Post-Doctoral Research Position in the Polymers and Soft Matter Group
CFM Materials Physics Center
Summary
The Polymers and Soft Matter Group at CFM is offering a postdoctoral position (1 year) starting in November 2026 to work with Dr. Silvina Cerveny, in collaboration with Dr. Ester Verde and Dr. Gustavo Schwartz. The group is a highly international research group of physicists, chemists, and materials engineers, combining diverse expertise in synthesizing, characterizing, and modeling polymers and soft materials for applications including sustainable water remediation.
Job description
The postdoctoral position focuses on the development of a sequential water remediation system that combines photoactive polymeric nanoparticles with green pectin-based adsorbents optimized by artificial intelligence.
Responsibilities
- Synthesize, characterize, and optimize ionically crosslinked pectin adsorbents to selectively capture the degradation products of ciprofloxacin and methylene blue.
- Contribute to validating the integrated system in complex matrices and real water samples.
- Study the regeneration, reuse, and long-term stability of the system.
Requirements
- Postdoctoral research background in polymer chemistry, soft matter, or materials science
- Experience with polymer synthesis and characterization
- Experience with adsorbent development and optimization
- Knowledge of photocatalysis and sustainable materials
- Ability to validate systems in complex matrices and real water samples
Company overview
CFM Materials Physics Center (CFM) is a Basic Excellence Research Center (BERC) based in Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain, focused on advanced materials science research. Founded in 1999 as a joint initiative between the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), CFM brings together stable research teams with a proven record of scientific excellence. The center's research spans multiple disciplines including chemical physics of complex materials, electronic properties at the nanoscale, photonics, polymers and soft matter, nanophysics, and quantum nanophotonics. CFM is recognized by the Basque Government for its high-quality research output and operates with 51-200 employees, including researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and PhD students. The center actively contributes to higher education through its involvement in the 'Physics of Nanostructures and Advanced Materials' doctoral program at UPV/EHU. CFM's research lines cover areas such as materials computation and theory, nano-bio spectroscopy, laser physics, and ceramic and cement-based materials, positioning it as a key player in the European materials science research landscape.