We are currently seeking a PhD Candidate to join our Food Quality and Technology Program and Food Safety and Functionality Program teams located in Monells, 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 topic meat quality and safety, with a particular focus on dry-aged beef production, joining the project entitled Reduction of waste from dry aged meat through strategies to minimise microbial contamination of surface trimmings (SMART-TRIM).

The project aims to the beneficial role of microbial communities in flavor development during dry-aging, while also investigating innovative strategies to reduce trimming waste. This includes evaluating effective decontamination methods and the development of value-added ingredients or products for human consumption, thereby enhancing the sustainability of the process. Specific approaches under consideration include the use of edible coatings, essential oil-based treatments, and other decontamination techniques.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the design, set-up, and running of experiments.
• To contribute to meat sample preparation, from raw and aged meat to the application of processing technologies.
  
• Characterize physicochemical, nutritional, and techno-functional properties of trims from dry aged meat.
  
• To characterise the microbiological quality of aged meat and crusts
  
• To maintain detailed written record of work performed, including analysis of experiment results and findings, data collection, entry and curation, advanced statistical analysis, and graph/table creation.
  
• To conduct literature review and drafting of manuscripts for publication in international peer-reviewed journals. To contribute to project reporting and disseminating the scientific outputs in conferences and workshops.
  
• Assist in maintaining and monitoring all equipment and procedures for quality control at the laboratory
  
• Supervise graduate and master students and seek opportunities to collaborate with other IRTA researchers, as well as other external academic partners and stakeholders.
  

Required qualifications and experience

• Candidates must hold one of the following degrees: Master’s degree in Food Science and Technology, Biological sciences, Food Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, agriculture engineer or similar.
• To be eligible to access a doctoral programme according to the requirements of Catalan universities, i.e., accrediting between 60 and 120 ECTS credits at the official university master's degree level or equivalent.
• Not to have a PhD.
• Shortlisted candidates invited for an interview must provide a certified copy of their Master’s degree and/or other relevant qualifications, along with an official academic transcript detailing the grades of all courses completed.
• Proficiency in English
• Strong teamwork skills, ability to adapt to multidisciplinary environments and a focus on professional growth and development.

Desirable requirements

• Chemical and/or microbiological lab skills.
• Knowledge of techniques related to food characterization in terms of nutritional and/or techno-functional properties (e.g. proximate composition, rheology, spectroscopy, gelling and emulsion capacity).
• Knowledge of food design, formulation, and technology.
• Good analytical and organisational skills.
• Good communication skills, proactivity, and ability to work as part of a team.
• Basic engineering, chemistry, and or physics skills.
• Valid driving licence.
• Understanding of basic statistical concepts and tools.
• Catalan and Spanish are valued.
• French is valued.

Advantages of joining our team:

• Supervisor/s: Núria Panella-Riera, Belén Martín, Begonya Marcos
• 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

30 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 of 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.