Introduction to the vacant position:
The Molecular Imaging for Precision Medicine Group at IBEC (Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia) is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to join the ERC-funded LIFETIME project.
The successful candidate will develop and characterize in vivo rodent models and advanced in vitro organ-on-chip (OoC) models of hepatoblastoma, with the aim of studying tumour metabolism and treatment response using molecular and metabolic imaging approaches.
The position combines cancer biology, preclinical modelling, bioengineering, and metabolic imaging. The researcher will work closely with a multidisciplinary team developing hyperpolarized magnetic resonance and complementary imaging approaches for the study of tumour metabolism across biological scales.
Experience performing metabolic or molecular imaging studies, including PET, MR or related techniques, is essential. Previous experience with NMR and/or MRI, using any acquisition or spectroscopy approach, will be considered a strong advantage.
Main tasks and responsibilities:
- Develop, establish and characterize in vivo rodent models of hepatoblastoma, including tumour implantation, longitudinal monitoring and experimental interventions.
- Develop and optimize in vitro hepatoblastoma models, including 3D cell cultures and organ-on-chip systems.
- Perform metabolic and molecular imaging experiments to characterize tumour metabolism and therapeutic response.
- Design and conduct longitudinal studies integrating imaging with biological and biochemical measurements.
- Perform sample collection and downstream biological analyses, including tissue processing and relevant molecular, biochemical and histological assays.
- Contribute to the implementation and optimization of MR- and NMR-based metabolic imaging experiments, including hyperpolarized metabolic imaging where appropriate.
- Analyse and interpret imaging and biological datasets and integrate results across in vitro and in vivo models.
- Design experiments independently, troubleshoot protocols and ensure robust and reproducible experimental workflows.
- Maintain accurate experimental documentation and contribute to data management and reproducibility procedures.
- Contribute to scientific publications, conference presentations and dissemination activities arising from the ERC LIFETIME project.
- Collaborate closely with researchers from complementary backgrounds, including magnetic resonance, bioengineering, microfluidics, cancer biology and preclinical imaging.
- Contribute to the supervision and scientific development of junior researchers within the project.
Requirements for candidates:
Essential:
- PhD in Biology, Biomedicine, Biotechnology, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Medical Physics or a related discipline.
- Demonstrated experience performing in vivo studies in rodent models.
- Experience with mammalian cell culture and experimental cancer or disease models.
- Previous experience performing metabolic or molecular imaging studies, for example using PET, MR, optical imaging or related methodologies.
- Strong experimental skills and ability to independently design, execute and troubleshoot complex experiments.
- Experience analysing quantitative experimental datasets.
- Evidence of scientific productivity appropriate to career stage.
- Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a multidisciplinary research team.
- Excellent written and spoken English.
Highly valued:
- Experience with MRI, MRS or NMR spectroscopy, using any experimental methodology or field strength.
- Experience with metabolic imaging or metabolic spectroscopy.
- Experience with hyperpolarized MR, particularly hyperpolarized 13C MRI/MRS.
- Experience with tumour models, particularly liver cancer or paediatric cancer models.
- Experience developing or working with 3D cultures, microfluidic systems or organ-on-chip models.
- Experience with longitudinal preclinical imaging studies.
- Experience integrating imaging measurements with biochemical, molecular or histological analyses.
- Experience with image processing, spectroscopy analysis or quantitative metabolic modelling.
Competencies and Skills:
- Strong scientific curiosity and interest in interdisciplinary research at the interface of cancer biology, imaging and bioengineering.
- High level of experimental rigor and attention to reproducibility.
- Ability to independently plan and prioritize complex experimental work.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to integrate information from different experimental modalities and biological scales.
- Proactive attitude toward developing and optimizing new experimental methodologies.
- Strong teamwork and communication skills in a multidisciplinary and international environment.
- Ability to communicate scientific results clearly through presentations and publications.
- Commitment to collaborative research and to supporting the scientific development of other team members.
We Offer:
- Number of available positions:1
- Starting date: 1st November 2026 (or as soon as we find an optimal candidate)
- Working conditions:
- Full-time A one-year contract, with the option to extend it for a further year.
- 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 20/09/2026 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: PD-IM
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
