Offer Description
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 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.
Where to apply
Website: https://jobs.icfo.eu/?detail=1156
Requirements
Research Field: Other
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
Eligibility
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 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 [contact details available in the full listing]
- 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.
Languages: ENGLISH
Level: Excellent
Research Field: Other
Additional Information
Benefits
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 studies and related research activities, evaluated annually by the Thesis Director and the ICFO PhD Committee.
- ICFO offers a standard salary level for PhD Students of €27.257,83 gross annual salary. This applies to both the 6-months Trainee Period and the 4-years PhD Period.
- The starting date will be discussed with the Group Leader by selected candidate.
- All fellowships include medical care coverage and work accident insurance through the Spanish Social Security system, providing access to the Spanish public health care system.
- As part of the fellowship, ICFO will provide budget as deemed necessary and with the corresponding approval from the corresponding Group/Team Leader to enable the PhD fellow to complete his/her assigned research project. This budget is managed by the Group/Team leader, and will include consumables and other materials, training and other related costs, such as registration fees, travel and subsistence costs for participation in national or international events, conference, meetings, schools, and/or other training activities.
- Additionally, a family allowance is also available on request and after corresponding approval for people with family charges in the terms described in the corresponding policy.
Selection process
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.
- Extenuating circumstances (optional; 1-page max). Candidates may submit a statement regarding any career interruptions (care of dependents, birth of children, etc.) or any other aspects, which will be taken-into-account in evaluating their applications.
Candidates may contact [contact details available in the full listing] for formal enquiries regarding the application.
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.
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 [contact details available in the full listing]; for complete information about the PhD Admissions process at ICFO, please see https://www.icfo.eu/studies/phd-program/
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, 3
Contact
State/Province: Barcelona
City: Castelldefels
Website: http://www.icfo.eu
Street: Av. Carl Friedrich Gauss, 3
Postal Code: 08860
