Job Information
- Organisation/Company: Universita degli studi di Trieste
- Department: Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Research Field: Chemistry » Physical chemistry
- Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)
- Positions: PhD Positions
- Application Deadline: 20 Sep 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Rome)
- Country: Italy
- Type of Contract: Temporary
- Job Status: Full-time
- Offer Starting Date: 1 Nov 2026
- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?: Horizon Europe - MSCA
Where to apply
Website: https://portale.units.it/en/research/phd/call
Offer Description
Objective
The aim is to develop and study functional nanomaterials as heterogeneous electrocatalysts for energy conversion processes such as hydrogen evolution (HER), CO2 reduction (CO2RR), water oxidation (WOR) and oxygen reduction (ORR) reactions and establish the role of S-S interfaces on the activity and the selectivity of these reactions. The materials synthesised by different methodologies, also in cooperation with Doctoral Candidate (DC) 1 and DC14, will be characterised using spectroscopic, analytical techniques and tested in the catalytic reactions for the systematic evaluation of the activity, selectivity, and durability, aiming to find the experimental conditions for optimal performance. Ex-situand operandospectroscopy will be performed in cooperation with DCs 10 and 11, obtaining the fundamental knowledge for re-designing the catalytic materials. Best catalysts will be tested for stability in industrially relevant set-ups (DC14).
Expected results
- Optimization of S-L, S-S interfaces in HER, CO2RR, WOR or ORR reactions, understanding the role of each component in the catalysis.
- Test of the catalysts in industrially relevant conditions.
Requirements
- Research Field: Chemistry » Physical chemistry
- Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
- Good knowledge of electrochemistry, materials science.
- Skills in experimental electrochemistry and electrochemical technologies.
- Experience with material characterization using electron microscopy and/or spectroscopy techniques and corresponding data interpretation will be an advantage.
- Ability to work as a member of an international, multi-disciplinary team.
- Italian language knowledge is very beneficial.
- Good level in oral and written English is mandatory.
- Masters Degree or equivalent in Materials Science, Electrochemistry, Chemistry, Applied Physics or closely related disciplines
Languages: ENGLISH
Level: Excellent
Additional Information
Benefits
The University of Trieste is located in Trieste, Italy, and is an acknowledged center of excellence at a national and international level and it aims to grow and develop even more in the future. In November 2018, the University of Trieste carried out an important accreditation process following the guidelines provided by the National Agency for the Evaluation of Universities and Research Institutes (ANVUR). The Evaluation Board acknowledged the commitment our University has undertaken since 2014 in implementing the Quality Assurance System, thus rewarding its successful results with “A”, the highest rating.
The selected candidate will be required to enroll in a PhD program at the University of Triest.
Supervisors:
Prof. Paolo Fornasiero ( https://meeresearch.weebly.com/ )
Dr. Michele Melchionna ( http://www.dsch.univ.trieste.it/~fornasiero/staff_melchionna_page.htm )
Supervisors from secondments:
Dr. Y. Grunder (University of Liverpool, https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/people/yvonne-grunder)
Dr. I. Yakoumis (MONOLITHOS Catalysts and Recycling Ltd., https://monolithos-catalysts.gr/en/)
The Doctoral Candidate will stay 2 months at University of Liverpool doing operandoSXRD characterization of catalysts and 8 months at MONO for tests of electrocatalyst stability in industrially relevant conditions.
The salary will comply with the rules of the 2025 MSCA Doctoral Network program under Horizon Europe and consists of:
- a living allowance (country correction coefficient applies),
- a mobility allowance (€710/month),
- and, if applicable, a family allowance (€660/month).
All amounts are subject to national taxation and social security regulations.
- Social Security coverage
- Training, Networking and secondment opportunities
- Career Development plan
The position is funded for 36 months under the MSCA Doctoral Network. The total contract duration is 36 months.
Start date: from 01.11.2026 but not later than 01.04.2027
Type of contract: Full-time employment contract in accordance with national regulations
Hours per week: full time
The knowledge of Italian is a plus but not a requirement as English is a main working language at UNITS.
Diversity Statement
UNITS has a gender equality plan and a gender equality report. UNITS adheres to and promotes the aims of the EU Strategy for Gender Equality 2020-2025. It is based on the overarching principles that valuing diversity, and in particular the positions of women and other under-represented groups, is crucial to building a just and inclusive society, in all spheres.
This will receive funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 101311389.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants must not already hold a doctoral degree at the date of recruitment and must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Italy for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date.
Eligibility will be verified at the time of recruitment.
Selection process
Applicants must submit
- CV (including a detailed description of residence and main activities over the last 3 years)
- Motivation letter
- Copies of academic degrees
- Contact details of 3 referees
Deadline:20.09.2026
Apply via: https://pica.cineca.it/units/2026-idr-dscf-cd-02/
More information about the selection procedure could you find here: https://amm.units.it/node/55098/incarichi-ricerca/pub
Selection of candidates
Recruitment will follow the MSCA Doctoral Network principles of:
- Open, transparent and merit-based selection
- Equal opportunities and non-discrimination
- Evaluation by a qualified selection committee
Shortlisted candidates may be invited for interviews. The selection process will be properly documented in accordance with MSCA requirements.
More details about the position, application procedure and recruitment can be found on the e-ChemIn webpage (www.e-chemin-dn.eu).
Additional comments
The e-ChemIn network brings 12 academic and 6 industrial partners from 9 countries formed an international, interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral team. 15 Doctoral candidates will enjoy a multi-disciplinary and international environment with plenty of training opportunities and exchange with all labs involved in the Network.
The doctoral candidates will be hired in one of the following institutions/organisations:
- Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (DC1);
- Leibniz Institute for New Materials (DC2, DC3, DC15);
- Stockholm University (DC4, DC13);
- Basque Center for Applied Mathematics (DC5);
- CIC energiGUNE (DC6, DC7);
- VSB Technical University of Ostrava (DC8);
- Royal Institute of Technology (DC9);
- Leiden University (DC10);
- University of Liverpool (DC11);
- University of Trieste (DC12);
- MONOLITHOS Catalysts and Recycling Ltd. (DC14)
Scientific background
The climate targets set by the EU with the goal of climate neutrality by 2050 require a transformation of all sectors of the economy towards the use of renewables-based electricity, calling for joined forces between EU countries in order to achieve a more resilient energy system. In the e-ChemIn we are united by the idea of applying a new paradigm in designing energy devices, which shifts the current approach of creating individual materials towards engineering electrochemically ACTIVE MATERIALS INTERFACES. Working together we will: 1) design multiple sets of electrochemical interfaces using renewable, abundant, and circular materials and optimize them for new generations of energy conversion and storage devices. Created lab-scale prototypes which outperform characteristics of current benchmarks and will be ready for further developments at high TRLs (5-9); 2) develop multimodal approaches for the characterization of interfaces operando at the nanoscale, providing unprecedented insights into interfaces in action and making the characterization of active interfaces accessible to the broader scientific community; 3) successfully establish processes for the recovery of critical raw materials from end-of-life devices and apply them at the industrial scale.
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Website for additional job details: https://meeresearch.weebly.com/
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available: 1
- Company/Institute: University of Trieste - Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Scienes
- Country: Italy
- State/Province: Friaul-Julisch Venetien
- City: Triest
- Postal Code: 34127
- Street: via L. Giorgieri 1
Geofield
Contact
- City: Trieste
- Website: https://dscf.units.it/en
- Street: via L. Giorgieri 1
- Postal Code: 34127 Trieste
- E-Mail: pfornasiero@units.it
- Phone: +39405583973
- Fax: +39405583903
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