The call is made under the provisions of Law 20/2021, of December 28 and the Order of July 26, 2022 of the Ministry of Economy, Employment and Finance of the Community of Madrid.

A selective process is called for the coverage of a permanent position as Researcher in the Laboratory for Research on Cardiometabolic Diseases: Bioactive Products (Postdoctoral Researcher) at IMDEA Food Foundation, with the profile and characteristics established in Annex l of the official Call.

Job Description

Multi-disciplinary research aimed at elucidating mechanisms  of  cardiovascular disease and formulating appropriate nutraceuticals and functional foods.

Basic and applied reasearch, i.e. animals and humans research in the area of micronutrients (i.e. hydroxytyrosol) and cardiovascular health.

Contribute to the evaluation, based on solid scientific evidence, of the claims that certain nutraceuticals and functional foods may have.

Functions profile of the Researcher:

The researcher will be responsible for the design, planning, performance and analysis of the results of the group's experiments, in close coordination with the Head of the Bioactive Ingredients Food Group and with the other members of the group. To do this, he/she must be aware of the latest advances in the field, by reading current publications, participating in congresses and seminars, etc.

The researcher must help in the supervision and training of the interns that the research group hosts, including students in internships, final degree or master's projects, doctoral students, etc.

The researcher will actively participate in the writing of research projects, scientific publications, conference presentations or talks, in close collaboration with other members of the group.

Researcher will perform laboratory  analyses,  will interpret statistical results, and prepare reports including integrated summaries for reports, manuscript and proposal submissions.

The researcher will be a reference person in the coordination of work in the laboratory, including orders management, location and organization of laboratory materials and reagents, maintenance and care of research equipment and other coordination tasks.

Required degree:

PhD  in  Biomedical  Science  (Biology,  Biochemistry,  Pharmacy, Chemistry, Medicine or similar).

Other specific requirements:

- Postdoctoral experience with a PhD contract, not less than 5 years in public or private R&D centers or Spanish or foreign universities, related to the corresponding Research Area.

- Publications in high-impact international scientific journals in the area, with at least 4 experimental articles as first author.

- Use of fluent English (spoken and written).

Curricular merits of the candidate:

• Contributions

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

- Co-author of communications to scientific conferences.

- Co-inventor in granted or licensed patents.

• Participation in R+D+i activities:

- Participation in competitive research projects, contracts with companies, agreements, both national and international, related to the research area of the position.

- International mobility (stays in foreign research centers).

• Other curricular merits:

- Successful applications in highly competitive scientific programs for young researchers (e.g. "Juan de la Cierva" Program, "JAE" Program, "PEJ"-POST Program, etc.)

- Obtaining awards, mentions and research distinctions.

- Other contributions not included in the previous sections.

 Other merits to assess:

- Specific experience in the research area of the position:

Experience and participation in research projects focused on the evaluation of the potential beneficial properties that bioactive ingredients or products can exert against chronic non-communicable diseases (CVD, NAFLD, neurodegeneration, etc.).

Control of basic molecular biology techniques, including cell cultures, protein and nucleic acid analysis, microscopy, etc. and have extensive experience in conducting and analyzing results of experiments in vitro and murine models.

Participation in projects where tests were carried out for the evaluation of inflammatory, oxidative, hematological, toxicological biomarkers, etc., including in vitro, in vivo and/or clinical trials.

Experience in diet-related transcriptomic, proteomic studies in an epigenetic setting, including in vitro, in vivo and/or clinical trials.

Experience in studies with bioactive ingredients of the diet in models of organoids (intestinal, hepatic, etc.).

Experience in the use of statistical analysis software.

- Direction or co-direction of doctoral theses and degree and master's projects.

- Participation in the preparation of proposals to attract external financing.

- Collaboration in transversal activities (dissemination of results, ..)

Capacities:

- Ability to work independently on routine tasks as well as new assignments.

- Demonstrate strong organizational skills and teamwork.

- Proactive attitude, professional leadership.

Candidates will be selected based on the profiles described in Annex 1 as appropriately outlined in their CV by a Selection Committee composed by scientist staff of IMDEA Food Institute. Ad-hoc experts could be participating in the process. The best-qualified applicants can be invited locally for an interview by the Selection Committee.

The personal interview will consist of conducting a face-to-face or videoconference interview that will deal only with the merits declared by the candidates in the competition phase and will be aimed at assessing the candidate's suitability for the position. The interview will have a maximum duration of 45 minutes.

Selection criteria:

I. Curricular merits: 0-50*

II. Other merits: 0-20*

III. Interview: 0-30

Type of contract: permanet full-time employment contract with trial period established by law.

Dedication: full-time, 37.5 hours per week, from Monday to Friday.

Duratio: permanet.

Incorporación: immediately after the selection process.

Headquarter of the IMDEA Food Insitute, Madrid (SPAIN)