PhD position in materials modelling
Duration: 4 years
Gross salary: 17.7k€/year
Location: Department of Materials Science and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Barcelona (Spain)
Funding: Graduate fellowship (“FPI”-type) within the research project “Computational modelling of low-dimensional materials: structure, magnetism and electron transport (CoMoLDMat)”, reference PID2024-157317NB-I00, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities (MICIU).
We offer a 4-year PhD position in the group of Prof. Pere Alemany [Google Scholar] at the University of Barcelona to work in the field of theoretical solid-state chemistry. The group’s research interests span a range of topics such as electron transport and magnetism in low-dimensional materials and the relation between symmetry and material’s properties.
The work will proceed in collaboration with Prof. K. Neyman at the IQTCUB. The CoMoLDMat project aims to apply well-established tools and concepts from quantum chemistry and solid-state physics to explore the subtle relations between the atomic structure and the electronic structure and its associated properties such as electron transport and magnetism in low-dimensional materials, that is, crystalline solids where the electrons are confined to regions with reduced dimensions compared to their bulk counterparts. These include 0-D (nanoparticles, quantum dots, …), 1-D (nanotubes, linear chain compounds, …), or 2-D (ultrathin films, layered van der Waals materials, …). Applicants must hold a BSc degree in Physics, Chemistry, or Materials Science and a MSc degree in a related field. A strong background in theoretical chemistry and/or physics is required. Strong computational/programming skills will be highly valued. Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are required.
The tentative starting date is Spring 2026. The selected candidate will join the Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry (IQTC-UB) at the University of Barcelona, an interdisciplinary research institute which has been recognized as a “María de Maeztu Unit of Excellence” by the Spanish Research Agency.
Further Information on the call can be found at https://www.ub.edu/beques/3rcicle/FPI/convocatoria.html (Convocatòria FPI 2025) in the “Annex I Anglès” link.
Applications should be submitted through https://www.ub.edu/beques/3rcicle/FPI/sol_licitud.html
The deadline for the applications is October 14 2025.
Interested candidates should first contact Prof. Pere Alemany (p.alemany@ub.edu). Please send an email (subject line: “FPI 2025 application CoMoLDMat”) including a motivation letter, a short CV, and contact details for two references.