Open Position Postdoctoral Position in the Detectors Characterization Group at IFAE

About IFAE

The High Energy Physics Institute (IFAE) in Barcelona announces the opening of a 2-year Postdoctoral Position (with possible extension to a third year) in the detector Characterization Group. IFAE is a worldwide-recognized center for fundamental research in Particle Physics, Astro particle Physics and Cosmology, as well as for developing state-of-the-art instrumentation under the framework of several international scientific collaborations and medical physics applications. IFAE provides an international, dynamic, and competitive environment for training of young researchers.

The IFAE has a long record of instrumentation development and has contributed to the construction, assembly, installation and commissioning in experiments at CERN, KEK, several telescopes at El Roque de los Muchachos, Chile and USA observatories, and the Euclid Space Mission. It has specialized cutting-edge laboratories for the characterization of CMOS, CCD and FPA devices and for newly developed detectors in the Infra-Red (IR) spectrum.

Role

The successful candidate will contribute to the development of instrumentation and novel characterization techniques for advanced detectors dedicated to ground- and space-based astronomy. These activities will include work on cutting-edge Very Long-Wave Infrared (VLWIR) detector technologies developed within the framework of the European ATHENA project, in collaboration with CEA-Leti, Lynred, and other partners. The candidate will also be involved in the performance characterization and ground calibration of Near- and Short-Wavelength Infrared (NIR–SWIR) detectors for the European Space Agency (ESA) mission ARRAKIHS, with additional responsibilities in detector calibration and the mitigation of instrumental effects critical to mission performance.

Specific requirements and merits to be assessed

Applicants must hold a PhD in physics or engineering by the start date of the contract and demonstrate solid experience in instrumentation within astronomy, astrophysics, space applications, or High Energy Physics.

Evaluation process

The process of evaluation and selection guarantees the principles of competition, publicity and transparency. The recruitment of fellows consists in an open selection and the evaluation of candidates will be carried out according to the criteria of the call:

• Previous experience; 50 points
• Scientific excellence based on the CV; 30 points
• Motivation and interest; 20 points

What we offer

The successful candidate will have:

• Temporal contract: 3 years
• Full time contract (40 hours/week).
• IFAE Professional category: Postdoctoral researcher
• Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications within the corresponding category range

Application submission

Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest and a curriculum vitae, and arrange for two letters of reference to be sent by email to Cristobal.Padilla@ifae.es , jjimenez@ifae.es and rrhh@ifae.es with the reference IFAE2026_05_DetectorsCharacterization_Postdoc

For further information please contact Cristobal Padilla (Cristobal.Padilla@ifae.es ) and Jorge Jiménez (jjimenez@ifae.es )

The application deadline is February 19th, 2026. However, applications will be accepted until the opening is filled.

General information about IFAE is available at http://www.ifae.es

Sending CVs to the above addresses implies consent to the IFAE’s legal warning on data privacy. IFAE is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace and social integration of people with a disability. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates. People from groups that are typically underrepresented in the labor market in general and in Science and Engineering in particular, such as women, minorities, or people with a disability, are particularly encouraged to apply. A Selection Committee will evaluate the received applications. If more than one candidate seems equally suitable for the position, the Selection Committee will arrange an on-line interview with each one of them as part of the Selection process. In compliance with article 121 of the Spanish Public Sector Legal Regime Act, staff with a pre-existing relationship with the Consortium administration (Generalitat de Catalunya and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) will have priority in the awarding of the position.