Post doc position in developing spectroscopical methods to identify microplastic contaminants
Pubblicato il 01-09-2026 - Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia in Lecce
Italy
Commitment & Contract: collaboration contract
Project: AI4NATURE (Azione 1.1.2)- Intelligenza Artificiale per il Rischio Ambientale e il Restauro della Biodiversità- CUP B19H26000100007-Progetti PN Ricerca, Innovazione e Competitività 2021–2027 (PN RIC 2021–2027)- Decreto Direttoriale n. 307 del 18 marzo 2025 - MI 1001 - Comunicazione adozione decreto dirigenziale n 3950 del 26/05/2026 di rettifica al DD 770 del 03/03/2026
Step into a world of endless possibilities, together let’s leave something for the future!
At IIT, we are committed to advancing human-centered Science and Technology to address the most urgent societal challenges of our era. We foster excellence in both fundamental and applied research, spanning fields such as neuroscience and cognition, humanoid technologies and robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and material sciences, offering a truly interdisciplinary scientific experience. Our approach integrates cutting-edge tools and technology, empowering researchers to push the limits of knowledge and innovation.
With us, your curiosity will know no bounds.
We are dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities and fostering diversity in all its forms, creating an inclusive environment. We value the unique experiences, knowledge, backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives of our people. By embracing diversity, we believe science can achieve its fullest potential.
THE ROLE
You will be working in multicultural and multi-disciplinary groups. The teams are composed by material scientists, physicists, neuroscientists, electronic engineers, computational scientists, biotechnologist and biomedical engineers,
sharing their expertise to work at the border of these multiple disciplines.
You will be integrated in the research unit lead by Prof. Ferruccio Pisanello focus on the implementation of part of the AI4NATURE project in a synergistic collaborations with the research units led by Camilla Coletti and Massimiliano Pontil, aimed at developing a new generation of spectroscopical methods to identify microplastic contaminants in water and biological fluids and tissues.
The project combines multidisciplinary expertise in optics, photonics, material science, biomedical engineering and data science to establish an integrated technological framework to identify microplastic contamination for application ranging from environmental monitoring to clinical diagnostics. The project also emphasizes the advancement of technology readiness levels (TRLs), driving innovative sensing and computational platforms from laboratory validation toward TRL 6–7 through tests in relevant environments.
Through the development of interoperable systems, AI4NATURE aims to bridge the gap between frontier research and practical applications, contributing to the future of precision medicine and digital healthcare for neurodegenerative disorders.
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENT
- A PhD in Physics, Engineering, Biology,
Biomedical Engineering or equivalent
- At least one of the following previous experiences
- Multimodal characterization techniques, including advanced imaging, Raman spectroscopy, electrophysiology, and integration of molecular and functional datasets
- Microfabrication approaches for bioelectronic devices, including microelectrodes, microfluidics and neural interfaces
- Coding skills in Phyton, Matlab and C++ are required for all positions
- Good knowledge of the English language
- Familiarity with the Microsoft Office Suite
- Strong focus on stakeholder needs and expectations
ADDITIONAL SKILL
- Good communication skills.
- Strong problem solving attitude.
- High motivation to learn.
- Spirit of innovation and creativity.
- Good in time and priority management.
- Ability to work in a challenging and international environment.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a highly interdisciplinary environment.
COMPENSATION PACKAGE
- A yearly gross salary ranging between 33k and 37k euro,
- Private health care coverage depending on your role and contract
- Candidates from abroad or Italian citizens who have carried scientific research activity permanently abroad and meet specific requirements, may be entitled to a deduction from taxable income of up to 90% from 6 to 13 years.
Please submit your application using the online form and including a detailed CV, cover letter (outlining motivation, experience and qualifications, and why our lab) and 2 reference letters. Application’s deadline: September 15th, 2026.
To discover more about life at IIT, visit the dedicated section here:https://www.iit.it/en/work-at-iit