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

We invite applications from ambitious candidates with relevant research experience and passion to conduct research and innovation activities related with the application of microalgae ingredients in food products (Horizon Europe ALLIANCE project).

The ALLIANCE ambition is to overcome the current limitations by defining a novel integrated approach to the whole microalgae value chain using a multiproduct biorefinery strategy to advance the bioeconomy of microalga-based products effectively.

The main ALLIANCE objectives are:

-To characterize and select extracts from microalgae provided by project partners

-To study at lab level the use of microalgae extracts to develop new food products

-To develop at pilot plant level and characterize new food products (minimally processed fruit leathers, smoothies, and purees including legumes) based on microalgae extracts

We seek a PhD candidate with skills in food science and technology, highly motivated to perform experiments related to the characterization and functionalization of extracts from microalgae, the design and formulation of new food products with ingredients from microalgae, and the assessment of their organoleptic, nutritional, structural, and techno-functional properties. The PhD candidate will have access to different training activities, including an international stage, to enrich his/her scientific knowledge, to broaden skills and capabilities, as well as gain multidisciplinary expertise.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the design, set-up, and running of experiments.
• Characterize nutritional, physicochemical, structural, and techno-functional properties of ingredients and innovative food prototypes.
• Perform proteomic analysis of the microalgae ingredients by UPLC HRMS
• Develop food prototypes with microalgae ingredients, with optimal nutritional, texture, and sensory properties.
• Perform advanced statistical analysis and interpret results.
• Literature review and writing of scientific articles to be published in international peer-reviewed journals, conference communications, and project reports.
• Supervise graduate and master's students and seek opportunities to collaborate with other IRTA researchers, as well as other external academic partners involved in the development and characterization of microalgae ingredients and food products.

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, 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 previous PhD degree
• Candidates who have been chosen for an interview with the Selection Committee, should bring or send a certified copy of the degree and/or master's, as well as the academic record showing the marks of all subjects studied.
• Proficiency in English
• Strong teamwork skills, ability to adapt to multidisciplinary environments and a focus on professional growth and developm

Desirable requirements

• Chemical and/or bichemical 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, protein characteristics, digestibility, bioaccessibility).
• 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.
• Catalan and Spanish are valued.

Advantages of joining our team:

• Supervisor/s: PhD Massimo Castellari and PhD Fabio Fanari
• 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 of a Catalan University (i.e. Universitat de Girona) 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

40 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: Second half of January 2026 (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.