IC35_26 – PREDOCTORAL RESEARCHER IN NUTRITION EPIDEMIOLOGY AND DATA ANALYSIS

Descripció del treball

Southern Catalonia Biomedical Research Institute (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 to IRBCatSud is the Human Nutrition Unit (HNU) is an interdisciplinary and dynamic team with extensive experience and sufficient autonomy in developing epidemiological studies, clinical trials, and basic research. The scope of this research group is to evaluate using classical approaches and novel multiomics technologies the effect of dietary patterns or dietary compounds on obesity (including childhood obesity), type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, and male fertility.

A full-time, 12-month predoctoral researcher position is available to support research activities, including the coordination of participant visits, data collection, laboratory procedures, biological sample processing, and research data management.

Number of available positions: 1

“El presente contrato está cofinanciado por el Instituto de Salud Carlos III, con código de expediente CP24/00066, en virtud de Resolución de la Dirección del Instituto de Salud Carlos III, O.A., M.P. de 26 de diciembre de 2024, por la que se conceden los Contratos Miguel Servet, y podrá ser Cofinanciado por la Unión Europea“

The selected candidate will perform the following tasks:

• Support the coordination and follow-up of participating cohorts, including communication with collaborating research teams, monitoring data availability, and maintaining the corresponding project documentation.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of standardized protocols for the definition, coding, cleaning, validation, and harmonization of dietary exposures, health outcomes, covariates, and other relevant variables across participating cohorts.

• Manage, clean, validate, and integrate epidemiological, clinical, nutritional, anthropometric, and lifestyle databases, ensuring data quality, consistency, traceability, and compliance with established data-management procedures.

• Maintain reproducible data-management and analytical workflows, including data dictionaries, version control, analysis logs, quality-control reports, and appropriate documentation of databases and statistical procedures.

• Support complementary activities, including the scheduling and conduct of participant visits, data collection, and the receipt, preparation, labelling, aliquoting, storage, inventory, and documentation of biological samples, following established protocols.

• Support laboratory procedures related to clinical, biochemical, and nutritional assessments, including sample pre-treatment, storage, quality control, and maintenance of laboratory and biobank records.

• Contribute to the integration, interpretation, and presentation of epidemiological and laboratory findings, as well as to the preparation of technical reports, scientific manuscripts, conference communications, presentations, and dissemination materials in collaboration with the multidisciplinary and international research team.

CANDIDATE PROFILE & REQUIREMENTS

· BSc degree in Biology, Health Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, or a related field.

· Postgraduate or MSc degree in Nutrition, Clinical Analyses, or a related field.

· Strong academic record, with a combined BSc and postgraduate average mark ≥8.3, to meet the eligibility requirements for PhD fellowship applications.

· Languages: Native-level Spanish and upper-intermediate English.

· Knowledge of database management and basic statistical analysis using Excel, SPSS, or equivalent software.

· Hands-on experience in biological sampling, sample preparation, and laboratory workflows.

At the application stage:

· Candidates must meet the academic requirements for admission to an official doctoral programme. Admission already obtained or currently being processed will be considered.

Before contract formalisation:

· Formal admission to an official doctoral programme must be demonstrated by means of an official admission letter issued by the corresponding university or doctoral school.

IT WILL BE VALUED

· Training in clinical analyses, microbiology, food analysis and laboratory quality control.

· Knowledge of statistical programming using R or STATA.

· Interest in nutrition, epidemiology, or clinical research.

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. Evaluation of the CVs up to a maximum score of 40 points.

· Cover Letter. Attach to the resume a cover letter with a maximum length of 2500 characters with spaces. 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 curriculum and cover letter

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

Items 40

Attitude 5

Fit in the work place 10

Experience, developed functions/skills 20

Teamwork 5

The selected person must have obtained a minimum score of 70 points in the sum of scores from the assessment of all phases of the selection procedure.

SELECTION COMMITTEE

· President: Nancy Babio (Professor)

· Chair 1: Jordi Salas Salvadó (Professor)

· Chair 2: Lucía Iglesias Vázquez (Researcher)

SUBSTITUTES:

· President: Michelle Murphy (Professor)

· Chair 1: Julio Plaza Díaz (Researcher)

· Chair 2: Sangeetha Shyam (Researcher)

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.irbcatsud.cat/treballa-amb-nosaltres/ For any questions or queries: recruitment@irbcatsud.cat

DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF CV 25/08/2026

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.irbcatsud.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.