SENIOR RESEARCH POSITION AT IMDEA ENERGÍA TO LEAD A NEW IN SILICO UNIT

IMDEA Energy Institute is a Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence dedicated to conducting research and development (R&D) in the fields of renewable energy and clean energy technologies, while fostering strong partnerships with leading companies in the energy sector.

About the role

IMDEA Energy is opening a Senior Researcher Position to establish and lead a new In Silico Unit devoted to predictive multiscale computational science for sustainable energy materials, with strong institutional support and close interaction with world-class experimental researchers.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement the scientific vision and technological strategy of the In Silico Unit, establishing an internationally recognized research program in predictive computational science for sustainable energy materials.
• Develop innovative multiscale computational methodologies to understand, predict and optimize the behavior of materials and processes relevant to the energy transition.
• Advance predictive modelling frameworks by integrating physics-based approaches with modern computational tools, including data-driven methodologies where appropriate.
• Foster close collaboration with IMDEA Energy's experimental research groups to accelerate the discovery, validation and optimization of materials and energy technologies.
• Build, lead and mentor a multidisciplinary research team, promoting scientific excellence, independence and talent development.
• Lead and participate in competitive European, National and Regional R&D projects, as well as industrial research and technology transfer activities.
• Establish strategic collaborations with leading universities, research centers, technology platforms, and industrial stakeholders.
• Promote scientific excellence through high-impact publications, invited lectures, international conferences, software developments, patents and other research outputs.
• Contribute actively to positioning IMDEA Energy as an international reference in computational materials science for sustainable energy technologies.

Requirements

• PhD in Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics, Chemical Engineering, Computational Science, Applied Mathematics, or closely related disciplines.
• At least 8 years of postdoctoral research experience in computational materials science, multiscale modeling, or related fields.
• Demonstrated international scientific excellence in computational modeling applied to materials for energy technologies, demonstrated through high-impact scientific publications and scientific leadership.
• Proven ability to define and lead an independent research program, including successful coordination of competitive national and/or international research projects.
• Demonstrated experience in scientific leadership, team building and supervision of researchers at different career stages.
• Strong commitment to interdisciplinary research and collaboration with experimental scientists.

Qualifications

The following merits will be valued:

• Expertise in one or more computational modeling approaches across different length and time scales, including atomistic, molecular, mesoscale or continuum modelling.
• Experience developing predictive computational methodologies for understanding structure–property–performance relationships in materials.
• Experience in computational materials design, particularly in areas relevant to sustainable energy technologies such as adsorption, catalysis, electrochemical systems or related fields.
• Experience integrating computational modelling with experimental research.
• Experience incorporating modern computational tools, such as data-driven methods, machine learning, surrogate models or uncertainty quantification, to enhance predictive modelling.
• Experience using High Performance Computing (HPC) infrastructures and large-scale scientific computing.
• Proficiency in scientific programming and the development or application of computational tools relevant to multiscale modelling.
• Experience in securing competitive funding from national and international sources, or R&D contracts with companies.
• Experience establishing and coordinating international scientific collaborations and multidisciplinary research projects.
• Relevant scientific or technological output: publications, participation in workshops and conferences, software, methodologies, technical reports, patents, databases, prototypes, or results transferable to industry.
• Fluent communication skills in English, both oral and written.

Required documents

• PhD Certificate
• Motivation Letter
• Research Vision Statement including expected research lines and integration within the institute (2 pages maximum)

Benefits

• Fixed gross annual salary of €63,500, complemented by a variable incentive component (up to €22,500) linked to the In Silico Unit performance. Total gross annual compensation can reach up to €86,000, subject to the achievement of performance objectives.
• Open-ended contract for scientific and technical activities at a Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence.
• Institutional start-up package to support the establishment of the new In Silico Unit.
• Support for recruiting research personnel and developing an independent research program.
• Close collaboration with internationally recognized experimental research groups.
• Strong institutional support for attracting competitive national and international funding.
• All benefits of the Spanish Public Health and Social Security System.

Workplace

IMDEA Energía: Móstoles, Madrid.