Introduction to the vacant position:
The Nanobioengineering Group is looking for PhD student to develop her/his PhD thesis project on the development of novel 3D human models-on-a-chip of healthy and compromised brains. The contract will be within the framework of AlterNED (Proyectos en Líneas Estratégicas) and eBRAIN (Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento) with the objective of drug screening and neurotoxicity assessment in amyloidosis-based disease applications including Alzheimer disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington disease or posttraumatic stress disorder. The candidate will be integrated into a translational and multidisciplinary team with extensive experience in training researchers at the postdoctoral, predoctoral and postgraduate level. The research group, located at IBEC, is in close contact with International and National teams, belonging to CIBER-BBN (Carlos III Health Institute).
Main tasks and responsibilities:
- Microfabrication of the brain-on-a-chip device with integrated electrodes for in situ monitoring.
- Manipulate hydrogels and other synthetic and natural matrices.
- 3D-bioprinting.
- Cell culture of primary cells and iPSCs derived from patients.
- Cell differentiation.
- Produce and analyze functional data of neuronal activity from calcium imaging en electric recordings in vitro.
- Advanced imaging techniques to track transport through endothelial barriers.
- Molecular biology and cell characterization techniques (RT-PCR, western blot, Immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry among others).
- Data analysis.
Requirements for candidates:
Essential:
- BSc and MSc in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, biotechnology, biomedical engineering, biomedicine, nanotechnology or related fields.
- Previous experience in cell culture and basic molecular biology techniques.
- Experience in imaging techniques (e.g., confocal microcopy or life imaging).
- Competencies and skills: Communication, Teamwork and collaboration, Commitment, Proactivity, Integrity, Critical and Analytical thinking.
- High level of English
Advantageous:
- Previous experience in Neurobiology related techniques (e.g., primary neuronal or glial cultures)
- Experience in microfabrication techniques/protocols and working in cleanroom environments will be considered a plus.
We Offer:
- Number of available positions: 1
- Starting date: October 2023
- 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 predoctral 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 September 9th 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-JS. 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 (Postdoctoral and GL 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 17 Mio€; 3.800 square meters of facilities; 20 research groups and a team of researchers and support services of 400 people from 35 different countries. www.ibecbarcelona.eu
