
Why ICMAB?
ICMAB is one of the world’s leading institutes in Materials Science research, located at Campus UAB, very close to Barcelona. One of the main ICMAB’s strategic objectives and missions is to recruit top worldwide class scientists in our fields of research with an outstanding track record.
ICMAB provides facilities, state-of-the-art equipment and most importantly, excellent scientists and professionals, to assure you a rewarding career. A competitive and multidisciplinary training program will be offered to the new researchers to foster the development of a professional career, tailored to your needs.
The diversity of our students and the interdisciplinary research fields related to Materials Science ensures an enriching and inspiring working environment. If you are an enthusiastic and highly motivated resarcher and would like to work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment, join us! ICMAB is the place to be!
There are many possibilities to enrich your career with us:
- To do an internship during your undergraduate or master studies (for your final project or as a work experience internship)
- To obtain your PhD thesis
- To conduct postdoctoral research
- As a senior researcher
For spontaneous applications, feel free to submit a cover letter and CV to be considered for relevant positions in the future to
RESEARCH TOPICS
Within our Severo Ochoa project “Smart FUNCtional MATerials for a Better Future (FUNFUTURE)” (2020-2023) a number of interesting positions are available for graduate and postdoctoral researchers in the areas of:

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY CONVERSION AND STORAGE SYSTEMS (RL1)
Researchers in this line develop experimental and theoretical tools to increase the understanding on energy materials, in the areas of photovoltaics, thermoelectrics, next-generation batteries, supercapacitors and photocatalysis. The idea is to replace critical materials to boost sustainability and develop conversion and storage technologies up to proof-of-concept devices with beyond state-of-the-art performance.

SUPERCONDUCTORS FOR EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES (RL2)
Researchers in this line work in the synthesis and optimization of the performance of superconducting tapes, which are a unique opportunity to enhance efficiency and reduce environmental impact in electricity transport, distribution, generation and use. These long tapes rely on achieving low manufacturing costs, while keeping high functional performances. Transmission DC- cables and fault current limiters, large wind generators and ultrahigh field magnets can only be developed by the use of high current superconductors. Achieving a low-cost/high-performance ratio is critical for market penetration.

OXIDES FOR NEW GENERATION ELECTRONICS (RL3)
Transition metal oxides are considered to be the building blocks for efficient and energy friendly, data storage, advanced computing and energy harvesting devices. Researchers in this line are enthusiastically committed and contributing in:
- Exploit orbital physics and interface engineering to induce emerging properties
- Exploring oxides for data storage, communications and light harvesting
- Strain engineering of magnetic properties
- Searching and understanding multiferroic materials
- Integrating ferroelectric and ferromagnetic oxides on Silicon
- Beyond oxides: tailoring electronic properties with nitrides
- Designing and making artificial polar materials

TUNEABLE AND LOW COST MOLECULAR ELECTRONICS (RL4)
The use of molecules in electronic devices is arousing enormous interest due to their unique advantages for designing tailored functional materials, compatibility with low-cost production processes, biocompatibility and biodegradability. Researchers in this line focus on the fabrication of electronic devices which can have a strong impact on societal well-being related to technological advances and health. The devices are developed considering a holistic perspective including: design and synthesis of the molecules, structural, morphological and electronic characterisation, device fabrication and integration, and theory prediction and rationalization.

BIOACTIVE MATERIALS FOR THERAPY AND DIAGNOSIS (RL5)
Researchers in this line focus on nanostructured biomaterials for smart nanomedicine: therapy, diagnosis and tissue repair. These materials are developed based on the gathered long-term experience in modeling, obtaining, processing and performing in-vitro studies of nanostructured biomaterials of ICMAB researchers on: Theory and Simulation, Molecular Nanoscience and Organic Materials, Nanoparticles and Nanocomposites, Inorganic Materials and Catalysis, Supercritical Fluids and Functional Materials, and Electrochemistry.
Undergraduate or master internship opportunities
ICMAB welcomes students from national or international universities who become associated with us for a limited period of time for training purposes, carrying out research projects. Undergraduate and Master students from Science and Engineering Faculties (Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Engineering, Nanoscience and related) are offered the possibility to carry out short internships (2-6 months) at the ICMAB.
ICMAB gives selected and highly motivated students the opportunity to participate in our rich scientific life and to benefit from the experience of our researchers. Students are integrated in an ICMAB group, and conduct their activities under the supervision of the researchers.
ICMAB scientists offer short introductory Material Science and Nanoscience research projects. The research groups in our center have extensive expertise in a wide range of synthetic methodologies, advanced characterisation techniques as well as in theory, simulation and modelization of materials and processes.
INTERNSHIPS
If you are interested in an internship, please check the list of available projects and send an email to
Applications can be submitted all year around. The internship period will be arranged on one by one basis. Please note that there is no financial support for lodging, or as a regular salary, associated to these internships.
Each year, CSIC opens a JAE Intro call for "Introduction to research grants" for undergraduate and master students.
MASTER PROJECTS
If you are a student at UAB or UB and are interested in carrying out a Master Project with us, please check the list of available projects and send an email to the researcher writing “ICMAB Master Project” on the subject. You are kindly requested to add a short CV and a motivation letter.
See the list of projects offered for Master projects in each one of the University Master's project list or in our website.
BACHELOR’S PROJECTS
If you are a student at UAB or UB and are interested in carrying out a Bachelor’s Project with us, please check the list of available projects and send an email to the researcher writing “ICMAB Bachelor’s Project” on the subject. You are kindly requested to add a short CV and a motivation letter.
Also, each University has a list of projects that they offer. If you would like to include us, talk to the coordinator of the program or with your professor, and contact us at
Fellowships for PhD degree
ICMAB, in partnership with the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, offers the possibility to do a PhD Program in the research topics pursued by the Research Groups of the institute. ICMAB PhD Students are integrated into an ICMAB group, and conduct their studies under the supervision of one of the researchers.
If you are interested, take a look at our research topics, contact personally the researchers, and apply for one of the following grants:
- PhD positions with fellowships within the MSCA-COFUND “INPhINIT” project from “La Caixa”
- PhD positions are available at the Institute on a yearly basis related to regional (AGAUR-FI) and national (FPU, FPI) projects.
- Fellowships of the Generalitat de Catalunya (AGAUR: Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca):
- Fellowships of MICIN (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación) (FPI)
- Fellowships of MU (Ministerio de Universidades) (FPU)
- Doctoral Training Programme in Advanced Functional Materials (DOCFAM+) a COFUND MSCA project
- 26 excellent doctoral researchers at ICMAB, ALBA Synchrotron, ICN2, IREC, IFAE, IMB-CNM and UAB.
- Two calls: 2023 and 2024. Stay tuned!

Open positions for PhD
Apart from the mentioned calls, which open usually on a yearly basis, for spontaneous applications, feel free to submit a cover letter and CV to be considered for relevant positions in the future to

Open positions for Postdoctoral research
Apart from the calls, which open on a yearly basis, for spontaneous applications, feel free to submit a cover letter and CV to be considered for relevant positions in the future to
Postdoctoral opportunities
A postdoctoral researcher at ICMAB enhances his/her scientific training after completing the PhD. Postdoctoral researchers at ICMAB are integrated in a group and conduct their activities under the supervision of one of the PI researchers.
If you are interested, take a look at our research topics, contact personally the researchers, and maybe you can apply to one of the following grants:
- Postdoc positions within the MSCA Individual Fellowships (IF)
Take a look at our Research Lines and Research Units to know our research in materials for energy (batteries, photovoltaics, thermoelectrics, superconductors), oxide electronics, molecular and flexible electronics and biomaterials for nanomedicine.
- Postdoc positions within the Junior Leader Programme from “la Caixa”
Postdoctoral fellowships at universities and research centres of Spain are offered through this innovative program, aimed at hiring excellent researchers of any nationality who wish to continue their research career in Spain.
- FIP and H2020 PhD and postdoctoral positions
Several positions open as part of our internal calls of Frontier Interdisciplinary Projects (FIPs). The Institute is also very proactive in European projects in H2020, participating in different calls within the three pillars (Excellent Science, Industrial Leadership, Societal Challenges).
- Postdoctoral positions are available at the Institute on a yearly basis related to regional (AGAUR-BDP) and national (Juan de la Cierva) projects.
- Fellowships of the Generalitat de Catalunya (AGAUR: Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca):
- Fellowships of MEIC (Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competetividad):
Senior research positions
We welcome applications from national and international candidates from many different disciplines and with a PhD or higher level to join our research staff. Please submit an application to join us through the Ramon y Cajal call, the ICREA call, or the CSIC tenure track call. The ICMAB is happy to host successful applicants of all these programs.
- Ramon y Cajal program:
The Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness is the funding agency of this programme, which has the aim of providing financial support for a period of five years for the recruitment of researchers. The aid is intended to co-finance the salary and the employer's contribution to Social Security of the researchers hired during each of the annuities.
- ICREA program:
- ICREA Senior call: The ICREA senior call for applications offers permanent positions in the Catalan research system. The selected researchers are given a permanent position, ICREA Research Professorship (equivalent to tenure) and become ICREA employees. ICREA researchers go through an evaluation process (promotion) at regular intervals throughout their entire career. This is our most important and best-known call.
- ICREA Acadèmia call: The ICREA Acadèmia call for applications is a grant to university professors who already hold permanent positions in the Catalan research system. The grant is for five years and is intended to promote the awardees’ research, basically by relieving them from teaching duties.
- CSIC tenure track programme
Calls open on a yearly basis. Stay alert for new open positions and contactThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

Open positions for Senior
The Ramon y Cajal, ICREA and CSIC calls open on a yearly basis. Stay tuned for new openings!
For spontaneous applications, feel free to submit a cover letter and CV to be considered for relevant positions in the future to