Research Support - Tobacco control research (20h/week - temporary)

REF. 26-081_SS_CM

About the research group

Tobacco Control Research Group

The main objectives of the Tobacco Control Unit (UCT) research group are to advance current knowledge and evidence on the determinants of, and strategies for, preventing and controlling tobacco use, as well as exposure to tobacco smoke and electronic cigarette aerosols among the population. To achieve these objectives, the UCT conducts epidemiological and implementation research and interventions, including projects on the impact of second-hand tobacco smoke exposure on the population, the use of markers to measure tobacco smoke and electronic cigarette aerosols in the environment and through biomarkers, and the implementation of new interventions such as smoke-free homes. In addition, the UCT is responsible for applied intervention projects such as the Catalan Network of Smoke-Free Hospitals and health promotion services, including the smoking cessation clinic, which provides support for quitting smoking to both employees and patients of ICO-IDIBELL.

The UCT currently maintains stable collaborations with national and international institutions and agencies, primarily with the Catalan Public Health Agency, including the World Health Organization (WHO), which designated UCT-ICO as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Tobacco Control.

UCT research is carried out through the Consolidated Research Group in Tobacco Epidemiology, Prevention and Control (2021SGR00906) of the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute. In addition, the UCT forms the core of the CB19/06/00004 Group of the CIBER for Respiratory Diseases, funded by the Carlos III Health Institute.

The UCT coordinates a study within the Joint Action on the Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases (JA-PreventNCD), a large-scale European collaborative initiative involving 25 countries and focused on the prevention of cancer and other non-communicable diseases. Through research, public health interventions, and evidence-based policymaking, JA-PreventNCD aims to strengthen disease prevention strategies and improve population health outcomes across Europe.

More information about the project: https://www.preventncd.eu/

 In this context, the study led by the UCT has a dual objective:

1. To describe the strategies used for the development, implementation, and sustainability of smoke-free beaches in Catalonia through the design of a new assessment instrument.

2. To evaluate signs of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke and aerosols from nicotine delivery devices on beaches in Catalonia that have been designated as “smoke-free” by municipal ordinance. 

About the role

 Fieldwork Responsibilities:

• Provide direct support to the Principal Investigator and the research team during the fieldwork phase of the smoke-free beaches study.

• Systematically record indicators of tobacco use (e.g., cigarette butts and people smoking) within designated smoke-free areas of beaches in the province of Barcelona. A pre-designed questionnaire will be used.

• Conduct brief interviews with beach users regarding their perceptions of, and the implementation of, smoke-free beach policies.

• Accurately record observed data using a mobile application.

Job requirements

Professional experience

• Previous experience in research fieldwork or data collection activities will be considered an asset.

Education and training

• Minimum qualification: CFGM (or equivalent).
• Educational background in Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Engineering, or related disciplines will be considered an asset, but is not required. 

Technical & soft skills

• Ability to use mobile applications for data collection and questionnaire completion (training will be provided).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently in outdoor environments.
• Motivation and enthusiasm. 

Languages

• Good command of the English language

What do we offer

•  No. of positions: 2 (part-time, 20h/week each position)
•  Estimated start date: 06/07/2026
•  Contract duration: 1 month
•  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  1/07/2026

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).

This project has been funded by the European Union´s EU4Health Programme (2021-2027) under the Joint Action 101129260. We thank CERCA Programme / Generalitat de Catalunya for institutional support.