Predoctoral researcher at the Molecular Bionics Research Group (Project TauiST)

Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST); Barcelona; Presencial; EUR 50.000 - 70.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Un centro de investigación en Barcelona busca un investigador predoctoral para un proyecto sobre la enfermedad de Alzheimer. El candidato se enfocará en la transición sólida de tau y su impacto en el transporte axonal. Se requiere BSc y MSc en bioquímica o biología, además de habilidades en comunicación y trabajo en equipo. Ofrecemos un ambiente internacional y un contrato de 4 años comenzando en enero de 2026.

Servicios

Entorno científico internacional

Programa de inducción para facilitar la incorporación

Oportunidades de desarrollo profesional

Formación

• Compromiso fuerte con la investigación científica y excelente expediente académico.
• Conocimientos de inglés.
• No haber recibido un contrato de doctorado por más de doce meses.

Responsabilidades

• Investigar la transición sólida inicial de tau en la enfermedad de Alzheimer.
• Purificación de proteínas y optimización de modelos en vitro.
• Cultivar y diferenciar células madre pluripotentes humanas.

Conocimientos

Investigación científica

Trabajo en equipo

Habilidades de comunicación

Pensamiento crítico

Educación

BSc y MSc en bioquímica, biología o campos similares

Herramientas

ImageJ

Descripción del empleo

Overview

Proyecto de Generación de Conocimiento 2024 by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (PID2024-160613OA-I00)

The Molecular Bionics Group at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) is looking for a Pre-doctoral Researcher to conduct predoctoral training on Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), investigating the cause behind tau pathology in this disease. The PhD project will be conducted in the framework of the project entitled: “Tau initial Solid Transition in axons in Alzheimer’s Disease (TauiST)”. This fellowship (FPI) is associated with Generación de Conocimiento (PID2024-160613OA-I00), funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities. We aim to understand the early stages of neuronal degeneration in AD and the role of Tau at these early stages. We seek a motivated and highly collaborative person to join our emergent team.

Main tasks and responsibilities

• PhD research will focus on investigating tau’s initial solid transition and its immediate consequences for axonal transport, using in vitro reconstitution and neurons in culture (primary and hPSCs derived).
• Protein Purification.
• Tau seed characterization and optimization.
• Development and implementation of an in vitro reconstituted model.
• Analysis of the effect of tau seed on motor displacement using in vitro reconstitution.
• Analysis of the effect of tau solid transition using primary neurons.
• Culture and differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into cortical neurons.
• Culture of primary neurons.
• Optimization of the model of neurons derived from hPSCs to analyze the effect of tau solid transition on axonal transport.
• Implementation and optimization of an image analysis algorithm for particle tracking and speed quantification.

Requirements for candidates

Essential:

• BSc and MSc in biochemistry, biology, biophysics, biotechnology, biomedical engineering, biomedicine, or similar areas.
• Candidates should be ready to enter an official doctoral programme in December 2025 (under Spanish Law). By this time, they must have obtained a university degree and a master’s degree, or must hold an official university qualification from a country of the European Higher Education Area with a minimum of 300 ECTS of official university studies, of which at least 60 are at master’s level. Candidates who expect to be awarded such degrees by October 2024 are eligible to apply.
• Candidates must have a strong commitment to scientific research and an excellent academic record.
• Candidates must have a good working knowledge of English.
• Candidates must not yet have been awarded a doctoral degree.
• Candidates must not have held a Ph.D. contract exceeding twelve months by the beginning of the fellowship (December 2025 to January 2026).
• Good skills in communication, teamwork, proactivity, characterization, integrity, time management, critical and analytical thinking, precision, and focus.

Desirable:

• Experience in biochemistry and in vitro reconstitution.
• Experience in molecular biology and laboratory techniques (e.g., qPCR, immunofluorescence, among others).
• Knowledge of image analysis using ImageJ or similar software.
• Scientific writing skills.
• For conditions, requirements, details of the research project, and other relevant data, please check the general call Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento 2024 by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation at the IBEC site: http://www.ibecbarcelona.eu/phd

We Offer

• Number of available positions: 1
• Predoctoral researcher contract: 4 years
• Starting date: As of January 1st, 2026 (to be confirmed, based on the resolution of the call Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento 2024 by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities).
• For labour conditions, please click on the call at www.ibecbarcelona.eu/phd
• 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.
• High-quality international scientific environment.
• Induction programme to facilitate incorporation at IBEC and additional support for foreigners to obtain a visa-working permit and to settle in Barcelona.

How to apply

Until October 29th online application form is available through IBEC dedicated site: careers.ibecbarcelona.eu. Only applications submitted before the deadline will be evaluated.

Reference: FPI_GB

If you have any further questions regarding your application, please contact [e-mail]

Selection and equal opportunity

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

IBEC’s Commitment on equal opportunity, diversity, and inclusion: IBEC is committed to diversity and inclusion and is an equal opportunity employer.

IBEC, as a signatory of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), emphasizes the scientific content of research outputs over publication metrics where possible.

Protection of personal data: IBEC processes candidates’ personal data in accordance with the EU GDPR and Law 3/2018 on Data Protection, 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 in Barcelona, recognized as a Severo Ochoa Research Centre.