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Senior Research Fellow

The Instituto de Investigación Tecnológica (IIT) of Universidad Pontificia Comillas invites applications from outstanding researchers who have received the ERC Seal of Excellence, to join the institute as Senior Research Fellows on a tenure-track basis.

The IIT is a multidisciplinary research institute with more than 40 years of experience at the frontier of energy systems, complex networks, and computational engineering. We offer a unique environment combining rigorous academic research with close ties to industry, regulators, and European policy institutions.


Priority Research Areas

Applications are particularly welcome in the following areas, although outstanding candidates in adjacent fields will also be considered:

• Applied Quantum Computing — algorithms and architectures for optimization, simulation, and machine learning in engineering systems.

• Foundation Models for Physical & Engineered Systems — theory and application of large-scale models for physics-informed and engineering domains.

• Mathematics of Complexity — emergence, multiscale systems, irreversibility, and their applications to complex engineered networks.

• Computational Medicine & Disease Modelling — mathematical and AI-driven approaches to understanding disease, predicting clinical outcomes, and tailoring treatments to individual patients.

• Critical Resource & Logistics Networks — food, raw materials, energy, mobility, and supply-chain networks under stress and transition.

• Climatology, Hydrology & Atmospheric Physics — climate change impacts, resilience, and risk for infrastructure and engineered systems.

• Crop Modelling & Precision Agriculture — data-driven and mechanistic models for sustainable agriculture and food systems.

Candidates with experience in exploring applications and synergies between these fields and the Institute’s existing research areas, including power and energy systems, are particularly encouraged to apply.


Requirements

• PhD in a relevant discipline with at least 5 years of post-doctoral research experience.

• Recipient of the ERC Seal of Excellence in the last 4 years, or former ERC grantee (not current grantees).

• Demonstrated record of high-impact publications in top international venues.

• Evidence of independent research leadership and capacity to attract competitive funding.

• Commitment to long-term integration into the IIT and Universidad Pontificia Comillas.


What do we offer?

Tenure-Track Contract

• 5-year tenure-track contract.

• Full integration into the IIT research community with access to all institute resources from day one.

Start-up Package

• Relocation allowance of up to €10’000 for researchers joining from abroad.

• Dedicated doctoral positions linked to the fellow's research programme. To be co-directed with other IIT members.

• Access to computing infrastructure, laboratory facilities, and shared technical services.

• Specific infrastructure requirements can be considered on request.

Remuneration & Benefits

• Internationally competitive salary with excellence complement above the standard academic scale.

• Access to Comillas's full benefits package (health insurance, social services).

• Up to €1.5 million may be made available, subject to the approved research plan, institutional budgeting and applicable University procedures. This amount will include salary of the candidate, research team and required infrastructure.

Research Environment

• Dedicated support from the IIT projects office for future ERC Consolidator/Advanced and Horizon Europe applications.

• Established network of collaborations with Spanish stakeholders and leading European research institutions.

• Freedom to define and lead your own research line, supervise doctoral students, and build your group, within the framework of the IIT and the University policies.

• Support for international mobility (sabbaticals, conference funding, co-supervision agreements).


Documents

Interested candidates should submit the following documents in a single PDF to srf@iit.comillas.edu with subject line: «Senior Fellow Application – [Surname] – [Research Area]».

• Full CV including full list of publications.

• Applications should follow the format of Part B1 and Part B2 of the application form of the specified European Research Council[1], adding a new section on how the research will be aligned with IIT research and codirection of PhD students.

• ERC Seal of Excellence notification or official proof of the former ERC Grant agreement / final report approval (depending on the candidate's eligibility path).

• Names and contact details of three referees (letters may be requested at a later stage).

• Brief motivation letter (max. 1 page) explaining your interest in IIT Comillas.