Fully Funded Postdoctoral Opportunity in SAXS-Microfluidics for Biomedicine

Fundación Biofísica Bizkaia; España; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Instituto Biofisika (IBF) invites applications for a two-year postdoctoral position in the Biocolloids and Neutron Scattering Laboratory, joining Fundación Biofísica Bizkaia, to study shear-stress-responsive nanotechnology and microfluidic platforms for targeted cardiovascular therapy and atherosclerosis management.

The role offers collaboration with leading Basque research groups, access to major neutron and synchrotron facilities, and opportunities to supervise students and publish findings.

Qualifications

• PhD in Physics, Chemistry, Nanotechnology, Engineering, or related discipline.
• Strong background in scattering techniques (SAXS/SANS).
• Experience in rheology and/or microfluidics.
• Strong publication record relative to career stage.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Ability to work independently and in an interdisciplinary team.
• Experience with flow or rheo-SAXS, microfabrication, lipid nanoparticles or drug delivery systems, and programming for data analysis (e.g. Python) will be considered an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Design, fabrication and operation of microfluidic devices that mimic healthy and stenotic vessel geometries.
• Preparation and characterisation of lipid-based and other soft-matter drug carriers.
• In situ and flow-SAXS/SANS experiments, including rheo-SAXS and microfluidic-SANS, at laboratory sources and synchrotron facilities.
• Rheological characterisation of carriers and carrier-containing fluids.
• Quantitative analysis and modelling of scattering and flow data.
• Co-supervision of PhD and Master's students, and contribution to publications and proposals for beamtime and funding.

Skills

SAXS/SANS

Rheology

Microfluidics

English proficiency

Publication track record

Independent work

Beamtime experience

Education

PhD in Physics, Chemistry, Nanotechnology, Engineering or related field

Job description

Organisation/Company Fundación Biofísica Bizkaia Research Field Biological sciences » Other Researcher Profile Other Profession Positions Postdoc Positions Application Deadline 29 Nov 2026 - 23:50 (Europe/Brussels) Country Spain Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 Offer Starting Date 30 Oct 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Research opportunity

We seek an outstanding and highly motivated Postdoctoral candidate to join theBiocolloids and Neutron Scattering Laboratory, led byProf. Marité Cárdenas, to work on the research project\" Shear-Stress-Responsive Nanotechnology and Microfluidic Platforms for Targeted Cardiovascular Therapy and Atherosclerosis Management \" (Financial support received from the IKURStrategy under the collaboration agreement between Ikerbasque Foundation andFundación Biofísica Bizkaia on behalf of the Department of Science, Universities and Innovation of the Basque Government).

The project aims to develop and understand nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery to stenotic regions of blood vessels, where narrowing of the vessel creates locally elevated shear stress. By combining microfluidic models of stenosed vessels with small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), the research seeks to resolve how flow and shear change the nanostructure of drug carriers and trigger the release of their cargo.

The position involves:

• Design, fabrication and operation of microfluidic devices that mimic healthy and stenotic vessel geometries.
• Preparation and characterisation of lipid-based and other soft-matter drug carriers.
• In situ and flow-SAXS/SANS experiments, including rheo-SAXS and microfluidic-SANS, at laboratory sources and synchrotron facilities.
• Rheological characterisation of carriers and carrier-containing fluids.
• Quantitative analysis and modelling of scattering and flow data.
• Co-supervision of PhD and Master's students, and contribution to publications and proposals for beamtime and funding.

The successful candidate will be appointed through atwo-year postdoctoral employment contract and will join Instituto Biofisika (IBF).

The project includes close collaboration with leading research groups in the Basque Country, Spain and abroad, as well as experimental use of major international large-scale research infrastructures, such as ESRF (France) and the Institut Laue-Langevin (France).

About Instituto Biofisika

Instituto Biofisika (IBF) is a joint research center of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). Together with Fundación Biofísica Bizkaia, a Basque Excellence Research Centre (BERC), IBF provides an internationally recognized environment for interdisciplinary research in biophysics, structural biology, and advanced imaging.

Located on the UPV/EHU campus near Bilbao, the institute hosts internationally competitive research groups and offers access to state-of-the‑art scientific infrastructure.

Research Environment

The successful candidate will join theBiocolloids and Neutron Scattering Laboratory, an internationally active research group specialized in the physicochemical characterization of biological colloids and membrane systems.

The project provides advanced training in:

• Lipid nanoparticle and lipoprotein biophysics
• Small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering (SAXS/SANS)
• OMICS approaches
• Quantitative data analysis and structural interpretation

The candidate will have opportunities to perform experiments at international neutron and synchrotron facilities and to present research at international conferences.

Candidate Profile

Applicants should have:

• A PhD in Physics, Chemistry, Nanotechnology, Engineering, or a closely related discipline (obtained, or to be defended before the contract start date).
• A strong background in scattering techniques (SAXS, SANS or related), demonstrated through publications or beamtime experience.
• Experience in rheology and/or microfluidics.
• A strong publication record relative to career stage.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• The ability to work independently and in an interdisciplinary team.

Experience with flow or rheo-SAXS, microfabrication (e.g. soft lithography), lipid nanoparticles or drug delivery systems, and programming for data analysis (e.g. Python) will be considered an advantage.

What We Offer

• A project at the interface of soft-matter physics, microfluidics and drug delivery.
• Access to leading European large-scale research infrastructures.
• An international, collaborative, and multidisciplinary research environment.
• Opportunities to attend international conferences and specialized training courses.
• Support to develop an independent research profile, including supervision experience and help with applications for fellowships and funding.

Selection Process & Evaluation Criteria (OTM-R Aligned)

Assessment Stage

Primary Evaluation Criteria

1. Eligibility Check

Compliance with formal degree requirements and application completeness.

Pass / Fail

2. Academic Record & CV

Academic excellence, technical background, research experience, and overall suitability for the project.

50%

3. Interview

Motivation, scientific reasoning, communication skills, English proficiency, and project fit.

40%

4. Reference Check

Confidential assessment of academic potential, commitment, and teamwork from two academic referees.

10%

Notice: Reference checks and interviews form an integral part of the evaluation process. Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview. Instituto Biofisika is committed to equal opportunities and recruits following the principles of Open, Transparent and Merit-based Recruitment (OTM-R).