Doctoral Student in Inorganic Nanoparticles (AI-Driven Materials Discovery)

Job Description

Organization: Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (ICN2)

The Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (ICN2) invites applications for a Doctoral Student position in the Inorganic Nanoparticles Group led by Dr. Neus G. Bastús. The research will be conducted within the MAIAMI project (Multimodal Artificial Intelligence Platform for Accelerated Materials Innovation), which aims to accelerate the discovery of advanced materials through AI-driven experimentation and data-centric research approaches.

The PhD project focuses on the controlled wet-chemistry synthesis of advanced inorganic nanoparticles, particularly high-entropy alloy (HEA) and multimetallic nanoparticles for energy-related applications. The research combines environmentally sustainable synthesis strategies with advanced structural and compositional characterization methods.

The candidate will work in a multidisciplinary environment combining nanomaterials chemistry, advanced characterization techniques, and AI-assisted materials discovery. Experimental datasets generated during the project will be curated in FAIR-compliant materials databases to support machine-learning optimization workflows.

Research Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize wet-chemistry synthesis protocols for multimetallic and high-entropy alloy nanoparticles.
• Control nanoparticle size, morphology, composition, and structural complexity.
• Perform structural and compositional characterization using techniques such as UV–Vis spectroscopy, XRD, XPS, and electron microscopy.
• Analyze relationships between synthesis parameters, nanostructure, and functional performance.
• Prepare nanoparticle libraries for functional testing by project collaborators.
• Maintain reproducible and FAIR-compliant datasets documenting synthesis protocols and characterization results.
• Contribute to scientific publications, conference presentations, and project dissemination activities.
• Participate in interdisciplinary research meetings and training activities at ICN2.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Materials Science, Chemistry, Nanoscience, or a closely related discipline.
• Strong background in inorganic chemistry and colloidal nanoparticle synthesis.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating in interdisciplinary teams.
• Strong scientific motivation and attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience synthesizing inorganic nanoparticles, especially metallic systems.
• Knowledge of characterization techniques such as XPS, TEM, XRD, or spectroscopy.
• Experience with aqueous synthesis, surface functionalization, or integration of experimental data with machine learning workflows.

Employment Conditions

• Full-time position (37.5 hours per week).
• Temporary PhD research contract.
• Location: Bellaterra (Barcelona), Spain.
• Salary dependent on qualifications and experience.
• Relocation support and flexible working schedules.
• 28 holidays per year and flexible compensation plan.

Research Environment

ICN2 is a leading nanoscience research center and a multi-period Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence. The institute hosts 20 research groups, multiple technical facilities, and international collaborations focused on nanoscience, advanced materials, and emerging technologies. The doctoral researcher will benefit from interdisciplinary collaboration and state-of-the-art experimental infrastructure.