Fondazione Bruno Kessler is a private research institution devoted to excellence in research in numerous disciplines and designated to the role of keeping the Autonomous Province of Trento in the mainstream of European and international research. Each research area is assigned to a specific research center, of which there are twelve totals. Information regarding the research centers, their activities, and production is available at http://www.fbk.eu/research-centers .

Workplace Description

The FBK Centre for Sensors and Devices (FBK-SD) is an applied research centre active in the following scientific and technological fields: materials and interfaces, devices and microsystems, integrated systems. FBK-SD has extremely advanced technical know-how in applied materials science, as well as innovative detector design and fabrication technologies.
The strategic mission of FBK-SD is scientific excellence combined with the ability to exploit research results. The innovation model is open to collaboration in national and international expertise networks. More information about the Center is available at https://sd.fbk.eu/en/ .

The candidate will work in the Materials and Topologies for Sensors and Devices (MTSD) unit, which comprises three research teams focused on:

i) chemical and physical characterization of materials, surfaces, and interfaces;

ii) gas sensor development and testing;

iii) spectroscopic techniques for quantum-based materials characterization.

Specifically, the candidate will work within the Gas Sensor team to develop advanced, highly sensitive, and low-power gas sensors using MEMS technology for various applications.
Gas Sensors are one of the technological platforms identified as core to the SD Centre. The Gas Sensor team covers the entire R&D chain for innovative gas sensor production, including sensor design and simulation, production through microfabrication, packaging, integration, and testing, with the goal of producing high-TRL, ready-to-use prototypes. Key applications currently include environmental monitoring, leak detection, precision agriculture, health monitoring, and diagnostics. To achieve this, FBK collaborates with several universities and research institutes (UNIFE, UNIBZ, SAL, CNR-IMM, UNIME, UB, etc.) and supports companies developing gas sensing platforms.
The Gas Sensor team runs the "Gas and Qualification Lab”, which includes gas test benches for sensor characterization and two analytical tools, a quadrupole mass spectrometer and a proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometer, for qualitative and quantitative analysis of complex gas mixtures. These tools serve as gold standards for in-field applications and training MEMS gas sensor arrays.

Job Description

This position supports the Gas Sensors team within the MTSD unit at FBK-SD, focusing on advanced functional testing of both commercial and internally developed gas sensors, along with related data analysis.
The researcher will design and conduct experiments aimed at collecting data for sensor calibration. This includes optimizing test bench setups and studying how environmental factors (e.g., relative humidity and temperature) affect sensor performance over time. In parallel, the researcher will develop and implement data preprocessing algorithms to reduce noise, correct baselines, and normalize raw signals, ensuring that datasets are reliable and suitable for further analysis. Statistical methods will also be applied to identify and mitigate measurement artifacts, improving overall data quality.
The role also involves contributing to the design and execution of in-field tests to validate sensing technologies, particularly in air quality monitoring applications. In this context, the researcher will use advanced statistical and AI-based techniques (including machine learning and deep learning) for data analysis and device calibration. This includes building predictive models to interpret sensor responses and detect patterns related to different gases and their concentrations.

In addition, the researcher will develop specialized algorithms for handling large datasets from electrical characterization, contributing to the advancement of solid-state gas sensing technologies. These efforts will support improvements in sensor sensitivity, selectivity, and overall performance. Close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams will be essential to translate analytical results into practical design improvements for next-generation sensors.
Since the position is contextualized as a recognized researcher, the candidate is also expected to actively contribute to the group's scientific growth. This includes participating in project proposal drafting and activities, publishing research findings, presenting at national and international conferences, and engaging in other dissemination activities.

Job requirements

The ideal candidate should have:

• Master’s degree in the field of physics, chemistry, electrical engineering or a related field;
• PhD degree in the field of physics, chemistry, electrical engineering or a related field;
• experience in data analysis related to gas sensing devices;
• experience in using AI methods, i.e. deep neural network, in the field of gas sensor for diverse applications;
• extensive knowledge of programming languages such as Python and C++, Wolfram Mathematica;
• proven experience on designing and executing experiments and measurement campaigns useful for sensor testing, both at the laboratory level and in-field;
• competences on DC and AC (including dielectric excitation) electrical testing of sensing devices;
• proven experience on deployment and testing of environmental sensors;
• excellent knowledge of both written and spoken Italian;
• very good knowledge and proficiency of the English language (B2 level);
• teamwork approach, good communication and relational skills;
• strong orientation to results, flexibility and aptitude for problem-solving.

Furthermore, the following elements will be positively evaluated:

• experience in operando measurements and related data analysis;
• experience working on research projects and industrial commitments;
• experience in project proposal drafting.

Employment

Type of contract : fixed-term contract

Duration : 3 years

Working hours: full-time (38 h per week)

Gross annual salary : € 47.182 (plus objectives achievement bonus)

Start date : June 2026

Workplace : Povo, Trento (Italy).

Benefits : flexi-time, company subsidised cafeteria or meal vouchers, internal car park, welcome office support for visa formalities, accommodation, supplementary pension and health found, training courses, public transport, sports facilities, language courses fees. Further details at https://www.fbk.eu/en/work-with-us/ .

Application

Interested candidates are requested to submit their application by completing the online form ( https://jobs.fbk.eu/ ). Please make sure that your application contains the following attachments (in pdf format):

• Detailed CV;
• cover letter indicating why the candidate is suitable for this position.

Application deadline : April 28th, 2026

For further information, please contact the People Innovation for Research Department at jobs@fbk.eu