Deadline

The Institute of Cosmos Sciences of the University of Barcelona (ICCUB), recognized as a Unit of Excellence under the Severo Ochoa and María de Maeztu program, the highest distinction awarded to research institutes or centers in Spain, is launching a pre-selection call for  at least six PhD fellowships as part of its María de Maeztu Strategic Program. This initiative reflects ICCUB’s strong commitment to scientific excellence and the advancement of emerging research talent.

This pre-selection aims to identify highly motivated national and international candidates interested in pursuing a PhD in one of ICCUB’s core research areas: cosmology, astrophysics, gravitational waves, quantum technologies, and particle physics. Selected candidates will be invited to participate in the official selection process conducted by the University of Barcelona, which is required for formal admission and hiring.

ICCUB offers a dynamic, interdisciplinary research environment that fosters international collaboration and innovation, supported by cutting-edge infrastructure and a vibrant academic community. Located in Barcelona, a global hub for science and technology, the institute provides an ideal setting for early-stage researchers to launch their scientific careers while enjoying a rich and multicultural lifestyle.

The institute is actively involved in several major international collaborations, including LHCb, DESI, and Euclid, and plays a leading role in gravitational wave experiments such as the Virgo Collaboration, the Einstein Telescope Collaboration, and the LISA Consortium. ICCUB also contributes to large-scale astronomical surveys like ESA-Gaia, Weave, and SDSS-IV, as well as electromagnetic follow-up missions across various wavelengths, including BlackGEM, MAGIC, and LST.

About this project:

The successful applicant will conduct original research related to, among other topics, the development of waveform approximants to analyze the observed GW events, and the impact of waveform distortions induced by lensing caused by galaxies, stars or other compact objects. These will support the detection of primordial black holes and black hole population studies by enabling the detection and interpretation of magnified, distant GW sources.

They will be integrated in the gravitational waves group and work closely with colleagues in the ICCUB.

 

Opportunities at ICCUB:

The PhD fellows at ICCUB will benefit from a comprehensive and enriching training program designed to prepare them for successful careers in academia, industry, or scientific outreach. Each doctoral project is embedded within one of ICCUB’s strategic research challenges. Supervision is provided by experienced ICCUB researchers, often involving co-supervision to foster interdisciplinary perspectives and collaborative mentorship.

In addition to research, students will engage in a tailored training program that includes both technical and transferable skills: scientific seminars, ICCUB Colloquia, advanced instrumentation workshops, data science, research ethics, science communication, project management, and career development. ICCUB also encourages international mobility through short-term research stays at leading institutions worldwide, enhancing global scientific exchange and visibility.

Fellowship terms:

  • The fellowship includes funds for a predoctoral training contract for up to four years. The annual salary will be split into 12 monthly payments and distributed as follows:
    • The first year of PhD: 18.269,56 €/year
    • The second and third year of PhD: 22.032,36 € /year 
    • The fourth year of PhD: 24.468,15€/year
    • Predoctoral contracts are renewed annually for up to 4 years. Renewal is subject to satisfactory performance in the PhD studies and related research activities. If the doctoral degree is obtained before the predoctoral fellowship ends, a Postdoctoral Orientation Period (POP) can be funded from the time the doctoral degree is obtained until the end of the predoctoral fellowship, with a maximum duration of 12 months (i.e. predoc contract + POP = max. 4 years in total).
    • 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.
  • Up to 7.000€ to cover the enrolment fees for the UB’s Physics doctoral program (for a maximum of 4 years) and carry out short stays in other institutions, companies or universities abroad. The research stays must have a minimum duration of one month and must be authorized by the doctoral supervisor/s.

Eligibility criteria:

The fellowships are addressed to graduate students of any nationality who fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

  • Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree in Physics, Mathematics, Astronomy, Particle Physics, Cosmology, Electronics, Semiconductor Technology, Photonics, Quantum Technologies, Computer Science or a related discipline by September 2026
  • Be eligible for full-time enrollment in the UB Physics doctoral program for the 2026-2027 academic year by the time the fellowship starts, between September 2026 and January 2027.
  • Applicants must not hold a doctoral degree. Moreover, applicants are not eligible if they have benefited from a predoctoral training fellowship under the ‘Plan Estatal de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación Tecnológica’ or any of the previous Spanish National Plans by MICIU/AEI.
  • Applicants must have a thesis supervisor affiliated with the Institute of Cosmos Sciences.

Preferred skills:

  • An interest in computational modeling.
  • Working knowledge of the Linux operating systems.
  • The ability to collaborate and communicate well in English.
  • Good knowledge of the Python programming language, the knowledge of C will be considered an asset.
  • A solid background in general relativity, nuclear physics, and astrophysics is a plus.

Selection criteria:

A score of up to 100 points will be awarded, on the bases of the following criteria:

  1. Candidate's academic and/or scientific-technical experience, up to 50 points
    1. Scientific and technical contributions, up to 45 points The academic record and other curricular merits of the candidate will be assessed, as well as their suitability for the tasks to be carried out based on training and professional experience.
    2. Mobility and internationalization, up to 5 points Short-term research stays in national and international institutions, universities, and industry will be assessed, considering the prestige of the entity hosting the stay and the activity carried out therein, as well as the impact of the research stays on the research career path of the candidate.
  2. Suitability of the candidate for the research activities to be carried out in the funded project, up to 50 points

The candidate's suitability for the program, project, and planned research activities will be evaluated based on their prior training and experience. In this context, consideration will be given to the added value that undertaking the project would bring to their research career, as well as the value the candidate would contribute to the host institution and research groups.

If two or more applications receive the same final score, preference will be given to the candidate with the highest score for criterion 1. If the candidates remain tied, a draw will be made to select the winning candidate.

Application Process:

The entire application process will be completed online. To apply, please complete the application form and provide contact details for two referees. After submission, you will receive instructions on how to upload the following documents:

  • Curriculum Vitae, we welcome to use of the AEI template but this is not mandatory, in Spanish or English, which must list the merits the candidate wishes to be considered. The curriculum vitae template can be found here.
  • Official transcripts of BSc and MSc studies in PDF format, showing grades obtained. If the academic transcripts are not in Catalan, Spanish or English, applicants should also attach a translation in one of the above-mentioned languages, and the grading system should be explained.
  • Motivation letter with statement of research expertise and interests  and justificationof  their fit to the  project (max 3 pages).
  • The contact of two Reference Letter writers (referees will be contacted directly)

Reference letters must be sent directly by the referees through the on-line application system (the system will contact these scientists you named, asking them to submit their letters of reference after a few working days). Applications will only be considered once at least one reference letter has been received.

Please note:

  • In case of multiple applications to this call, the applicant should clearly indicate in their statement all the applications submitted or planned and indicate their prioritization in the motivation letter.
  • For any questions regarding the application process, please contact secretaria@icc.ub.edu.
  • Candidates must ensure that all information is included before the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Important: Candidates who are shortlisted through the ICCUB pre-selection process will be invited to apply to the University of Barcelona’s call.

Key dates:

Application deadline: Until filled. Review of the applications will start on December 1st, 2025

Final resolution: February 2026

Pre-selection process:

The evaluation and pre-selection of the candidates will be conducted by the ICCUB María de Maeztu Committee for Predoctoral Training, following the guidelines set by the 2024 ‘Centros de Excelencia «Severo Ochoa» y Unidades «María de Maeztu»’ call for proposals, following the procedure below:

  • The selection will be based on the evaluation criteria described before.
  • At the late stages of the pre-selection process, short-listed candidates will be contacted for a personal interview.
  • All applicants will be informed of the final pre-selection decision by February 2026.

ICCUB follows in its selection processes a gender equality opportunity policy and a non-discrimination policy based on age, ethnic or social origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, language and disability.

Funding:

These positions are financed by the State Agency for Research of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities through the "Unit of Excellence María de Maeztu 04/2019-03/2031" awarded to the Institute of Cosmos Sciences, grant CEX2024-001451-M funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033.

The Unit of Excellence Maria de Maeztu recognition has been awarded by the Spanish Government in 2025 for the third time to the ICCUB, as a center with a highly competitive strategic research programmes in the frontiers of knowledge.