Introduction to the vacant position:
We offer a 3-years PhD position in the framework of the Horizon Europe MSCA-Doctoral Network “Autonomous Scanning Probe Microscopy for Life Sciences and Medicine powered by Artificial Intelligence (SPM4.0)”. This project is funded by the European Union (GA: 101168976) and will involve 16 PhD positions distributed in 10 research centers/academic institutions and 3 companies from Spain, Sweden, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic and UK.
The SPM4.0 Project:
Artificial Intelligence is pushing forward the Industrial Revolution 4.0, which is transforming many areas of Society, including Science and Technology. Nanoscopy, a recognized pillar of the research and manufacture of Nanotechnology-based products, is among the areas that more quickly is adopting Artificial Intelligence. Machine learning algorithms are being developed and integrated in microscopes for its autonomous operation and in software toolboxes for the automatic analysis of large volumes of microscopy data. Scanning Probe Microscopy is particularly active in this integration with a special focus in the Life Sciences and Medical fields. Scanning probe microscopes powered by machine learning are expected to enable the autonomous and label-free nanoscale structural and functional (mechanical and electric) imaging of living cells and functional biomolecules in their native conditions, something never achieved in nanoscopic imaging. The objective of the SPM4.0 Doctoral Network is to train a new generation of researchers in the science and technology of autonomous Scanning Probe Microscopes powered by Artificial Intelligence for applications in the Life Science and Medical fields. The researchers of the network will acquire a state-of-the-art multidisciplinary scientific training in advanced scanning probe microscopy and machine learning and in their biological and medical applications. In addition, they will receive training on complementary and transferable skills to increase their employability perspectives and to qualify them to access to responsibility job positions in the private and public sectors. The final aim is to promote the wide adoption of SPM4.0 technologies in public and private research centers and in industrial and metrology institutions and to explore new horizons in the Life Sciences and Medical sectors regarding label-free nanoscopic cell imaging, illness diagnosis, or drug nanocarrier development, consolidating Europe as world leader.
The Bacterial infection and antimicrobial therapy (BIAT) group at IBEC:
The research activities of the BIAT group at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalunya (IBEC, Barcelona, Spain) (www.ibecbarcelona.eu/bactinf) are divided into two main areas: i) applied science to address biomedical challenges posed by infectious diseases and ii) basic research to unravel the molecular mechanisms of bacterial transcription during infections and biofilm formation. The group is dedicated to developing innovative methodologies to treat bacterial infections.
The Nanobioelec Group at IBEC:
The Nanobioelec Group at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalunya (IBEC, Barcelona, Spain) (www.ibecbarcelona.eu/nanobioelec) is a multidisciplinary research group whose main goal is to develop a multiscale approach to Bioelectricity, covering from the nano- to the microscale. To this end the group combines methods and techniques from Scanning Probe Microscopy, Organic Electronics and Artificial Intelligence, and develops applications for Life Sciences and Medicine.
The Doctoral Candidate Research Projects:
The main objective of the research project of the doctoral candidate is to develop and validate a protein-DNA footprinting methodology based on multiparametric scanning probe microscopy enhanced by machine learning.
To achieve it the doctoral candidate will
- Grow and overexpress proteins in Escherichia coli, utilizing basic microbiology techniques.
- Purify and characterize proteins (specifically transcriptional factors).
- Conduct biological assays to measure protein – DNA interactions (eg. electrophoretic mobility shitt assays (EMSA)) and perform in vitro transcription assays on genes relevant to bacterial virulence and biofilm formation.
- Develop a sample preparation protocol for DNA-protein footprinting compatible with scanning force microscopy and set up a training image data set based on the DNA-AlgR system.
- Validate a neural network algorithm developed for DNA-protein footprinting
- Apply the developed methodology and sample preparation methods to the case of a non-footprinted DNA-protein system.
Requirements for candidates:
Essential:
- Bachelor (BSc) and/or Master (MSc) on Bioengineering/Life Science and related fields or Physics/Mathematics/Engineering.
- Self-critical, capacity to learn and bring knowledge
- Competencies and skills: Communication, Teamwork, Proactivity, Commitment, Collegiality, Integrity, Critical and Analytical thinking
- High level of English
Advantageous:
- Background/experience on molecular biology or microbiology is a plus.
- Background/experience on microscopy is a plus.
- Background/experience on machine learning is a plus.
Eligibility conditions:
- Candidates must NOT have a doctoral degree at the date of the starting of the contract.
- Candidates must comply with the requirements for being enrolled in a PhD program in Spain.
- Candidates must comply with the mobility rule: NOT have resided or carried out his/her main activity (living, work, studies, etc.) in the Host Institution Country (Spain) for more than 12 months in the 36 months at the date of the starting of the contract (recruitment date).
We Offer:
- Number of available positions: 1
- Working conditions:
- 3-year full-time employment contract (Starting date between 1st March 2025 and 30th April 2025).
- An average annual gross salary about 33.583,34 € aprox, (including end of contract indemnity paid at the termination of the contract). The Financial package will also include family allowance according to MSCA-DN guidelines, depending on the family status of the candidate.
- 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).
- Secondments for a duration of 4 month at other institutions within the SPM4.0 Consortium.
- Opportunities to participate in national and international conferences and consortium meetings
- 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 31/01/2025 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: PhD-GG.
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:
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.”
IBEC actively looks for female candidates for Senior positions ensuring that at least 40% of shortlisted applicants invited to interview have to be women with comparable level of CVs as the male candidates. At the end of the evaluation process, in case of equal merit, priority will be given to female candidates.
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.
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
