Job Information
Organisation/Company: Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Department: Biomedical Science. Iron metabolism: Regulation and Diseases Lab
Research Field: Biological sciences » Biological engineering
Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)
Positions: PhD Positions
Application Deadline: 30 Oct 2026 - 09:00 (Europe/Madrid)
Country: Spain
Type of Contract: Temporary
Job Status: Full-time
Hours Per Week: 38
Offer Starting Date: 1 Jan 2027
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?: Not funded by a EU programme
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?: No
Offer Description
R1 PreDoctoral Candidate in RNA Biology & Iron Metabolism- REF. 2026-MS-03-Predoc-FPI-RNA-IRON. Master obtained after 1st January 2024
Location: UIC Barcelona, Sant Cugat Campus (Fully Presentional). Barcelona, Spain
Expected Starting Date: January 2027
Contract Duration: 4-Year PreDoctoral Position
Reference: 2026-MS-03-PREDOC-FPI-RNA-IRON
The deadline for submissions is 30th October 2026.
Position Overview
The Iron Metabolism Research Group at the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC) is seeking a highly motivated R1 PreDoctoral Candidate to join our team. The successful candidate will be integrated into our research lines with a prestigious, competitive 4-year predoctoral contract associated to the PID2025-175115OB-I00 (project MARIE), funded by Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities MICIU (MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033).
Main Topic: RNA Biology, the IRP/IRE (Iron Regulatory Protein/Iron Responsive Element) system, Genetics of Iron Metabolism, and Hereditary Diseases.
Lab Website: https://researchgroups.uic.es/ironmetabolism/
Where to apply
E-mail: msanchezfe@uic.es
Requirements
Research Field: Biological sciences » Biology
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
Candidate Requirements
Important Note: Please do not apply if you do not fulfill the compulsory minimum requisites.
Compulsory & Minimum Requirements
- Education: Must hold a RECENT Master’s Degree (or be on track to complete it by September 2026) in Biomedicine, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Translational Medicine, or a highly related field.
- COMPULSORY: Master degree to be obtained after 1st January 2024
- Must not already hold a PhD degree
- Academic Record: Excellent academic marks in your Bachelor’s/Degree (minimum threshold of 7.5 out of 10).
- Research Experience: A minimum of 6 to 12 months of prior practical work experience in a laboratory setting focused on RNA Biology, Genetics, Iron Metabolism, Molecular Biology, Haematology or Neurology.
- Languages: Good professional English level (internal seminars, writing, and journal clubs are conducted entirely in English).
- Soft Skills: Excellent interpersonal skills, a strong team-player mindset, highly organized, proactive, self-motivated, and enthusiastic about scientific discovery.
Desired Skills & Pluses (Asset Requirements)
- Proven hands-on experience in standard Molecular Biology techniques and Biochemistry.
- Experience with Tissue Culture (cell lines or primary cells), or mouse animal models, or zebrafish models.
- Hands-on experience with CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, Flow Cytometry, MACS, and FACS cell sorting.
- Prior international mobility or exchange programs and/or research stays abroad.
- Authorship/co-authorship on publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals or publications for congresses.
Internal Application form(s) needed
R1 PreDoctoral Candidate in RNA Biology & Iron Metabolism- REF_2026-MS-03-FPI.pdf (English, 100.98 KB - PDF)
Additional Information
Benefits
What We Offer
- 4-Year Predoctoral Contract: Funding backed by PID2025-175115OB-I00 (project MARIE). Salary is standardized according to official grant regulations.
- Gross annual salary: €23,400 – €25,000
- Elite Research Environment: Work at our modern facilities located on the UIC Sant Cugat Campus, surrounded by a collaborative, translationally minded scientific community.
- Comprehensive Training (granted with 7.000 euros for covering PhD fee tuition and research stays abroad)Extensive mentorship spanning advanced molecular biology, RNA biochemistry, disease modeling, and grant writing.
- Opportunity for a 3-month international research stay at a prestigious collaborator's institution.
Eligibility criteria
Candidate Requirements
Important Note: Please do not apply if you do not fulfill the compulsory minimum requisites.
Compulsory & Minimum Requirements
- Education: Must hold a RECENT Master’s Degree (or be on track to complete it by September 2026) in Biomedicine, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Translational Medicine, or a highly related field.
- COMPULSORY: Master degree to be obtained after 1st January 2024
- Must not already hold a PhD degree
- Academic Record: Excellent academic marks in your Bachelor’s/Degree (minimum threshold of 7.5 out of 10).
- Research Experience: A minimum of 6 to 12 months of prior practical work experience in a laboratory setting focused on RNA Biology, Genetics, Iron Metabolism, Molecular Biology, Haematology or Neurology.
- Languages: Good professional English level (internal seminars, writing, and journal clubs are conducted entirely in English).
- Soft Skills: Excellent interpersonal skills, a strong team-player mindset, highly organized, proactive, self-motivated, and enthusiastic about scientific discovery.
Desired Skills & Pluses (Asset Requirements)
- Proven hands-on experience in standard Molecular Biology techniques and Biochemistry.
- Experience with Tissue Culture (cell lines or primary cells), or mouse animal models, or zebrafish models.
- Hands-on experience with CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, Flow Cytometry, MACS, and FACS cell sorting.
- Prior international mobility or exchange programs and/or research stays abroad.
- Authorship/co-authorship on publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals or publications for congresses.
Main Responsibilities
The selected researcher will carry out wet-lab benchwork and data analysis closely related to our financed research project PID2025-175115OB-I00 (project MARIE). Project goals, encompassing Molecular Studies in RNA Biology: Investigating the post-transcriptional regulation of iron metabolism via the IRP/IRE system.
Selection process
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted directly for an in-person or virtual interview (to be done in September or October 2026).
Additional comments
How to Apply
Interested applicants must submit their application directly to Dr. Mayka Sanchez at msanchezfe@uic.es.
Your application email must include:
- A comprehensive CV (COMPULSORY to explicitly state your average academic marks over 10, Spanish System [0 lower, 10 max], for both your Bachelor's degree and Master's degree).
- A focused motivation letter highlighting your interest in RNA Biology and the IRP/IRE system.
- Contact details (email addresses) of three referees who can objectively assess your scientific potential and past academic/lab performance.
⚠️ Subject Line Requirement: You must explicitly include the reference "Reference 2026-MS-03-FPI-PREDOC-RNA-IRON" in the subject line of your email to ensure your application is processed successfully.
Website for additional job details: https://researchgroups.uic.es/ironmetabolism/vacancies/
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: Universidad Internacional de Catalunya (UIC)
Country: Spain
Geofield
Contact
State/Province: Select One
City: Barcelona
Website: https://researchgroups.uic.es/ironmetabolism/vacancies/
Street: Immaculada 22
Postal Code: 08017
E-Mail: msanchezfe@uic.es
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