Introduction to the vacant position:
The Molecular Bionics Group is seeking a talented and highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to join our chemistry team. The selected candidate will support the synthesis of biodegradable polyester-based polymers, formulation of nanomedicines, and advancement of our translation efforts to design and develop novel anti-inflammatory nanomedicines.
We are chemists, physicists, mathematicians, engineers, and biologists who work alongside to design bionic units that mimic specific biological functions and/or introduce operations that do not exist in Nature. We apply a constructionist approach where we mimic biological complexity in the form of design principles to produce functional units from simple building blocks and their interactions. We called such an approach: Molecular Bionics.
Please, visit our external website for more information: https://www.molecularbionics.org .
Main tasks and responsibilities:
- Synthesis of biodegradable polyester-based block copolymers: You will be responsible for designing and synthesising polymeric materials with specific properties suitable for medical applications. Your expertise in polymerisation techniques and structure-property relationships will be essential in developing biodegradable polyester-based block copolymers.
- Formulation of nanomedicines: You will lead the formulation efforts to create nanoscale units using synthesised polymeric materials. By optimising the nanoparticle formulation parameters, such as size, stability, and degradation rate, you will contribute to the development of efficient and targeted therapies. Your knowledge of polymer chemistry and supramolecular assembly systems will be critical in formulating therapeutics that effectively target and treat inflammatory diseases.
- Support the translation and development of anti-inflammatory nanomedicines: You will actively support our translation efforts by working alongside several internal group members and external collaborators to design and develop anti-inflammatory nanomedicines.
Requirements for candidates:
Essential:
- A PhD in Polymer Chemistry, Materials Science, or a related field.
- Proven experience in synthesising and characterising polymers, specifically biodegradable polyesters.
- Strong background in nanoparticle formulation and supramolecular self-assembly.
- Familiarity with techniques such as controlled radical polymerisation (e.g., ATRP, RAFT), ring-opening polymerisation (e.g., ROP, ROCOP), polymer purification, and characterisation (e.g., using NMR, GPC).
- High level of English
Advantageous:
- Experience designing and evaluating therapeutic formulations for in vitro and in vivo studies.
- Knowledge of anti-inflammatory drug development and translation from bench to bedside is highly desirable.
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: 01/03/2026
- Working conditions:
- Full-time 1-year contract for scientific and technical activities, linked to the project and budget duration.
- Salary commensurate with previous experience.
- Measures to help balance work and family life (maternity and paternity leave, flexible working hours, 23 days of paid holidays, and an additional 9 days of leave for personal matters, among other options).
- 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 a high-quality international scientific environment.
- An induction programme to facilitate incorporation at IBEC and additional support is provided for foreigners to obtain a visa-working permit and to settle in Barcelona.
How to apply:
Until the 28th of February 2026, an online application form is available through the IBEC dedicated site: https://careers.ibecbarcelona.eu/
Only those applications submitted before the deadline will be evaluated.
Reference: PDR-GB.
If you have any further questions 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 who come from outside Barcelona, we offer babysitting services during the interview, so you don’t have to worry about anything other 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 their CVs are 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 they 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
