MINDLAB stands for “Manipulating and Investigating Neural Dynamics for Learning and Ageing in the Brain” and is an interdisciplinary creative playground rooted squarely in academic rigor, comprising of research groups from ICFO and beyond. We focus on advancing fundamental knowledge on how the mind emerges from the behavior of individual molecules, neurons and brain networks but also creating and commercializing transformational future technologies with outstanding potential to impact our society for good.
The core faculty of the ICFO-MINDLAB offers a course to introduce cutting edge technologies to study neuroscience at the molecular, cellular and systems level to students in a combination of lectures and hands-on experience leading to group projects. The hands-on course will expose participants to the state-of-the-art of photonics-based technologies tailored to monitor a hierarchy of scales in the study of the brain: i.e. from single molecules up to the whole organism.
Up to two SPIE@ICFO Chair Research Internships to conduct a project with an ICFO research group are available on a competitive basis to outstanding undergraduate or master’s students interested in the topic addressed by the course “MINDLAB Hands-on”, taking place from 13 to 17 July 2026.
Full details of the school program and lecturers may be found at here.
REQUIREMENTS
Undergraduate and master’s students interested in the topic addressed by the course.
Candidates must be enrolled/registered to a bachelor or master’s program for the full duration of the internship at ICFO.
Have a high working knowledge of English.
Selection of Fellows is based on merit and potential, measured in terms of academic records and personal achievements. Proactive attitudes, participation in community activities, and capacity for team-work are also taken into account.
ICFO is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are selected exclusively on merit and potential on the basis of submitted application material. No restrictions related to disabilities, citizenship or gender apply to ICFO positions. ICFO abides by the principles of openness, efficiency, transparency, supportiveness, and international comparability as stated in the European Charter for Researchers and the European Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.
CONDITIONS
The award covered by this program includes funding up to 12 months. The selected student is responsible for securing the necessary visa and insurance to cover the full length of their stay.
The start date is flexible, but must be no later than December 2027.
The stay will have to be formalized by a training agreement between the student’s home university/institution and ICFO. Please, note that any potential offer for a fellowship at ICFO is subject to the previous verification of viability of said training agreement.
For students living in Catalunya, the fellowship include a stipend of 300 euros monthly gross, for full-time dedication.
For students living in an EU country (not included Catalunya region), the fellowship include a stipend of 600 euros monthly gross, for full-time dedication. Eligible travel expenses are also covered.
For students living in a non-EU country, the fellowship include a stipend of 900 euros monthly gross, for full-time dedication. Eligible travel expenses are also covered.
Please notice that these Fellowships are not compatible with other full fellowships granted for the same purpose.
1st step: Submit your application
To apply for a fellowship, suitable candidates are requested to submit the following documents (in English):
- A presentation/motivation letter stating research group (s) of interest and specific requests in terms of period and duration of the internship and answering the question: why this fellowship will benefit your career? Also describe your alignment with the project.
- A Curriculum Vitae, including contact details, in English.
- A scanned copy of the academic transcripts for the undergraduate degree and master degree (if applicable), in English.
The deadline for submission of the application material, is September 13, 2026.
It is the candidate’s responsibility to make sure all required application material (see above), is complete by the time of deadline, in order to be considered.
In a first revision stage, applications will first be reviewed to assure that they meet the eligibility requirements and conditions and candidates will be notified accordingly.
Eligible applications will be evaluated and ranked by the Selection Committee.
Top-ranked candidates will then pass to a matching stage, in which h/she is invited to discuss their research interests and suitability for a potential project with ICFO Group Leader(s), as well as duration of the stay and other particular conditions. An interview, either in person or online, is a fundamental part of the procedure.
If the candidate and ICFO Group Leader(s) agree to a match, the candidate will receive an official fellowship offer from ICFO.
All applicants will be notified the decision in their case by the end of October 2026, at the latest.
At all stages of the process, candidates may contact ICFO Talent Attraction team via [email protected].
Data Protection
In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) and Organic Law 3/2018, ICFO informs applicants that their personal data will be processed exclusively for recruitment purposes.
Controller: Fundació ICFO – Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, Av. Carl Friedrich Gauss 3, 08860 Castelldefels (Barcelona).
DPO: [email protected]
Legal basis: performance of a task in the public interest.
Rights: access, rectification, erasure, restriction, and opposition.
Supervisory authority: Catalan Data Protection Authority (APDCAT) https://apdcat.gencat.cat
All recruitment files will be retained in accordance with the Catalan public-sector archival retention schedule (DOGC 2117).
Reference: 1118
Application deadline: September 13, 2026
