La Caixa Foundation & The Institute of Photonic Cience - IFCO - Instituto de Ciencias Fotónicas - PhD-Fellowships "la Caixa" - Severo Ochoa @ ICFO

What you get

You will receive a fully funded PhD scholarship (a paid research post whilst you are studying for your PhD) at ICFO, the Institute of Photonic Sciences in Castelldefels, near Barcelona. Initially, you will be offered a 6-month internship contract with a gross salary of 26,200 EUR per year (before social security contributions and tax). This will be followed by the main contract for your PhD, lasting 3 years, which may be extended by a fourth year subject to annual performance reviews, bringing the total duration to up to 4.5 years. You will also be covered by the Spanish social security system for health and accident insurance and will have access to the Spanish public healthcare system. Your research group will provide you with a budget for materials, conference travel and training. A family allowance is granted upon application. Up to 5 fellowships are awarded per call for applications, distributed across all ICFO research groups, ranging from quantum science and advanced materials to biomedicine and ultrafast photonics.

Who can apply

• Degree: You hold a Master’s degree in mathematics, natural sciences, engineering or medicine relevant to research at the ICFO, or will have obtained one by the start of your PhD.
• ECTS credits: If your degree is from the European Higher Education Area, you must have at least 300 ECTS credits, of which at least 60 must have been obtained at postgraduate level.
• No PhD yet: You do not yet hold a doctoral degree and are not yet enrolled on the ICFO’s PhD programme.
• Field: Your background is relevant to one of the ICFO’s research areas in photonics, such as quantum technology, materials, energy or biomedical optics.
• Grades and research: You have strong grades, some research experience and clear scientific motivation.
• Language: You have a good command of English.
• Nationality: Open to all nationalities.

How to apply

You apply online via the ICFOjobs portal. The application deadline for the spring round 2026 is 9 February 2026. You must provide the details of two referees, whom the ICFO will contact automatically around one week before the deadline. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview, which will take place either in person or online.

How realistic are your chances?

With up to 5 scholarships available per call for applications and an international pool of applicants interested in a renowned photonics institute, competition is fierce, and academic grades alone are not the deciding factor. Applicants with genuine research experience and a clear suitability for a specific ICFO group stand out the most. It is advantageous to contact a group leader in advance and to submit your application well before the February deadline.