Staff scientist in Muscle Stem Cell Biology and Genome Editing Technologies

REF. 26-110_SS_AR

About the research group

The Escobar Lab will join IDIBELL’s Regenerative Medicine Program as a newly established research group. The lab will focus on muscle stem cell biology, genome editing and advanced therapies for neuromuscular disorders. Its research combines primary human and mouse muscle stem cells, CRISPR-based genome editing, non-viral delivery of nucleic acid therapeutics, human and mouse disease models, and single-cell technologies to develop innovative therapies for neuromuscular diseases.

About the role

The successful candidate will play a key role in establishing a new research group at IDIBELL focused on muscle stem cell biology, genome editing, and advanced therapies for neuromuscular disorders. The candidate will support the set-up and execution of experimental workflows, coordination with core facilities, mouse colony management and administrative tasks related to laboratory work. Moreover, they will be responsible for training new PhD students and postdoctoral researchers in molecular biology techniques, as well as managing the organization of the laboratory.

Job requirements

Professional experience

• Extensive experience (ideally, 4 years or more) in mammalian cell culture, preferably including primary cells and/or stem cells.
• Extensive experience (ideally, 4 years or more) in cell and molecular biology techniques (cell transfection, DNA/RNA extraction, cloning, PCR, RT-qPCR, Sanger sequencing, immunostaining, Western blotting, confocal microscopy and/or related methods).
• Experience with mouse experimentation, including handling, colony management, tissue collection. Being in possession of FELASA certification will be highly advantageous.
• Experience with NGS sample preparation, library preparation or NGS workflows is highly desirable.
• Experience with genome editing (in particular, with CRISPR systems) is not mandatory but will be highly relevant.

Education and training

•  PhD in stem cell biology, skeletal muscle, gene editing/therapy or regenerative medicine will be highly valued. 

Technical & soft skills

• High level of independence, reliability, organization and problem-solving capacity.
• Ability to establish and document new protocols, maintain clear records, organize samples/reagents and implement robust workflows.
• Excellent communication skills to coordinate with institutional platforms and external collaborators.
• Capacity to train and supervise students, technicians, junior researchers and to support postdocs in experimental procedures and laboratory routines.
• Good working knowledge of standard software for data organization and analysis (Excel, GraphPad Prism, ImageJ/Fiji) and electronic lab notebooks.

Languages

• Good command of the English language, both spoken and written.
• A good command of Spanish will be valued.

We will value, but not required

• Experience with skeletal muscle biology, muscle regeneration, neuromuscular disease models or regenerative medicine.
• Hands-on experience with muscle (stem) cells, in vitro differentiation and 3D culture systems.
• Experience with single-cell or single-nucleus sequencing workflows.
• Experience working in a translational research environment involving human samples, biobanks or clinically oriented collaborations.
• Previous experience in the preparation of ethical applications for animal experimentation.
• Previous experience in laboratory organization and ordering/inventory management.

What do we offer

•  No. of positions: 1
•  Estimated start date: 14/09/2026

•  Estimated annual gross salary: The final salary will be determined based on the candidate's experience, qualifications and IDIBELL salary scales.
• 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.

Selection process
Pre-selection: The pre-selection process will consist in an eligibility check based on qualifications and expertise reflected on the candidate's CV.

• Interview: Best positioned, pre-selected candidates may be called to arrange an interview. Candidates will be interviewed by the hiring manager and an ad hoc selection panel.
• Formal offer letter: Once identified, the People Management Unit will send a job offer to the successful candidate indicating start date, salary, working conditions, and any additional relevant details

Deadline: Please submit your application by 21/08/2026 (CV and cover letter including the contact details of two referees).

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).