The contract is funded by the Community of Madrid through the grant Ref. S2022/BMD-7409, Acronym: EXOHEP2-CM, in accordance with ORDER 3755/2022, dated December 2, issued by the Vice President, Minister of Education and Universities, which resolves the call for grants for the implementation of R&D activity programs among research groups in the Community of Madrid in Biomedicine 2022.

IMDEA Food is part of the Network of Madrid Institutes for Advanced Studies (IMDEA), promoted by the Community of Madrid with the aim of developing research that is both socially useful and of international scientific excellence.

Within this framework, the IMDEA Food Institute participates through the Dislipid-Epigenetics of Lipid Metabolism research group in the R&D activity program among research groups in the Community of Madrid in Biomedicine 2022, Ref: S2022/BMD-7409, Acronym: EXOHEP2-CM, under the project title: “Extracellular Vesicles in Hepatic Pathophysiology: Mechanistic, Diagnostic, and Therapeutic Relevance (EXOHEP2-CM).” To ensure the proper development of this project, the institute requires the hiring of research support staff.

Reference: AI2025/012 - “EXOHEP2-CM” - Research Assistant

Principal Investigator: Dr. Alberto Dávalos Herrera

Research Line/Group: Dislipid-Epigenetics of Lipid Metabolism

Research Program: Precision Nutrition and Cardiometabolic Health

Job Description:

The role will involve carrying out scientific and technical activities related to the research line developed by the research group, specifically within the following R&D&I project(s):

“Extracellular Vesicles in Hepatic Pathophysiology: Mechanistic, Diagnostic, and Therapeutic Relevance (EXOHEP2-CM).”

Main Responsibilities:

• Scientific and technical support in the experimental development of the project: organization, setup of methods, and sample processing for experiments.
• Analysis and validation of RNAs transported in exosomes for the diagnosis of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD).
• Experimental work in: Isolation of exosomes and other extracellular vesicles (Ultracentrifugation, Tangential Flow Filtration, Polymer Precipitation, etc.), Exosome characterization (Protein analysis, NTA, Western Blot, Electron Microscopy, Flow Cytometry), Cell cultures and gene expression analysis (RNA and DNA isolation, qPCR, Digital PCR), Exosome purification.
• Processing and analysis of experimental data, as well as preparation and presentation of project reports.
• Participation in educational activities, outreach initiatives, and scientific collaborations.

I. Entry requirements:

Required Education:

Education Level: A higher university degree: Bachelor's Degree + Master's Degree (Level 3 of the Spanish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education - MECES), Bachelor's degree in Biology, Biotechnology, Pharmacy, Food Science and Technology, Nutrition, Biochemistry, or Biomedicine, A Master’s degree in a field related to Biomedicine.

Research Field: Biomedicine.

II. Merit Evaluation

Additional Training (Other Degrees and Knowledge Considered Valuable)

Additional training in extracellular vesicles will be positively valued.

Professional Experience Considered Valuable

• Proven experience in a biomedical research laboratory.
• Experience in cell culture techniques.
• Experience in flow cytometry techniques.
• Experience in protein analysis using Western Blot.
• Experience in gene expression analysis using real-time PCR (qPCR).
• Experience in operating Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (FPLC).
• Experience in exosome isolation techniques from mammals (cell lines and biological fluids).
• Experience in exosome isolation techniques from plants.
• Experience in Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA).

Other Merits Considered Valuable

• Official scholarships from national or regional organizations (e.g., Ministry, Autonomous Communities, or others) awarded for academic performance or excellence.
• Research collaboration scholarships.
• Participation in scientific conferences.
• First-author publications in scientific journals.
• Participation in scientific outreach events.

Skills and Competencies (To Be Assessed During the Interview)

• Suitability for the position.
• Motivation to learn new methodologies and technologies.
• Ability to work independently, while also demonstrating strong teamwork and collaboration skills within a research group.
• Ability to develop and optimize new research protocols based on scientific literature.
• Strong organizational skills, excellent communication abilities, problem-solving mindset, high proactivity, initiative, and responsibility.
• Proficiency in English.

Language proficiency must be demonstrated through an official certificate or, alternatively, by passing a written and/or oral language assessment during the selection process.

Note: To verify professional experience, candidates must submit at least a social security work history report or employment contract. Recommendation letters from previous employers detailing specific responsibilities performed will also be considered.

The selection of candidates will be carried out in accordance with the principles of equality, merit, capacity and publicity, as well as objectivity, independence and professional rigor, respecting the confidentiality of the participants' personal data, by means of a merit-based competition.

Once the deadline for the submission of applications has expired, and once the fulfilment of the requirements listed in the second base has been verified, the Selection Committee will proceed to assess the merits included in the curricula vitae related to the post and to select the candidates who best meet the established requirements,  and will then open a second selection phase consisting of a personal interview.

The personal interview will consist of a face-to-face or videoconference interview which will focus solely on the merits put forward by the candidates in the competition phase and will be aimed at assessing the candidate's suitability for the post. The interview will last a maximum of 45 minutes.

Scale - selection criteria:

The selection process will be conducted based on the following criteria:

Scoring Criteria:

I. Additional Training: 0–10*
II. Experience: 0–30*
III. Other Merits: 0–30*
IV. Interview: 0–30*

Contract Type: A scientific-technical activities employment contract (Article 23 bis of the Science Law) will be offered, including a probation period as established by law.

Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week, split-shift schedule, Monday to Friday.

Annual Gross Salary: Highly competitive remuneration based on the candidate's qualifications and experience.

Duration: The contract is linked to the funding from grant Ref. S2022/BMD-7409-EXOHEP2-CM and will be valid until the end of the third annuity (December 31, 2025).

Incorporation: Immediately.

Headquarter of the IMDEA Food Insitute, Madrid (SPAIN)

PUBLICITY

The contract will be financed by the R&D activities programme with reference number S2022/BMD 7409 and acronym EXOHEP2-CM, granted by the Comunidad de Madrid in the Call for the implementation of R&D activities programmes between research groups of the Comunidad de Madrid in Biomedicine 2022.