Postdoc position in the field of optical microscopy for measuring diffusion dynamics

Organisation/Company Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Research Field Physics Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Application Deadline 31 Dec 2026 - 00:00 (UTC) Country Italy Type of Contract Other Job Status Other Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - ERC Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Commitment & contract: 24 months (+12 renewable)

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 a multicultural and multi-disciplinary environment, where junior and senior scientists collaborate, each with their expertise, to carry out a scientific activity with a shared research goal.

The Optical Investigation of Dynamical Systems research unit was established in 2026 by Eli Slenders, following the award of an ERC starting grant. The research focuses on the development of optical microscopy systems for measuring molecular diffusion and biomechanical properties in biological systems. This includes designing custom-built optical microscopes, developing control software, and building data analysis pipelines to extract quantitative information from dynamic samples.

Within the research team, your main responsibilities will be:

• Design and implementation of a custom confocal laser scanning microscope, optimized for measuring molecular diffusion with fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy (FFS) by combining pulsed excitation with state-of-the‑art array detectors and photon time‑tagging
• Implementation of a data analysis framework for robust, autonomous, and real‑time data evaluation for FFS
• Proof‑of‑principle FFS measurements on various test samples
• Support the supervision of a PhD student

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

• A PhD in physics, biophysics, engineering or a related discipline
• Documented experience in aligning optical microscopes
• Strong publication record
• The ability to properly report, organise and publish research data
• The successful candidate should have good practice with teamwork and a problem‑solving attitude.
• Good command of spoken and written English

ADDITIONAL SKILLS

• Strong motivation to contribute to the establishment and growth of a new research line
• Experience with programming in LabVIEW and/or Python
• Ability to work in a challenging and international environment

COMPENSATION PACKAGE

• A yearly gross salary up to 35.000 EUR
• 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.

This position is funded by the European Union through the ERC starting grant project Comprehensive Platform for Correlating Biomolecular Dynamics and Biomechanics with Multiscale Optical Spectroscopy (MotionPicture), No. .

Please submit your application using the online form and including a detailed CV, university transcripts, cover letter outlining motivation, experience, and qualifications and contact details of 2 references.

The position will remain open until filled.