진학프로석·박사 채용 접수 플랫폼

1. Postdoctoral Position at ITA – FAPESP Fellowship
2. Area of knowledge: Physics / Engineering / Materials Chemistry / Data Science
3. FAPESP Grant Number: 2023/09820-2
4. Project title: Rational design of carbon quantum dots using NLP, machine learning and atomistic modeling

5. Postdoctoral supervisor: Prof. Dr. Amauri Jardim de Paula
6. Host institution/unit: Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA) – São José dos Campos – SP, Brazil
7. Application deadline: December 31, 2025
8. Location: Praça Marechal Eduardo Gomes, 50 – Vila das Acácias – São José dos Campos – SP, Brazil
9. Email for applications:amaurijp@ita.br

The research activities are related to the thematic project “Materials by design: from quantum materials to energy applications”, coordinated by Prof. Gustavo Dalpian (Institute of Physics – University of São Paulo – USP). The postdoctoral supervisor will be Prof. Amauri Jardim de Paula, from the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA) – São José dos Campos – SP.

The work plan involves the use of natural language processing (NLP) to extract, from thousands of scientific articles, relevant information on synthesis conditions, precursors, post-synthesis treatments and properties of carbon quantum dots (carbon dots – CDs). These data will be organized into structured databases and analyzed using machine learning (ML) algorithms to identify previously unknown correlations between synthesis parameters (inputs) and optical, electronic and chemical properties (outputs), such as quantum yield, light absorption and photocatalytic activity. Based on these correlations, the project aims to propose optimized synthesis routes in a “materials by design” framework for CDs.

A central part of the project is to validate the predictions of the ML models by means of atomistic modeling, in particular density functional theory (DFT) calculations, obtaining simulated electronic and emission spectra for the CDs. Finally, selected correlation scenarios will be tested experimentally at the bench scale, with synthesis of CDs and physico-chemical characterization, in order to close the loop between text mining, statistical modeling, atomistic simulation and experimental validation.

The research will be carried out at the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA), in an interdisciplinary environment that integrates materials science, condensed matter physics, chemistry and data science.

Skills/Qualifications

The position is open to Brazilian and foreign candidates alike who hold a PhD degree, obtained in Brazil or abroad, in areas such as Physics, Chemistry, Materials Engineering, Nanotechnology, Computer Science or related fields.

It is desirable that the candidate have proven experience in the following areas:

• • Scientific programming (preferably in Python, using libraries such as NumPy, Pandas, scikit-learn, PyTorch/TensorFlow, etc.);
• • Natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) applied to scientific texts or experimental data;
• • Atomistic and/or first-principles modeling (DFT, using packages such as Quantum ESPRESSO or similar);
• • Synthesis and characterization of carbon-based nanomaterials (carbon quantum dots, carbon dots, graphene, biochar, etc.), including spectroscopic and microscopic techniques.

An additional asset will be having publications in high-impact journals in the fields of materials, nanomaterials, applied data science or other areas related to the project.

Specific Requirements

The following documents are required for the application:

• • A cover letter requesting enrollment in the selection process and explaining the candidate’s interest and motivation in the research topic and group.
• • Curriculum vitae, presenting the candidate’s academic experience and list of articles published in peer-reviewed journals. The CV must be submitted as an electronic PDF file, and articles should be identified by their DOI whenever possible.
• • Document attesting to the award of the PhD degree.