Junior Post-doctoral Researcher

Main tasks and responsibilities

• Application of engineering approaches to define controlled cell-to-cell and cell-to-ECM microenvironments to enhance organoid differentiation and reproducibility, including synthesis of biomimetic hydrogels, development of organ-on-chip approaches and 3D bioprinting.
• Development of scalable human organoid differentiation approaches from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) in 2D and 3D cell culture settings.
• Development and implementation of quantitative and qualitative assays to monitor molecular and metabolic changes, and cell/tissue functionality during organoid development in 2D and 3D cell culture settings.
• Definition of standardized operational procedures (SOPs).
• Data Analysis & Scientific Output: Independently analyse complex datasets, prepare high-impact scientific publications, and present research findings at international conferences.
• Mentorship & Project Management: Supervise and mentor PhD and Master’s students within the research group, while overseeing project milestones and preparing technical reports, as assigned by the PI.

Requirements for candidates

Essential:

• PhD in the field of biology, biotechnology, biomedical engineering, biomedicine or similar areas
• Only candidates who are within 3 years of their PhD thesis defense, are eligible to this position.
• Proved knowledge on culture and differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) (specifically on methodologies to derive hPSC-organoids will be a plus), confocal microscopy and quantitative image analysis, as well as molecular biology techniques.
• Proved experience in bioengineering technologies (i.e. microfabrication, biomaterials, organ-on-chip, bioprinting approaches).
• Ability to work independently and manage complex projects under tight deadlines, experience mentoring junior researchers (MSc or PhD students), excellent scientific writing and presentation skills, teamwork, proactivity, and critical/analytical thinking.
• Competencies and skills: Communication, Teamwork and collaboration, Commitment, Proactivity, Integrity, Critical and Analytical thinking.
• High level of English

Advantageous:

• Application of quantitative imaging approaches in 2D and 3D organoid settings and live imaging setups. Experience in developing custom made scripts for image processing and quantification.
• Experience in CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing
• Experience in analysis of RNA sequencing data (bulk and single cell RNA seq).

We Offer

• Number of available positions: 1
• Starting date: January 2027
• Working conditions: Full-time. Open-ended contract due to technical and scientific activities linked to the project and budget duration.
• Measures to reconcile work and family life (parental leave, flexible schedule working hours, 23 working days of paid holidays, 9 leave days for personal matters, among others).
• IBEC ensures equality of access to professional development opportunities irrespective of employment status, length at IBEC or other factors. The IBEC’s yearly training catalogue offers a wide range of training in technical and transferable skills including mobility grants and a Mentoring programme for predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers.
• Stimulating, interdisciplinary research and high-quality international scientific environment.
• Induction programme to facilitate incorporation at IBEC and additional support is provided for foreigners to obtain Visa-working permit and to install in Barcelona.

How to apply

Until 30th November an online application form is available through IBEC dedicated site: https://careers.ibecbarcelona.eu/

Only those applications submitted before the deadline will be evaluated.

Reference: PD-EG.

If you have any further question regarding your application, please contact us at jobs@ibecbarcelona.eu

Principles of the selection process

IBEC is committed to the principles of the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers of the European Commission and the Open, Transparent and Merit based Recruitment principles (OTM-R) https://ibecbarcelona.eu/careers-at-ibec/jobs/

IBEC’s Commitment on equal opportunity, diversity, and Inclusion

Our strength and excellence as an international transdisciplinary Research Institute are based on diversity. Being an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to diversity and inclusion, so that we support employees irrespective of their gender, nationality, religion, disabilities, age, sexual identity or cultural and socioeconomic background.

Visit our devoted webpage on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

For candidates with children that come from outside Barcelona, we offer babysitting services during the interview, so you don’t have to worry about anything else than doing a good interview. Contact us if you are interested in this service.

In categories where women are underrepresented, such as Group Leader positions, and with the aim of ensuring gender balance in recruitment processes, women candidates must represent at least 50% of those interviewed for Junior-level positions and 40% for Senior-level positions, provided they have CVs comparable to those of male candidates. At the end of the evaluation process, in cases of equal merit, preference will be given to women candidates.

IBEC, as a signatory of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), will consider, especially for early-stage investigators, much more the scientific content of research outputs, than publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which it were published.

Protection of personal data

IBEC guarantees that candidates’ personal data are processed in accordance with the requirements of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Law 3/2018 on Data Protection.

Personal data will be processed solely for the purposes of the selection process.

Who we are?

The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, IBEC is an interdisciplinary research center focused on Bioengineering and Nanomedicine based in Barcelona. IBEC is one of the top research institutions named as a Severo Ochoa Research Centre by the Ministry of Science, Universities and Innovation, which recognizes excellence at the highest international level in terms of research, training, human resources, outreach and technology transfer.

IBEC’s mission is to develop international high-quality interdisciplinary research that, while creating knowledge, contributes to making a better quality of life, improving health and creating wealth. A close link with key universities, reference hospitals and corporations, are assets that facilitate achieving the mission.

IBEC was established in 2005 by the Generalitat de Catalunya (Autonomous Government of Catalonia), the University of Barcelona (UB) and the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC).

IBEC is located within the Barcelona Science Park and UPC Besós Campus, with an annual budget of 21 Mio€; 4.400 square meters of facilities; 25 research groups and a team of researchers and support services of 450 people from 40 different countries. www.ibecbarcelona.eu