ICFO is offering 2 postdoctoral positions to well-qualified, highly motivated and dynamic young scientists who wish to enhance their scientific career in a friendly and stimulating environment.
The successful candidates will be joining the Photon Harvesting in Plants and Biomolecules group led by Prof. Dr. Nicoletta Liguori.
Our group combines state-of-the-art methods in experimental ultrafast spectroscopy and molecular dynamics
simulations:
• We develop and apply novel ultrafast spectroscopic methods aimed at uncovering how changes in light,
environment and structure switch the function of photoactive systems on and off.
• We obtain structural information of the different steps of such molecular switches by developing and
applying molecular dynamics simulations approaches at different levels of temporal and spatial resolution.
The two postdoctoral researchers will be involved, respectively, in:
• Position 1. Applying a novel ultrafast multipulse spectroscopic method recently developed by the group to
study how photosynthetic organisms activate photoprotection in real time, in order to survive under natural
fluctuating sunlight conditions. The candidate will further extend this novel method to study the activation of
photoprotection from a few femtoseconds up to above the second, and from isolated proteins (in vitro) up to
in vivo conditions.
• Position 2. Developing the next generation of our novel ultrafast multipulse spectroscopic approaches that
will allow - for the first time - to uncover how and how fast changes in: i) temperature or ii) the availability of
substrates, regulate the activation of photoactive systems involved in plant and animal bioenergetic processes.
Both positions are focused on experimental, spectroscopic work. However, the successful candidates will extensively collaborate with the other group members involved in exploring the same processes via molecular
dynamics simulations. If wished, there is the possibility (but is not necessary) for both candidates to also actively
join the computational work.
The PI has received funding from multiple prestigious, national grants from the Netherlands and Spain to develop
the project and the successful candidates will be embedded in a large network of international collaborations (NL,
ES, IT, PT, UK, DE). The successful candidates will receive full support and help from the group leader in applying
for independent funding if wished (positions are however already fully funded up to 3 years each). Amongst other
things, both successful candidates will be extensively involved in writing scientific publications, supervising students
and in dissemination at national and international conferences and visits and collaborations with laboratories across
the world.
Mediterranean Technology Park,
Av. Carl Friedrich Gauss 3, 08860 Castelldefels (Barcelona)
T. 93 553 40 02 - F. 93 553 40 00
icfo.eu
Eligibility and Conditions
Candidates must hold an internationally-recognized Ph.D.-equivalent degree (or evidence of its completion in the
nearest future) preferably in physics, chemistry, biophysics, optics, material science or similar. Extensive knowledge
of biophysics and/or photochemistry will be highly valued.
Both postdoctoral researchers will be involved in the building and development of complex ultrafast multipulse
spectroscopic setups, especially based on the electronic synchronization of multiple, brand new custom-made
femtosecond and nanosecond laser systems. We will probe ultrafast changes in the ground and excited state of a
variety of photoactive systems mainly in the UV-VIS to near-IR region, using pumps that range from the UV up to
the near-IR. Therefore, previous experience working in the visible (probe) with pumps ranging from the UV-VIS to
the near-IR and from the femtosecond to the nanosecond will be positively valued.
Both candidates should have a proven track record in ultrafast spectroscopy with strong, independent hands-on
experience in building and developing complex ultrafast laser setups. Hands-on experience on programming
acquisition software tools (in particular, but not necessarily, in LabVIEW) will be considered a strong plus.
Depending on the position, previous experience and knowledge in:
• Position 1. ultrafast processes in natural and artificial photosynthesis and light-harvesting regulation
• Position 2. non-equilibrium ultrafast spectroscopic methods (e.g. pH-jump or temperature-jumps IR
methods), will be considered a strong plus.
Previous experience in data analysis of time-resolved data (e.g. global analysis) will be positively valued as well as
previous experience in handling of in vitro (possibly biological) samples and working in a wet lab. Samples will be
provided by international collaborators.
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.
Salary is offered according to the institutional salary scales.
The contract is offered for periods of 1 year, renewable for a total of up to 3 years.
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.
Mediterranean Technology Park,
Av. Carl Friedrich Gauss 3, 08860 Castelldefels (Barcelona)
T. 93 553 40 02 - F. 93 553 40 00
icfo.eu
Application procedure
The formal application should be submitted online via
https://jobs.icfo.eu/?detail=692Suitable candidates are requested to submit:
• Presentation letter with a declaration of interest,
• Curriculum Vitae, including contact details,
• The contact e-mail of two potential referees.
Candidates will be assessed as they apply and the call will remain open until the suitable candidate is identified.
Candidates may contact
[email protected] for formal enquiries regarding the application, as well as address scientific enquiries to
[email protected].
For update information about the hosting group, please visit
https://www.icfo.eu/research-group/32/photonharvesting/home.
For updated information about ICFO, please visit
https://www.icfo.eu.
Deadline:
The call will remain open until 01/09/2022
