Job description

5 R1 positions linked to the funding of the Spanish call Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento 2025 supported by the Agencia Estatal de Investigación.

Requirements for all the positions:

• Academic requirements:
  • European Higher Education System: university degree and Master (at least 300 ECTS) or equivalent education to access to a PhD programme in Spain or; 
  • Non-European Higher Education System: university degree that give access to doctoral studies in the country of issue (certified by the competent body). All the documentation must be delivered both legalised and officially translated in Catalan, Spanish or English (if applies). 
• Excellent academic record
• Scientific/technological curricular merits to properly match the selected research project, including previous research experience
• Mobility and/or internationalisation experience recommended but not mandatory
• Strong motivation for research 
• Good command of English 

Candidates can select up two potential host research groups. 

Description of the research projects and the desirable criteria to be accomplished in each case: 

1. Research group: Neuronal control of metabolism (NeuCoMe), Marc Claret

Project: Glycogen-dependent regulation of hypothalamic tanycytes in systemic metabolic homeostasis (GLYCOTAN)

Desirable criteria: 

• Previous experience in neuroscience, metabolism, hypothalamic biology, obesity, or diabetes would be particularly relevant, although it is not mandatory.
• Experience with experimental animal models, molecular and cellular biology techniques, stereotaxic procedures, metabolic phenotyping, imaging, transcriptomics, or bioinformatic analysis will also be considered an asset.

•  Previous international research experience and participation in mobility programmes will be positively valued

   

2. Research group: Translational research in hepatic oncology, Josep M. Llovet

Project: Characterization and Impact of Intratumoral and Gut Microbiome on Immunotherapy Response in Hepatocellular Carcinoma 

Desirable criteria: 

• Laboratory Experience: Experience with molecular biology techniques.  
• International Experience: Experience studying or working in an international environment. 

• Data Analysis: Basic knowledge of R or Python.

   

3. Research group: Inflammation and Liver Disease, Joan Clària

Project: Network-based integration of lipidomics and transcriptomics data to tackle immune dysfunction in advanced chronic liver disease (INSPIRE)

Desirable criteria: 

• High motivation 
• Expertise or strong interest in immune cell biology 
• Main responsibilities and benefits: 
  • Analyze and interpret omics data relevant to immune cell biology, characterize and study immune cell populations using appropriate laboratory and analytical approaches, participate in scientific discussions, research meetings, publications, and presentations.

  • Day-to-day training in technical and methodological aspects will be provided by senior researchers within the team. Given the multidisciplinary composition of our research group and the diverse academic backgrounds of its members, the PhD student will benefit from comprehensive and interdisciplinary training across a broad range of biomedical research disciplines

     

4. Research group: Cellular immunotherapies for cancer, Alba Rodríguez-García

Project: miRNA-regulated logic-gated multispecific CAR-T cells to overcome tumor heterogeneity and stromal barriers in solid tumors 

Desirable criteria: 

• Master’s degree in Biomedicine, Immunology, or a related field. 
• Previous research experience in immunology or cell therapy is desirable, particularly experience in T-cell culture, CAR-T cell development, and immunological techniques such as flow cytometry or ELISA. 

• Scientific curiosity, eagerness to learn, and strong teamwork skills will be highly valued. 

   

5. Research group: Cellular Immunotherapies for cancer, Sònia Guedan 

Project: Next-Generation CAR-T Cells: Precision Genome Editing for Long-Term Function in Solid Tumors 

Desirable criteria: 

• Previous research experience in cancer immunotherapy or related fields is desirable. 
• Previous experience in CAR-T-cell culture. 
• Experience with genome editing technologies, particularly CRISPR-Cas9. 
• Experience in immunology techniques, including flow cytometry and ELISA

You can find more information about the groups, the research lines and the application process here. 

How to apply

Please check the guidelines before applying. Send the following documents to FCRBRRHH@recerca.clinic.cat indicating the call reference FU-303/2026 in the subject. 

Use the document name specified below and PDF format. 

Please do not attach any other documents, as they will not be taken into consideration.

• Curriculum Vitae. Please fill this template (mandatory) > CV_IDnumber
• Motivation letter/s. It is possible to present one or two motivation letters, depending on if you would like to select one or two options. In each of the letters it is important to indicate the chosen laboratory and the motivation to join the selected research project.  > motivationletter1_ IDnumber (mandatory); motivationletter2_ IDnumber (optional)
• Two reference letters. Each reference letter must be prepared by the referee and follow an official format. It must be signed and include the referee’s letterhead and/or institutional affiliation details > referenceletter1_ IDnumber; referenceletter2_ IDnumber
• Accrediting documentation of the academic grades and the merits presented in the CV > docs_IDnumber
  • For studies completed within the European Higher Education Area (EHEA): candidates must provide proof of having completed at least 300 ECTS credits. Completed studies are required (i.e., the Master’s thesis — or equivalent — must have been defended by the call deadline). All academic transcripts and relevant degree certificates must be uploaded. This includes transcripts and certificates for all previous university degrees (e.g., Bachelor’s and Master’s). 
  • For studies completed outside the European Higher Education Area (EHEA): in addition to academic transcripts and degree certificates for all previous degrees (e.g., Bachelor’s and Master’s), candidates must provide evidence that their qualifications grant access to doctoral studies in the country where they were obtained. 

To this end, they must upload a Certificate of Eligibility signed by a competent authority (a template is available at the following link, if required). In all cases, submitted documents must be duly legalized and officially translated into English (if applies).

• Data protection authorization (page 7) 

Selection process: 

The selection of the fellows will be carried out by the research group offering the position and will follow the principles of open, transparent and merit-based recruitment.

This call positions are linked to the funding of the Spanish call Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento 2025 supported by the Agencia Estatal de Investigación. You can find more information here.

• Pre-selection: the pre-selection will be based on the candidate’s CV, motivation letter, reference letter and the research interests (total points: 0-100).
  • Criteria 1. Scientific and/or academic record (0-50 points):
    • Subcriteria 1. Academic and/or scientific-technical career of the candidate (0-45 points)
    • Subcriteria 2. Mobility and internationalization (0-5 points)
  • Criteria 2. Adequacy of the candidate to the research activity (0-50 points)  
  • Desirable criteria/What we are looking for (add value for the research group) 
• Interviews: the pre-selected candidates will be invited to an oral interview to further assess their qualification and research motivation.  
• Notification to the candidates: the successful candidates will receive a notification after the oral interview with the expected start date.  

Deadline: until October 25th, 2026

The starting date for the selected researchers will be agreed in each case between the candidate and the Principal Investigator (expected between January 2027 and April 2027). 

For any doubts, please contact academic@recerca.clinic.cat

IDIBAPS offers

• Type of contract: Temporary predoctoral contract.
• Working hours: Full time (37.5 hours / week).
• Funder and official project code: MCIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and FSE+” 
• Incorporation into IDIBAPS: A research centre of excellence in the city of Barcelona. Excellent research results and competitive project grant awards, both national and international.
• Long-life training offered by the institute.
• Working conditions: Holiday entitlement of 22 days + 6 days for personal affairs, flexible working hours and flexible remuneration (health insurance, transport, meal vouchers, training).

The chance to form part of a dynamic work environment: We are a team with a wealth of experience that jointly evaluates ideas and strategies and promotes a healthy work-life balance. 

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