POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER IN DEVELOPMENT OF ANIMAL-DERIVED ORGANOIDS FOR THE ANIMAL HEALTH PROGRAM

IRTA is currently seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic Postdoctoral Researcher to join our research team in the field of animal-derived organoid development. This position focuses on developing, optimizing, and characterizing organoids derived mainly from respiratory and intestinal tissues of multiple animal species to advance research in zoonotic diseases, pandemic preparedness, and comparative virology. The candidate will work in the project FARMBANK (Farm-in-a-plate” – developing the first biobank of farm animal organoids as an alternative to animal experiments in infectious disease research) which has received funding from the MCIN and the European Union’s NextGeneration programme (Reference: PLEC2022-009171).We invite applications from ambitious candidates with relevant research experience and passion to conduct research and innovation activities mainly on the cell culture and bioimaging fields which will enable us to create comprehensive models for studying host-virus interactions and infection susceptibility.Head of the Program: Dr Natàlia MajóProgram’s key researcher/s for this position: Dr Karl Kochanowski and Dr Júlia Vergara-AlertJob location: IRTA-CReSA (Campus UAB)Full-time position: 37.5 h/weekTerms of appointment: temporary position for 1 year linked to the FARMBANK project. Possibility of extending the contract for one more year.Gross Annual Salary: 33,409€ in 14 payments (category F).Employee Benefits: 22 vacation days, 3 days of family & work conciliation, 45h of personal days, Friday afternoon off, Compressed Summer schedule from 15/06 to 15/09, Conciliation schedule.Tasks and Responsibilities:Develop and refine protocols for isolating and culturing organoids from multiple animal species tissues.Establish organoid models from various species, such as chickens, pigs, mink, and others relevant to zoonotic studies.Conduct experiments to characterize organoid morphology, cellular composition, and viability.Perform viral infection assays, assess replication dynamics, and evaluate host-pathogen interactions within the organoids.Execute scientific and technical tasks and taking part in the planning and execution of the planned studies to ensure the achievement of milestones of research projects and contracts.Perform literature review, data collection and management, involving statistical analysis.Collaborate in positioning the Program as a group of excellence through regular peer-reviewed publications, contributions at national and international congresses.Actively contribute fund rising through the preparation and submission of project proposals for public competitive calls and for contracts with the private sector, as well as reporting process, such as writing progress and final reports of research activities.Contribute to the teamwork and team-spirit in the research line and in the Animal Health Program, fostering collaboration and integration activities.Required qualifications and experience:PhD in Health Science, Cell Biology, Microbiology, Virology, or a related field.Knowledge on mammalian or animal tissue culture and bioimaging.Prior experience with organoid culture and/or cellular imaging is a strong advantage.Excellent track record on SCI journals publications based on quality and international visibility.Proven experience in research skills: literature review, experimental design and implementation, data analysis, and scientific article writing.Dissemination skills: presentation/communication skills, and technical writing.Desirable requirements:Knowledge of One Health and zoonotic disease research.Experience in quantitative image analysis.Knowledge on statistical analysis and familiarity with data analysis software.Experience in supervising students and/or other technical personnel.Proven experience in public and private funding.Capacity to successfully develop collaborative research links with national and international research organizations.Languages:Proficiency in EnglishSpanish and Catalan are valued.Application process:If you wish to be considered for this position, please, apply via our Recruitment Platform to the job post with reference 181/24 and upload your CV and motivation letter until 28/11/2024. All information will be treated in the strictest confidence.