This contract will be funded with the Foundation’s own funds.

IMDEA Nutrition is part of the Network of Madrid Institutes for Advanced Studies promoted by the Community of Madrid, with the aim of developing research that is useful for society and of internationally excellent scientific quality. Within this framework, projects are carried out under the research line “The role of diet in shaping the obesogenic epigenome and in postprandial metabolic responses,” developed by the Nutritional Control of the Epigenome research group, within the Precision Nutrition and Obesity Research Programme, which requires the recruitment of a Principal Investigator.

Ref. IP2025-023-epiOBESITY – Principal Investigator

Programme Director: Dr. Jose Mª Ordavás

Research Programme: Precision Nutrition in Obesity

Research Group: Regulation of the epigenome through nutrition

Research Line: Role of diet in shaping the obesogenic epigenome and in postprandial metabolic responses

The scientific and technical activities to be carried out by the researcher will be those corresponding to the position of Principal Investigator linked to the research line “The role of diet in shaping the obesogenic epigenome and in postprandial metabolic responses,” developed by the Nutritional Control of the Epigenome research group, within the Precision Nutrition and Obesity Research Programme. Specifically, within this research line, the employment contract will initially be linked in a specific manner to the scientific and technical activities project entitled “RA67 – Exploring the association between polyphenol intake (circulating levels) and muscle- and metabolism-related effects in adults over 50 years of age,” with IMDEA Nutrition internal code/acronym 0334 / ABT RA67 Polyphenol Intake, developed for ABBOTT Nutrition.

Duties to be performed:

• Conduct basic and applied research on the relationship between nutrient intake and dietary patterns and the development and progression of obesity and metabolic syndrome, as risk factors for cardiovascular disease, within the framework of precision nutrition.
• Carry out nutritional intervention trials based on dietary patterns, functional foods, or specific nutrients to prevent obesity and its associated morbidities, such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. Through nutritional intervention clinical trials, the aim is to identify molecular markers that predict events and clinical markers and that underpin the description of the molecular mechanism by which nutrients modulate cellular physiology, with a particular focus on the cellular epigenome.
• Perform studies in cellular, animal, and organoid models to assess the molecular impact of nutrients, in order to define their molecular mechanism of action.

The candidate joining the position must:

• Lead and execute research projects within the programme’s strategic lines described above.
• Coordinate the work of the research team.
• Contribute to securing research funding.
• Train research staff.
• Disseminate and communicate research results, seeking to reach the target population, the clinical setting, and the general public.
• Publish research findings through scientific articles in international, peer-reviewed, high-prestige journals.
• Monitor scientific advances and remain up to date with the “state of the art,” seeking to incorporate innovative hypotheses and methodologies into the programme.
• Establish and strengthen national and international collaboration networks.
• Safeguard and enhance collaboration networks with the clinical environment of the Community of Madrid in which the Precision Nutrition and Obesity Programme participates.
• Collaborate in innovation activities and in the transfer of knowledge and technology to society, in line with the centre’s strategic actions.

Please, see FULL CALL FOR APPLICATION

I. Entry requirements:

Education requirements:

Required qualifications:

• Education level: PhD in the field of Biomedical Sciences or similar

• Research field: Nutrition, epigenome and health

II. Evaluation of merits:

Other Education to evaluate:

• Additional training in the field of nutrition

Professional experience & expertise to evaluate:

• Postdoctoral experience under a “doctoral-level” contract of no less than 10 years, in public or private R&D&I centres or Spanish or foreign universities, related to research in the area relevant to the position

• Holder of the R3 certificate as an established researcher

• h-index (Scopus) ≥ 30

• Experience in research management through participation in evaluation panels and research management bodies

• Experience in the design and supervision of clinical trials

Other merits to evaluate:

• Co-author of scientific articles published in prestigious scientific journals (indexed in international databases), especially as senior author, as well as scientific and technical books or book chapters

• Co-author of communications presented at scientific conferences, especially oral presentations and invited talks

• Participation in national and international R&D&I activities with direct involvement in national and international research programmes, projects or contracts, such as ERC actions, other competitive programmes under the EU R&D Framework Programme, or other agencies, companies and entities

• Demonstrated ability to attract research funding and research independence, through participation as Principal Investigator in projects funded under competitive public and private calls

• Capacity for internationalisation through research stays at international centres, participation in international projects and active collaborations with research groups from international institutions. Collaboration in European projects and consortia will be especially valued

• Science outreach activities, demonstrating dissemination skills through outreach in mass media such as television, radio and national and regional press, with wide reach

• Teaching activities: teaching delivered in undergraduate and master’s programmes, master’s programme coordination, and participation in teaching innovation projects

• Supervision of PhD theses, bachelor’s theses and master’s dissertations

• Innovative proactivity and proven technology-transfer capacity through leadership and participation in innovation programmes and the development of technological solutions applied to personalised nutrition. Ability to drive knowledge transfer

• High level of English: demonstrable spoken and written proficiency

Capabilities & Skills (to evaluate in the interview):

• Leadership

• Team leadership and management

• Motivation and enthusiasm for the field of work

• Responsibility and discipline

• Commitment

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)