Postdoctoral Researcher in Animal Nutrition for the Centre for Innovation in Alternative Protei[...]

European Commission; España; Presencial; EUR 35.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

The European Commission is seeking a motivated Postdoctoral Researcher in insect nutrition to join a pioneering research center. The role involves leading research projects, supervising PhD candidates, and engaging with stakeholders to promote sustainable food production. Candidates should have a PhD in a relevant field and strong research and communication skills.

Servicios

22 vacation days

3 days of family & work conciliation

45 hours of personal days

Compressed Summer schedule

Friday afternoon off

Formación

• Proved research skills: experience on literature review, experimental design, data analysis.
• Dissemination skills: presentation/communication skills, technical writing.
• Expertise in nutritional requirements and feed processing.

Responsabilidades

• Lead and execute research projects in insect farming and nutrition.
• Participate in fundraising and communication of research results.
• Supervise PhD candidates and contribute to research strategies.

Conocimientos

Research skills

Dissemination skills

Statistical knowledge

Educación

PhD in Monogastric Nutrition or related fields

Descripción del empleo

Organisation/Company IRTA Department Human Resources Research Field Other Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions Postdoc Positions Country Spain Application Deadline 20 Jun 2025 - 23:58 (Europe/Madrid) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 37.5 Offer Starting Date 1 Sep 2025 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? Yes

Offer Description

IRTA is currently seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Postdoctoral Researcher with a PhD related to insect nutrition to join the Animal Nutrition P rogram and the Centre for Innovation in Alternative Proteins (CiPA).

CiPA is a pioneer research and innovation centre that aims to boost sustainable food production for both human and animal nutrition considering all relevant stages of the chain: starting from the source and ending with the consumer. Its research is focused on the valorisation of alternative protein sources with the ambition to become one of the research leaders, at national and international level and, thus, support the transition to a future with a high quality, safe, efficient, and more sustainable food production.

CiPA counts with unique equipment and infrastructures, at lab and pilot scale, located in the different IRTA centres (Monells, Mas Badia, Fruitcentre, Mas Bové, La Ràpita) covering research lines on plant-based, fermentation-based, algae-based, and insect-based biomasses.

We invite applications from ambitious candidates with relevant research experience and passion to conduct research and innovation activities in sustainable insect farming, insect nutrition focused on the study of their nutritional requirements and the re-valorisation of by-products, the characterisation of the resulting insect meals as alternative feeds, and the application of feed processing and feed additives to optimize their use.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• To lead and execute new or on-going research projects in insect farming and nutrition, re-valorisation of by-products and the application of feed additives / alternative feed ingredients in insect and monogastric diets.
• Participation in fund raising for public competitive calls and for contracts with the private sector, as well reporting process.
• Communication and dissemination of research results to relevant stakeholders and policymakers.
• Promote relationships and communication with local stakeholders and the agricultural sector to identify opportunities and meet their requirements.
• To help positioning the Program as a group of excellence through regular peer-reviewed publications and contributions at national and international congresses.
• Supervision of PhD candidates.
• To get involved in the definition of future research strategies at Animal Nutrition Program.
• Fostering collaboration and integration within the CiPA.
• Ph.D. in Monogastric Nutrition background or related fields.
• Proved research skills: experience on literature review, experimental design and implementation, data analysis and scientific article writing.
• Dissemination skills: presentation/communication skills, and technical writing.
• Capacity to successfully develop collaborative with national and international research organizations, and theability to interact closely with private companies.

Specific Requirements

• Knowledge on insect farming and nutrition, the use of alternative proteins and feed processing.
• Expertise in methodological approaches to study nutritional requirements of animals.
• Expertise in methodological approaches to analyse nutritional feed quality, feed processing quality and parameters related with the effect of nutrition in performance, gut health, behaviour, meat quality and environmental impact.
• Experience on assessment of the effects of nutrition on performance, gut health, behaviour, meat quality and environmental impact .
• Statistical knowledge to analyze models related to animal science studies.
• Terms of appointment: full-time position for 3 years
• Gross Annual Salary:34.077,46 € in 14 payments (category F)
• Employee Benefits: 22 vacation days, 3 days of family & work conciliation, 45h of personal days, Friday afternoon off, Compressed Summer schedule from 15/06 to 15/09, Conciliation schedule.

Selection process

Timings in the Recruitment Process of ref. 86/25

Publication and diffusion of the job advertisement on IRTA’s website, EURAXESS Jobs, social media and other specific recruitment places.

5 following working days

Distribution of the pre-selected CVs which matching eligibility criteria to the Recruitment Committee. Communication via e-mail with the not pre-selected candidates who will not be further included in the process.

20 following working days

Recruitment Committee:

- Communication via e-mail with the not-selected candidates by the Recruitment Committee.

- Interview with selected candidates by the Recruitment Committee.

- Accord of the Recruitment Committee stating the selected candidate and detailed reasoning for the decline of the rest of the candidates.

- Communication via e-mail with the interviewed and not-selected candidates

10 following working days

Provision by the selected candidate of requested legal and official documentation to the HR department to coordinate the start of the candidate.

September 2025 approximately

Start of employment

Additional comments

Please know that if you are the chosen candidate and you are from a country which does not belong to the UE, IRTA’s Human Resources Department will support you to get the residence and working permits.