Predoctoral researcher at the Biosensors for Bioengineering Research Group/

Institute for bioengineering of Catalonia, IBEC

Organisation/Company Institute for bioengineering of Catalonia, IBEC Research Field Biological sciences Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 20 Oct 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Madrid) Country Spain Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 37.5 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Other EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Introduction to the vacant position:

The Biosensors for Bioengineering Group is looking for an highly motivated PhD candidate to develop their doctoral thesis project on the development of an advanced human 3D skeletal muscle tissue models and high-throughput drug screening platforms for Myotonic Dystrophy type 2 (DM2). The PhD project will be conducted in the framework of the project entitled: Myotonic dystrophy type 2 Drug Repurposing using Advanced in vitro human models (MY2DREAM).

This fellowship is associated with the research project Generación de Conocimiento, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.

Main tasks and responsibilities:

• Generation and characterization of engineered 3D skeletal muscle tissues derived from DM2 patient and healthy-donor myoblasts, including functional, structural and molecular profiling.
• Implementation and optimization of a high-throughput screening (HTS) platform based on high-content confocal imaging and multiparametric analysis to screen a a drug repurposing library.
• Preclinical validation of prioritized repurposed drug candidates in the bioengineered 3D DM2 muscle models.

Requirements for candidates:

• BSc and MSc in biology, biotechnology, biomedical engineering, biomedicine, pharmacy or similar areas
• Candidates should be ready to enter an official doctoral programme in December 2026 (under Spanish Law). By this time, they must have obtained a university degree and a master’s degree; or must hold an official university qualification from a country of the European Higher Education Area with a minimum of 300 ECTS of official university studies, of which at least 60 are at master’s level. Candidates who expect to be awarded with such degrees by October 2026 are eligible to apply.
• Candidates must have a strong commitment to scientific research and an excellent academic record.
• Candidates must have a good working knowledge of English.
• Candidates must not yet have been awarded a doctoral degree.
• Candidates must not have held a Ph.D. contract exceeding twelve months by the beginning of the fellowship (December 2026 to January 2027).
• Good skills in communication, teamwork, proactivity, characterisation, integrity, time management, critical and analytical thinking, precision, and focus.
• Willingness to work in a highly multidisciplinary environment.

Advantageous:

• Experience in cell culture and tissue engineering techniques, particularly with human myoblasts and 3D tissue models
• Experience in immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy and image analysis
• Experience in molecular biology techniques (RT-PCR, western blot, ELISA, RNA-seq/bioinformatics analysis of alternative splicing)
• Experience or familiarity with high-throughput/high-content screening workflows and automated liquid-handling systems.
• Prior exposure to neuromuscular disease models or muscle physiology.
• Programming/data analysis skills (e.g., R, Python, Matlab) for handling multiparametric and omics datasets.

For the conditions, requirements, details of the research project and other relevant data, please check the general call Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento 2025 by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation at Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento 2025 .

Competencies and Skills:

We value not only technical expertise but also the demonstration of core competencies such as Communication, Teamwork and Collaboration, Commitment, Proactivity, Integrity, and Critical and Analytical Thinking.

We Offer:

• Number of available positions: 1
• Predoctoral researcher contract: 4 years
• Starting date: As of January 1st, 2027 (to be confirmed, based on the resolution of the call Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento 2025 by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities).
• IBEC ensures equality of access to professional development opportunities irrespective of employment status, length at IBEC or other factors. The IBEC’s yearly training catalogue offers a wide range of training in technical and transferable skills including mobility grants and a Mentoring programme