Postdoc in Quantum Repeaters with Solid-State Quantum Nodes, ICFO (Barcelona)
Job Description
This postdoc in quantum repeaters is open at ICFO – The Institute of Photonic Sciences in Castelldefels, near Barcelona, in the Quantum Photonics with Solids and Atoms group led by Prof. Dr. Hugues de Riedmatten. The successful candidate will work on entanglement between solid-state quantum memories over long distances, one of the building blocks of a future quantum internet.
At a glance
- Position: Post-doctoral researcher (ICFO reference 988)
- Where: ICFO, Castelldefels (Barcelona), Spain
- Group: Quantum Photonics with Solids and Atoms, led by Prof. Dr. Hugues de Riedmatten
- Duration: Initially up to three years
- Pay: Set by the selection committee; ICFO’s postdoctoral range runs from Ramón y Cajal to Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship levels
- Apply by: Open until a suitable candidate is found
About the postdoc in quantum repeaters
The hosting group works on quantum technologies for quantum networks: quantum memories, quantum light sources, quantum frequency conversion and quantum processing nodes. This position sits in a project that aims to build quantum repeaters from solid-state quantum memories and entanglement sources.
The advertised work centres on an experiment that demonstrates high-rate, long-distance entanglement between quantum memories. ICFO says the selected candidate will work alongside other postdocs and PhD students in quantum technologies at ICFO and at other centres in the Barcelona area, and within the Quantum Internet Alliance of the European Quantum Flagship.
Who can apply
- An internationally recognised PhD (or evidence that it will be completed shortly), preferably in experimental quantum physics.
- A proven track record of high-impact scientific research in experimental quantum optics.
- Experience in experimental quantum physics is required.
- Experience with quantum memories, light–matter interaction, quantum light sources, or the generation and characterisation of entanglement is valued.
Why this role matters
Quantum repeaters are the missing piece between laboratory quantum links and networks that cross real distances: without them, photon loss in fibre caps how far entanglement can be shared. Work on high-rate entanglement between solid-state memories feeds directly into the European Quantum Internet Alliance’s roadmap, so the results have a route out of the lab.
Pay and duration
ICFO’s posting says the contract is offered initially for a period of up to three years. Salaries for postdoctoral positions are set by the selection committee according to the applicant’s experience and seniority and the tasks assigned within the group; the institute describes its standard range as running from a level aligned with national Ramón y Cajal fellowships up to levels aligned with Marie Skłodowska-Curie individual fellowships. No single figure is published in the advertisement.
A family allowance may also be granted on request, after approval, to candidates with dependants.
How to apply
Applications are submitted through the ICFOjobs platform. Candidates are asked for a presentation letter with a declaration of interest, a curriculum vitae with contact details, and the contact e-mail addresses of two potential referees.
ICFO says candidates will be assessed as they apply and the call remains open until a suitable candidate is identified, so there is no published closing date; ResearchJobs.in has set a provisional date of 16 October 2026 and will re-check the opening then. Formal enquiries go to jobs@icfo.eu and scientific enquiries to the group leader at hugues.deriedmatten@icfo.eu.
Read the official ICFO opening (reference 988) in full before applying. You can also browse postdoctoral fellowships and more research jobs on ResearchJobs.in.
Hiring institution: ICFO – The Institute of Photonic Sciences
Official advertisement: jobs.icfo.eu
How to prepare for this application
- Lead your presentation letter with the experiment you ran end to end: the memory platform, the wavelength, the storage time and efficiency you actually measured.
- Be explicit about entanglement characterisation you have done yourself — Bell-state measurements, visibility, fidelity estimation and the error analysis behind them.
- Read a few recent papers from the group on solid-state quantum memories and quantum frequency conversion, and say in one paragraph where you would push the rate or the distance.
- If your background is in atomic rather than solid-state memories, spell out which skills transfer: laser stabilisation, cryogenics, single-photon detection, coincidence electronics.
- Line up two referees who can speak to your hands-on laboratory work, and check they are ready before you submit their e-mail addresses.
About ICFO
ICFO – The Institute of Photonic Sciences is a research centre in Castelldefels, in the Mediterranean Technology Park south of Barcelona. It is dedicated to research and training in the optical and photonic sciences, from fundamental light–matter interaction to applied photonics.
Research at ICFO is organised into groups covering areas such as quantum photonics, nanophotonics, atomic quantum optics, optoelectronics and biomedical optics. The institute recruits through its own ICFOjobs platform and states that it follows the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.
