We are currently seeking a PhD Candidate to join our Animal Health Program team located in Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), 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 “Advancing pandemic Preparedness through One health research on Virus evolution using Organoids models (APROVO)” in the frame of the APROVO Project (Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades).

Tasks and Responsibilities:

The PhD student will be mainly involved in developing the activities to achieve specific objectives of the project:

• To develop and optimize respiratory organoids derived from relevant host/reservoir animal species (both domestic and wildlife) to characterize their susceptibility to zoonotic coronaviruses and influenza viruses.
• To analyze molecular mechanisms driving the adaptation of zoonotic viruses to new hosts using organoids models and AI tools.
• To validate organoid findings in animal models: to examine virus transmission potential, pathogenesis, and immune responses in pigs, since this species is susceptible to both MERS-CoV and influenza viruses.
• To validate zoonotic potential of virus mutants used to inoculate animals and subsequent recovered in human-derived organoids.
• To disseminate the obtained results in scientific conferences and peer-reviewed journals.

Required qualifications and experience

• Candidates must hold a degree in Veterinary Medicine, biology or similar.
• Candidates must hold one of the following degrees/conditions:

a) A Master’s degree in biotechnology, biochemistry, biology, animal health or similar; or
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.
• 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 in molecular, immunological and/or virological techniques.
• Experience in cell culture and animal models.
• Skills in bioinformatics.
• Catalan and Spanish are valued.

Advantages of joining our team:

• Supervisor/s: Prof. Dr. Joaquim Segalés and Dr. Júlia Vergara-Alert
• 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: 4th 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.

El contrato es parte de la ayuda PID2024-159472OR-I00, financiado por MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 y por el FSE+