Postdoctoral position in Functional Sustainable Materials and Systems for Environmental and Biomedical Applications

Organisation/Company

Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia

Research Field

Chemistry
Physics

Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)

Application Deadline

31 Mar 2026 - 00:00 (UTC)

Country

Italy

Type of Contract

Other

Job Status

Other

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by a EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Commitment & contract: Collaboration contract for 2 years

Location: Genoa, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia - Center for Convergent Technologies

WHO WE ARE

At IIT we work enthusiastically to develop human-centered Science and Technology to tackle some of the most pressing societal challenges of our times and transfer these technologies to the production system and society. Our Genoa headquarters are strictly inter-connected with the other 11 centres around Italy and two outstations based in the US for a truly interdisciplinary experience.

OUR TEAM

As selected candidate you will work in the Smart Materials research unit of Dr. Athanassia Athanassiou in Genoa.

You will be working in a multicultural and multi-disciplinary group, where physicists, chemists, biologists, biotechnologists, as well as materials, chemical, mechanical and biomedical engineers, collaborate, use and expand their own expertise, to carry out common research.

The research carried out at Smart Materials focuses on the development of new composite materials and devices through the combination of biopolymers with organic and inorganic micro or nanofillers. Both the chemistry and the structure of the developed materials are controlled in order to achieve precise properties adjusted to the needs of various application fields. Since polymers are the main building blocks of the developed structures, natural, bioderived and biodegradable polymers are mainly used in order to develop novel composite materials with accurately modulated properties, but at the same time with minimal environmental impact. The group has developed a vast variety of techniques and owns state of the art instrumentation for the development and characterization of the composites systems and devices. Close collaborations exist with industry, universities, and research centers in Italy and abroad.

As successful candidate, you will work in close collaboration with various IIT groups that collaborate under the Technologies for Sustainability IIT Flagship.

Research Responsibilities

• Design and development of sustainable functional materials and systems for environmental and biomedical applications
• Development of material-based remediation strategies for coral reef restoration and marine ecosystem health
• Development of materials and delivery systems to enhance plant growth and resilience
• Design and fabrication of bioactive wound protection and healing patches
• Investigation of biocompatibility and controlled release of active compounds for wounds, plants, and marine organisms
• Processing and integration of developed materials into scaffolds, soft robotic components, or smart monitoring systems
• Physicochemical, mechanical, and functional characterization of developed materials and systems
• Biodegradation and environmental fate studies to evaluate controlled decomposition and sustainability
• Protection of intellectual property through patent drafting and technology transfer activities
• Dissemination of results through publications in high-impact peer-reviewed journals and international conferences
• Supervision and mentoring of PhD and MSc students

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

• A PhD in one of the following areas: Bioengineering, Biotechnology, Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry and similar disciplines, with postdoctoral experience at least 2 years.
• Documented experience in biodiversity preservation through materials studies
• Documented experience in wound healing studies
• Experience in morphological and spectroscopic characterization techniques
• Experience with biodegradation studies
• A very strong publication record
• The ability to properly report, organize and publish research data
• Excellent spoken and written English

ADDITIONAL SKILLS

• Students supervising experience
• Good communication skills
• Strong problem solving attitude
• High motivation to learn
• Spirit of innovation and creativity
• Good at time and priority management
• Ability to work in a challenging and international environment
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a highly interdisciplinary environment

COMPENSATION PACKAGE

• Competitive salary package for international standards
• Private health care coverage
• Wide range of staff discounts

Please submit your application using the online form including a detailed CV, cover letter (outlining motivation, experience and qualifications) and contact details of at least 2 referees.

Applications’ deadline: March 31th 2026

To discover more about life at IIT, visit the dedicated section here:https://www.iit.it/en/work-at-iit

Website

https://app.ncoreplat.com/jobsharingredirect/786784/postdoctoral-position-in-fu…

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