💼 National Institute of Chemistry Slovenia Jobs 2026 — 14 Paid Young Researcher Positions | Chemistry, Biochemistry, Materials & More

If you have a passion for chemistry, life sciences, or computational research and dream of working in a world-class European laboratory — this could be one of the most exciting career opportunities you will find in 2026. The National Institute of Chemistry (NIC) Slovenia — known in Slovene as Kemijski Inštitut — is officially opening 14 Young Researcher positions for 2026, offering talented individuals the chance to pursue a fully paid PhD at one of Central Europe’s leading scientific institutions.

Located in the heart of Ljubljana, Slovenia, the NIC is the second largest natural sciences research institute in the country, with over 465 employees, including around 200 PhD-level researchers. This is not just a job — it is a structured research career pathway that puts you at the frontier of science, surrounded by state-of-the-art equipment and internationally acclaimed mentors.

💼 Institute Overview

The National Institute of Chemistry (NIC) in Ljubljana, Slovenia, is a leading Slovenian research institution in the field of chemistry and related disciplines. Its research spans both basic and applied areas of long-term importance to Slovenia and the world, including biotechnology, environmental protection, structural and theoretical chemistry, analytical chemistry, materials research, and chemical engineering.

The institute currently has 465 employees, of which around 405 carry out research work across 8 departments and 3 infrastructure centers, with 192 holding doctorate degrees.

Detail	Information
🏛️ Organization	National Institute of Chemistry (NIC) Slovenia
📍 Location	Ljubljana, Slovenia 🇸🇮
🔬 Position Type	Young Researcher (Paid PhD)
🎯 Number of Vacancies	14 positions
🌍 Open to	International applicants
💰 Funding	Paid position (National Young Researchers Program)
🌐 Official Website	www.ki.si/en
📧 Contact	zaposlitev@ki.si

💼 Position Benefits & Salary

This is a fully paid research position — not an unpaid internship or a self-funded PhD. As a Young Researcher at NIC, you benefit from:

• 💵 Monthly salary provided through Slovenia’s National Young Researchers Program (funded by the Slovenian Research Agency — ARIS)
• 🏥 Health insurance and social security coverage as a full employee
• 🔬 Access to world-class laboratory equipment — including Slovenia’s only 800 MHz NMR spectrometer, cryo-TEM microscope Glacios™, and atomic resolution scanning electron microscopes
• 🎓 Enrollment in a doctoral (PhD) degree program at a Slovenian university (typically University of Ljubljana)
• 👨‍🔬 Mentorship from highly experienced, internationally recognized researchers
• 🌐 Opportunities for international collaboration, secondments, and conference participation
• 🚀 Pathway toward postdoctoral and senior research positions at NIC or globally

Young researchers represent about 25% of the institute’s staff, making the National Institute of Chemistry one of the leading Slovenian organizations for graduate-level education and training.

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💼 Available Research Fields

The 14 Young Researcher positions span a wide range of cutting-edge scientific disciplines. Based on NIC’s 2026 call, positions are available in the following broad areas:

• 🧪 Chemistry — organic, inorganic, analytical, and physical chemistry
• 🧬 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology — protein research, enzyme studies, synthetic biology
• 🧱 Materials Science — advanced materials, nanomaterials, energy storage materials
• 🦠 Biotechnology and Immunology — bioprocess engineering, drug development, immunotherapy
• ⚗️ Chemical Engineering — reactor design, process optimization, CO₂ conversion, hydrogen technologies
• 💻 Computational Methods and Applications — machine learning, AI for chemistry, computational biochemistry, drug design

NIC’s departments include a Laboratory for Computational Biochemistry and Drug Design and a Laboratory for Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, among others spanning catalysis, polymer chemistry, NMR, and inorganic materials.

Each position is linked to a specific mentor and research project, so applicants choose the topic and supervisor that best matches their interests and background.

💼 Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the NIC Young Researcher positions, you generally need to meet the following requirements:

Academic Qualification:

• ✅ Hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in chemistry, biochemistry, biology, materials science, chemical engineering, computational science, or a related field
• ✅ Your degree must be completed at the time of application
• ✅ Strong academic performance and research potential

Nationality:

• ✅ Open to applicants of all nationalities — the NIC is an international research community
• ✅ International candidates are actively welcomed

Language:

• ✅ Strong English language skills are required (written and spoken)
• ✅ Knowledge of Slovenian is not required for research work

Other:

• ✅ High motivation and commitment to a PhD research career
• ✅ Ability to work full-time in Ljubljana, Slovenia

⚠️ There is no IELTS or TOEFL minimum score requirement published. However, all research and communication at NIC is conducted in English, so a strong working command of English is essential.

💼 Who Should Apply — and Who Should Not

✅ You SHOULD apply if you:

• Have a Master’s degree in chemistry, life sciences, materials, engineering, or computational fields
• Are passionate about cutting-edge laboratory or computational research
• Want a paid PhD with full employment benefits in Europe
• Are open to relocating to Ljubljana, Slovenia
• Speak English confidently
• Are motivated to publish research and contribute to science

❌ You should NOT apply if you:

• Do not hold a completed Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field
• Are unwilling or unable to relocate to Ljubljana for the duration of the program
• Are looking for a remote or part-time research position
• Are seeking a scholarship rather than a paid employment-based PhD

💼 Available Departments at NIC

The National Institute of Chemistry’s 8 research departments cover an impressive range of disciplines:

• 🏛️ Department of Catalysis and Chemical Reaction Engineering
• 🧬 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology
• 💊 Department of Synthetic Biology and Immunology
• 🔬 Department of Inorganic Chemistry and Technology
• 🖥️ Department of Theoretical Chemistry
• 🧪 Department of Analytical Chemistry
• 🧱 Department of Polymer Chemistry and Technology
• ⚡ Department of Materials Chemistry

Each department hosts multiple research groups, and the Young Researcher program places you within one of these groups under a designated mentor’s supervision.

💼 Required Documents

While specific document requirements may vary slightly by position, you will generally need to prepare:

• ✅ Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) in English
• ✅ Cover letter explaining your research interests and motivation
• ✅ Academic transcripts and Master’s degree certificate
• ✅ Proof of English language proficiency (where required)
• ✅ Contact details of 1–2 academic references (or reference letters)
• ✅ Any relevant publications or research outputs (if available)

Applications are submitted through the NIC online recruitment portal or directly via email to zaposlitev@ki.si depending on the specific position.

💼 Application Process — Step by Step

1. Visit the Official Job Portal — Go to ki.si/en/tenders/career/ to view all open vacancies
2. Select Your Research Topic — Review available mentors and their project proposals; choose the one that best fits your background
3. Prepare Your Documents — CV, cover letter, transcripts, degree certificate
4. Submit Your Application — Either through the NIC online portal or directly via email as specified in the job posting
5. Await Contact — Shortlisted candidates are contacted for interviews (typically online)
6. Sign Your Employment Contract — Successful candidates enter the NIC as full employees on a PhD track

💼 Why Work at the National Institute of Chemistry Slovenia?

There are many research institutions across Europe, but the NIC stands out for several compelling reasons:

• 🏆 World-class equipment — The NIC houses instruments found nowhere else in Slovenia, including an 800 MHz NMR spectrometer and cryo-TEM Glacios™, giving researchers unparalleled analytical capabilities
• 🌍 Truly international environment — Researchers from across Europe and beyond work and collaborate here; English is the working language
• 💸 Paid PhD — Unlike many PhD programs globally, this is a salaried employment position, not self-funded study
• 🇪🇺 European research network — NIC is deeply integrated into EU Horizon research programs and has received multiple European Research Council (ERC) grants
• 🏙️ Ljubljana — Slovenia’s capital is consistently ranked among the most livable and greenest cities in Europe, with low cost of living compared to other European capitals
• 📈 Career development — A strong track record of researchers continuing to postdoctoral and senior positions within NIC or at leading institutions globally
• 🤝 Industry connections — Close partnerships with Slovenian and international companies in pharma, chemicals, automotive and food sectors

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💼 Important Dates

Milestone	Details
📅 Positions Announced	2026 (ongoing)
⏰ Application Deadlines	Vary by position — check the official portal
🗓️ Expected Start Date	As per individual contract
🌐 Portal	ki.si/en/tenders/career/

⚠️ NIC posts vacancies on a rolling basis — deadlines differ for each position. Always check the official recruitment portal for the most current listings.

💼 Official Source & How to Apply

Apply directly through the official NIC recruitment channels:

🌐 Official Careers Page: https://www.ki.si/en/tenders/career/ 🖥️ Recruitment Portal: kemijski-institut.my.site.com/recruitment 📧 Email: zaposlitev@ki.si 📍 Address: Hajdrihova 19, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia 📞 Phone: +386 1 4760 200

💼 Position Summary

Field	Details
Organization	National Institute of Chemistry (NIC) Slovenia
Position	Young Researcher (Paid PhD)
Number of Vacancies	14 positions (2026)
Location	Ljubljana, Slovenia 🇸🇮
Funding	Fully paid (national program)
Fields	Chemistry, Biochemistry, Materials, Biotech, Chemical Engineering, Computational
Open to	All nationalities
Language	English (Slovenian NOT required)
Official Website	ki.si

A paid PhD at a world-class European institute is a rare and powerful opportunity. Whether you are a fresh Master’s graduate or an early-career researcher looking for your next step, the NIC Young Researcher Program in 2026 is worth every bit of your attention.

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