mechanisms. Based at the University of Granada (UGR), our laboratory is fully equipped for synthesis and analysis, featuring a broad array of advanced techniques.

Our research focuses on the design of novel catalytic systems to address key challenges in energy and sustainability, with particular attention to uncovering new reaction pathways. We develop innovative strategies to manipulate reaction mechanisms, enabling access to low-energy pathways that enhance the selectivity and efficiency of redox catalysis, critical for solar-to-chemical energy conversion.

• Novel molecular materials: we synthetize new coordination complexes, cages and polymers to explore the cooperative interplay between redox-active and acid/base sites and modulate the structural, electrochemical and photophysical properties for their ultimate application in redox catalysis. We are interested in molecular materials that can efficiency trade protons and electrons towards unlocking new proton-coupled electron transfer reactivity.
• Electrocatalysis: Renewably sourced electricity is an ideal source of electrons for redox transformations. Electrochemical approaches play a central role in this regard, but can suffer from poor selectivity when targeting inert substrates due to the required harsh conditions. We design molecular and hybrid electrocatalytic systems to explore new fundamental methodologies based on tandem catalysis for selective organic and small molecule transformations.
• Photocatalysis: using light to drive chemical reactions not only would allow harnessing solar energy but also offer pathways to unlock new reactivity and selectivity. Generating photocatalysts with long-lived excited states to promote efficient redox transformations poses a fascinating fundamental challenge, specially when abundant, first row transition metals are targeted. We develop new photochemical strategies to exploit excited-state reactivity towards proton-coupled electron transfer reactions.

Project description:

The candidate will work under the supervision of Pablo Garrido-Barros, utilizing the tools of coordination chemistry to develop molecular catalysts for applications in solar-to-chemical energy conversion and sustainable synthetic methodologies. This research includes redox transformations of model organic (e.g., ketones and alkenes) and inorganic (e.g., N2 and NO3-) compounds aimed at producing high-value products and fuels via photo(electro)catalysis. A particular focus will be placed on elucidating the reaction mechanisms governing proton and electron transfer, with the goal of applying this mechanistic understanding to enhance the selectivity and efficiency of redox processes. This project broadly encompasses the following tasks:

• Synthesis and characterization of novel transition metal complexes
• Assessment of photophysical and thermochemical properties using spectroscopic and electrochemical methods
• Application of these complexes in the development of catalytic systems for energy conversion, including organic transformations and/or small-molecule activation
• Mechanistic investigation of catalytic processes employing steady-state, operando, and time-resolved techniques

Research Area:

• Chemistry (CHE)

For a correct evaluation of your candidature, please send the documents below to Professor Pablo Garrido Barros (pgarridobarros@ugr.es):

• CV
• Letter of recommendation (optional)

Professor Pablo Garrido Barros, from the Department of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Granada, welcomes postdoctoral candidates interested in applying for a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA-PF) in 2026 at this University. Please note that applicants must comply with the Mobility Rule (for more information about the 2026 call, please consult this link).

Brief description of the institution:

The University of Granada (UGR), founded in 1531, is one of the largest and most important universities in Spain. With more than 57,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students and almost 7,000 members of staff, the UGR offers 97 undergraduate degrees, 157 master’s degrees (7 of which are double degrees) and 28 doctoral programmes via its 124 departments and nearly 50 centers. Accordingly, the UGR offers one of the most extensive and diverse ranges of higher education programmes in Spain.

The UGR has been awarded with the "Human Resources Excellence in Research (HRS4R)", which reflects the institution’s commitment to continuously improve its human resource policies in line with the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. The UGR is also internationally renowned for its excellence in diverse research fields and ranked among the top Spanish universities in a variety of ranking criteria, such as national R&D projects, fellowships awarded, publications, and international funding.

The UGR is one of the few Spanish Universities listed in the Shanghai Top 500 ranking - Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). The 2025 edition of the ARWU places the UGR in 301-400th position in the world and as the 3-8 highest ranked University in Spain, reaffirming its position as an institution at the forefront of national and international research. From the perspective of specialist areas in the ARWU rankings, the UGR is outstanding in Mathematics, Artificial Intelligence and Dentistry & Oral Sciences (ranked between 51th-75th position), Computer Science & Engineering, Education and Hospitality & Tourism Management (between 76-100th position), and in the areas of Food Science & Technology and Business Administration (between 101-150th position). A little lower in the ranking, the UGR also stands out in the areas of Earth Sciences, Law, Management, Nursing, Psychology and Statistics, in which the UGR is positioned in the 151-200th position.

Additionally, the UGR counts with 4 researchers at the top of the Highly Cited Researchers (HCR) list, most of them related to the Computer Science and Mathematics scientific areas. It is also well recognised for its presence in the top 200 Universities in Europe at 83th place.

Internationally, the University of Granada is firmly committed to its participation in the calls of the Framework Programme of the European Union. For the duration of the prevoius Framework Programme, Horizon 2020, the UGR obtained a total of 124 projects with a total funding of more than €30 million. For the current Framework Programme, Horizon Europe, the UGR has obtained 136 projects, so far, with a total funding of more than €38 million.

Brief description of the Centre/Research Group:

We are a young and dynamic team of researchers with strong expertise in photochemistry, electrochemistry, coordination chemistry, and homogeneous catalysis. Our work emphasizes the detailed interrogation and control of reaction mechanisms. Based at the University of Granada (UGR), our laboratory is fully equipped for synthesis and analysis, featuring a broad array of advanced techniques.

Our research focuses on the design of novel catalytic systems to address key challenges in energy and sustainability, with particular attention to uncovering new reaction pathways. We develop innovative strategies to manipulate reaction mechanisms, enabling access to low-energy pathways that enhance the selectivity and efficiency of redox catalysis, critical for solar-to-chemical energy conversion.

• Novel molecular materials: we synthetize new coordination complexes, cages and polymers to explore the cooperative interplay between redox-active and acid/base sites and modulate the structural, electrochemical and photophysical properties for their ultimate application in redox catalysis. We are interested in molecular materials that can efficiency trade protons and electrons towards unlocking new proton-coupled electron transfer reactivity.
• Electrocatalysis: Renewably sourced electricity is an ideal source of electrons for redox transformations. Electrochemical approaches play a central role in this regard, but can suffer from poor selectivity when targeting inert substrates due to the required harsh conditions. We design molecular and hybrid electrocatalytic systems to explore new fundamental methodologies based on tandem catalysis for selective organic and small molecule transformations.
• Photocatalysis: using light to drive chemical reactions not only would allow harnessing solar energy but also offer pathways to unlock new reactivity and selectivity. Generating photocatalysts with long-lived excited states to promote efficient redox transformations poses a fascinating fundamental challenge, specially when abundant, first row transition metals are targeted. We develop new photochemical strategies to exploit excited-state reactivity towards proton-coupled electron transfer reactions.

Project description:

The candidate will work under the supervision of Pablo Garrido-Barros, utilizing the tools of coordination chemistry to develop molecular catalysts for applications in solar-to-chemical energy conversion and sustainable synthetic methodologies. This research includes redox transformations of model organic (e.g., ketones and alkenes) and inorganic (e.g., N2 and NO3-) compounds aimed at producing high-value products and fuels via photo(electro)catalysis. A particular focus will be placed on elucidating the reaction mechanisms governing proton and electron transfer, with the goal of applying this mechanistic understanding to enhance the selectivity and efficiency of redox processes. This project broadly encompasses the following tasks:

• Synthesis and characterization of novel transition metal complexes
• Assessment of photophysical and thermochemical properties using spectroscopic and electrochemical methods
• Application of these complexes in the development of catalytic systems for energy conversion, including organic transformations and/or small-molecule activation
• Mechanistic investigation of catalytic processes employing steady-state, operando, and time-resolved techniques

Research Area:

• Chemistry (CHE)

For a correct evaluation of your candidature, please send the documents below to Professor Pablo Garrido Barros (pgarridobarros@ugr.es):

• CV
• Letter of recommendation (optional)