This contract is part of the project PID2021-128264OB-I00, funded by MCIN/ AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ERDF, EU "A way of doing Europe", where PID2021-128264OB-I00 is the reference in the award decision; MCIN is the acronym of the Ministry of Science and Innovation; AEI is the acronym of the State Research Agency; 10. 13039/501100011033 the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) of the Agency; and ERDF the acronym of the European Regional Development Fund.

The funding available for this recruitment is linked to a single research project, therefore, the research line will be linked to the project: "Role of hnRNPK in cholesterol metabolism and associated diseases", to perform scientific-technical work associated with this research line/project on the role of post-transcriptional regulators in prevalent human metabolic diseases, in the Post-transcriptional Regulation of Metabolic Diseases group within Institute IMDEA Food, a highly motivated and hard-working postdoctoral researcher with proven experience in molecular, cellular and metabolism biology is required.

In addition, the PI will assist the PI in writing scientific articles and research projects in order to raise additional funds.

Research profile functions:

The work to be carried out will consist primarily of the following scientific tasks:

- Management and care of lines of murine models of atherosclerosis, obesity, diabetes and liver fibrosis (DIO, NAFLD, Alzheimer Disease, Type 1 and 2 Diabetes).

- Performance of metabolic tests (GTT, ITT, PTT).

- Gene silencing in vivo and overexpression or inhibition of miRNA in vivo.

- Aorta isolation, tissue dissection, partial hepatectomy.

- Molecular and cellular biology experiments including PCR, WB, IP, RIP, mRNA biotynilation pull down, IF, FACs Intracerebral injection by stereotaxis techniques.

- Performance of primary cultures including MEFs, macrophages, glia, Kupffer cells, etc.

- Additionally, the researcher will assist the PI in the writing of scientific articles and research projects related to the research line.

In addition to the scientific-technical tasks, the principal investigator, Dr. Cristina M. Ramírez, will provide personalised and directed mentoring to help the candidate achieve the professional goals to which he/she aspires in subsequent years.

Qualifications required:

- PhD in Biological Sciences or Biochemistry.

Other training required:

- Certificate of animal experimentation training (Minimum D function).

Other specific requirements:

- Work experience of at least 5 years in biomedical scientific research after the doctoral thesis, in public or private R&D&I centres or Spanish or foreign universities, related to research in the corresponding Area of the position.

- Publications in international scientific journals of high impact in the area, with at least 3 articles as first author or correspondence.

- Fluency in English (spoken and written).

Curricular merits of the candidate to be assessed:

• Contributions

- Co-author of prestigious scientific publications (indexed in international databases), of impact and Q1 in the field of metabolism, metabolic diseases such as diabetes, etc. in some of them as first author, books or chapters of scientific and technical books.

- Co-author of communications to scientific conferences.

• 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.

• Other curricular merits:

- 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, including:

- Experience in the fields of liver metabolism, human pathologies, post-transcriptional regulation accredited in scientific-technical publications.

- Proven experience in molecular biology techniques: RT-qPCR, protein overexpression or inhibition, being of special importance those related to the study of miRNAs and RBPs including bioinformatics, cloning, luciferase assays, RNA biotinylation, polysome isolation, etc. Experience also in cell biology: immunohistochemistry, histology, electron and confocal microscopy, image analysis, cell organelle isolation, FACs.

- Experience in handling animal models of metabolic diseases (DIO, NAFLD, Liver Fibrosis Models, Alzheimer Disease, Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes), as well as partial hepatectomy and liver regeneration techniques, stereotaxy techniques for brain injection in mice. Metabolic assays (GTT, ITT, PTT, Diets).

- Experience in primary culture isolation techniques including adult and neonatal mouse hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, bmdm, peritoneal macrophages, MEFS, etc. will also be an asset.

- Experience with Seahorse XF type real-time automatic energy metabolism measurement equipment.

Publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at scientific conferences in the field may be considered as supporting documents.

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

Skills & Capacities:

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

- Demonstrate strong organizational skills and teamwork.

- Proactive attitude, professional leadership.

After the deadline for submission of applications has expired, and once compliance with the requirements listed in the second base has been verified, the Selection Committee shall proceed to evaluate the merits based on the curricula provided, and to the selection of the candidatures that best fit to the established requirements; in a second selection phase, a personal interview will be conducted.

The personal interview will consist of conducting a face-to-face or videoconference interview that will deal only with the merits claimed by the candidates in the competition phase and will be aimed at assessing the candidate's suitability for the position and knowledge of the English language. 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:  employment contract for scientific-technical activities (art. 23 bis  Spanish Science Law) with a trial period established by law.

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

Annual gross salary:  30,000 euro. 

Duration: indeterminate.

Incorporación: immediately after the selection process.

Headquarter of the IMDEA Food Insitute, Madrid (SPAIN)