We are currently seeking a PhD Candidate to join our Postharvest Program team located in Lleida, offering a great opportunity to work in a dynamic and collaborative environment within our organization.

We invite applications from motivated candidates with passion and a strong interest in conducting research and innovation activities on the fruit postharvest.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Remain consistently updated on the latest research and trends in the field, ensuring a thorough understanding of the topic.
• Identify critical gaps in current knowledge and propose innovative directions for future research, contributing to the advancement of the field.
• Formulate hypotheses based on the gaps identified and design experimental plans and protocols to test them.
• Engage in laboratory work, ensuring accuracy and precision in all analyses, including biochemical analyses, molecular biology techniques, postharvest physiology analysis, and other experimental procedures.
• If the research involves field studies, coordinate and conduct experiments in orchards or other relevant settings, ensuring adherence to experimental protocols.
• Analyze experimental data using statistical methods to draw meaningful conclusions and assess the validity of the hypotheses.
• Interpret results in the context of existing knowledge, and refine hypotheses based on experimental outcomes.
• Collaborate with students, researchers, and experts both within and outside the institution to gain diverse perspectives and enhance the quality of the research.
• Present research findings at conferences, seminars, and workshops to disseminate knowledge and receive feedback from the broader scientific community.
• Prepare and submit research manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals, contributing to the scientific literature.
• Assist in teaching undergraduate and/or graduate courses related to postharvest physiology, providing support and engaging with students.
• Mentor or supervise junior students involved in related research, fostering their academic and professional development.

Required qualifications and experience

Candidates must meet one of the following criteria:

• Hold a Master's degree in a relevant field, such as Nutrition, Biology, Agronomy, or a related discipline; OR
• Be eligible for admission to a doctoral program at a Catalan university, which requires accreditation of 60 to 120 ECTS credits at the official master's degree level or an equivalent qualification.
• Candidates should not have previously obtained a PhD degree.
• Candidates selected for an interview by the Selection Committee are required to bring or submit a certified copy of their degree(s) and academic transcripts, which should include grades for all completed courses.
• Proficency in English.
• Strong teamwork skills, ability to adapt to multidisciplinary environments and a focus on professional growth and development.

Desirable requirements

• Prior research experience in fruit postharvest physiology or a closely related field.
• Experience with laboratory techniques, experimental design, and data analysis.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret and draw meaningful conclusions from complex data sets.
• Ability to identify research gaps, formulate hypotheses, and develop innovative solutions.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present research findings clearly and engagingly.
• Flexibility to work across various research environments, including both laboratory and field settings.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks effectively.
• Catalan and Spanish are valued.

Advantages of joining our team:

• Supervisor/s: Dr Camilo López-Cristoffanini and Dra. Gemma Echeverria
• Terms of appointment: 4 years
• Contract: The financial remuneration for the PhD Candidate contract will be €1,363.10/gross per month (19,083.40./gross per annum) and for the first and second years. For this third year, it will be €1,460.46/gross per month (€20,446.44/gross per annum) and for the fourth year it will be €1,825.58/gross per month (€25,558.12/gross per annum) which will be subject to the corresponding withholdings, pursuant to prevailing regulations, and to the collective employment agreement of IRTA. IRTA will also pay the fees of the doctoral school when receiving the enrolment. (1)
• 37.5 hour workweek, with Friday afternoons off
• Intensive work schedule from 15/06 to 15/09
• 22 vacation days
• 3 days of family & work conciliation
• 45 hours of personal days
• Flexible Schedule for a good work-life balance.
• Continuous training and professional growth opportunities.

Please know that if you are the chosen candidate and you are from a country which does not belong to the UE, IRTA’s People Department will support you to get the residence and working permits.

Instructions to Apply

If you wish to be considered for this position and believe you meet the requirements, please send your CV and motivation letter.

Equal treatment and opportunities are guaranteed for all candidates in the selection process, avoiding any stereotypes, attitudes, or obstacles based on gender, origin, age, ideology, or other potentially discriminatory conditions. Furthermore, commitments to the inclusion of vulnerable groups are considered, with priority given in the first round to disabled candidates.

Timings in the Recruitment Process

33 natural days: Publication and diffusion of the job advertisement on IRTA’s website and/or social media.

5 following working days: Distribution of the pre-selected CVs to the Recruitment Committee for their evaluation.

20 following working days: Interview and/or tests to the most suitable candidates based on the job position.

Start of contract: Fourth trimestre 2025 (approximately)

⁽¹⁾ The financial remuneration of the PhD Candidate contract may not be less than 56% of the salary established for the category of Research Collaborator F of the Collective Agreement of the IRTA during the first two years, 60% in the third year and 75% in the fourth.