We are currently seeking a PhD Candidate to join our Ruminant Production and Aquaculture Programs teams located in Caldes de Montbui (Barcelona) and La Ràpita (Tarragona) respectively. This position offers an exciting opportunity to work in a dynamic and collaborative research environment within one of the most technologically advanced aquaculture centers in the Mediterranean. The selected PhD student will carry out research in close collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of scientists and laboratory technicians. The position is ideal for individuals looking to launch a successful scientific career in aquaculture and animal health. We welcome applications from candidates with a strong academic background and a genuine passion for research and innovation focused on developing functional ingredients to reduce the use of antimicrobials in aquaculture, particularly in the context of climate change.

Particularly, we invite applications from candidates with passion and a strong interest in conducting research and innovation activities on development of Antimicrobial Peptides as an effective alternative tool to antibiotics for the management of emerging bacterial fish diseases associated with climate change in the Mediterranean region.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Gene design and construction of antimicrobial peptides producing bacteria.
• Production of antimicrobial peptides as secreted protein and as intracellular protein.
• Antibacterial activity evaluation in vitro of antimicrobial peptides: minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against fish pathogens.
• Experimental design of the experimental tasks.
• Assessment of the antimicrobial peptides activity using in vivo experimental models.
• Design and conduct dietary inclusion and challenge test with marine fish species.
• Assess fish performance, health-related parameters and disease resistance after functional products supplementation.
• Development and optimization of laboratory techniques to develop the project.
• Bibliography search.
• Writing of scientific articles. 

Required qualifications and experience

• Candidates must hold one of the following degrees:

             a) A Master’s degree in Aquaculture, Biotechnology or Aquatic Pathology/Health  or related fields; or

             b) To be in a position to access a doctoral programme accordingto the requirements of Catalan universities, i.e. accrediting between 60 and 120 ECTS credits at the official university master's degree level or equivalent.

• Previous experience in molecular biology
• Not to have a previous PhD degree.
• Proficiency in English
• Strong teamwork skills, ability to adapt to multidisciplinary environments and a focus on professional growth and development.
• Candidates who have been chosen for an interview with the Selection Committee, should bring or send –for the interview- a certified copy of the degree and/or master, as well as the academic record showing the marks of all subjects studied.

Desirable requirements

• Experience at least on two of the following areas is required: animal nutrition, biotechnology, microbiology, fish physiology, fish pathology, genomics, and/or transcriptomics
• Strong motivation to work with fish under a combined fundamental and applied scientific scenario.
• Capacity for learning and getting new skills and working capacities.
• Prior experience in animal health or veterinary immunology will be valued.
• Programming skills, communication (verbal and written) and statistical data analysis skills will be valued.
• Catalan and Spanish are valued.

Advantages of joining our team:

• Supervisor/s: Silvia Torrecillas and Anna Arís
• 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: Mid-October 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.