Location: Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Position Type: Full-time, Fixed Term
Start Date: February 2026 (flexible)

Join a Groundbreaking Horizon Europe Project!

The Hydrogen Centre of Excellence (CoE) at Trakia University (TrU) in Stara Zagora – established under the Horizon Europe-funded Green Innovations in Hydrogen for Sustainable Energy Transition (H2Start – GA 101136692) project – is seeking a Senior Scientist in Materials Research for Fuel Cells and Electrolysers to strengthen its rapidly growing scientific team.

About the Role

This position is central to the CoE’s mission to become a world-class hydrogen innovation hub. You will work on the development of advanced materials, components, manufacturing and test methods for fuel cells and water electrolysers, contributing to scientific excellence, innovation, and industrial impact.

Your work will span materials synthesis, deposition methods, manufacturing processes, and electrochemical characterization, as well as support for project acquisition, laboratory supervision, and mentorship of junior researchers and trainees.

This role offers strong opportunities for long-term professional growth, including leadership responsibilities and international scientific visibility.

Key Responsibilities

Research & Development

·         Conduct advanced research on materials for ceramic fuel cell and electrolyser technologies (membranes, electrodes, supports, interfaces), covering the full workflow from material development to complete cell/electrochemical device fabrication.

·         Develop and optimize materials synthesis protocols (solid-state and wet chemistry, sol–gel, thermal treatments, nano-structuring, etc.).

·         Apply manufacturing and deposition methods, including printing, coating, sputtering, casting, and other scalable processing techniques, to produce functional layers and components.

·         Assemble and evaluate complete electrochemical devices to support device-level performance assessment, durability studies, and integrability into stack configurations.

·         Perform electrochemical characterization (LSV, CV, EIS, durability testing) and interpret results to establish correlations between material properties, component architecture, and device behaviour.

·         Contribute to developing and standardizing protocols for component and device testing in the new CoE laboratories, with a focus on upscaling and stack compatibility.

Project & Laboratory Responsibilities

• Supervise the daily operation of research laboratories and ensure adherence to safety standards.
• Mentor junior scientists, laboratory assistants, and trainees.
• Support the preparation and acquisition of national and international R&I projects.
• Prepare scientific reports, project deliverables, and publications.
• Collaborate with industrial partners and international academic institutions.

Minimum Requirements

·         PhD in Materials Science, Chemistry, Electrochemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.

·         4+ years of research experience in fuel cell and/or ceramic electrolyser technologies.

·         Practical experience in:

o   Materials synthesis for ceramic electrochemical devices

o   Manufacturing and deposition techniques

o   Electrochemical testing of functional materials, layers, components, and devices

·         Excellent communication skills in English (written and spoken).

·         Strong motivation to work in an international, multidisciplinary, hydrogen-focused team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to supervise laboratory activities and support day-to-day operational management.
• Proven experience contributing to R&D project acquisition, including proposal writing and project activities coordination.
• Participation in EU-funded research projects (Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020, or similar).
• Deeper knowledge of hydrogen technologies, safety practices, and relevant energy systems.
• Familiarity with quality, safety, or laboratory management standards is an asset.
• Knowledge of additional languages is considered an advantage.
• Openness to learning Bulgarian; a Bulgarian language course will be provided.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to shape the scientific foundation of a new Centre of Excellence for Hydrogen Technologies.
• Long-term career development perspectives, including leadership roles in research groups and laboratories.
• Competitive salary aligned with experience and EU project standards (approx. gross monthly salary: 3,600 EUR (depending on experience)).
• Access to modern research laboratories currently being equipped with advanced instrumentation and testing facilities.
• Work-life balance supported by flexible hours, flexitime, and home-office options.
• A dynamic, international environment that values diversity and equal opportunities.
• A supportive atmosphere for scientific growth, conference participation, and networking.
• Bulgarian language training to facilitate integration.

Why Work in Stara Zagora?

Stara Zagora is a city in transition – from a coal-powered energy centre to a leader in clean energy and hydrogen technologies, driven by renewable initiatives and the Horizon Europe-funded ZAHYR Hydrogen Valley. By joining H2Start, you will be part of this transformation, contributing to innovations with global impact.

How to Apply

Please send your EU-format CV and Motivation Letter by 30.11.2025 to h2start@trakia-uni.bg with the subject line:

“Application for Senior Scientist in Materials Research (FC & Electrolysers)”

Application Process

All applications will be treated with strict confidentiality. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted online. We look forward to receiving your application and welcoming you to the team!