Introduction to the vacant position:
The Biomaterials for Regenerative Therapies Group at IBEC seeks a Predoctoral Researcher to develop impedance-based electrophysiology and imaging methods for organ-on-a-chip systems.
The position is framed within two complementary initiatives that aim to advance human-relevant microfluidic platforms for functional tissue monitoring.
The first, the MICRO-CPVT project, is a collaboration with Hospital Sant Joan de Déu focused on building a heart-on-a-chip platform for the electrophysiological study of CPVT clinical models. In parallel, the researcher will contribute to the ARDF project, extending these technologies to fabricate and characterize microfluidic chips with integrated impedance sensors through a three-month collaborative stay at the Nanobioengineering Group at IBEC, emphasizing microfabrication and biosensing integration.
Main tasks and responsibilities:
- Design and optimization of microfluidic platforms combining electrical and optical readouts.
- Development and implementation of impedance and data acquisition systems for real-time monitoring of tissue behavior.
- Support in cell culture handling (2D/3D tissue models).
- Execution of fluorescence or live-cell imaging for functional characterization.
- Close collaboration between the Biomaterials for Regenerative Therapies and Nanobioengineering groups to integrate biological and engineering aspects.
Requirements for candidates:
Essential:
- Degree and Master’s in Electronics Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Bioengineering, or related fields
- Skills in electronics, programming, and/or machine learning (knowledge of AI models is a plus)
- Competencies and skills: Communication, Teamwork and collaboration, Commitment, Proactivity, Integrity, Critical and Analytical thinking.
- High level of English
Advantageous:
- Experience with organ-on-a-chip culture
- Proficiency in Python for data analysis
- Cleanroom microfabrication skills
- Electronic characterization of biosystems
- Finite element simulation experience
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: November 2025
- Working conditions:
- Full time 1-year contract.
- Salary commensurate with previous experience.
- 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 23th October 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-EE.
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
