Open Positions

An overview of our lab. ideas about joining us can be found here. If you have any question, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you think that you could fit to our lab., but not to the following positions, please also contact us.

We are hiring!!

We are looking for a highly motivated and independent Ph.D. student to conduct original experimental+theoretical research on the interplay between active matter and passive critical matter, starting in fall 2023. The work will be supervised by Prof. Reinaldo García-García (theory, numerics) and Prof. Wenceslao González-Viñas (experiments, numerics). The student will work at the Physics and Applied Mathematics Department of the School of Science, University of Navarra, located in Pamplona, Spain.

The selected candidate will contribute to the successful completion of our research project “PASsive Criticality mediated by Active and Living matter (PASCAL), recently funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. The student will focus on two paradigmatic model systems (the condensation/evaporation phase transition in presence of bacteria and the turbulent transition in sheared bacterial suspensions). The experimental work will be conducted in our facilities and will mainly rely on optical microscopy, thermal imaging, and rheology. The successful candidate will also work with active matter (non-pathogenic bacteria) under the supervision of the Microbiology Department of the University. The theoretical work will be based on analytical+computational modeling using techniques borrowed from fluid dynamics, topology, and non-equilibrium statistical mechanics/soft matter. We have some flexibility to decide the specific research strategy depending on the selected candidate.

The successful applicant must be motivated by both theory and experiments. Good knowledge of statistical mechanics and phase transitions will be highly appreciated. International collaborations during the Ph.D. (four years maximum) are possible, mainly with the PMMH Lab in Paris, France. Knowledge of Spanish is not a prerequisite, but being able to fluently communicate in English is mandatory. There are no restrictions based on citizenship.

The selection process to fill this position consists of two rounds. First, we will select one candidate based on the merits reflected in the Curriculum Vitae and on the scientific vision the candidate will show during an interview. In the second round of the process, the chosen applicant will then compete for internal funding from our university.

The student will join a group with well-established external funding, with people having expertise in hydrodynamics, non-linear physics, modeling, statistical mechanics, soft matter, and related fields. Apart from the equipment available from several collaborations, the student will have access to a climatic chamber, microscopes, an LWIR camera with microscope objective, commercial spin-coater, among other facilities. The University also owns a high-performance computing center, to which the student will have access.

Applicants must submit an email to csl-at-unav@googlegroups.com, with the (strict, for filtering purposes) heading “Ph.D. University of Navarra”. The email must contain a motivation letter and a declaration of research interests in the context of our proposal (new model systems, interesting questions, or any idea the candidate finds motivating and worth mentioning); both documents must be attached in PDF format. Additionally, in the body of the email, the candidate will provide the contact information (name, affiliation, and electronic address) of two scientists/professors willing to support their application by writing a letter. Applicants must also attach a (non-official) certification of grades in PDF format (Degree+Master). Recommendations must be sent to the same address and using the same subject (“Ph.D. University of Navarra”), explicitly mentioning in the body of the message the name and school of the supported student, and attaching the recommendation letter in PDF format. The position will remain open until it is filled.

The University of Navarra is a private not-for-profit, Roman Catholic university which receives students from all over the world. It is ranked as the best private university in Spain. Its main mission is to seek out and communicate the truth, contribute to the academic, cultural, and personal advancement of its students, promote scientific research and teaching, and offer professors and other employees outstanding opportunities to develop and undertake a wide-ranging endeavor of cultural communication and social promotion. Pamplona is the capital city of the Autonomous Community of Navarre, in Spain. It is a beautiful medium-sized city of industry and services, with many places of cultural and historical value.

Also:

Ph.D. positions (permanently open)

Start date: between September and November every year (negotiable). The best time to submit the application is from January to April (the sooner, the better).

While the subject of the thesis will be related to our current research subjects, we welcome new proposals from candidates.

The minimum requirements to apply for the position are:

• MSc in Physics (or a closely related field) at the time of starting the fellowship.

• BS in Physics or a related field.

• Fluent in spoken English.

If you are interested in this position, please email csl-at-unav@googlegroups.com, indicating your main interest (experiments, numerics, theory, or any combination) with the following:

• Cover letter (of motivation)

• CV

If the student is shortlisted, they will be asked for:

• Soft copies (for both MSc and BS, separately) of the Spanish GPA certificates (in the case of foreign awarding institutions) or a scan of the official Spanish grades (in the case of Spanish awarding institutions). If the MSc is not finished at the time of application, a partial marks certificate is required.

• Copy of passport (or DNI for Spanish citizens).

• Two recommendation letters sent directly to us by the referees, from their institutional email addresses of university professors holding Ph.D. or outstanding researchers (also holding Ph.D.).

Before the final selection, an interview (which can be remote) is mandatory.

Please note that this position does not grant a scholarship directly. The scholarship has to be requested by the applicant after acceptance, with the help of the supervisor. Consequently, to secure results, the applicant's CV and previous marks have to be outstanding (Spanish GPA ≥ 2.5/4 or 8/10).

Postdoctoral research associate positions  (permanently open)

We are currently seeking a postdoctoral research associate to join our group as soon as possible. The position will focus on any of the research subjects we have previously worked on or are currently dealing with. Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in Physics (or a closely related field), have a strong publication record, and be fluent in both written and spoken English.

If you are interested in this position, please email csl-at-unav@googlegroups.com, indicating your main interest (experiments, numerics, theory, or any combination) with an updated CV and a letter of motivation that emphasizes your proposed field of study.

Please note that this position does not come with direct funding. Applicants must secure a suitable scholarship with the assistance of their advisor(s) after acceptance. Therefore, to be considered for this opportunity, applicants must have an outstanding CV and publication record.