Join APECS Lab — part of the
Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry (MOC) cluster

We are always looking for passionate, talented researchers to push the boundaries of Polymer and Systems Chemistry, Photochemical Reactivity, “Intelligent” Materials, Responsive Macromolecules, and Surface-based Architectures for future technologies!

Discover the MOC cluster

Current open positions @ APECS Lab

Please send your CV and a brief cover letter outlining your research interests.

See what excite us!

Check opportunities and funding pathways below ↓

Master Students

We welcome Master’s students looking to conduct experimental thesis research throughout the year. Because our laboratory fume hood space is limited, please reach out a couple of months before your intended start date to secure a position and plan your project.

PhD with CSC Agreement

Through a joint agreement between the China Scholarship Council (CSC) and the University of Padova, dedicated fellowships are available for exceptional Chinese students. Applications typically close between January and February for projects commencing the following October.

UniPD & CSC

PhD Positions

Annual PhD positions are available for motivated researchers, funded by the Department of Chemical Sciences. If you love stimuli-responsive materials, programmable systems, polymer science, biorecognition processes, and you are a talented student, do not hesitate to contact us!

General Admission

Doctoral Program in Materials Science and Technology

Doctoral Program in Molecular Sciences

Postdoctoral Fellowships

We invite inquiries from talented postdocs interested in developing stimuli-responsive macromolecules, out-of-equilibrium materials and (bio)sensing platforms. While internal funds occasionally open up, we strongly support strong candidates applying for international (e.g., Marie Curie) and national (e.g., Fondazione Veronesi) fellowship programs.

Useful links for fundings & scholarships

PhD fundings

University of Padua — PhD calls & admissions: The annual public PhD competition across all disciplines.
Padova international PhD scholarships with Fondazione Cariparo: 20 contributions reserved for candidates with foreign qualifications give free board and lodging at ESU facilities
Scholarships of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI): The Italian foreign ministry awards scholarships directly to foreign students and Italians resident abroad who choose their host institution.
SI portal – Study in Italy: Official government scholarships for foreign postgraduate studies and research.
Regional Scholarships: The University of Padua, through the Veneto Region funding, supports low-income students (both Italian and international) enrolling PhD courses.

Potential Funding Sources for Postdocs

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA): 2-year EU mobility grants for postdocs in any field joining an Italian host lab.
MSCA Seal of Excellence @UniPD: Not a separate application. Candidates must apply to the MSCA fellowship above with Padova as host; if they score ≥85 but miss EU funding, Padova funds the same project.
Fondazione Umberto Veronesi: 1- to 2-year fellowships for cancer-related research in Italy.
AIRC (Italian Association for Cancer Research): Up to 3-year fellowships for cancer research in Italy.
Fondazione Cariparo: Also funds postdoctoral research grants (assegni) in the region through its research calls.
Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP): Interdisciplinary life science fellowships for international researchers moving to Italy
Private Foundations

Home-country/National agencies for Postoc periods in Italy

USA – Fulbright Grants Portal: Research grants for US-based scholars and postdocs to work in Italian host institutions.
Japan – JSPS Overseas Research Fellowships: Long-term fellowships for young Japanese researchers to carry out research abroad, all disciplines.
Finland – Foundations’ Post Doc Pool: Full funding for postdoctoral researchers who go abroad to do research after their doctorate.
Switzerland – SNSF Postdoc Mobility: Up to 24 months abroad for Swiss or Switzerland-trained researchers.
Germany – Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship: 6–24 month fellowships for researchers from Germany.
Germany – DFG Walter Benjamin Programme: Up to 2 years abroad for early-phase postdocs integrated in the German academic system, running their own project
Germany – Leopoldina Postdoc Scholarship: For outstanding postdocs, up to 7 years post-PhD, to run an independent project at a renowned institution abroad, 1–2 years
Netherlands – Rubicon: Up to 2 years abroad for researchers who recently finished a PhD in the Netherlands (within ~1 year),
Netherlands – Niels Stensen Fellowship: similar to Rubicon
Austria – FWF Erwin Schrödinger Programme: Up to 24 months abroad for Austrian-trained PhD holders, all disciplines, optional return phase.
Poland – NAWA Bekker Programme: Mobility fellowships for researchers from Polish institutions at foreign hosts (also valid for PhDs).
Sweden – International Postdoc Grant, Swedish Research Council: 18–36 months abroad for researchers with a recent PhD (within 2 years) from a Swedish institution.

General Platforms for funding opportunities

Join APECS Lab — part of theMacromolecular and Organic Chemistry (MOC) cluster