Pre-doctoral Researcher (Investigador en formación) I-PI 44-25

Organisation / Company Universidad de Alicante Department Department of Inorganic Chemistry Research Field Chemistry » Inorganic chemistry Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Master Positions Country Spain Application Deadline 9 Jul 2025 - 23 : 59 (Europe / Madrid) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 37,5 Offer Starting Date 26 Jun 2025 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number Ref. CIGRIS / 2024 / 090 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

JOB POSITION : Pre-doctoral Researcher (Investigador en formación) I-PI 44-25

Applications are invited by the University of Alicante President to create a pre-shortlist of candidates for the recruitment of research staff (contract type : fixed-term contract; job category : pre-doctoral researcher) to collaborate with the project “ zeolite hybrids for the sustainable transformation of bulky molecules (ZEOCDots)” of the Department of Inorganic Chemistry. Reference : I-PI 44-25

Pursuant to the provisions on the regulations governing calls for applications of research staff to cover a contractual research position, approved by the Governing Council of 29 June 2021 (BOUA of 30 June 2021) and with instructions of the University of Alicante Offices of the Registrar and the Comptroller, which establish the mandatory use of electronic means for the submission of applications, documentation, payment of fees, communications, notifications and all other procedures of the selection procedures for the temporary contractual administrative and services staff and research staff and other general applicable regulations, the University of Alicante calls for applications in accordance with the following terms :

First. General terms.

1.1. The purpose of this call is to create a pre-shortlist of candidates for the recruitment of research staff (job category : pre-doctoral researcher) for the project “ zeolite hybrids for the sustainable transformation of bulky molecules (ZEOCDots)”.

1.2. The project in which the successful applicant(s) will collaborate, as well as the number of available vacancies and the characteristics of the job role, are set out in the annex hereto.

1.3. The panel in charge of the recruitment process may decide to create a talent pool including candidates whose applications were unsuccessful but who participated in all the stages of the recruitment process and, where applicable, passed the relevant test. In such a case, the panel may set a minimum score for candidates to be placed in the pool.

The pool will list candidates in descending order of score. Candidates in the pool may be contacted if a successful applicant does not accept the position offered or, after accepting it, is on a temporary leave of absence, resigns or is dismissed. They may also be contacted to cover additional needs of the project, as long as the tasks to be fulfilled are related to the job profile specified in this call for applications.

If candidates are offered a position, they will be contacted in the order listed in the pool.

The candidate(s) selected for the job position(s) will be added to the talent pool at the end of their contract(s). Their position on the list will be determined by the score they achieved during the recruitment process.

In accordance with the provisions of the agreement of the Governing Council of 27 January 2022, which approves the University of Alicante 4th Plan for equal opportunities between women and men, and with article 61.2. f) of Valencia Government Law 4 / 2021, of 16 April, of the Valencian Civil Service it is hereby stated that the percentage distribution in the contractual job vacancies of pre-doctoral researcher for research projects is47.84% for women and52.16% for men,so there is no under-representation of either sex in this job category.

Second. Requirements for applicants.

Compliance with the requirements listed below must always refer to the date of expiry of the deadline for the submission of applications and must be maintained until the date of entering into the contract.Applicants must :

2.1. Hold or be in the process of obtaining any of the following university degrees (or those equivalent in their country, awarded by a non-EU university or institution), which must have been completed after 1 January 2020 : undergraduate degree in Chemistry or in Chemical Engineering (Spanish MECES level 2 or EQF level 6).

Applicants who are not in possession of the degree certificate must provide proof of payment of the diploma issuing fee or submit an academic certificate stating that they have completed all the studies leading to the award of said certificate.

Those who completed their degree before 1 January 2020 can also apply if, at any point after 1 January 2020, they took any of the following types of leave : maternity or paternity leave under the general Social Security system; carer’s leave in accordance with Spanish Act 39 / 2006, of 14 December; temporary disability leave on account of a serious illness; or leave on account of gender-based violence. For each leave they took, the above deadline will be brought forward by a year (e.g. those who finished their degree in 2018 can still apply if they took two of such leaves of absence after 1 January 2020).

Those who finished their degree after 1 January 2017 can also apply if they, at any point within the four years preceding the completion of their degree, looked after their children (under six years of age) for one year or longer.Candidates who completed their degree prior to 1 January 2020 must provide the relevant supporting documents to prove they are eligible to take part in this process. To attach said documents to their application, they must select the following document type : “Título universitario” (“University qualification”).

2.2. Hold or be in the process of obtaining an official Master’s degree (Spanish MECES level 3 or EQF level 7).

Applicants who are not in possession of the degree certificate must provide proof of payment of the diploma issuing fee or submit an academic certificate stating that they have completed all the studies leading to the award of said certificate.

2.3. Have a document (ifthe required qualification was obtained overseas) confirming that the relevant official approval or statement of comparability has been secured.

In the event of qualifications obtained overseas for which the relevant official approval, statement of comparability or recognition has not been secured by the application deadline, the applicant will be required to present evidence that, prior to entering into contract, they have initiated the official approval, comparability or recognition process. In such cases, any supporting documents relating to the qualification that are in a language other than those with official status in the Valencia Region must be accompanied by a sworn translation; otherwise, the applicant may be excluded from the process.

2.4. Meet the academic requirements necessary for admission to the University of Alicante PhD programme in Materials Science (Spanish MECES level 4 or EQF level 8). Proof of admission to such a doctoral programme must be submitted, at the latest, when entering into the contract.

2.5. Have a conversational level of Catalan, Spanish or English, so they can carry out their research work properly.

2.6. Not hold a PhD awarded by a Spanish or foreign university.

2.7. Not have been awarded funding or grants under the Santiago Grisolía Programme.

2.8.Be a Spanish national or be in one of the situations listed in article 57 of Royal Legislative Decree 5 / 2015, of 30 October, which approves the revised text of the Act on the Basic Statute of Public Employees (BOE of 31 October). In the case established in point 4 of this article, when entering into the employment contract, the successful applicant must be a legal resident in Spain.

2.9. Be at least 16 years of age and not exceed the maximum compulsory retirement age.

2.10. Possess the physical and mental capacities and aptitudes that are necessary for the performance of the corresponding functions or tasks, for which, prior to the signing of the contract, a medical certificate must be provided certifying the possession of said capacities and aptitudes. For these purposes, medical examinations may be carried out through the medical assistance provided by the University of Alicante Occupational Health Service.

2.11. Not have been dismissed by disciplinary proceedings from the service of any of the Public Administrations or of the constitutional or statutory bodies of the Spanish Autonomous Regions, nor have been totally or specially disqualified for public employment by a court decision, for access to the civil service, or to perform duties similar to those performed by non-tenured staff in public administrations, in which they had been dismissed or disqualified. Nationals of another State must not be in a situation of disqualification or equivalent, nor have been subjected to a disciplinary or equivalent sanction that prevents, under the same terms, access to public employment in the relevant State.

If an applicant, at any point during and before the completion of the recruitment process, no longer meets all the necessary conditions, they will be required to file a request to withdraw from the process. Otherwise, as soon as it is detected that they do not comply with all the requirements, they will be excluded from the process.

Third. Submission of applications.

By submitting their application, candidates confirm that the information provided in the application is true and that they meet all the requirements set out in the call for applications. They also undertake to provide proof that the information contained in the application is true and correct.

Any supporting documents submitted in a language other than those with official status in the Valencia Region must be accompanied by a sworn translation. Otherwise, said supporting documents may be excluded or not considered.

Merits for which no valid proof has been provided by the deadline for candidates to correct their applications after publication of the provisional list of accepted and rejected candidates (fourth section of the call) will not be taken into account.

At any point during the process, candidates may be required to present the originals of the submitted documents and, where applicable, the sworn translation of said documents.

Sixth. Two-stage selection system : Merit-based assessment and personal interview, which may be conducted in English. The interview may be recorded. The score awarded for the interview, which is mandatory, will range from 0 to 2.

Applicants of Spanish nationality must prove their identity by presenting their Spanish ID, passport, driving licence or, where applicable, a document issued by a police station that contains their Spanish ID number. Applicants who are not Spanish nationals must prove their identity by presenting a document issued by the relevant authorities of their country of origin or residence; the document must be a valid proof of identity and indicate their age and nationality. Copies or photocopies of said documents are not accepted under any circumstances.

The panel may decide to create a talent pool including candidates whose applications were unsuccessful, in accordance with section 1.4 of this call for applications.

ANNEX : purpose of call i-pI 44-25 and job profile

Project CIGRIS / 2024 / 090 funded by the Valencia Region Government’s Department of Education, Culture, Universities and Employment

This project is conducted under the Santiago Grisolía Funding Programme, included in the Decision of 27 November 2024, of the Valencia Region Government’s Department of Education, Culture, Universities and Employment, granting funding, for the 2025 financial year, for the promotion of scientific research, technological development and innovation in the Valencia Region (Official Journal of the Valencia Region Government of 29 November 2024).

1. First project in which the successful applicant will collaborate :

1.1. Name of the project : “ zeolite hybrids for the sustainable transformation of bulky molecules (ZEOCDots)”.

1.2. Reference : CIGRIS / 2024 / 090.

1.3. Funding agency : Valencia Region Government’s Department of Education, Culture, Universities and Employment.

1.4. Dept. / Institute : Department of Inorganic Chemistry.

2. Number of vacancies and features of the job vacancy.

2.1. Entering into contract, as well as its terms and conditions, will be subject to the receipt of the funding for the project from the relevant agency, i.e. the Valencia Region Government’s Department of Education, Culture, Universities and Employment.

2.2. Number of job vacancies : one.

2.3. Job position : pre-doctoral researcher.

2.4.Working hours : 37.5 hours / week in morning / afternoon sessions.

2.5. Remuneration : €1,347.86 gross / monthly for the first and second year of the contract, €1,391.36 gross / monthly for the third and €1,739.20 gross / monthly for the fourth year, plus extra payments in accordance with the regulations in force, as well as the salary increases approved by law each year.

In any case, the remuneration amounts may not be less than 56% of the salary set for the equivalent categories in the relevant collective bargaining agreements during the first and second year, than 60% during the third year and than 75% during the fourth year; nor may it be less than the minimum interprofessional wage established each year, in accordance with Article 27 of the Recast Version of the Workers’ Statute Law.

2.6. Maximum duration of the contract : 4 years.

While the duration of the contract is linked to the maximum duration of the grant and its budgetary availability, the contract will be terminated on the date of the applicant’s successful PhD viva. Periods during which the applicant received other grants for the same purpose will be deducted from the maximum duration of the contract.

If the successful PhD viva takes place before the start of the last year of the grant period, then the pre-doctoral researcher may enter into a post-doctoral contract from the day following the PhD viva. The contract for the POP (post-doctoral orientation period) will be on a full-time basis, with a maximum duration of 12 months.

2.7. The pre-doctoral contract also includes an additional amount of €1,600 in the first year. This additional amount will cover expenses incurred by the successful applicant to travel to and settle in the Valencia Region.

2.8. Tasks to be carried out :

The successful applicant will collaborate in the research project “ zeolite hybrids for the sustainable transformation of bulky molecules (ZEOCDots) (CIGRIS / 2024 / 090)”, funded by the Valencia Region Government’s Department of Education, Culture, Universities and Employment, undertaking doctoral training in cooperation with a University of Alicante research group – in particular, the Molecular Nanotechnology Laboratory – to pursue a doctoral thesis associated with the aforementioned project and carrying out the following research tasks :

• Synthesis and characterisation of carbon dots.
• Synthesis and characterisation of hierarchical zeolites.
• Synthesis and characterisation of hybrid materials based on zeolites and carbon dots.
• Determination of the optical properties and photophysics of the synthesised systems.
• Evaluation of the applicability of the materials.
• Assistance with the writing of related scientific publications and reports.
• Any other task related to this job position as may arise from the implementation of the project.

Third. Job profile .

Preference will be given to those with :

3.1 Experience and training related to the tasks to be carried out (section 2 of this annex), as well as to :

3.2. Knowledge of English.

3.3. Qualification : Official Master’s degree in Chemistry, in Chemical Engineering, in Materials Science or in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (Spanish MECES level 3 or EQF level 7), or any other official Master’s degree with equivalent content.

Please note that you must use the University of Alicante's standard CV format for Project-based Research and Technical Staff Recruitment, which is mandatory and is available at the following address on the University's website : It must be attached in the section ‘Modelo currículum’.

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