IRTA is currently seeking for remarkable, enthusiastic and ambitious candidates of any nationality interested in submitting their candidacy to opt for a Joan Oró grant to perform their PhD thesis on IRTA’s Agrifood topics.

This grant is destined to public and private universities of the Catalan university system, research centres, hospital foundations and Unique Scientific and Technical Infrastructures (ICTS) to hire research staff in training. In other words, to hire research staff to perform their doctoral thesis.

The mission of IRTA is to contribute to the modernisation, competitiveness and sustainable development of agriculture, food and aquaculture sectors, to provide healthy and high-quality foodstuffs to end consumers, and in general, to improve the well-being of the population. IRTA has also been committed to food safety and the safe processing of foodstuffs and, in general, to enhancing the health and global improvement of human well-being. The general objectives of IRTA are to promote research and technological development in agri-food, to facilitate the transfer of scientific findings, and to increase the value of its own technological advances whilst seeking the maximum coordination and collaboration between the public and private sectors.

Our R&D activities are conducted in 10 own centres and 6 experimental sites and farms throughout Catalonia. IRTA also participates in 2 centres in association with universities and other research organisations.

More detailed information about IRTA is available at IRTA’s web site.

As per the date of publishing this job post, the application process had not yet begun. However, further information about the 2025 call can be found at the Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR) portal. Requirements are updated for the 2026 call.

Reseach proposals and PhD supervisors

1. Aquaculture & Marine and continental waters Programs

This PhD project will be linked to the ALGAEDIVERS project which investigates Mediterranean microalgae as sustainable sources for food and functional feed. It will focus on isolating new strains, optimizing biomass production, and assessing nutritional and safety profiles. Conducted at the IRTA Algae Platform (La Ràpita), it contributes to the EU protein transition, regenerative aquaculture, and the regional bioeconomy (PROTEIN.CAT).

PhD supervisors: Adriana Ramírez and Jorge Diogene.

2. Aquaculture Program

This PhD project will be linked to the VASEACAD project which aims to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of Mediterranean aquaculture by valorising aquaculture and fishery by-products into functional feed ingredients. IRTA will evaluate their nutritional, physiological, and immunological effects ex vivo and in vivo in trout and seabass, ensuring functional value, safety, and efficacy within a circular economy framework.

PhD supervisors: Sílvia Torrecillas and Enric Gisbert.

3. Marine and continental waters Program

This PhD project will be linked to the BioCEANsing project which develops innovative bioanalytical technologies to detect, monitor, and control marine toxins in seafood products and aquatic environments. Combining cutting-edge biochemical, biotechnological, and instrumental analysis- such as automated patch clamp for single-cell analysis, aptamer-based biosensors and immunosensors and mass spectrometry— the project aims to improve food safety and deepen understanding of toxin production, accumulation, and ecological impact.

PhD supervisors: Mònica Campàs and María Garcia-Altares.

4. Marine and continental waters Program

This PhD project is linked to the DELTAPULSE project, and it aims to establish the paleoecological and methodological basis for understanding deltaic ecosystem development. By integrating paleoecology, carbon sequestration studies, and Earth system modelling, it will identify key proxies of past deltaic pulse events critical for ensuring the future sustainability of the Ebro Delta.

PhD supervisor: Xavier Benito.

5. Animal welfare Program

This PhD project addresses key challenges at the intersection of animal health, welfare, and sustainable livestock production. It investigates disease resistance and resilience in calves to reduce antibiotic use and improve animal welfare. The focus will be on host–microbiome–pathogen interactions, particularly within the lung–gut–brain axis, and develop microbiome-based prevention strategies supported by precision monitoring and early illness detection tools.

PhD supervisors: Toni Velarde and Núria Mach (INRAE)

6. Animal health and Animal breeding and genetics Programs

This research develops early warning systems and resilience indicators in swine using high-frequency sensor data from commercial farms. Integrating environmental, behavioural, feeding, and weight information, it will enable early detection of health and welfare alterations, supporting data-driven, sustainable livestock management. This research is linked to the Track4Life project.

PhD supervisors: Beatriz Garcia Morante and Míriam Piles.

7. Ruminant production Program

This PhD project will focus on developing multifunctional recombinant proteins with antimicrobial, antiviral, and immunomodulatory activity. Using advanced biotechnological approaches, it aims to design novel bioactive molecules with anti-infective potential, contributing to innovative strategies for animal and human health.

PhD supervisors: Elena Garcia and Anna Arís.

Required qualifications and experience

Applicants must meet all the following requirements:

• Meet one of the following conditions:

a) Have completed undergraduate studies within the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) related to the proposed research topics.

b) Have completed or be currently pursuing a master’s degree within the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) related to the proposed research topics.

c) If neither of the above conditions is met, the applicant must prove that they are enrolled in a doctoral program within the Catalan university system at the time of submitting the provisional application.

2) Have completed undergraduate studies or an equivalent qualification and demonstrate a minimum average grade of 6.50 (on a scale of 0 to 10) in the academic transcript.

If the studies were completed abroad, this grade must be calculated in accordance with the declaration of equivalence of average grades established by the Spanish Ministry of Universities.

• Have completed the studies granting access to a doctoral program on or after January 1, 2023.

Exceptionally, this period will be extended to January 1, 2020, if, after completing the studies granting access to the doctoral program, the applicant has been in one of the following situations:

• Has carried out professional activity directly related to their studies for a continuous period equal to or greater than twelve months.
• Has taken maternity or paternity leave.
• Has had dependents under six years of age.
• Has cared for individuals with a legally recognized physical, mental, or sensory disability.
• Has suffered from a serious illness or accident that caused temporary incapacity to work or pursue usual activities for a continuous period of at least six months. Minor surgery, outpatient surgery, and rehabilitation treatments carried out outside the hospital system are excluded.
• Has been a victim of gender-based violence.
• Has been granted refugee status.

4) Have not previously received any grant for the recruitment of predoctoral research staff under any of the following programs: Joan Oró FI, FI-SDUR, or FI-STEP.

5) Have not been employed under any other predoctoral research training contract for more than 12 months at the time of application.

6) Not hold a doctoral degree.

Additional information:

By the end of the provisional application acceptance period, the applicant must have a duly signed declaration from the thesis supervisor confirming that they assume or will assume the supervision of the doctoral thesis and the obligations established in the regulatory bases, following the standardized model available on the AGAUR website.

At the time of joining the host institution, applicants must be enrolled in a doctoral program for the 2025–2026 academic year. Alternatively, applicants joining from June 1, 2026 (inclusive) may be accepted into the doctoral program and enrol for the 2026–2027 academic year once enrolment becomes available, according to each university’s calendar.

Advantages of joining our team:

• 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 sumbit your CV and motivation letter. When applying, you must select the research program that best matches your interests. If your candidacy is suitable, IRTA will provide information on the Joan Oró grant official application process.

The creation of this position is subject to the approval of the Joan Oró grant upon publication of the final resolution.

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.

Selection Process:

Curricular assessment: The candidate’s qualifications and merits will be evaluated according to the criteria established in the job offer.

Interview(s): These will be conducted by a Selection Committee to assess the candidate’s suitability in terms of professional experience and competencies.

Additional tests (if applicable): Depending on the position profile and the needs of the process, specific competency-based tests and/or a psychometric test may be included in order to more accurately assess the suitability of the candidates.

⁽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.