ICFO Postdoctoral Positions & Fellowships 2026: Open Calls

ICFO Postdoctoral Positions in Spain: At a Glance

ICFO – The Institute of Photonic Sciences is located in Castelldefels in the Barcelona metropolitan area. Postdoctoral researchers join individual ICFO research groups and work under the supervision of the corresponding Group Leader.

ICFO’s official Postdoctoral Training Program states that its research groups are continually interested in outstanding postdoctoral candidates. Current recruitment is therefore better understood as a portfolio of group-specific research vacancies rather than one single annual postdoctoral fellowship competition.

Current ICFO Postdoctoral Openings

The official ICFO Postdoctoral Training Program currently lists a broad set of open postdoctoral calls. The selection below reflects opportunities shown as open on 19 September 2026; the live portal should always be checked because positions can be added or removed as recruitment progresses.

Research Areas Recruiting Postdoctoral Researchers

ICFO’s current postdoctoral portfolio spans fundamental and applied photonics and related interdisciplinary areas.

• quantum optics and quantum information;
• quantum communications and quantum networks;
• nanophotonics and integrated photonics;
• quantum materials and condensed-matter systems;
• atomic and ultracold quantum systems;
• medical optics and biomedical photonics;
• optical trapping and biophysics;
• nanoelectronics and nanomechanics;
• optoelectronics and photonic integrated circuits;
• energy conversion and electrolysis;
• optical sensing and spectroscopy; and
• advanced light–matter interactions.

Applicants should choose opportunities according to the exact scientific and technical requirements of the host group rather than applying broadly on the basis of the ICFO name alone.

Who Can Apply for ICFO Postdoctoral Positions?

Requirements vary by project. Current ICFO postdoctoral advertisements generally require an internationally recognised PhD-equivalent degree in a discipline relevant to the selected research position.

ICFO’s recruitment FAQ also states that, unless a call explicitly says otherwise, candidates may apply before completing the minimum academic qualification if they clearly disclose this and can provide evidence of completion before the prospective starting date.

Typical academic backgrounds

• physics;
• photonics and optical science;
• quantum science and quantum engineering;
• electrical or electronic engineering;
• materials science and nanotechnology;
• biophysics and biomedical engineering;
• physical chemistry;
• chemical or mechanical engineering; and
• other closely related disciplines specified by the vacancy.

Technical requirements can be highly specialised. Current and recent ICFO advertisements seek experience ranging from optical trapping and microfluidics to quantum memories, integrated photonic circuits, low-temperature measurements, diffuse optics and quantum materials.

International applicants

ICFO states that its recruitment is based on merit and potential. Current postdoctoral vacancy pages do not impose a general citizenship restriction, although every applicant must satisfy the requirements of the specific post and any applicable employment or immigration rules.

Salary, Contract Duration and Benefits

ICFO does not publish one universal fixed 2026 salary for every postdoctoral opening. Current advertisements state that salaries are assigned by the Selection Committee according to the applicant’s experience and seniority and the tasks and responsibilities of the position.

Several current vacancy pages describe the standard salary range by reference to Spanish Ramón y Cajal fellowship levels at the lower end and Marie Skłodowska-Curie individual fellowship levels at the higher end.

Contract duration

Contract duration is project-specific. Current ICFO advertisements reviewed by CareerAidHub include one-year and three-year appointments, while ICFO’s general postdoctoral programme notes that contracts may last for several years.

Some current advertisements also state that a family allowance may be available on request and subject to ICFO approval for researchers with eligible family responsibilities.

Documents Required for ICFO Postdoctoral Applications

The exact package must be checked on the chosen vacancy. A common set of materials across current ICFO postdoctoral advertisements includes:

• presentation or cover letter explaining interest in the position;
• curriculum vitae with contact details; and
• contact details for referees, commonly two potential professional referees.

ICFO’s recruitment FAQ explains that reference procedures can vary by opening. Applicants may be asked to provide referee details in the online form, after which ICFO may contact the referees for a standardised evaluation and letter of support.

ICFO Selection Process

ICFO states that candidates are selected on merit and potential using the submitted application material. Current vacancy pages describe evaluation based on qualifications, experience, scientific fit and the responsibilities of the advertised position.

For rolling calls, candidates may be assessed as they apply and recruitment can end once a suitable researcher has been identified. Other openings may use a specific closing date and structured selection timetable.

Shortlisted candidates may be contacted for further evaluation or interview. Applicants should follow the instructions in the exact vacancy rather than assuming a single institute-wide selection timeline.

How to Apply for an ICFO Postdoctoral Position

1. Review the current ICFOjobs list. Identify a live opening that matches your scientific background.
2. Read the complete vacancy. Confirm degree requirements, technical skills, contract duration and any deadline.
3. Study the host research group. Understand its current scientific programme and how the advertised project fits within it.
4. Prepare a targeted presentation letter. Explain your research fit, methods and motivation for that specific position.
5. Prepare your CV and referee details. Add any extra material requested by the vacancy.
6. Complete the ICFOjobs online application. Formal postdoctoral applications are submitted through the official recruitment system.
7. Verify reference requirements. Check whether ICFO will automatically contact referees or whether additional action is required.
8. Submit promptly. For rolling positions, the call can close after a suitable candidate is selected.

Official current recruitment links are provided in the Official Sources section below.

CareerAidHub Applicant Guidance

Treat each ICFO vacancy as a separate application

Most current opportunities are attached to specific research groups and funded projects. A generic ICFO cover letter can weaken the evidence of scientific fit.

Lead with the methods the project actually needs

If a vacancy requires quantum memories, optical trapping, integrated photonics, electrolysis, low-temperature measurements or clinical diffuse optics, make evidence of that capability easy to locate in your CV and presentation letter.

Do not assume every current position has the same salary or duration

Current ICFO contracts are project-specific. Compare the exact position terms rather than relying on compensation figures from old institutional fellowship calls.

Contact Group Leaders selectively

ICFO encourages researchers to identify groups aligned with their expertise. A concise scientific enquiry can be useful when there is a genuine question about project fit, but it should not substitute for a required formal application through ICFOjobs.

Researchers can also browse CareerAidHub’s current postdoctoral fellowships, research jobs and scientist jobs.

Previous ICFO Fellowship Routes: What Is Closed?

Severo Ochoa Excellence Program Postdoctoral Fellowships

The official Severo Ochoa postdoctoral page currently accessible through ICFOjobs relates to an older call. It states an application deadline of 19 September 2021 and describes fellowship conditions that ran through 31 December 2023, with limited extension provisions in specific circumstances.

The historical call offered a two-year fellowship and listed an annual gross salary of €37,900 plus possible relocation, family and performance-related additions. These figures are retained here only to explain why older web pages may still display them; they should not be presented as current ICFO-wide 2026 terms.

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships at ICFO – 2026 host-matching round

ICFO’s 2026 internal MSCA host-matching call closed on 6 August 2026. The corresponding European Commission MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship deadline stated on the ICFO page was 9 September 2026.

The next ICFO MSCA host-matching round has not yet been officially announced.