This contract is funded by the State Research Agency as part of the 2024 call for grants to support researcher consolidation, under the State Programme for Human Resources of the Spanish National Plan for Scientific, Technical and Innovation Research 2024–2027 (Grant CNS2024-154596, funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033)."

IMDEA Food is part of the Network of Madrid Institutes for Advanced Studies (IMDEA), an initiative promoted by the Regional Government of Madrid with the aim of conducting research that is both socially valuable and of outstanding international scientific excellence.

Within this framework, the Translational Venomics Research Group is carrying out the project titled "Venom-Derived Senolytics: Innovative Solutions to Promote Healthy Ageing", for which a postdoctoral researcher is required.

Ref.: PD2025-015-CNS_mi – Postdoctoral Researcher
Principal Investigator: Dra. María Ikonomopoulou
Research Group: Translational Venomics
Research Programme: Precision Nutrition and Ageing
Research Line: Venom-Based Senolytic Agents for the Treatment of Ageing and Age-Related Diseases

       Job description/ Functions to be carried out:

Our multidisciplinary research integrates basic and applied methodologies to unravel the molecular mechanisms of animal venom-derived compounds. The overall aim is to identify, characterize, and optimize drug candidates and therapeutic targets for ageing-related diseases, as well as to develop tools to understand ageing and enhance healthspan and lifespan.

1. The researcher will be primarily responsible for the design, planning, execution and analysis of the experiments, in close coordination with the Head of the Translational Venomics Group and the rest of the group members. The specific focus of this project is to evaluate the healthspan and lifespan benefits of a small protein in ageing, using animal models and molecular/cellular techniques. Therefore, the candidate must be up to date on the latest advances in the field, by reading publications, participating in conferences and seminars, etc.

2. The researcher will contribute in the supervision and training of the trainees hosted by the research group, including internship students, bachelor's or master's degree final projects, doctoral, or exchanged students. The researcher will also be encouraged to participate in the writing of research projects, scientific publications, and at conferences, in close collaboration with other members of the group.

3.The researcher will perform laboratory experiments, mouse experiments, perform the analyses, interpretation of statistical results and prepare integrated summaries for reports, manuscripts, and scientific projects.

4. The researcher will be a reference person in the coordination of the work in the laboratory, including coordination with external (national and international) collaborators, order management, location and order of laboratory materials and reagents, maintenance and care of research equipment and other coordination tasks.

(Please, see  FULL CALL FOR APPLICATION)

Education requirements:

* Education Level (Undergraduate, Bachelor Degree, Master Degree, PhD): Doctor (PhD)

Research Field: Biotechnology or molecular biology or pharmacology or similar field

II. Evaluation of merits:

Other Education to evaluate:

*Postdoctoral experience with a doctoral contract, at least 3 years in public or private R+D+i centres or Spanish or foreign universities, related to the research in the corresponding Area.

*Publications in high-impact international scientific journals in areas of expertise and with at least two papers as first author/co-author

*Proficient and fluent in English (spoken and written).

The level of English must be demonstrated by presenting the corresponding certificate or, alternatively, by passing a proficiency test (written and/or oral) during the selection process.

Professional experience & expertise to evaluate:

* Co-author of prestigious scientific publications (indexed in international databases), in some of them as first author, books or chapters of scientific and technical books.

* Co-author of communications to scientific conferences.

* Participation in research projects in competitive calls.

* International mobility (stays in foreign research centres).

* Experience in supervision, direction or co-supervision of Bachelor's and Master's degree final projects.

* Other contributions not included in the previous sections.

Other merits to evaluate:

Specific experience in the research area of the position (venom-based research or drug discovery).

* Experience working with mouse models and especially with xenograft cancer mouse experiments, performing treatments, dissections and tissue collection

* Previous experience in determining complex cell signalling mechanisms and/or determining molecular mechanisms of action will be positively valued.

* Extensive experience in various experimental techniques desirable, including molecular biology, cell cultures, high-throughput multifunctional assays on plate, microscopy, electrophysiology, flow cytometry, and determination of metabolic fluxes using Seahorse technology.

* Experience in the use of statistical analysis software.

* Collaboration in cross-cutting activities (dissemination of results)

Capabilities & Skills (to evaluate in the interview):

- Ability to work independently on routine tasks as well as new assignments.
- Demonstrate strong organizational skills and teamwork.
- Proactive and positive attitude, professional behavior.

The selection of candidates shall be carried out in accordance with the principles of equality, merit, ability and publicity, as well as objectivity, independence and professional rigour, respecting the confidentiality of the personal data of the participants, 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 evaluation process will be carried out according to the following criteria:

I. Additional training to be assessed: 0-30*.

II. Experience to be assessed: 0-30*.

III. Other merits to be assessed: 0-10*.

IV. Interview: 0-30

Type of contract: Permanent employment contract for scientific-technical project activities (Article 23 bis of the Science Act), in accordance with current legislation, with a trial period as established by law.
Working hours: 37.5 hours per week, split schedule from Monday to Friday.

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

Duration: Until the end of the project/funding.
Start date: Immediate.

Headquarter of the IMDEA Food Insitute, Madrid (SPAIN)