Research Assistant - Molecular Basis of Hereditary Diseases: Cystinuria

REF: 25-060_SS_CM

About the research group

“Molecular Basis of Hereditary Diseases: Cystinuria” is a research line in the Genes, Disease and Therapy Program of IDIBELL. The activity of this line of research is focused on: i) understanding the renal reabsorption of amino acids, ii) studying diseases with problems in the transport of amino acids (cystinuria, deafness and cataracts), iii) establishing the molecular basis of the diseases mentioned, using knockout mouse models as a mine tool and looking for possible therapeutic strategies to solve them.

Specifically, in the last years, we are interested in identifying new human biomarkers of cystine stones based on extracellular vesicles/exosome molecular content. Since urine exosomes are produced by renal tubular epithelial cells, differences in molecular content between patients with and without kidney stones could reflect differences in the protein composition of tubular epithelial cells.

About the role

The research assistant will properly manage samples (blood and urine) from cystinuric patients and participate in research studies by applying molecular techniques such as isolation and characterization of extracellular vesicles in biofluids, DNA, RNA and protein isolation, and genomic (exome, PCR and MLPA), transcriptomic (RT-qPCR) and proteomic (Western Blot, IHC and ELISA) approaches to validate specific expression profiles. Also, he/she will be involved in the statistical analysis and interpretation of results.

Job requirements

Professional experience

• Previous experience as a lab technician (minimum 2 years)

Education and training

• Master’s degree in biology or heath field (molecular biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, biomedicine, genetics or similar)
• Previous experience handling human samples.
• Previous experience of developing transcriptomic and/or proteomic approaches in a molecular lab is further required.
• Experience with miRNAs studies will be a valuable asset.

Technical & soft skills

• To be organized, rigorous and responsible at work
• Motivation, creativity, decision making capacity
• Learning capacity
• Good willingness to work in a team

Analytical and critical thinkingLanguages

• Good command of the English language

What do we offer

• No. of positions: 1
• Estimated start date: 14/05/2025
• Contract duration: Replacement position
• Estimated annual gross salary: Acording to IDIBELL'ssalary table
• 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  30/04/2025

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).