Antonio Canals, Group of atomic mass spectroscopy and analytical chemistry under extreme conditions welcomes expressions of interest from Postdoctoral researchers with an excellent track record of research and publication to apply jointly to the European Commission Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme in 2025 (MSCA-PF-2025).

Lab Research Lines:

1. Atomic Spectroscopy

Development and characterization of systems of generation and transport of aerosols:

- Characterisation of aerosols generated with commercial nebulizers

- Characterisation and development of new and more efficient (micro)nebulizers

- Development of new multinebulizers

- Characterisation and study of spray chambers

- Elemental trace analysis in liquid samples

2. Sample treatment

Development of faster and enviromentally respectful sample preparation methodologies

A. Miniaturisation: Microextracción

- Solid phase microextraction

- Liquid phase microextraction

B. Extraction-digestion: Microwaves and/or ultrasounds

- Assisted by microwaves

- Assisted by ultrasounds

- Assisted by microwaves-ultrasounds 

Have a look at our publications here.

THE PROJECT

In recent years, there has been increasing concern about the state of the environment. On this new concept of chemical activities, the analytical labs pay a key point for controlling products and chemical processes. This is because many analytical procedures require hazardous chemicals as part of sample preservation, preparation, quality control, calibration, and equipment cleaning, effectively creating wastes in large quantities and with greater toxicity than that of the original analyzed sample. For all of these reasons, Green Analytical Chemistry (GAC) is becoming a new and important subarea of Green Chemistry. The goal of GAC is to develop and use analytical procedures that generate less hazardous wastes and that are safer to use and more benign to the environment.

One of the most challenging steps on chemical analysis is the sample preparation, and among them extraction techniques. Our research group has been working the last ten years on developing new microextraction methodologies with the main goal focused on the reduction of the environmental impact. 

The project aims to assess the applicability of new and/or advanced materials on new extraction approaches for chemical analysis. These materials will be used to preconconcentrate both elements and organic analytes previously to detect and quantify by means of spectrochemical, chromatographic and electrochemical systems, respectively. From our knowledge these materials have never been used before for sample preparation purposes associated with spectrochemical, chromatographic and/or electrochemical detectors. Therefore, new scientific problems and challenges should be studied,solved and answered. This research project shows a high level of innovation, scientific value and potential applicability in many scientific and technological fields.

CANDIDATE’S REQUIREMENTS:

*Research Field 

The applicant, according to his previous background and interest, could will participate in any of the abovementioned research lines that tackle crucial aspects of the new challenges in Green Analytical Chemistry.

* Call requirements: 

Warning: Applicants should check eligibility and mobility conditions of MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships, such as:

a) To be eligible should have a PhD at the time of the deadline for applications and must have a maximum of eight years’ experience in research.

b) Comply with mobility rules: Not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Spain for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline.

* How to Apply: 

Applicants shall send a CV (max. 4 pages) including a brief description of your career, main publications, contributions to congresses, and experience in the fieldwork, together with a one-page research proposal to a.canals@ua.es, before 10th september 2025.

The International RTD Projects Unit will provide you a tailor made support and guidance during the proposal preparation with the following:

• Administrative aspects 
• Budget preparation
• Funding & Tenders Opportunities Portal
• Training on how to write a competitive MSCA PF proposal (July3-4th, 2025) online.
• Proposal revision by our staff

HOST INSTITUTION

The University of Alicante (UA) was created in 1979. In 2024-25 UA educated and trained 26.473 students (58,79% women) who are enrolled in any of the 54 undergraduate and 96 postgraduate programmes, being one of the fastest growing universities in Spain. UA employs 4.293 researchers and management staff (47% women), with an annual budget of 269 million Euros in 2024. Currently, UA is investing near to 68M Euros to boost frontier research and technology transfer processes via spin off, licensing and international promotion mainly. In 2024, the University received 41.5 million Euros at National, Regional, European level and private R&D thanks to 1.016 new agreements achieved by researchers working in 251 research groups hosted in 13 Research Institutes, most of them multidisciplinary based. Despite its youth, the University of Alicante is already present in the three main university rankings in the world, as shown here.

In 2024, the University of Alicante has consolidated its position in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU-FIELD), known as Shanghai Ranking, in its classification by fields of knowledge. In the 2024 edition, the University of Alicante has managed to further improve on last year’s excellent performance in the field of Tourism and Hotel Management, when it was ranked 76-100th in the world. Excellent performance has also been achieved in other fields of knowledge, such as in Nursing (151-200) and Chemical Engineering (401-500); Ecology (201-300) and Economics ranked 401-500th in the world classification.

Amongst this international activity, UA´s involvement in European Programmes has been increasing since CECA Programme and improving leadership, taking part in 50 FP5 and FP6, 49 FP7, 51 H2020 and 37 Horizon Europe projects. This activity is not only limited to DG Research, but also intensive in other Programmes: 29 Erasmus Mundus, 65 Tempus and 35 Lifelong Learning Projects, 12 DG Justice Actions and 7 Life Grants among others (Funding and Tenders EC data). Also, UA is strategically involved in several EU initiatives: BBI, Hydrogen Europe Research, EERA, EOSC, etc.

In terms of international proposal and post grant award, UA offers a tailor made support to researchers at legal, financial and administrative level provided by  the International RTD Projects Unit with a strong track record in supporting European RTD-consortia in proposal preparation, communication with the funding authorities and project reporting. UA is also partner of the European IP Helpdesk and coordinates the Latin America and India IP SME Helpdesks and the is Regional Node of Enterprise Europe Network for 17 years now. 

Furthermore, UA became EURAXESS contact point through University of Alicante’s Research Talent Attraction Office, intended as a one-stop, centrally managed platform to support researchers wishing to join our University.

UA has been awarded with the HRS4R seal, that endorses our commitment to the principles of “The European Charter for Researchers” and “The Code of Conduct for the recruitment of Researchers”.