This contract forms part of the MENTORING Project HORIZON-EIC-2023-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01 (Ref.: 101162297), funded by the European Innovation Council (EIC).

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

Within this framework, Project 101162297—MENTORING, entitled “Addressing malnutrition and metabolic health in non-communicable diseases through precision nutrition: impact on quality of life and prognosis of lung cancer patients” (“Abordar la desnutrición y la salud metabólica en las enfermedades no transmisibles mediante la nutrición de precisión: impacto en la calidad de vida y el pronóstico de los pacientes con cáncer de pulmón”), is being carried out under the call “HORIZON-EIC-2023-PathfinderChallenges-01”, for the implementation of which a Research Assistant is required.

Ref. AI2025-026-MENTORING – Research Assistant
Principal Investigator (PI): Dr. Ana Ramirez de Molina
Research line: Precision nutrition strategies in cancer and other metabolic disorders
Research group: Molecular Oncology
Research programme: Precision Nutrition and Cancer

The purpose of the contract is to carry out research tasks, within the scope of a specific and novel project, through collaboration in the research project:

"Addressing Malnutrition and Metabolic Health in Noncommunicable Diseases through Precision Nutrition: Impact on Quality of Life and Prognosis of Lung Cancer Patients" MENTORING HORIZON-EIC-2023-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01 (Ref: 101162297).

The MENTORING project has sufficient resources to carry out quality multidisciplinary research, linked to both basic and applied nutritional research.

The project includes scientific activities framed in the knowledge of metabolism and its regulation associated with tumour development, various aspects of molecular and cellular biology, with special interest in the development of 3D cell models, genetics, microbiome, personalized nutrition and therapeutic medicine.

In addition, communication skills of scientific and social interest will be addressed, as well as skills that will promote technology transfer, with an entrepreneurial and innovative attitude.

Main functions to be carried out:

- Design of nutritional strategies based on biomarkers (Precision Nutrition).

- Care and follow-up of study participants in coordination with the Nutrition and Dietetics Unit of the Infanta Sofía University Hospital, within the framework of the MENTORING study and other associated studies such as those integrated into IALIBIRD.

- Coordination with other collaborating centres (Parma Hospital, Gregorio Marañón Hospital, La Paz Hospital, etc.) for the common purposes pursued in the aforementioned projects.

- Development of basic molecular biology and biochemistry techniques (isolation of DNA, RNA and microRNAs; protein extraction and quantification by Western blot (WB); genotyping and quantitative PCR, bacterial identification analysis -16S, NGS).

- Maintenance and use of 2D and 3D cell cultures.

- Development of organoid preparation techniques and advanced organ-on-a-chip culture techniques in the lung tissue environment.

- Functional analysis in the Seahorse metabolic bioanalyzer.

- Processing of patient-derived samples (isolation of serum, plasma and cell fraction, etc.).

- Management and management of the group's biological sample databases.

- Attendance at weekly meetings with the research group in which the results obtained will be presented and daily follow-up with their supervisor.

- Attendance at seminars, training courses and selected congresses.

- Management of basic statistical and imaging programs; and critical analysis of the results.

- Writing scientific articles, support in the drafting of projects.

Please, SEE FULL CALL FOR APPLICATION

I. Entry requirements:

Education requirements:

* Level of education:

- Be in possession of a Bachelor's degree in a field related to the position being applied for (e.g. Nutrition and Dietetics, Medicine, Biotechnology, Biology, Pharmacy, Veterinary, Food Science and Technology, or similar).

- To be in possession of a University Master's degree.

 * Research field: Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Medicine, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Pharmacy or similar.

II. Evaluation of Merits

Additional training to be assessed (other degrees or knowledge):

- Technical professional training related to laboratory, nutrition or related areas will be valued.

- Conducting courses related to the field (seminars, team training courses, etc.).

- Minimum level of English B2 or equivalent.

Professional experience to be assessed:

Scientific-technical career of the candidate: Scientific-technical contributions. Other curricular merits of the candidate will be assessed, as well as their suitability for the tasks to be carried out based on training and professional experience:

- Participation in research projects.

- Professional in Nutrition, collegiate and authorized by the College of Nutritionists.

- Previous contracts in jobs with a profile or topics similar to those indicated.

- Candidates with proven experience and dual profiles in the fields of Nutrition and Molecular Biology will be preferred.

- Author of prestigious scientific publications (indexed in international databases) and/or communications to scientific congresses.

Other merits to be assessed:

-Mobility. The relevance and impact on their research career of the candidate's stays in national and international centres and/or in the industrial sector will be assessed, taking into account the prestige of the entity receiving the stay and the activity carried out in it.

-Participation in dissemination and scientific dissemination activities.

-Participation in scientific management activities.

Skills and competencies (to be assessed during the interview):

The candidate's suitability for the programme, project or research activities to be carried out will be assessed based on his/her previous training and experience. To this end, the added value that carrying out the project will represent for their research career will be taken into account, as well as the value provided to the centre and the receiving team.

The candidate's suitability for the activities to be carried out will be assessed through a personal interview, evaluating his/her ability to organise and integrate into a multidisciplinary team:

-A person with enthusiasm and a desire to learn.

-Ability to work independently, organized, positively and with good communication skills.

-Ability to work in a team with skills for personal relationships.

-Good management of frustration.

-Results-oriented, highly proactive, responsible person with work ethic.

-Organizational capacity with initiative.

-Observation skills and attention to detail. Methodical person in his work.

-High oral and written communication skills and level of English.

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

Contract type: Permanent employment contract for scientific-technical project activities (Art. 23 bis of the Spanish Science Act), in accordance with current legislation, including the legally established trial period.

Working hours: Full-time (37.5 h / week), split day, Monday to Friday

Gross annual salary: Highly competitive remuneration based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience

Duration: Permanent, subject to project/funding availability
Start date: Inmediat

Headquarter of the IMDEA Food Insitute, Madrid (SPAIN)