PREDOCTORAL CANDIDATE TO APPLY FOR PhD FELLOWSHIPS (PFIS)

BIST People Working Group; Barcelona; On-site; EUR 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

The Parkinson’s Disease and Neurodegenerative Movement Disorders group at CIBERNED / IDIBAPS – Hospital Clínic de Barcelona is seeking a highly motivated predoctoral researcher to join a multidisciplinary team. You will contribute to a translational project on prodromal Parkinson’s disease (Pre-PD) within a large population-based cohort and a deeply phenotyped subcohort.

Responsibilities include plasma proteomics, whole-genome sequencing, polygenic risk scores, lifestyle assessments, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with GPA > 7.
• Master’s degree with academic record > 8.5.
• Good communication skills in English.
• Doctoral enrolment in a Spanish university for 2027-2028.
• Commitment, teamwork, proactivity and passion for science.
• Experience in molecular biology, proteomics, cell culture or bioinformatics is valued.

Responsibilities

• Join a multidisciplinary team on a translational project in prodromal Parkinson’s disease.
• Work on the Pre-PD Population-Based Study integrating clinical, molecular and lifestyle data.
• Perform plasma proteomics analyses and genetic analyses (WGS, PRS).
• Assess lifestyle and environmental factors for risk stratification.
• Contribute to longitudinal clinical follow-up and data management.
• Collaborate to improve early detection and preventive strategies.

Skills

Good communication

Commitment

Teamwork

Proactivity

Critical thinking

Passion for science

Molecular biology

Proteomics

Cell culture

Bioinformatics

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Biology/Biochemistry/Biomedicine/Pharmacy or related

Master’s degree in Biomedicine/Neuroscience or equivalent

Doctoral Enrolment in a Spanish accredited program (2027-2028)

Job description

Do you want to pursue your PhD in prodromal Parkinson’s disease?

The Parkinson’s Disease and Neurodegenerative Movement Disorders group at CIBERNED / IDIBAPS – Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, led by Dr. Mario Ezquerra, is looking for a highly motivated predoctoral researcher to join a multidisciplinary team and participate in a cutting-edge translational project on prodromal Parkinson’s disease (Pre-PD).

What will you do?

You will work on the project called “Population-Based Study on Prodromal Parkinson’s Disease: Integrating Clinical, Molecular, and Lifestyle Factors (Pre-PD)” aimed at identifying molecular, clinical, and lifestyle profiles associated with prodromal Parkinson’s disease using a large population-based cohort (HeBa study, n=10,000) and a deeply phenotyped subcohort (n=300). The project integrates:

• Plasma proteomics (Neurodegeneration and Inflammation panels).
• Genetic analysis (whole-genome sequencing, polygenic risk scores).
• Lifestyle and environmental assessment (dietary inflammatory index, physical activity, environmental exposures).
• Longitudinal clinical follow-up to track prodromal symptom progression.

The ultimate goal is to improve early detection and risk stratification for Parkinson’s disease, enabling preventive interventions before motor symptoms appear.

Who are we?

Our group is part of CIBERNED (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas) and IDIBAPS (Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer), located at the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. We are a multidisciplinary team of neurologists, biologists, and bioinformaticians with extensive experience in Parkinson’s disease research, multi-omics integration, and longitudinal cohort management. We lead the Barcelona node of the HeBa (Healthy Brain Ageing) study, a European multicentre initiative funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

Group website: https://www.clinicbarcelona.org/profesionales/mario-antonio-ezquerra

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Biochemistry, Biomedicine, Pharmacy, or related fields (GPA > 7).
• Master’s degree in Biomedicine, Neuroscience, or equivalent (academic record > 8.5).
• Good communication skills in English.
• Doctoral Enrolment: Candidates must be admitted or enrolled in an officially accredited doctoral program at a Spanish university for the academic year 2027-2028.
• Commitment, teamwork, proactivity, critical thinking, and passion for science.
• Previous experience in molecular biology, proteomics, cell culture, or bioinformatics will be valued.

Deadline: 10 January 2026