Introduction to the vacant position:
The Targeted Therapeutics and Nanodevices Group is looking for a Research Assistant to help with a project aimed at studying how cellular lipidoses associated with congenital lysosomal storage disorders lead to alterations in cellular biology and biomechanics, and the possible therapeutic connotations of these aspects. The project is well-advanced and the candidate will help with the final project steps.
Main tasks and responsibilities:
Help with final experiments, result analysis and interpretation, and manuscript(s) preparation regarding:
- The characterization of the structural and nanomechanical properties of model membranes with abnormal glycosphingolipid levels that mimic those found in lipidoses.
- The assessment of the effects of lipid alterations on in vitro endocytic and trafficking pathways, as well as on cell mechanics in cellular models of lipidoses.
- The evaluation of the effects of therapeutic treatments on membrane nanomechanical properties.
While these tasks are being pursued, the candidate is also expected to participate in ongoing collaborations and help to monitor lab compliance and housekeeping tasks.
Requirements for candidates:
Essential:
- Degree and Master (or equivalent credits) in any field on Molecular or Cellular Biology, Biotechnology, Biomedicine, Microbiology, or a related subject field.
- Familiarity with cellular biology as well as biophysical/biomechanical methods, models and techniques, e.g., mammalian cell culture, model membranes and/or atomic force microscopy.
- Previous experience regarding the organization and writing of scientific publishable data.
- Familiarity with the main safety and ethical constrains associated with scientific research within the fields and methods described in this add.
- Good skills on communication, teamwork, proactivity, commitment, resilience, collegiality, integrity, multitasking and time management, critical and analytical thinking, and operational independence.
- High level of English for daily use in oral and written form.
Advantageous:
- Previous and recent research experience, with a minimum of 2 years investigating for a continuous project.
- Familiarity with lysosomal storage disorders and associated lipidoses.
- Previous experience with membranes modeling, atomic force microscopy, force spectrometry, 2D and 3D cell cultures, primary and stablished mammalian cell lines, lipidomic analysis, cell fractionation, flow cytometry, Western blott, fluorescence and confocal microscopy, immunostaining, and/or therapeutic assays.
- Previous experience with analysis software such as ImageJ, FlowJo, ImagePro, GraphPad and/or Prism.
Competencies and Skills:
We value not only technical expertise but also the demonstration of core competencies such as Communication, Teamwork and Collaboration, Commitment, Proactivity, Integrity, and Critical and Analytical Thinking.
We Offer:
- Number of available positions: 1
- Starting date: August 1st, 2026
- Working conditions:
- A Full time, 3-months contract for August, September, October months.
- Measures to reconcile work and family life, e.g., parental leave, flexible schedule working hours, 23 working days of paid holidays, 9 leave days for personal matters, among others (measures shown are for 1-year contract, thus, measures corresponding to this position are to be pro-rated for a 3 months-contract).
- 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 including mobility grants and a Mentoring programme for predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers.
- Stimulating, interdisciplinary research and high-quality international scientific environment.
- Induction programme to facilitate incorporation at IBEC and additional support is provided for foreigners to obtain Visa-working permit and to install in Barcelona.
How to apply:
Until July 16, an online application form is available through IBEC dedicated site: https://careers.ibecbarcelona.eu/
Only those applications submitted before the deadline will be evaluated.
Reference: RA-SM.
If you have any further question regarding your application, please contact us at jobs@ibecbarcelona.eu
Principles of the selection process:
IBEC is committed to the principles of the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers of the European Commission and the Open, Transparent and Merit based Recruitment principles (OTM-R) https://ibecbarcelona.eu/careers-at-ibec/jobs/
IBEC´s Commitment on equal opportunity, diversity, and Inclusion:
Our strength and excellence as an international transdisciplinary Research Institute are based on diversity. Being an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to diversity and inclusion, so that we support employees irrespective of their gender, nationality, religion, disabilities, age, sexual identity or cultural and socioeconomic background.
Visit our devoted webpage on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
For candidates with children that come from outside Barcelona, we offer babysitting services during the interview, so you don’t have to worry about anything else than doing a good interview. Contact us if you are interested in this service.
In categories where women are underrepresented, such as Group Leader positions, and with the aim of ensuring gender balance in recruitment processes, women candidates must represent at least 50% of those interviewed for Junior-level positions and 40% for Senior-level positions, provided they have CVs comparable to those of male candidates. At the end of the evaluation process, in cases of equal merit, preference will be given to women candidates.
IBEC, as a signatory of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), will consider, especially for early-stage investigators, much more the scientific content of research outputs, than publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which it were published.
Protection of personal data:
IBEC guarantees that candidates’ personal data are processed in accordance with the requirements of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Law 3/2018 on Data Protection.
Personal data will be processed solely 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 based in Barcelona. IBEC is one of the top research institutions named as a Severo Ochoa Research Centre by the Ministry of Science, Universities and Innovation, which recognizes excellence at the highest international level in terms of research, training, human resources, outreach and technology transfer.
IBEC’s mission is to develop international high-quality interdisciplinary research that, while creating knowledge, contributes to making a better quality of life, improving health and creating wealth. A close link with key universities, reference hospitals and corporations, are assets that facilitate achieving the mission.
IBEC was established in 2005 by the Generalitat de Catalunya (Autonomous Government of Catalonia), the University of Barcelona (UB) and the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC).
IBEC is located within the Barcelona Science Park and UPC Besós Campus, with an annual budget of 21 Mio€; 4.400 square meters of facilities; 25 research groups and a team of researchers and support services of 450 people from 40 different countries. www.ibecbarcelona.eu
