This contract is part of the MENTORING for HEALTH (EIC Pathfinder) project and will be co-financed by the European Innovation Council (EIC) and by the Foundation’s own funds.

IMDEA Food is part of the Madrid Institutes for Advanced Studies (IMDEA) Network, promoted by the Regional Government of Madrid, with the aim of developing research that is useful for society and of internationally recognized scientific excellence. Within this framework, projects are carried out under the research line entitled **“Multidimensional characterization of oncology patients, biomarker discovery, and development of Precision Nutrition strategies for oncology patients,”** belonging to the **Molecular Oncology Research Group**, within the **Precision Nutrition and Cancer Research Programme**. Current projects in this line include, among others: **MENTORING for HEALTH (EIC Pathfinder)**, **IALIBIRD-CM**, and **ONPRIME (AEI)**, which require the incorporation of a Principal Investigator.

Ref. IP2026-003-Clinical Oncology – Principal Investigator

Programme Director: Dr. Ana Ramírez de Molina

Research Programme: Precision Nutrition and Cancer

Research Group: Molecular Oncology

Research Line: Multidimensional characterisation of the oncology patient, biomarker discovery, and the development of Precision Nutrition strategies for oncology patients, within the Molecular Oncology Research Group.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the design, planning, execution, and analysis of experimental results within the research line under their responsibility. They will work independently, while maintaining close coordination with the Molecular Oncology Group Leader. To this end, they must keep up to date with the latest advances in their field by reading current publications and participating in conferences, seminars, and related activities.

They will be responsible for coordinating the research projects within the line, as well as the work of the researchers assigned to the different projects.

They will be responsible for seeking and securing funding for research within the line. They will be expected to produce relevant scientific publications, as well as to participate in scientific forums and conferences.

They will carry out mentoring and/or supervision of national and international research staff involved in the line’s projects.

They will be in charge of supervising doctoral and master’s theses, as well as other research dissertations, and will contribute to the design and implementation of science outreach and technology transfer activities.

The investigator must support the supervision and training of personnel hosted by the research group, including interns, undergraduate or master’s final projects, PhD candidates, and others.

The investigator will actively participate in the preparation of research proposals, scientific publications, and conference presentations or talks, in close collaboration with other group members.

The investigator will conduct laboratory analyses, interpret statistical results, and prepare reports including integrated summaries, manuscript submissions, and proposals.

The investigator will serve as a key point of reference for coordinating the group’s work, including scientific management, maintenance and care of research equipment, and other coordination and management tasks.

Their work will fall scientifically within the following area of expertise: Precision Nutrition and cancer research, lipid metabolism, genetic susceptibility, molecular oncology and gene expression regulation, chronic diseases and omics technologies; clinical trials and population studies; analysis of genetic predisposition factors for the development of obesity and cancer; and study of metabolic factors determining the clinical progression of patients with cancer and associated chronic diseases; as well as the identification and validation of molecular biomarkers of risk, prognosis, and therapeutic response.

Please, see FULL CALL FOR APPLICATION

I. Entry requirements:

Education requirements:

Required qualifications:

• Education level: PhD in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biomedicine
• Research field: Precision Nutrition, Genetics and Molecular Oncology

Proven postdoctoral experience with “doctoral-level” contracts for at least 15 years at public or private R&D centres or Spanish or international universities, related to the corresponding research area.

At least 30 publications in high-impact international scientific journals, with a minimum of 15 first-author articles related to the field (Precision Nutrition, Genetics, Molecular Oncology and chronic diseases).

To evidence compliance with these two eligibility requirements, candidates must provide a declaration of responsibility (sworn statement) in which they declare, under their own responsibility, that they meet and fulfil these conditions as of the application deadline, without prejudice to subsequent verification by the Foundation.

II. Evaluation of merits:

Specific experience in the position’s research area, with high-impact scientific publications and participation in competitive research projects: precision nutrition, metabolism and cancer, genotyping and population studies in cancer and obesity, human clinical trials.

Experience working with different in vitro cancer models. Handling of human samples: blood, saliva, paraffin-embedded tissue, DNA, RNA, and protein extraction.

Experience managing “-omics” technologies, including: genomics (sequencing and genotyping), transcriptomics and metagenomics.

Strong ability to manage genotypic/phenotypic datasets and use biological databases and statistical tools (SPSS).

Demonstrated research experience in gene expression regulation of genes involved in cancer progression, hormonal regulation and lipid metabolism; molecular biomarkers of cancer risk; prognostic factors; and precision nutrition.

Recipient of contracts under highly competitive scientific programmes for early-career researchers.

Supervision or co-supervision of doctoral theses and undergraduate/master’s projects.

Participation in preparing proposals to attract external funding, as well as in the management of research projects.

Collaboration in cross-cutting activities (dissemination of results and technology transfer).

The candidate’s suitability for the programme, project or research activities to be carried out will be assessed based on their previous training and experience. This will take into account the added value that the project will represent for the candidate’s research career, as well as the value contributed to the host centre and team.

Suitability for the activities to be carried out will also be assessed through a personal interview, evaluating organisational skills and the ability to integrate into a multidisciplinary team.

Other Education to evaluate:

• Recipient of contracts under highly competitive scientific programmes for early-career researchers (e.g., “Juan de la Cierva”, “JAE”, “PEJ”-POST, etc.).
• Completion of courses related to the field.

Professional experience & expertise to evaluate:

• Scientific publications in Q1 (D1) journals related to the field.
• H-index of at least 20.
• Participation in more than 10 competitive national and international research projects related to the field.

Other merits to evaluate:

• Teaching and thesis supervision.
• Collaboration in dissemination and management activities.
• Technology transfer.
• Fluent use of English.

Capabilities & Skills (to evaluate in the interview):

• Ability to work independently in an organised, methodical, creative and positive manner, with strong communication skills.
• Teamwork skills and strong interpersonal abilities.
• Results-oriented, highly proactive, responsible, and with a strong work ethic.

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 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:  employment contract for scientific-technical activities (art. 23 bis  Spanish Science Law) in accordance with current legislation, with a probationary period established by law.

Dedication: full time (37,5 hours per week), flexible split day, from Monday to Friday.

Gross Annual Salary: Competitive remuneration based on the candidate’s merits and qualifications.

Duration:Indefinite, Open-ended, until the completion of the project(s).

Incorporation: immediately.

Headquarter of the IMDEA Food Insitute, Madrid (SPAIN)