Research support technician 2026/CP/246

University of A Coruña; España; On-site; EUR 20,000 - 32,000; Part time

Job summary

University of A Coruña seeks a First Stage Researcher (R1) to support neuroscience projects focusing on how feeding conditions affect decision-making and brain activity in rodents.

You will manage the animal colony, operate feeding devices, train rats on tasks, and assist with chronic neural recording procedures. Suitable candidates hold a biology degree and official authorization for rodent procedures.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Biology or related field.
• Official authorization for Functions B and C in rodents required.
• Documented lab animal handling and ethical compliance.
• Experience with behavioural tasks in rodents is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Oversee laboratory rodent colony maintenance and care.
• Operate feeding devices and monitor consumption in trials.
• Train rodents on decision-making tasks.
• Assist chronic neural recording surgeries and electrode implantation.
• Participate in acute neuronal activity recording sessions.

Skills

Lab animal care

Neuroscience methods

Surgical assistance

Decision-making tasks training

Animal feeding protocols

Education

Biology degree

Rodent ethics cert.

Tools

Stereotaxic equipment

Neural recording electrodes

Job description

Organisation/Company University of A Coruña Research Field Biological sciences Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Bachelor Positions Application Deadline 14 Oct 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Madrid) Country Spain Type of Contract Permanent Job Status Part-time Offer Starting Date 1 Jan 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number 2026/CP/246 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Grant/funding reference: ED431C 2026/30

Grant/funding period: START: 01/01/2027 END: 20/11/2029

PURPOSE OF CONTRACT: Collaborator on activities related to the project/agreement stated.

1) Duties and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will participate in research projects aimed at understanding the relationship between feeding conditions (food availability and accessibility) and performance in decision-making tasks.

In addition, changes in brain activity associated with manipulations of feeding conditions will be investigated. The candidate's duties will include:

• Managing the laboratory animal colony (rats).
• Monitoring and operating individualized animal feeding devices.
• Training rats in decision-making tasks.
• Assisting with surgical procedures for the chronic implantation of neural recording electrodes.
• Participating in acute neuronal activity recording experiments.

All duties assigned to the successful candidate involve procedures carried out on laboratory animals. Therefore, applicants must hold the appropriate legally required certifications, specifically authorization to perform Functions B and C in rodents (euthanasia and experimental procedures).

• Degree (Bachelor's degree, Licenciatura, or equivalent) in Biology or a related field.
• Official certification from the competent authority authorizing the performance of Functions B (euthanasia) and C (experimental procedures) in rodents.

Additional Information

Eligibility criteria

1. Academic Record (Biology Degree or Related Field) - Up to 2.5 Points Applicants will be awarded between 0 and 2.5 points based on their academic transcript. The candidate with the highest grade point average will receive the maximum score of 2.5 points. Other candidates will be scored proportionally.
2. Previous Research Experience in Behavioural Studies - Up to 2.5 Points Between 0 and 2.5 points will be awarded for participation in experimental research involving the behavioural study of rodents using highly controlled experimental tasks. One point will be awarded for each year of experience in this type of research.
3. Previous Research Experience in Stereotaxic Surgery and Electrophysiological Recording - Up to 2.5 Points Between 0 and 2.5 points will be awarded for participation in experimental research projects, particularly those involving stereotaxic surgery in rodents. One point will be awarded for each year of experience in this type of research.
4. Personal Interview - Up to 2.5 Points Candidates may be awarded between 0 and 2.5 points in a personal interview. Applicants selected for interviews will be notified at least 48 hours in advance.

All qualifications and merits claimed by applicants must be supported by appropriate documentary evidence. Only merits directly related to the profile of the position will be considered.

The position may remain unfilled if no applicant achieves a minimum score of 4 points according to the evaluation criteria.

Only candidates who reach this minimum threshold may be included on any reserve list established as a result of this selection process.

The score obtained in the personal interview shall not be considered either for determining whether the position remains vacant or for inclusion on the reserve list.

Academic Certification Requirements The academic transcript must include the final grade point average (GPA) calculated on a 10-point scale upon completion of the degree, in accordance with the provisions of the Resolution of 15 September 2011 of the Technical General Secretariat of the Regional Ministry of Education and University Planning, which published the collaboration protocol signed between the Regional Ministry and the Universities of Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, and Vigo for the assessment of academic records, in accordance with Royal Decree 1125/2003.

Where the academic transcript does not include the corresponding GPA calculation, candidates must submit a signed declaration of their GPA, including the grades obtained in all courses comprising the degree programme, using the official template available at: https://www.udc.es/es/pdi/concursos/declaracion/.

Failure to comply with this requirement will result in the exclusion of the candidate from the selection process.

Selection process

APPLICATION PROCESS

WHERE TO APPLY: UDC online services site. Applications should be addressed to the Office of the Vice-Rectorate for Research and Transference, and include the call reference.

DEADLINE: 5 working days from the day following the publication of the call on the official bulletin board of the UDC online services site.

SELECTION COMMITTEE AND PUBLICATION OF RESULTS

PLACE OF PUBLICATION OF RESULTS: Official bulletin board of the UDC online services site.

Additional comments

General required documentation:

1. Copy of national identity document or passport

2. Copy of degree certificate in Spanish or English. If obtained outside the European Union it must be apostilled or legalised by the Spanish Embassy.

3. CV in English or Spanish/Galician

4. Responsible declaration that the requirements of the call are fulfilled.

5. Responsible declaration of the veracity of the data stated in the application