VHIR-MSCA Predoctoral Fellowship

The Respiratory Viruses Unit is seeking a highly motivated bioinformatician to study the genetic features, diversity, and evolution of respiratory viruses and other viral agents from a bioinformatics perspective. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – Predoctoral Fellowships (MSCA) The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Predoctoral Fellowships (MSCA) are part of the Horizon Europe programme and support predoctoral researchers in developing an original research and innovation project through international mobility. DETECTIVE (Data driven Excellence in Training of Epidemiological, Clinical, Technological and Innovative Virus Experts) is an EU-funded MSCA training programme aimed at developing new, data-driven methods to anticipate, detect and respond to emerging viral threats at an earlier stage than before. Coordinated by Prof. Dr. Heli Harvala, Professor of Virology at the University of Turku in Finland, the network brings together 8 academic institutions and 14 associated partners from across Europe. Within DETECTIVE, researchers will develop innovative methods used to detect emerging pathogens earlier, understand who is most at risk, and translate the complex multi-source data into real-time, evidence-based decisions and clinical applications. The project's overall goal is to establish a unified, end-to-end epidemic-intelligence framework, enhancing Europe’s capacity to respond to threats quickly and in a coordinated manner. This will be achieved by an integrated approach combining virology, evolutionary genomics, epidemiology, diagnostics and AI-based analytical methods. Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases represent one of the greatest threats to global health and societal stability in the 21st century. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated with unprecedented clarity how quickly novel pathogens can spread, overwhelm healthcare systems, and disrupt economies. This doctoral project aims to develop and improve new tools for the rapid detection of viruses and the identification of novel viral and host markers in severe respiratory infections, through the application of omics technologies. The objective will be to contribute to the standardisation of the different diagnostic protocols used among the various laboratories and, at the same time, to discover and validate biomarkers associated with severe respiratory infections. Main responsibilities and duties: At the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Vall d’Hebron University Hospital (Barcelona, Spain), DETECTIVE is looking for a Doctoral Candidate (DC) to work on Work Package 1. As DC10, your research objectives are: To enhance the genomic sequencing by NGS of viruses detected at different settings. To characterise host molecular profiles with integrated omics. To discover and validate biomarkers related to severe clinical outcomes. To standardise sampling and processing workflows between laboratories. Education and

qualifications:
Required: Hold a master’s degree in bioinformatics, computational biology, genomics, data science, epidemiology, virology or related fields. Have a strong interest in infectious disease research and emerging pathogens. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English (minimum C1/C2 CEFR level). Demonstrate the ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary and international research environment. Have not resided/carried out work or studies in Spain for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the March 1st, 2027. Experience and knowledge: Required: Experience with next-generation sequencing, molecular diagnostics and/or transcriptomic, proteomic or metabolomic data analysis highly beneficial. Previous laboratory experience in infectious disease research.. Labour

conditions:

Working hours
Full-time (37,5 hours per week). Starting date : March 1st, 2027 Gross annual

salary:
in accordance with the MSCA Doctoral Networks funding rules and VHIR employment conditions Contract type : Technical and scientific activities contract linked to project activities (36 months) Doctoral candidates will be employed full-time for three years in accordance with the rules of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks programme. The financial package includes a living allowance of €4,010 per month (subject to the MSCA country correction coefficient applicable in the host country), a mobility allowance of €710 per month, and, where applicable, a family allowance of €660 per month. The actual gross and net salary will depend on the applicable country correction coefficient, national taxation, statutory social security contributions, and the employment policies of the host institution. The exact salary will be confirmed upon appointment. All positions are subject to the employment conditions and regulations of the respective recruiting beneficiary and may include a probationary period in accordance with national legislation and institutional policies. Application deadline: 08-10-2026

How to Apply
To be considered