IC24_26 – POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER IN NUTRITION EPIDEMIOLOGY AND MULTI-OMICS DATA ANALYSIS

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JOB TITLE

Postdoctoral researcher in Nutrition Epidemiology and Multi-Omics Data Analysis

JOB DESCRIPTION

Biomedical Research Institute Catalunya Sud (IRBCatSUd) is an institution that integrates research in the field of biomedicine in the “Camp de Tarragona” and the “Terres de l’Ebre”. The IISPV is the instrument that the university hospitals of both health regions have been endowed with (Joan XXIII University Hospital of Tarragona, Verge de la Cinta Hospital of Tortosa, Sant Joan de Reus University Hospital, Institut Pere Mata University Hospital of Reus) and Rovira and Virgili University, in order to bring together and manage biomedical research and innovation in the territory.

One of the research groups affiliated with IRBCatSud is the Human Nutrition Unit (HNU), an interdisciplinary and dynamic team with extensive experience in nutritional epidemiology, clinical trials, and translational research. The group applies epidemiological methods together with advanced multi-omics technologies to investigate the role of nutrition and lifestyle factors in health, cognition, and disease.

A full-time postdoctoral position is available within the European research project NUTRIMIND, which investigates the relationship between nutrition, lifestyle factors, omics biomarkers, and cognitive and mental health outcomes using data from multiple international cohorts. The project brings together a multidisciplinary consortium of European institutions and integrates epidemiological, nutritional, metabolomic, and other omics approaches to better understand determinants of brain and mental health. This project is «Funded by the European Union under the Grant Agreement Number 101287404»

The successful candidate will work with large epidemiological datasets, high-throughput biomarker data, and advanced statistical methodologies within an international collaborative research environment.

Number of available positions: 1

The selected candidate will perform the following tasks:

• Coordinate the scientific activities of IRBCatSud within the European NUTRIMIND project, in close collaboration with the Principal Investigators and international partners.
• Analyse longitudinal associations between dietary exposures, nutritional biomarkers and mental health outcomes.
• Perform high performance advanced statistical analyses using reproducible research practices and appropriate documentation procedures.
• Develop and implement advanced modelling approaches for biomarker and omics data analysis.
• Work with large international cohort-study datasets.
• Prepare scientific manuscripts, technical reports, project deliverables, and presentations for consortium meetings and scientific conferences. Participate actively in project meetings and contribute to the achievement of project milestones and deliverables.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and external academic and clinical partners.

CANDIDATE PROFILE & REQUIREMENTS

• Degree in Nutrition, Biology, Biomedicine, Health Sciences, or a related discipline.
• PhD in Nutrition, Epidemiology, Bioestadistics, Bioinformatics, Biomedical Sciences, Public Health, Biotechnology, Omics Sciences or related fields.
• Demonstrated research experience in nutritional epidemiology and/or omics sciences.
• Strong quantitative and analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in statistical programming and data analysis
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

IT WILL BE VALUED

• Experience in dietary data analysis and nutritional epidemiology methodologies.
• Experience in the integration and analysis of multi-omics data within epidemiological and/or clinical research settings. Experience harmonising dietary, biomarker and mental health variables across different cohort studies
• Experience working with large epidemiological datasets and international collaborative projects.
• Advanced knowledge of applied statistical methods for observational and intervention studies.
• Experience with high-throughput omics technologies including metabolomics, lipidomics, or related omics platforms.
• Previous experience publishing in peer-reviewed international journals with high impact factor.
• Good project management and organizational skills in international and national projects.
• Knowledge of FAIR data principles, GDPR regulations, and data-sharing procedures.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in multidisciplinary environments.
• Capacity for critical thinking, scientific problem-solving, and synthesis of complex information.
• Ability to communicate scientific findings effectively to the research community.
• Scientific publications in nutritional epidemiology, omics sciences, mental health, or related areas.

WE OFFER

• Participation in an ambitious and multidisciplinary European research project with strong international collaboration.
• Opportunity to work with international cohorts and high-dimensional epidemiologic and omics datasets.
• A dynamic, collaborative, and international research environment.
• Opportunities for scientific publication, international networking, and professional career development.
• Access to advanced epidemiological and statistical methodologies.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

• Selection of CV’s. Suitable and unsuitable CV’s will be identified according to the requirements. Applicants who do not meet the requirements indicated in the candidate profile and requirements will not pass to the next phase.
• Evaluation of the CV. Up to a maximum score of 40 points.
• Cover Letter. Please, attach a cover letter (maximum 2500 characters including spaces) to the CV. With a maximum score of 20 points.

To access the interview phase, it is necessary to have obtained a minimum score of 40 points in the sum of scores of the evaluation of the CV and cover letter.

• Personal interview. With a maximum score of 40 points.

The selected candidate must have obtained a minimum score of 80 points in the sum of scores from the assessment of all phases of the selection procedure.

SELECTION COMMITTEE

• President: Nancy Babio (Professor; PI of the project)
• Chair 1: Jordi Salas-Salvadó (Professor; PI of the project)
• Chair 2: Julio Plaza-Diaz (Researcher, NUTRIMIND project)

SUBSTITUTES:

• President: Michelle Murphy (Professor)
• Chair 1: Albert Salas (Lecturer)
• Chair 2: Lucia Iglesias-Vazquez (Researcher, NUTRIMIND project)

CANDIDATURES 

• The CV must include the DNI/NIE number or another personal identity document number.
• Send the CV and the Cover Letter through the form that you will find on the bottom of the offer page https://www.iispv.cat/treballa-amb-nosaltres/

For any questions or queries: recruitment@irbcatsud.cat

DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF CV 30/06/2026

COMMUNICATIONS

The IRBCatSud will notify the candidates of the results of the different phases of the selection process through its website.

HRS4R Research in HR Excellence

The IRBCatSud has the European accreditation The Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R), complies with the general principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the recruitment of researchers.

The IRBCatSud has an internal recruitment policy that follows the Open, Transparent and Merit-based Recruitment (OTM-R) policies. More information about the HRS4R policies implemented at the IISPV is available on the following website: https://www.iispv.cat/hrs4r-hr-excellenceresearch/

The IRBCatSud will guarantee the right to equal opportunities and treatment, as well as the real and effective exercise of rights by people with disabilities under equal conditions with respect to other citizens, through the promotion of personal autonomy, universal accessibility, access to employment, inclusion in the community and independent living and the eradication of any form of discrimination, in accordance with articles 9.2, 10, 14 and 49 of the Spanish Constitution and the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and international treaties and agreements ratified by Spain.

In the event of a tie, priority will be given to hiring the person with a disability.

In the event of a tie between people of different genders, the person of the least represented gender in the work group/department/service in which he joins will be hired.