Postdoc Abroad

Research Contracts– University of Florence, Italy

December 13, 2025

Research Contracts: The University of Florence announces a public selection procedure for three fixed-term research contracts under art. 22 of Law 240/2010, with start date 1 March 2026:

2 positions at the Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff” (CHEM-03/A – Chimica Generale e Inorganica), funded by the ERC project ELECTRA.
1 position at the Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Forestry Sciences and Technologies (DAGRI) (AGRI-04/B – Meccanica Agraria), within the project “Decision Support System for Monitoring and Control of Olive Oil Production – DSS‑MOCOil”.

The selection is based on comparative evaluation of project proposal, curriculum, publications, and a public interview.

Research Contracts under Article 22 of Law 240/2010 – University of Florence(3 Positions: 2 in Chemistry, 1 in Agricultural/Environmental Engineering)

Designation

All three positions are:

Type of position: Research contract (“contratto di ricerca”) under art. 22 of Law 240/2010
Legal nature: Fixed-term subordinate employment at the University of Florence
Scientific areas:
- CHEM‑03/A – Chimica Generale e Inorganica (2 positions, Dept. of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”)
- AGRI‑04/B – Meccanica Agraria (1 position, DAGRI)

Positions Overview (Table)

Position	Department / Project	Scientific Area	Main Research Program	Economic Treatment (gross, per year, employee)	Max Publications
Chemistry – Selezione 1	Dipartimento di Chimica “Ugo Schiff” – ERC ELECTRA (CUP B95F22000160006)	GSD 03/CHEM‑03 – SSD CHEM‑03/A Chimica Generale e Inorganica	Design of high‑precision instrumentation for magnetic measurements in the presence of electric fields	€ 28.456,48 (equivalent to confirmed researcher, part‑time “tempo definito”)	5
Chemistry – Selezione 2	Dipartimento di Chimica “Ugo Schiff” – ERC ELECTRA (CUP B95F22000160006)	GSD 03/CHEM‑03 – SSD CHEM‑03/A Chimica Generale e Inorganica	Modeling of magnetoelectric effects and magnetic anisotropy in metal complexes; advanced magnetometry & EPR	€ 39.224,27 (equivalent to confirmed researcher, full‑time “tempo pieno”)	5
Agricultural Eng. – DSS‑MOCOil	Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali – DSS‑MOCOil (CUP B53C24010690003)	GSD 07/AGRI‑04 – SSD AGRI‑04/B Meccanica Agraria	Decision Support System for monitoring and control of extra‑virgin olive oil production (from maturation to storage)	€ 28.456,48 (equivalent to confirmed researcher, part‑time “tempo definito”)	10

Number of positions: 3 in total.

Research Areas & Project Descriptions

1. Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff” – Selezione 1 (CHEM‑03/A)

Project title / program:
“ELEctrically CONTRolled magnetic Anisotropy” – ELECTRA, ERC‑2021‑STG (CUP: B95F22000160006, Grant Agreement n. 101039890).
Research area: General and Inorganic Chemistry, experimental magnetism and instrumentation.
Program of research:
- Design and development of high‑precision instrumentation for magnetic property measurements in the presence of electric fields.
- Acquisition of magnetic data under controlled electric fields.
- Development of suitable models and data‑analysis procedures for the interpretation of experimental results.

2. Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff” – Selezione 2 (CHEM‑03/A)

Project title / program:
Same ERC project ELECTRA as above (CUP: B95F22000160006).
Research area: Theoretical and experimental magnetism in molecular complexes; magnetoelectric effects; spectroscopy and scientific programming.
Program of research and activities:
- Execution of advanced magnetometric measurements on single crystals of molecular complexes:
  - Torque magnetometry
  - Conventional magnetometry
- EPR spectroscopy (with and without electric field) on these systems.
- Data treatment and modeling via Hamiltonian formalism, using programs that the researcher will write (e.g. MATLAB, Python).
- Only candidates with advanced knowledge of:
  - Magnetism
  - Spectroscopy
  - Computer programming
    will be considered.

3. Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Forestry Sciences and Technologies – DSS‑MOCOil (AGRI‑04/B)

Project title:
“Decision Support System for Monitoring and Control of Olive Oil Production – DSS‑MOCOil” (Eurostars 3 CoD 07, co‑funded by MUR; CUP B53C24010690003).
Research area: Agricultural engineering, mechanization, process monitoring, decision support systems in the olive‑oil supply chain.
Program of research and main tasks:
- Integration of activities within the DSS‑MOCOil project to improve extra‑virgin olive oil production using data‑driven methods.
- Monitoring:
  - Olive maturation
  - Transformation processes
  - Storage conditions
- Collection of critical data on:
  - Process efficiency and operating settings
  - Raw material characteristics (detachment force, hardness, sugar, water, oil, phenols, ethyl esters, etc.).
- Development of an innovative Decision Support System (DSS) for the segment of the supply chain from maturation to pre‑bottling storage, offering real‑time, data‑based recommendations.
- Optimization of:
  - Mechanical harvesting processes and machine efficiency
  - Processing parameters (temperature, material flow, processing times).
- Study and mitigation of ethyl esters formation (importance of aqueous phase pH).
- Optimization of storage and filtration (temperature control, possible use of phase‑change materials, reduction of oxygenation).
- Use of AI algorithms and data‑mining techniques, integration of data in centralized databases, development of a user‑friendly DSS interface, and integration with existing management systems.
- Collaboration and data‑sharing between Italian and Spanish partners, including online collaboration platforms.
- Field tests, validation, and performance monitoring of the DSS in terms of product quality and process efficiency.

Location

Chemistry positions (Selezione 1 and 2):
Dipartimento di Chimica “Ugo Schiff”, Università degli Studi di Firenze.
Agricultural Engineering position (DSS‑MOCOil):
Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali (DAGRI), Università degli Studi di Firenze.

Eligibility / Qualification Requirements

As per Art. 2 – Requisiti di ammissione:

Eligible applicants:

a. Holders of a PhD (dottore di ricerca) or equivalent foreign title, deemed equivalent by the selection committee for the sole purpose of the contract;
or, for relevant sectors, holders of a medical specialization diploma.

b. PhD candidates enrolled in the third year of a PhD program or students in the last year of a medical specialization course, provided that the title is obtained within six months from the date of publication of the call.

For foreign titles in progress, the committee evaluates their equivalence.

General notes:

All requirements must be met by the application deadline.
The contract for PhD candidates / medical residents can only be signed after the title is conferred; if the title is not obtained within six months from the publication date, the right to the contract lapses.

Exclusion criteria (non‑eligible candidates include):

Permanent staff of universities, public research bodies, or institutions whose diploma is equivalent to PhD under art. 74, c.4, D.P.R. 382/1980.
Those who have already held fixed‑term researcher contracts (RTT) under art. 24 of Law 240/2010, as amended by D.L. 36/2022, L. 79/2022.
Persons with kinship or affinity up to fourth degree with:
- President, CEO, majority shareholder (or equivalent) of the entity funding the position;
- Any professor in the proposing Department;
- The Rector, the Director General, or any member of the University Board of Administration.
Individuals dismissed or released from a Public Administration or decaduti from another state employment as per D.P.R. 3/1957.
Individuals deprived of civil and political rights.

General Incompatibilities (Contract Regime)

From Art. 9 – Stipula del contratto:

The research contract cannot be combined with:
- Scholarships or research grants of any kind, except those solely for international mobility for research (including PhD scholarship and stipends related to medical specialization).
- Other employment relationships (subordinate work) with public or private entities.
- Assegni or contracts under art. 22‑bis, 22‑ter, 24 of Law 240/2010.
The holder cannot:
- Carry out commercial, industrial, or artisanal activities, be an entrepreneur or direct farmer, or hold management roles in profit companies.
- Perform liberal‑professional activities.
External assignments may be authorized (art. 53 D.Lgs. 165/2001) outside working hours and only if not in conflict with University interests.
The holder may be authorized to teach:
- Up to 32 hours/year (or 48 hours/year under specific conditions) overall per academic year, including contracts with UNIFI and external entities, as per the relevant regulations.

Job Description (by Position)

1. CHEM‑03/A – Selezione 1 – Instrumentation Design

Main duties:
- Design and development of high‑precision experimental set‑ups for magnetic measurements under controlled electric fields.
- Implementation and testing of the instrumentation in the labs of the Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”.
- Acquisition of experimental magnetic data in combined electric/magnetic fields.
- Development of models and analysis tools for data interpretation (e.g. modeling magnetic anisotropy in presence of electric fields).
Profile:
- Strong background in General and Inorganic Chemistry, experimental physics/chemistry, and instrumentation design.
- Experience in magnetic measurements and familiarity with data analysis will be valued.

2. CHEM‑03/A – Selezione 2 – Magnetism Modeling & EPR

Main duties:
- Execution of specialized magnetometric measurements on single‑crystal molecular complexes: torque magnetometry and traditional magnetometry.
- EPR spectroscopy with and without applied electric field.
- Data modeling using Hamiltonian formalism, via codes the researcher will write in MATLAB, Python, or equivalent languages.
Profile:
- Demonstrable advanced knowledge of:
  - Magnetic phenomena and magnetism of molecular complexes;
  - Spectroscopic techniques (especially EPR);
  - Scientific programming and numerical modeling.
- Ability to work independently in data acquisition, modeling, and interpretation.

3. AGRI‑04/B – DSS‑MOCOil – Decision Support System for Olive Oil

Main duties:
- Participation in all phases of the DSS‑MOCOil project.
- Design and implementation of monitoring systems for:
  - Olive maturation;
  - Mechanical harvest and transformation;
  - Storage and filtration before bottling.
- Collection and integration of process and product data (mechanical properties, composition, process parameters, etc.) in a centralized database.
- Use of AI / data‑mining methods to identify patterns and support decision‑making.
- Development of a DSS with a user‑friendly interface and integration with existing company management systems.
- Collaboration with Italian and Spanish partners, participation in field tests, validation and refinement of the DSS.
Profile:
- Expertise in agricultural mechanization / biosystems engineering, process measurement and control, and/or agri‑food DSS.
- Familiarity with data analysis, monitoring technologies, and software tools for decision support.

Application Procedure

From Art. 3 – Domanda di ammissione:

Online application only.
- Access the online system at:
  https://sol.unifi.it/pao/
- Follow the on‑screen instructions to complete the application.
Authentication:
- Italian candidates: login via SPID or CIE.
- Foreign citizens resident abroad: registration as nuovo utente on first access, then login with registered credentials. A valid e‑mail address is mandatory.
Submission deadline:
- The application must be submitted online by
  24 December 2025, 13:00:00 (Italian time, server time of University of Florence).
- Applications submitted by other means will not be accepted.
Drafting and modification:
- Before final submission and before the deadline, candidates can save the application as a draft, modify or integrate it.
- After sending, the application cannot be modified; to make changes, you must withdraw and submit a new application, still by the deadline.
Receipt:
- The system issues a receipt of submission, automatically sent via e‑mail (or via APP IO) to the address provided at registration.
Administrative fee:
- Participation requires a non‑refundable fee of € 20,00.
- Payment must be made via PagoPA, indicating in the reason for payment:
  - The Rector’s decree of the procedure;
  - The scientific sector (e.g. CHEM‑03/A, AGRI‑04/B).
- Instructions:
  https://www.unifi.it/sites/default/files/migrated/documents/190711_vademecum_concorsi.pdf
- The payment receipt must be uploaded as attachment to the application.
- Missing or incorrect payment by the deadline causes exclusion.
Attachments (mandatory where applicable):a. Project proposal related to the specific research program indicated for each position (Allegato 1), in PDF.
b. Curriculum vitae of scientific and professional activity, in PDF.
c. List of publications relevant to the research program, in PDF.
d. Scientific publications, up to the maximum number indicated for the position (5 or 10), in PDF.
e. For holders of a foreign PhD: documentation proving the title and its features (recognition decree, diplomas, transcripts, thesis abstract, etc., as detailed in the call).
f. Valid identity document (copy).
g. Tax code (codice fiscale, copy).
h. Payment receipt of the € 20,00 fee.
Technical support and communications:
- For questions on the selection:
  reclutamentodocenti@unifi.it
- For technical / IT issues:
  online.help@unifi.it
- The University uses only the e‑mail address given at registration for communications.
Special needs:
- Candidates with disabilities must indicate required aids and any additional time for the interview.

Selection and Interview

Evaluation (Art. 5):
- Maximum 100 points, divided into:
  - 60 points for:
    - Project proposal (quality, originality, innovation – weight differs by position);
    - Relevance of previous research and work experience;
    - Relevance of publications.
  - 40 points for the interview, including:
    - Suitability for the research activities;
    - Ability to carry out the proposed project;
    - Knowledge of English (and any other languages relevant to the research).
- Only candidates with at least 25 points in the evaluation of titles are admitted to the interview.
Interview dates (Art. 6):
- The interview will take place exclusively on one of the following days:
  - Thursday 12 February 2026 or
  - Friday 13 February 2026.
- Publication of the list of admitted candidates, day and time of the interview will appear on the University website at the page “Bandi – Contratti di ricerca e incarichi post‑doc”:
  https://www.unifi.it/it/ateneo/lavora-con-noi/reclutamento-bandi-di-concorso/bandi-contratti-di-ricerca-e-incarichi-post
  and will have value of official notification.
Documents for the interview:
Candidates must present one of the following valid IDs: ID card, passport, driving license, or University ID card.
Passing score:
The selection is passed with a minimum of 65/100 points overall.

How to Apply (Short Version for the Job Post)

Go to https://sol.unifi.it/pao/ and log in with SPID/CIE (or register if a foreign resident abroad).
Select the relevant research contract call and the position of interest (Chemistry Selezione 1/2 or DSS‑MOCOil).
Complete the online application form in Italian or English following the instructions.
Upload all required documents in PDF (project proposal, CV, publications list and files, identity document, tax code, payment receipt, etc.).
Pay the € 20,00 fee via PagoPA and upload the receipt.
Submit the application no later than 24 December 2025, 13:00 (Italian time).
Monitor the above‑mentioned University web page for:
- Admitted candidates
- Interview scheduling and further notices.

Last Date to Apply

24 December 2025, 13:00:00 (Italian time – server time of the University of Florence).

Applications submitted after that time or via other means will be excluded.

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