PhD Position in the Quantum Nanoelectronics and Nanomechanics Research Group
ICFO is offering one PhD position to a well\-qualified graduate student, who wish to obtain a doctoral degree in the Quantum NanoElectronics and NanoMechanics group led by Prof. Dr. Adrian Bachtold
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 be joining the Quantum NanoElectronics and NanoMechanics group led by Prof. Dr. Adrian Bachtold. The group investigate emergent quantum phenomena in hybrid electrical and mechanical systems engineered from low\-dimensional condensed matter platforms, including graphene and carbon nanotubes.
This fellowship is associated with the research project Generación de Conocimiento 2024, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.
El proyecto PID2024\-158411OB\-I00 está financiado por el Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, la AEI y el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional: MICIU/AEI/10\.13039/501100011033 / FEDER, UE
Main Tasks and Responsibilities
The successful PhD candidate will develop charge qubits with enhanced coherence in a pristine nanotube. The charge qubit will be coupled to the mechanical oscillations of the nanotube, and the hybrid system will be readout with a superconducting resonator. The student will gain expertise in cryogenics and low\-noise radio\-frequency measurements in a 10 mK dilution cryostat — applying experimental techniques similar to those used for superconducting qubits in quantum computing efforts at IBM and Google. One important goal is to demonstrate the charge double\-quantum dot qubit with the longest quantum coherence. The charge qubit will be used for quantum control of phonon states, including the realization of a mechanical qubit and the demonstration of new quantum sensing protocols.
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 jobs@icfo.eu
- 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.
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.
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. (1\). 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 this 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.
+ IMPORTANT: Selected candidate for the position on offer must start the fellowship on September 1, 2026 at the latest.
- The initial trainee period can be shortened depending on the student’s start date.
+ 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.
+
Application procedure
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:
+ 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.
For further information about ICFO, please visit https://www.icfo.eu/
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(s).
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 jobs@icfo.eu; for complete information about the PhD Admissions process at ICFO, please see ICFO PhD Program
Data Protection
In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) and Organic Law 3/2018, ICFO informs applicants that their personal data will be processed exclusively for recruitment purposes.
- Controller: Fundació ICFO – Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, Av. Carl Friedrich Gauss 3, 08860 Castelldefels (Barcelona).
- DPO: dpo@icfo.eu
- Legal basis: performance of a task in the public interest.
- Rights: access, rectification, erasure, restriction, and opposition.
- Supervisory authority: Catalan Data Protection Authority (APDCAT) https://apdcat.gencat.cat
Reference: 1112
Application deadline: July 15, 2026
15th of July, 2026
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