IRTA is currently seeking for remarkable, enthusiastic and ambitious candidates of any nationality interested in submitting their candidacy to opt for a Beatriu de Pinós grant to bring further their research career by following a postdoctoral programme on IRTA’s Agrifood topics.

The Beatriu de Pinós postdoctoral fellowships are part of the 2025–2028 Strategic Grants Plan of the Department of Research and Universities from Catalan Government, aiming to strengthen the Catalan research system and position Catalonia among the leading and most innovative knowledge regions in the European Union. These fellowships align with the mission of the Science Law, promoting a transformative, integrated, and cooperative research and innovation model focused on improving quality of life through knowledge creation and transfer, as well as attracting and retaining research talent at all career stages.

Within this framework, the Beatriu de Pinós fellowships support the integration of researchers with international postdoctoral experience, fostering high-level, socially relevant knowledge production and enhancing researchers’ professional development in line with the European Competence Framework for Researchers. Furthermore, in the current call, AGAUR reaffirms its commitment to responsible research assessment by adhering to the principles of CoARA and the DORA declaration, emphasizing quality-based evaluation, recognition of diverse research careers, and the prudent use of quantitative indicators.

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.

Further information about the call can be found at the Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR) portal.

Required qualifications and experience:

 Candidates of any nationality must meet the following requirements:

1) They must have obtained their doctoral degree between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2023 (the date of obtaining the PhD is understood to be the date of the thesis defense and approval).

The period for obtaining the doctoral degree may be extended to between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2023 if, after obtaining the doctoral degree, any of the following circumstances can be duly justified:

-          Having taken maternity or paternity leave.

-          Having had children under the age of 6 in their care.

-          Having had persons with a legally recognized physical, mental, or sensory disability in their care.

-          Having suffered a serious illness or accident requiring major surgery or treatment in a hospital center, resulting in temporary incapacity for work or usual activity for a continuous period of at least six months. Minor surgery, outpatient surgery, and rehabilitation treatments carried out outside the hospital system are excluded.

-          Being a researcher recognized as having refugee status under the 1951 Geneva Convention.

-          Having experienced any of the situations provided for in Article 1 of Organic Law 1/2004 of 28 December on Comprehensive Protection Measures against Gender-Based Violence.

-          For candidates with a recognized degree of disability equal to or greater than 33%, as certified by the assessment and guidance teams of the Catalan Government’s centers for attention to persons with functional diversity or an equivalent body, the period for obtaining the doctoral degree may also be between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2023.

2) By the closing date of the application submission period (first phase), candidates must have at least two years of postdoctoral experience outside Spain. This postdoctoral experience, regardless of the type of contractual relationship, may have been carried out at different institutions, provided that the total postdoctoral stay amounts to at least two years.

3) Candidates must not have resided in Spain for more than twelve months during the three years prior to the closing date of the application submission period (first phase). The mobility rule is also not met if the candidate has worked in Spain for more than twelve months during the same three-year period. In the case of organizations that, through an agreement applicable in Spain, are considered extraterritorial for these purposes, candidates must not have worked at the institution for more than twelve months during the three years prior to the closing date of the application period. For refugee researchers, the mobility rule applies from the date of official recognition of refugee status under the 1951 Geneva Convention.

One fellowship is reserved for candidates with a recognized degree of disability equal to or greater than 33%. If no candidate applies for this reserved fellowship, it will be reassigned, seeking a balanced distribution by research areas based on the applications received. Candidates applying for this reserved position must indicate this in their application and provide supporting documentation when requested by AGAUR. If the documentation is written in a language other than Catalan, Spanish, or English, a sworn translation into one of these languages must also be provided. Failure to accredit the degree of disability will result in the application being treated as a standard application. Candidates applying for this reserved position must meet all the requirements established in these regulations.

Candidates who are currently holding or have previously held (in whole or in part) a Beatriu de Pinós fellowship from a previous call are not eligible to receive a fellowship under this call.

The persons responsible for the application must meet the following requirement by the closing date of the application submission period:

a) They must have a statutory or employment relationship, or be linked through an affiliation agreement, with the beneficiary institution of the fellowship. This link must guarantee the supervision of the candidate throughout the three-year duration of the fellowship.

b) For the purposes of these regulations, the following are considered not to meet this requirement: part-time staff, staff on leave of absence, visiting professors, and emeritus professors.

IRTA Research areas and programmes

Plant production:

• Efficient use of water in agriculture

• Fruit growing

• Genomics and biotechnology

• Post-harvest

• Sustainable extensive crops

• Sustainable plant protection

Animal production:

• Animal health

• Animal nutrition

• Animal welfare

• Aquaculture

• Genetics and animal breeding

• Marine and continental waters

• Rumiant production

• Sustainability in biosystems

Food industries:

• Food quality and technology

• Functionality and food safety

Instructions to Apply

If you wish to be considered as a candidate for this grant, please select the programme with which your research interest aligns. Please, submit your CV and a motivation letter. If your candidacy is suitable, IRTA will provide information on the Beatriu de Pinós grant official application process.

 All information will be treated in the strictest confidence.

• Duration of the contract: 3 years

• 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

• Remote work 6 workdays per month

• 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.