CALL FOR A PREDOCTORAL RESEARCHER AT THE IMDEA ALIMENTATION FOUNDATION FINANCED BY THE GRANT PRE2022-000383 (ON-PRIME PROJECT).

Full Call for Application Resolution of the Call

IMDEA Food Institute (Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies in Food) adheres to the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researcher.

The IMDEA Food Institute is a research institution created by the Madrid Regional Government in coordination with universities, research centers of Madrid, and enterprises. Constituted as a non-profit organization within the framework of the IV Regional Plan for Scientific Research and Technological Innovation (IV PRICIT), it is conceived - structurally and legally - with the aim of bringing research into society.

IMDEA Food Institute is committed to excellence in research and to foster technology transfer to the industrial sector in a truly international environment. More information about the research and scope of the activities of IMDEA Food Institute can be found at the institute webpage http://www.food.imdea.org

Description

The contract is part of the grant PRE2022-000383, financed by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by ESF+", where: PRE2022-000383 is the grant 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 is the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) of the Agency; and ESF+ is the acronym of the European Social Fund Plus.

The purpose of the contract is to carry out research tasks, within the scope of a specific and innovative project, aimed at obtaining a doctoral thesis by the research staff in training, through collaboration in the research project: "Precision nutrition strategies for cancer patients based on their immunometabolic classification. - ON-PRIME."

The ON-PRIME project implies sufficient capacity to carry out a Doctoral Thesis. The student involved in the Group will have the opportunity to pursue a quality multidisciplinary academic training, linked to both basic and applied research, and in some cases, linked to the generation of results aimed at innovation in the food industry.

The project includes scientific training in the knowledge of metabolism and its regulation associated with tumour development, various aspects of molecular and cellular biology (relationship between the immune system, metabolism and microbiota), personalised nutrition, bioactive foods, and therapeutic medicine.

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

Main functions:

- Laboratory work: cell cultures and basic molecular biology and biochemistry techniques (Isolation of DNA, RNA and microRNAs; protein extraction and quantification by Western Blot (WB); genotyping and quantitative PCR of genes and microRNAs, 16S bacterial identification analysis) as well as more specific techniques (Seahorse metabolic bioanalyser, organ-on-a-chip...) and their experimental design.
- Processing of patient-derived samples (isolation of serum, plasma and cell fraction, etc.).
- Management and handling of the group's biological sample databases. 
- Attendance at weekly meetings with the research group in which he/she will present the results obtained and daily follow-up with his/her supervisor.
- Attendance at seminars, training courses and selected congresses.
- Use of basic statistical and imaging software and critical analysis of the results. 
- Writing of scientific articles, support in the drafting of projects.
Requirements

Job profile

I. Entry requirements:

Education requirements: 

*Education Level:

1. University Degree in Life Sciences (Biotechnology, Biology, Biochemistry, Medicine, Pharmacy or similar, including Human Nutrition and Dietetics).

2. Master's degree (or degree that allows access to doctoral studies) in Life Sciences, to be able to join the doctoral program at the time of submission of the application  or are in a position to do so on the date on which the contract is formalized.

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

II. Evaluation of merits:

1. Candidate's academic and/or scientific-technical background 

1.a): Scientific-technical contributions. The candidate's academic record and other curricular merits will be assessed, as well as their suitability to the tasks to be carried out in terms of training and professional experience. 
- Completion of courses related to the field (seminars, team training courses, etc.).
 - Author of prestigious scientific publications (indexed in international databases). 
- Author of communications to scientific congresses.
- Participation in research projects. 
- Minimum level of English B2 or equivalent.

1.b): Movilidad e internacionalización.  Se valorará la relevancia y el impacto en su trayectoria investigadora de las estancias del candidato/a en centros nacionales e internacionales y/o en el sector industrial, atendiendo al prestigio de la entidad de recepción de la estancia y a la actividad desarrollada en la misma.

2. Suitability of the candidate to the research activities to be carried out. 

 2.a): The suitability of the candidate for the programme, project or research activities to be carried out will be assessed on the basis of his/her previous training and experience. To this end, the added value that carrying out the project will represent for his/her research career will be taken into account, as well as the value contributed to the centre and to the receiving team. 

2.b): The suitability of the candidate for the activities to be carried out will be assessed by means of a personal interview, evaluating his/her capacity for organisation and integration into a multidisciplinary team. Ability to work as part of a team with the ability for personal relationships. High oral and written communication skills and level of English.
Selection Criteria

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 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 and sub-criteria:

Criterion 1. Academic and/or scientific-technical background of the candidate: 0-50*.

     Sub-criterion 1.a): Scientific and technical contributions: 0-45*.

     Sub-criterion 1.b): Mobility and internationalisation: 0-5*.

Criterion 2. Suitability of the candidate for the research activities to be carried out: 0-50*.

     Sub-criterion 2.a): Previous training and experience: 0-20*.

     Sub-criterion 2.b): Personal interview: 0-30*.
Conditions

Type of contract: Full-time temporary employment contract for pre-doctoral research personnel in training (Article 21 of the Science Act) - Mod. 404.

Dedication: Full-time with a dedication of 37.5 h/week distributed from Monday to Friday.

Duration: max. 4 years or defence of doctoral thesis. However, when the contract is for a person with a disability, it will have a maximum duration of 6 years. From the maximum period of 4 (or 6) years of enjoyment of the contract, the periods in which an equivalent contract has been enjoyed will be deducted.

Gross Annual Salary: 20,808 euros/year (1st and 2nd year) - 22,294 euros/year (3rd year) and 25,979 euros/year (4th year).

Incorporation: immediate (on the 1st of the corresponding month).
Workplace

Headquarter of the IMDEA Food Insitute, Madrid (SPAIN)
Documents

 

Equal Employment Opportunity

Equal opportunities are guaranteed in the selection process, without any forms of discrimination. 

IMDEA Food commitment is to guarantee equality in measures to balance personal, family and working life and to promote gender equality.