ICFO News

SPIE@ICFO Chair Research Internships - MINDLAB Hands-on course

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 22:00:00 +0100

MINDLAB stands for “Manipulating and Investigating Neural Dynamics for Learning and Ageing in the Brain” and is an interdisciplinary creative playground rooted squarely in academic rigor, comprising of research groups from ICFO and beyond. We focus on advancing fundamental knowledge on how the mind emerges from the behavior of individual molecules, neurons and brain networks but also creating and commercializing transformational future technologies with outstanding potential to impact our society for good. The core faculty of the ICFO-MINDLAB offers a course to introduce cutting edge technologies to study neuroscience at the molecular, cellular and systems level to students in a combination of lectures and hands-on experience leading to group projects. The hands-on course will expose participants to the state-of-the-art of photonics-based technologies tailored to monitor a hierarchy of scales in the study of the brain: i.e. from single molecules up to the whole organism. Up to two SPIE@ICFO Chair Research Internships to conduct a project with an ICFO research group are available on a competitive basis to outstanding undergraduate or master’s students interested in the topic addressed by the course “MINDLAB Hands-on”, taking place from 13 to 17 July 2026. Full details of the school program and lecturers may be found at here.

PICs@ICFO Strategic Initiative: Process Engineer or Research Scientist in PIC Packaging

Sun, 30 Aug 2026 22:00:00 +0100

As part of the PICs@ICFO Strategic Initiative, ICFO is currently coordinating the European Chips JU Pilot Line PIXEurope and the Catalan PhotonChip project—two flagship programs aimed at advancing Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) in Europe. As part of our expanding efforts, we are reinforcing our leadership in the full PIC value chain—including design, fabrication, advanced packaging, testing, and application development. We are seeking up to two Process Engineers or Research Scientists with hands-on experience in packaging and assembly of photonic integrated circuits (PICs). The selected candidates will play a key role in the experimental development of advanced PIC technologies within the PICs@ICFO strategic initiative. The position is hands-on and lab-oriented, suited for candidates with a solid technical background and a passion for practical work with integrated photonic devices. Key Responsibilities:

Development and optimization of Photonic Packaging technologies (e.g. die bonding, wire bonding, optical coupling, hybrid integration) on semi-automated assembly machines – including process programming and setup.
Support on suppliers and material selection to ensure quality and process compatibility.
Closely work with cross-functional team (including PIC, optical, mechanical and RF designers) to implement manufacturable and scalable packaging processes.
The candidate will be expected to collaborate closely with design, fabrication, and testing teams to ensure performance consistency across the development cycle.

This position will report to the Prof. Dr. Valerio Pruneri, Scientific Coordinator of the PICs@ICFO Strategic Initiative encompassing the European Chips JU Pilot Line PIXEurope and the Catalan PhotonChip project. Aquest contracte està cofinançat amb el Fons Europeu de Desenvolupament Regional (FEDER) de la Unió Europea, en el marc del Programa del FEDER de Catalunya 2021- 2027.

Atomic Quantum Optics Group: Post-doctoral positions in Experimental quantum sensing with ...

Sun, 30 Aug 2026 22:00:00 +0100

ICFO is offering up to three postdoctoral positions to a 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 Atomic Quantum Optics group led by Prof. Dr. Morgan Mitchell. Key responsibilities:

Conduct experimental research in: Quantum sensing using atomic vapors, cold and ultra-cold atoms
Build experimental apparatus, design and conduct experiments
Present research findings at group meetings, conferences, and through scientific publications
Support mentoring and supervision of junior researchers and students within the group
Maintain lab equipment and ensure compliance with safety protocols

PhD Positions in the Atomic Quantum Optics Research Group

Sun, 30 Aug 2026 22:00:00 +0100

ICFO is offering two PhD positions to highly motivated students who wish to start their scientific career in a friendly and stimulating environment. The successful candidates will be joining the Atomic Quantum Optics group led by Prof. Dr. Morgan Mitchell. 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 Atomic Quantum Optics group led by Prof. Dr. Morgan Mitchell. The group uses the extraordinary coherence properties of atoms, together with an ever-increasing sophistication in optical manipulation and measurement, to study fundamental physics of light-matter interactions, quantum optical effects in advanced sensing, and new applications of extreme sensors. Main Tasks and Responsibilities The Atomic Quantum Optics group studies how quantum physics manifests in atomic systems and the optical systems that interact with them. The research ranges from fundamental studies such as the nature of quantum light-matter interactions, to technologies such as quantum sensors. The student will join a small team working on a specific experimental system, which may be a single-atom optical tweezer, spinor Bose-Einstein condensate, or atomic vapor. The student will play an active role in developing this science and technology, in collaboration with other students, post-doctoral researchers, and in some cases international research collaborations. The student will participate in summer schools and conferences, and is expected to produce and publish experimental discoveries.

Director of Institutional Relations and Communications

Sun, 30 Aug 2026 22:00:00 +0100

ICFO – The Institute of Photonic Sciences is a world-leading research centre devoted to advancing the science and technologies of light. Based in Castelldefels (Barcelona), ICFO combines frontier research, education, innovation and technology transfer to generate scientific and societal impact. Over the past two decades, ICFO has established itself as an internationally recognized centre of excellence and a global reference in photonics. Today, with a highly international community of around 500 employees representing more than 70 nationalities and operating naturally in English, Catalan and Spanish, ICFO continues its institutional development aimed at strengthening scientific excellence, international visibility and long-term impact. As a public research institution, ICFO is committed to generating positive impact at multiple scales, from its local environment in Castelldefels and Barcelona to Catalonia, Spain, Europe and the world. ICFO is governed by a Board of Trustees and led by an Executive Leadership comprising the Director and the Managing Director, responsible for the scientific, strategic and operational development of the Institute. As part of its ongoing institutional development, ICFO is creating a new senior leadership position to strengthen the strategic coordination of communications, outreach, events and institutional relations. The successful candidate will lead the continued development and integration of these functions in close collaboration with the Executive Leadership. ICFO is seeking an outstanding and internationally minded leader to serve as Director of Institutional Relations and Communications. Reporting directly to the Executive Leadership, the successful candidate will serve as a close strategic partner to the Director and the Managing Director on matters relating to communications, reputation, institutional positioning and stakeholder engagement. The Director of Institutional Relations and Communications will support the implementation of the Institute’s priorities through communication, outreach, events and institutional relations activities, while leading, developing and integrating the teams responsible for these functions. The role requires extensive interaction with the Director and Managing Director, research group leaders and external partners, and calls for the judgement, discretion and strategic perspective associated with a senior leadership role. The successful candidate and their team will contribute to strengthening ICFO’s visibility and reputation, fostering a vibrant scientific culture and a strong sense of community across the Institute and among the broader network of people and organizations connected to ICFO. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the continued development and international presence of one of the world’s leading research institutions. Main Responsibilities Executive Leadership Support and Strategic Implementation

Serve as a close strategic partner to the Director and Managing Director on matters relating to communications, institutional positioning and stakeholder engagement.
Support the communication and implementation of the Institute’s priorities and long-term ambitions, translating them into coherent communication, engagement and institutional relations activities.
Support high-level interactions involving governments, funding agencies, academic institutions, industry, foundations and international organizations.
Ensure coherence between ICFO’s mission, culture and external positioning.

Communications, Institutional Relations and Community

Strengthen ICFO’s visibility, reputation and influence within the international scientific, innovation and policy ecosystem.
Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders and cultivate long-term engagement with researchers, students, staff, alumni, partners and supporters.
Promote awareness of ICFO’s activities and achievements across internal and external audiences, fostering a strong sense of community and shared purpose.
Oversee media relations, science communication and public engagement activities, ensuring that ICFO’s external presence reflects the quality and ambitions of the Institute.
Explore opportunities to strengthen philanthropic engagement and expand ICFO’s network of ambassadors and supporters.

Institutional Identity, Culture and Events

Foster a vibrant scientific culture and contribute to institutional cohesion and engagement across the ICFO community.
Lead initiatives aimed at strengthening ICFO’s identity, visibility and institutional presence, including the evolution of its external image and communication platforms.
Promote a coherent experience across physical spaces, digital platforms and institutional interactions.
Promote and support scientific, institutional and outreach events, including seminars, colloquia, workshops, distinguished visits and major ceremonies.
Act, when appropriate, as institutional host and moderator for major ceremonies and strategic events involving senior stakeholders and internationally recognized guests.

Leadership and Organizational Development

Lead and develop the teams responsible for communications, outreach, events and institutional relations, fostering a collaborative, service-oriented and high-performance culture.
Lead the continued development and integration of the communications, outreach, events and institutional relations functions and, in close collaboration with the Executive Leadership, assess their capabilities and define priorities and a strategic roadmap for the coming years.
Strengthen coordination across functions and promote effective collaboration and alignment across activities and teams.
Foster talent development and continuous improvement in support of ICFO’s long-term ambitions.

Director of Scientific and Technological Services

Sun, 30 Aug 2026 22:00:00 +0100

ICFO – The Institute of Photonic Sciences is a world-leading research centre devoted to advancing the science and technologies of light. Based in Castelldefels (Barcelona), ICFO combines frontier research, education, innovation and technology transfer to generate scientific and societal impact. Over the past two decades, ICFO has established itself as an internationally recognized centre of excellence and a global reference in photonics. Today, with a highly international community of around 500 employees representing more than 70 nationalities, ICFO continues its institutional development aimed at strengthening scientific excellence, research capabilities and long-term impact. ICFO is governed by a Board of Trustees and led by an Executive Leadership comprising the Director and the Managing Director, responsible for the scientific, strategic and operational development of the Institute. As part of its ongoing institutional development, ICFO is creating a new senior leadership position to strengthen the strategic coordination and long-term development of its shared scientific and technological services. These services currently include the Mechanical Workshop, Electronics Workshop, Nanofabrication Laboratory (NFL), Nanocharacterization Laboratory (NCL), Chemical Laboratory and Post-Processing Laboratory (PPL), Biological Laboratory and Super-resolution Light Microscopy and Nanoscopy (SLN), and will continue to evolve as new scientific capabilities, including research infrastructure, major scientific equipment and specialized technical services, are developed. ICFO is seeking an outstanding leader to serve as Director of Scientific and Technological Services. Reporting directly to the Executive Leadership, the successful candidate will serve as a close strategic partner to the Director and the Managing Director on matters relating to scientific infrastructure, shared research capabilities and scientific and technological services. The Director of Scientific and Technological Services will work closely with research group leaders, the Head of General Infrastructure and other institutional leaders to ensure that ICFO’s scientific capabilities continue to evolve in support of frontier research. The Director of Scientific and Technological Services will provide strategic leadership for ICFO’s scientific and technological services, shared scientific capabilities and major research infrastructure. Beyond ensuring their effective operation, the successful candidate will help shape the Institute’s future scientific capabilities through strategic planning, stewardship of scientific infrastructure and close collaboration with the scientific community. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute directly to the scientific excellence and long-term development of one of Europe’s leading research institutions. Main Responsibilities Executive Leadership Support and Strategic Planning

Serve as a close strategic partner to the Director and the Managing Director on matters relating to ICFO’s scientific capabilities, research infrastructure and scientific and technological services.
Translate the Institute’s scientific priorities into long-term strategies for the development of shared scientific capabilities, research infrastructure and scientific services.
Work closely with research groups and the Executive Leadership to identify, assess and prioritize major institutional investments in scientific equipment and infrastructure, ensuring that institutional investments reflect the Institute’s scientific priorities, long-term strategy and the evolving needs of its research community.

Scientific and Technological Services

Lead and develop ICFO’s scientific and technological service units, fostering operational excellence, collaboration and a strong service culture.
Ensure that ICFO’s scientific and technological services continuously evolve to meet the changing needs of research groups and the Institute’s scientific priorities.
Promote the development of new shared scientific capabilities, services and research infrastructure that strengthen ICFO’s research environment.

Scientific Capabilities and Infrastructure

Develop and maintain a comprehensive institutional inventory and strategic overview of ICFO’s major scientific equipment and shared research infrastructure, including utilization, maintenance, lifecycle status and future investment priorities.
Lead the strategic planning of scientific infrastructure and major research equipment throughout their lifecycle, including acquisition, utilization, maintenance, renewal and replacement.
Maintain close dialogue with research groups to understand their evolving scientific and technological needs, ensuring that future scientific capabilities and infrastructure investments respond effectively to the Institute’s research priorities.
Promote the strategic sharing of scientific infrastructure, technical expertise and specialized capabilities across research groups, maximizing scientific impact and the effective use of institutional resources.
Maintain active engagement with leading international research institutions, scientific infrastructure networks and technology providers to identify emerging technologies, benchmark best practices and anticipate future scientific capabilities relevant to ICFO.

Governance, Financial Sustainability and Compliance

In close collaboration with the Executive Leadership, contribute to the definition and implementation of the institutional governance framework, costing and funding models, and strategic priorities for ICFO’s scientific and technological services.
Implement and oversee institutional frameworks that ensure the sustainable, efficient and compliant operation of scientific and technological services, including costing methodologies, pricing policies, resource planning and performance indicators.
Coordinate the provision of scientific and technological services to internal and external users, promoting consistent institutional practices, appropriate cost recovery and compliance with applicable legal, financial and public-sector requirements.
Develop institutional metrics to evaluate the scientific, strategic and financial contribution of ICFO’s scientific and technological services, supporting evidence-based planning, investment decisions and the continuous improvement of the Institute’s shared scientific capabilities.

Organizational Leadership and Development

Lead and develop multidisciplinary teams, fostering a collaborative, service-oriented and high-performing culture.
Lead the continued development and integration of ICFO’s scientific and technological services and, in close collaboration with the Executive Leadership, define priorities and a strategic roadmap for its future evolution.
Work closely with the Head of General Infrastructure to ensure the coordinated planning and long-term development of ICFO’s scientific and physical infrastructure.
Represent ICFO within national and international scientific infrastructure networks, promoting collaboration, benchmarking and the exchange of best practices.

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships at ICFO (Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions)

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 22:00:00 +0100

ICFO invites outstanding postdoctoral researchers from around the world to connect with ICFO Group Leaders (GLs) and co develop competitive proposals for the Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships. This call aims to match excellent candidates with leading ICFO research groups and projects, fostering strong, jointly designed fellowship proposals for submission to the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships programme. Why apply with ICFO? ICFO is an internationally recognised research centre at the forefront of photonics, quantum science and technologies, nanoscience, condensed matter, biophysics, and advanced instrumentation. Hosting an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship at ICFO offers:

World class research environment with state of the art infrastructure
Close mentorship from leading scientists
An inclusive, international, and highly interdisciplinary research culture
Excellent career development, training, and mobility opportunities

Research Areas Proposed projects should align with ICFO’s scientific scope, including the following research areas:

Advanced and Quantum Materials
Energy & Environment
Quantum Science & Tech
Bionano & Med Photonics
Light & Matter
Ultra Fast Science

Interested candidates should identify an ICFO research group of interest, review the corresponding research lines, and submit a brief outline of a proposed research project.

Optoelectronics Group: Post-doctoral in application-driven PIC development for neutral atom ...

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0100

ICFO is offering up to two postdoctoral positions to a well-qualified, highly motivated and dynamic young scientists who wish to enhance their scientific career in a friendly and stimulating environment. The successful candidate will join the international project “Photonics for Quantum (P4Q)”. P4Q will establish a distributed, pan-European infrastructure for manufacturing high-performance photonic integrated circuits (PICs) tailored to quantum applications. Quantum technologies, including neutral atom quantum computing and simulation, rely heavily on photonics for encoding, processing, and detecting quantum information. P4Q will address the stringent requirements of these technologies, such as low-loss, high-speed visible-wavelength operation, by stabilizing cutting-edge manufacturing processes and advancing both technology and manufacturing readiness levels. These PIC-based solutions are expected to support the transition from complex optical laboratory setups towards more scalable and deployable quantum technology architectures. In the Optoelectronics research group at ICFO, led by Prof. Dr. Valerio Pruneri, we are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researchers with a broad background in physics and photonics and familiarity with integrated photonics and neutral atom experimental architectures. The selected candidate will play a central role in the conception, coordination of design, fabrication and packaging activities, as well as testing and characterization of advanced PICs within the P4Q project, contributing to both technological development and application-oriented demonstrators. The position combines conception and design-oriented work, coordination, and experimental lab work, and is ideal for candidates with a solid technical background and strong motivation to work with integrated photonics for quantum applications in a dynamic R&D and pre-industrial environment. Key responsibilities:

Contribute to coordinating research activities on PICs for neutral atom experiments, including quantum computing and simulation.
Conceptualize and contribute to coordinating the development of novel visible-wavelength PICs in close collaboration with neutral atom end users. Analyse possible use cases of PICs within a neutral atom lab, while ensuring that the user requirements are translated into PIC specifications and test metrics.
Contribute to coordinating the design and simulation of PICs for these applications within ICFO.
Contribute to coordinating collaboration with:
- P4Q project partners, in particular within the Quantum Computing with Atoms and Ions work package: PIC manufacturers, packagers, and end users,
- the relevant teams within ICFO, including the Optoelectronics research group, facilities and project management.
Contribute to coordinating the Quantum Computing with Atoms and Ions work package, including preparation of project deliverable reports.
Develop characterization testbeds as well as optical/electrical testing procedures for visible-wavelength PICs.
Use the testbeds and testing procedures to analyse and validate PIC performance, operating test instrumentation including lasers, OSAs, VNAs, photodiodes, RF sources, power meters, and probe stations.
Contribute to coordinating with end users to facilitate qualification in application-oriented demonstrators.
Prepare structured testing reports, and support debugging activities across the development cycle
Actively identify concepts for future PIC iterations in collaboration with end users and project partners. Contribute to conceptualizing and preparing related follow-up projects.

Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe (P4Q, 101291189), Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU) and the Spanish Ministry for Digital Transformation and Civil Service under reference CJU-010200-2026-5, as part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Chips Joint Undertaking. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Optoelectronic Group: Project Researcher Engineer position in visible-wavelength PIC design and ...

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0100

ICFO is offering up to two Project Researcher Engineer positions to a well-qualified, highly motivated and dynamic young scientists who wish to enhance their scientific career in a friendly and stimulating environment. The successful candidate will join the international project “Photonics for Quantum (P4Q)”. P4Q will establish a distributed, pan-European infrastructure for manufacturing high-performance photonic integrated circuits (PICs) tailored to quantum applications. Quantum technologies, including neutral atom quantum computing and simulation, rely heavily on photonics for encoding, processing, and detecting quantum information. P4Q will address the stringent requirements of these technologies, such as low-loss, high-speed visible-wavelength operation, by stabilizing cutting-edge manufacturing processes and advancing both technology and manufacturing readiness levels. These PIC-based solutions are expected to support the transition from complex optical laboratory setups towards more scalable and deployable quantum technology architectures. In the Optoelectronics research group at ICFO, led by Prof. Dr. Valerio Pruneri, we are seeking an experienced researchers or engineers specializing in PIC design, simulation, testing/characterization, with strong hands-on experience. A broad background in physics and photonics, including a general understanding of neutral atom experimental architectures, is also desired. The selected candidates will be deeply involved in the development and execution of advanced PIC design, simulation and testing/characterization methodologies within the P4Q project, contributing to both technological development and application-oriented demonstrators. The position includes both theoretical/design-oriented, and experimental, lab-oriented work, ideal for candidates with a solid technical background and strong motivation to work with integrated photonics in a dynamic R&D and pre-industrial environment. Key responsibilities:

Design and simulate novel PICs in the visible wavelength range. Examples include enabling efficient coupling between AlN and AlOx platforms, and accounting for RF–optical field interactions required for high-bandwidth operation.
Collaborate closely with PIC manufacturer project partners, as well as the relevant teams within the Optoelectronics research group.
Develop characterization testbeds as well as optical/electrical testing procedures for visible-wavelength PICs.
Use the testbeds and testing procedures to analyse and validate PIC performance, operating test instrumentation including lasers, OSAs, VNAs, photodiodes, RF sources, power meters, and probe stations.
Contribute to preparing structured testing reports, and support debugging activities across the development cycle.
Collaborate with end users to facilitate qualification in application-oriented demonstrators.

Optoelectronics Group: Post-doctoral Researcher in Quantum-Secure Networks

Sun, 26 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0100

ICFO is offering up to five postdoctoral positions to a 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 Optoelectronics group led by Prof. Dr. Valerio Pruneri. Key responsibilities:

Contribute to the research and development activities carried out within national and European collaborative projects, including QSNP and IberianQCI.
Support the development, integration, and deployment of quantum devices and systems for next-generation quantum-safe communication networks.
Participate in the design, implementation, testing, and validation of innovative quantum technologies.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and project partners to achieve technical objectives and project milestones.
Stay up to date with advances in quantum technologies and contribute to the transfer of knowledge within the research team.