Phd Student

The Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ) is seeking a PhD student to work in Prof. Julio Lloret-Fillol’s Research Group. This position will be funded by the project I+D+i TED2021-132790B-I00, financed by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by the European Union/Next GenerationEU/PRTR.

Our mission is to lead, from the vantage point of molecular science, cross-strategies for solving major social and economic challenges, such as climate change and sustainable supply of energetic and raw materials, thereby contributing to the establishment of a knowledge-based economy and improving citizens’ quality of life in our influence area.

This objective is achieved by:

- The performance of an individual research project under the direction of Prof. Julio Lloret-Fillol, Group Leader, in a creative and stimulating scientific environment.
- Opportunities for short stays in distinguished international research institutions.

**Project Title and Description**:Developing Highly Active, Selective, and Robust Catalysts for Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction to fuels using Automatization, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence.

**Requirements**:

- A strong background in electrocatalytic reactions and catalysts will be a plus.
- Experience in the use of robotics or automation for experimental analysis
- Strong analytical skills and ability to work with large amounts of data
- Interested in machine learning and data mining techniques, particularly using neural networks
- Strong motivation for the project and willingness to engage in interdisciplinary research.
- Proficient in English (written and spoken)
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to think creatively
- Ability to work independently and take initiative to drive the project forward

**Required Documentation**:

- A full **Curriculum Vitae** (in PDF format). It should include the academic background, work or research experience, publications, conferences, grants and awards, previous participation in ICIQ programmes, other relevant merits and references.

**Desirable documentation**
- ** Chemistry level**: Graduate Record Examination (GRE) - Chemistry Test scores are an added advantage for evaluation.

**Grant Conditions**
- The awardees of an ICIQ PhD fellowship will be considered research personnel in training and they will have an employment contract (a pre-doctoral contract) which is regulated in the Spanish Law 14/2011, of June 1st, of Science, Technology and Education.
- The gross yearly salary of the contract shall be split into 12 monthly payments and distributed as shown below:
First and Second year of PhD: 16.971,64 € /year
- Third year of PhD: 18.183,90 € /year

Fourth year of PhD: 22.729,87 € /year
- The fellowship includes full social security coverage through the Spanish Social Security system, providing access to the Spanish public health care system and pension and unemployment benefits.
- The grant holder is entitled to temporarily interrupt the fellowship in the following situations: temporary disability, risk during pregnancy, maternity, paternity and adoption or foster care. The time elapsed during this interruption will not be accounted for against the total time.
- The contract will take effect on the date when the awarded student joins the centre.
- The PhD fellowship includes the costs of enrolment in the PhD programme. These costs will be paid by each beneficiary to the university, and later they will be refunded by ICIQ. The PhD thesis has to be completed within 4 years.
- The PhD fellowship awardees will work full-time at ICIQ and may not receive any other fellowship or regular income.
- The PhD fellowship is incompatible with any other fellowship with the same purpose.