Postdoc position in the field of optical microscopy for measuring diffusion dynamics

The Optical Investigation of Dynamical Systems research unit, established at IIT in 2026 by Eli Slenders with an ERC Starting Grant, develops optical microscopy systems for measuring molecular diffusion and biomechanical properties in biological systems, including custom-built microscopes, control software and quantitative analysis pipelines for dynamic samples. The postdoc will design and implement a custom confocal laser-scanning microscope optimized for fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy (FFS), combining pulsed excitation with array detectors and photon time-tagging; build a framework for robust, autonomous and real-time FFS data evaluation; perform proof-of-principle FFS measurements; and help supervise a PhD student.

The position at IIT CHT Erzelli in Genoa runs for 24 months, renewable for 12, with a gross annual salary of up to 35,000 euros, funded by the ERC project MotionPicture (No. 101219234).

PhD in physics, biophysics, engineering or a related discipline; documented experience aligning optical microscopes; strong publication record; ability to report and publish research; teamwork and problem-solving; good spoken and written English. LabVIEW and/or Python programming is an additional asset. Applications include a detailed CV, university transcripts, a cover letter and contact details of two references.