Post-doctoral researcher - Target Identification and Validation for Personalized Medicine.

REF. 25-201_R_FF

IDIBELL is looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher in Target Identification and Validation for Personalized Medicine.

About the research group/unit

The position is embedded within a multidisciplinary research environment at IDIBELL (Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute), with strong links to clinical, translational, and population-based research. The group integrates psychological, biological, metabolic, and clinical data to identify disease mechanisms and molecular targets relevant to complex disorders such as eating disorders, behavioral addictions, obesity, metabolic diseases, and other psychiatric comorbidities, contributing to innovative personalized medicine strategies.

The Psychoneurobiology of Eating and Addictive Behaviors Group from University Hospital of Bellvitge–HUB/IDIBELL is directed by senior investigators Dr Fernando Fernández-Aranda and Dr Susana Jiménez-Murcia. This group includes both Eating Disorders and Behavioural Addictions units, which are part of the Department of Psychiatry in the University Hospital of Bellvitge, Barcelona.

The team has been active for more than 20 years and takes part as one of the groups of excellence in the Centre for Biomedical Research in Network-Pathophysiology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN) of the Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII) since 2007. During this period thus far, it has achieved a high level of clinical and research activity. From a broad perspective, the Eating Disorders Unit provides specialized healthcare for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. It features an outpatient clinic, day hospital and inpatient services. Likewise, the Behavioral Addictions Unit is the largest public healthcare resource in Spain for these types of disorders and has highly consolidated experience in the diagnosis and treatment of behavioural addictions. Because of the Units high level of clinical activity, they have been officially recognized as national referral centres for difficult cases. Furthermore, the group perform cutting-edge research into the aetiology and treatment of these disorders, as well as new research lines focused on neurosciences with an important scientific production and international presence.

About the role

The Postdoctoral Researcher will contribute to a competitive research project focused on the identification and validation of biomarkers and molecular targets for personalized medicine approaches. The role involves the integration of clinical, metabolic, and behavioral data, participation in national and international collaborations, and leadership in data analysis, interpretation, and scientific dissemination. The researcher will also support translational applications of findings and contribute to high-impact publications and funded research initiatives.

Job requirements

Professional experience

• Postdoctoral research experience in biomedical, clinical, or translational research
• Demonstrated experience in biomarker or target identification, or validation for personalised medicine
• Experience working with large clinical cohorts and/or population-based studies
• Proven experience in clinical research coordination, including participant follow-up and data collection
• Experience in multidisciplinary and international research collaborations
• Participation in national and/or European-funded projects (e.g. H2020, Horizon Europe, ISCIII)
• Track record of scientific publications in peer-reviewed, high-impact journals

Education and training

• PhD in Biomedical Sciences, Nutrition, Metabolism, Neuroscience, Life Sciences, or a related field
• Advanced training in metabolomics, metabolic research, or biomarker-based approaches
• Training in clinical research methodologies and/or translational research frameworks
• Additional training in personalised medicine, systems medicine, or integrative health research 

Technical & soft skills

• Ability to integrate biological, metabolic, and clinical data for target identification and patient stratification
• Experience in analysis and interpretation of complex, multidimensional datasets (clinical, metabolic, behavioural, psychological)
• Strong leadership, organisational, and project management skills
• Excellent scientific writing skills and ability to lead or co-lead publications
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to team-based research
• Strong communication skills for interaction with clinicians, researchers, and external partners
• Experience in research dissemination and knowledge transfer activities

Languages

• Good command of the English language
•  Spanish/Catalan essential

We will value, but not required

• Experience in omics technologies, or biomarker validation
• Participation in EU-funded projects (H2020 / Horizon Europe) and international collaborations
• Experience in clinical coordination, population registries, or translational research
• Experience with metabolomics platforms and multi-omics integration
• Knowledge of psychiatric and metabolic comorbidities (e.g. obesity, diabetes, eating disorders, behavioural addictions)
• Experience in public engagement, educational activities, or science communication
• Experience in mentoring junior researchers or students

What do we offer

• No. of positions: 1
• Estimated start date: 22/01/2026
• Contract duration: Permanent by project
• Estimated annual gross salary: it is commensurate with qualifications and consistent with our pay ranges.
• You will be part of a multicultural team. We have a fun loving and friendly international work environment.
• Flexible working schedule - We know you have a life outside of work and we will work with you to make sure it's kept that way.
• Possibility to work some days in remote -Teleworking
• 26 working days of holiday per year
• System of accumulated hours for employees, from 88 to 104 hours depending on the year (11 to 13 working days), to attend to personal matters.
• Paid leave package
• Benefits of constant training are offered
• We offer and promote diverse and inclusive conditions. Applicants are made free from any discrimination. Specifically IDIBELL works to improve gender equality in all areas with the aim of achieving gender balance, but maintaining the most scrupulous respect to any choice at the level of gender identity. Please express yourself freely, safely and non-binarily, if that's the case.

Deadline: Please submit your application by  13/01/2026

Data protection notice

In compliance with the obligations established in the General Regulation of Data Protection (RGPD), which is the Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the Parliament and of the Council, of April 27, 2016, and the Organic Law 3/2018, of December 5, Protection of Personal Data and guarantee of digital rights, it is reported that the Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), CIF G58863317, with address Av. Granvia de l'Hospitalet, 199-203, 08908, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, will process your personal data, as the controller, to apply for the position, maintain communication concerning the status of the candidature, to access the delivered CV; to compare that your data is in accordance with the offers announced by IDIBELL and to verify, where appropriate, that the information provided is accurate. You can find more information in our Privacy Policy at https://idibell.cat/en/privacy-policy-2/, request more information about the data processing carried out and exercise your rights of access, rectification, deletion, opposition, portability, limitation of processing by sending a request at email: dataprotection@idibell.cat. If you consider that you have not obtained satisfaction in exercising your rights, you may submit a claim to Catalan Data Protection Authority.

Our institute

IDIBELL is a research center that integrates the biomedical research of the Bellvitge University Hospital (HUB), the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), and the University of Barcelona in the Bellvitge Campus (UB), and the Viladecans Hospital (HV). The research focuses of IDIBELL are cancer, neuroscience, translational medicine and regenerative medicine. Research, innovation and society are the pivots on which researchers work every day in order to improve the quality of life of citizens.

Observations:

The 'HR Excellence in Research' award represents IDIBELL’s commitment to the implementation of Human Resources policies, which oversee the attracting and development of talent in an open, transparent, and based on personal merit, in alignment with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment Researchers (Charter and Code).

IDIBELL is committed to the principles of the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers of the European Commission and the implementation of open, transparent and merit-based recruitment (OTMR).

The project leading to this labour contract has received funding from ISCIII and co-founded by EU. Under the project code EPPermed 2024-618.