We are currently seeking a PhD Candidate to join our Food Quality and Technology Program team 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 understanding of food texturisation processes and development of non-invasive control tools (TEXTURISE project).

The TEXTURISE main objectives are:

• To identify the key factors (such as raw materials characteristics and processing conditions) influencing the structure building processes studied, specifically high moisture extrusion, drying, and ripening processes, useful to understand and control the mechanisms of texture development.
• To study and model the relationship between the structure and texture of High Moisture Extrudates (HME), Plant-based Dry Cured Meat Analogs (Pb-DCMA), and Dry Cured Ham (DCH) by investigating their characteristics at molecular, microscopic, and macroscopic levels.
• To explore new technologies and methodological procedures, based on the use of infrared spectroscopy, for real-time and/or non-destructive characterization of texture in HME, Pb-DCMA, and DCH. Specifically, NIR sensors, hyperspectral imaging coupled with standard or macro lens, spatially resolved spectrometry, evolving plots, and FTIR will be used for the non-invasive characterisation of raw material, intermediate, and final products.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the design, set-up, and running of experiments.
• Perform plant-based ingredients texturization by high moisture extrusion, drying, and ripening processes.
• Identify the key factor affecting texturization processes and study the relationship between food structure and textural characteristics at different scales using spectroscopic, microscopic, rheological, textural, and sensory analysis.
• Design texturization experiments to improve gelling and emulsifying properties of legume ingredients.
• Develop innovative procedures for non-invasive determination of food texture, based on spectrometric technologies.
• Characterize nutritional, sensory, textural, rheological, physicochemical, structural, and techno-functional properties of raw and processed ingredients and foods.
• Develop food prototypes of dry-cured meat and their plant-based analogues with optimized texture and sensory properties.
• Perform advanced statistical analysis, mathematical modeling, 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 functionalized legume ingredients and food products.

Required qualifications and experience

• Candidates must hold one of the following degrees:
  a) A Master’s degree in Food Science and Technology, Food Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, or similar.
  b) To be in a position 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 –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.
• 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 biological lab skills.
• Knowledge of techniques related to food characterization in terms of nutritional, sensory and/or techno-functional properties (e.g. proximate composition, rheology, texture, gelling and emulsion capacity).
• Good analytical and organisational skills.
• Good communication skills, proactivity, and ability to work as part of a team.
• Catalan and Spanish are valued.

Advantages of joining our team:

• Supervisor/s: Dr Elena Fulladosa and Dr Fabio Fanari
• Terms of appointment: 4 years
• Contract: The financial remuneration for the PhD Candidate contract will be € 1.414,29/gross per month (€ 19.800/gross per annum) for the first year. From the second to the fourth year, it will be € 1.716,07/gross per month (€ 24.025/gross per annum). Upon termination of the contract, the corresponding compensation will be paid. IRTA will also pay the fees of the doctoral school when receiving the
  enrollment. (1) [The financial remuneration indicated is based on the figures from the previous call. This information will be updated accordingly once the official resolution of the current call is published.]
• 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: Second half of January 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.

El contrato es parte de la ayuda PID2024-156581OR-C21, financiado por
MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 y por el FSE+.