Introduction to the vacant position:
The Spatial Biotechnology Group is looking for a talented and highly motivated Early Stage Researcher (PhD student) to develop their PhD thesis project on the development of experimental and computational approaches to study clonal behaviours in the tumor microenvironment. The contract will be within the framework of the project SpaceClones, whose objective is to develop high-throughput and spatial perturbation assays to understand on how cell clones spatially organize to drive solid tumour development. SpaceClones will take advantage of cutting-edge multiplexed tissue technologies, in vitro co-culture systems, engineered 3D tumours, super-resolution imaging, assay automation, and computational tools for deconstruction of molecular and cellular spatial patterns in cells and tissues.
This project is financed by the ERC-2023-StG project “Integrative profiling and engineering of clonal cancer cell behaviours: from the tissue level down to the molecular scale” from the EU Horizon Europe programme, with grant agreement number 101117905.
Main tasks and responsibilities:
- Development of multi-omic approaches for spatial analysis of tissues.
- Development of microfluidic approaches for high-throughput perturbation of in vitro tissues.
- Perturb systems to study clonal behaviors in the tumor microenvironment.
Requirements for candidates:
Essential:
- BSc and MSc in bioinformatics, biotechnology, bioscience, or related fields.
- Experience with in vitro co-culture systems.
- Experience in macrophage polarization.
- Experience in developing barcoding technologies for multiplex imaging.
- High level of English.
- Willingness to work in a highly multidisciplinary environment.
Advantageous:
- Experience in spatial multi-omic approaches.
- Experience in image analysis of multiplex tissue imaging data.
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, Time management, Precision, Focus, and Critical and Analytical Thinking.
We Offer:
- Number of available positions: 1
- Starting date: from July 1st to October 1st, 2025
- Working conditions:
- Full time 4-year contract.
- 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 2nd June 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_XR.
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, female 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 female 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
