CIC05: Master Project on Spin devices with van der Waals Heterostructures

The Nanoscience Cooperative Research Center, CIC nanoGUNE, located in Donostia / San Sebastian, Basque Country (Spain), is currently looking for a

Master Student

to work on

Spin devices with van der Waals Heterostructures 

NanoGUNE is a research center devoted to conducting world-class nanoscience research for a competitive growth of the Basque Country. NanoGUNE is a member of the Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA) and is recognized by the Spanish Research Agency as a María de Maeztu Unit of Excellence.

The position is offered in the Nanodevices Group, co-led by Luis E. Hueso and Fèlix Casanova. More information can be found at https://www.nanogune.eu/en/research/groups/nanodevices

 
Project Description
Conventional monolithic materials have dominated electronic and optical devices for decades, mostly thanks to our ever-increasing ability to control the properties of bulk materials. However, as we approach the range of the single nanometre scale in our fabrication capabilities, it is necessary for the industry to be able to create, control and profit from novel materials and architectures. In this context, the rich library of 2D layered materials presents multiple opportunities to design novel spintronics devices.

Making use of the possibility to create 2D artificial van der Waals heterostructures, in this project we will overcome single materials by focusing on the interface as an active playground. For instance, we will perform interface engineering by combining different magnetic and non-magnetic 2D layers in an unprecedent fashion, exploring new magnetic ground states which are not accessible neither in single materials nor in conventional multilayers. We will also explore spin transport in van der Waals heterostructures by combining twisted graphene spin transport channels with 2D magnetic spin injectors and detectors.

More information about our research in this topic can be found in this selection of our recent articles: Nano Letters 19, 1074 (2019), Nano Letters 19, 8758 (2019), APL Materials 8, 071103 (2020), Physical Review Letters 127, 047202 (2021), Advanced Materials 34, 2200474 (2022), Nature Communications 14, 7253 (2023), Nano Lett. 24, 4471(2024), Advanced Materials 36, 2310768 (2024), Advanced Functional Materials 34, 2404872(2024), Nature Materials 23, 1502 (2024), Nature Electronics 8, 15 (2025), Small 21, 2503192 (2025), ACS Nano 19, 24930 (2025), Applied Physics Letters 127, 052401 (2025), Advanced Materials, e09837 (2025)

In this project, the master student will be responsible for the design and preparation of structures by exfoliation and stamping of 2D materials in a controlled atmosphere, and the device fabrication by electron-beam lithography. (S)he will be also involved in the magneto-transport measurements (high magnetic fields and low temperatures), data analysis, and drafting of results. We offer an international and competitive environment, state-of-the-art equipment (including a class 100 cleanroom for nanofabrication capabilities), and the possibility of performing research at the highest level.

Project Director: Luis E. Hueso (l.hueso@nanogune.eu)

Note: This is an experimental project. The master student will carry out all experiments at CIC nanoGUNE in Donostia/San Sebastián.

Candidates should apply by following the instructions and reccomendations of the general call and by completing the form below and attaching the following documents:

1. A complete CV 
2. Academic record and cover letter grouped in a single PDF file

The deadline for applications is 06/04/2026.

NOTES:

(i) All applicants will receive an answer after the end of the selection process; but please note that due to the large number of submissions that are expected, we cannot provide individual feedback.

(ii) Additional information about nanoGUNE's commitment towards HR excellence in Research and Gender Equality are available on our website.

(iii) We encourage you to subscribe to our HR mailing list to receive information related to nanoGUNE's open positions and open calls for different training and talent attraction programs.