Introduction to the vacant position:
The Biointegrated Materials and Engineering Group is looking for a predoctoral researcher to study and develop medical and sustainable solutions based on nanocellulose & Bacterial Cellulose. The contract will be within the framework of Severo Ochoa CEX2023-001282-S funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033.
Main tasks and responsibilities:
- Synthesis & Processing
- Culture and optimize bacterial cellulose production (static/shaken cultures and bench bioreactors); evaluate carbon sources, pH, oxygenation, and additives.
- Produce plant-derived nanocellulose (e.g., CNF/CNC) and formulate composite inks and gels.
- Purify and chemically modify cellulose (e.g., TEMPO or periodate oxidation, carbodiimide coupling) to tailor charge, crosslinking, and biofunctionalization.
- Hierarchical Organization
- Assemble materials into hydrogels, thin films, fibers, and aerogels; control architecture via shear alignment, directional freezing/ice-templating, 3D printing, molding, and lamination.
- Tune porosity, water transport, and mechanical properties for target use-cases (barrier membranes, scaffolds, adsorbents).
- Characterization & Performance
- Perform multiscale characterization: rheology, tensile testing, swelling/permeability, SEM/AFM, XRD, FTIR/Raman, and imaging-based porosity analysis.
- Evaluate stability, sterilization, enzymatic/oxidative degradation, and reusability; conduct biocompatibility screening in collaboration with cell-biology partners.
- For environmental lines: run filtration and sorption assays (e.g., dyes, metals, microplastics) and assess flux, fouling, and regeneration.
- Others
- Maintain rigorous data analysis pipelines (ImageJ/Fiji; Python/MATLAB/R) and versioned protocols for reproducibility.
- Drive day-to-day experiments safely and reproducibly; maintain cultures, materials libraries, and instrument logs.
- Coordinate with collaborators in cell biology, microfabrication, and environmental testing to validate materials.
- Present results in group meetings and conferences; contribute to papers, reports, and grant deliverables.
- Support lab operations (ordering, equipment upkeep, biosafety/waste management).
Requirements for candidates:
Essential:
- MSc (or equivalent) in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Biotechnology, Polymer Science, or related field.
- Hands-on experience with biopolymer/hydrogel synthesis, material characterization, or microbial culture under sterile conditions.
- Proficiency in at least two of: rheology or mechanical testing; microscopy (SEM/AFM/fluorescence); spectroscopy (FTIR/Raman/NMR); XRD.
- Solid data analysis skills (statistics, plotting, image quantification); structured record-keeping and SOP writing.
- Strong communication in English.
Advantageous:
- Experience specifically with cellulose (BC/BNC, CNF/CNC), bench bioreactors, and scale-up.
- Knowledge of surface functionalization (e.g., TEMPO, click, carbodiimide) and composite design (e.g., with HA, chitosan, alginate).
- Skills in 3D printing/ink formulation, directional freezing, or membrane/separation science.
- Familiarity with biocompatibility testing, ISO 10993 concepts, or LCA/sustainability assessments.
- Exposure to organ-on-chip or cell-support applications (as downstream use-cases).
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: 01/01/2026
- Working conditions:
- 37,5 hours. Full-time temporary contract linked to projects.
- Measures to reconcile work and family life (parental leave, flexible schedule working hours, 23 working days of paid holidays, 9 leave days for personal matters, among others).
- 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 11/12/2025 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: JG-PD.
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 is managing 3.800 square meters facilities, with an annual budget of 22 Mio€; 4.150 square meters of facilities; 21 research groups and a team of researchers and support services of 400 people from 35 different countries. www.ibecbarcelona.eu
