The Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) is a cutting-edge institute addressing global public health challenges through research, translation into policy and education. ISGlobal has a broad portfolio in communicable and non-communicable diseases including environmental and climate determinants, and applies a multidisciplinary scientific approach ranging from the molecular to the population level. Research is organized in five programs: Climate, Air Pollution, Nature and Urban Health; Environment and Health over the Lifecourse; Global Viral and Bacterial Infections; Malaria and Neglected Parasitic Diseases and Maternal Child and Reproductive Health. ISGlobal is accredited with the Severo Ochoa distinction, a seal of excellence of the Spanish Science Ministry.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are seeking a talented and highly motivated predoctoral researcher in the areas of environmental epidemiology, atmospheric forecasting and impact-based health early warning systems. The successful candidate will join the research team of Dr. Joan Ballester Claramunt (https://www.joanballester.eu/) at ISGlobal within the framework of the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) CLIMES (https://www.climes.se/climesdn/, grant number 101226348, project officially starting on March 1st 2026). Moreover, the chosen candidate will also be involved in the research, resources and databases of other related research projects, mainly the European Research Council (ERC) Grant EARLY-ADAPT (https://www.early-adapt.eu/).

CLIMES is designed to create a leading cohort of early-career researchers studying different aspects of the impacts of climate extremes in Europe, having access to a rich programme of training activities and research exchanges. These are designed to enhance the career prospects of the early-career researchers in both academia and the private sector.

The chosen candidate will be at the forefront of environmental research by analysing newly-created databases of human health, which incorporate a range of environmental, socioeconomic and demographic variables at different spatiotemporal scales. At European scales, the chosen candidate will analyse the database of EARLY-ADAPT, which includes over 164 million counts of death from 654 contiguous NUTS regions in 32 European countries, representing their entire urban and rural population of over 541 million people (see recent publications in DOIs 10.1038/s41591-025-03954-7, 10.1016/S2542-5196(25)00048-8 and 10.1016/j.lanplh.2025.101296). At global scales, the chosen candidate will analyse the newly-created mortality database of the Global Lancet Countdown, which includes over half a billion counts of death at daily, weekly and monthly resolutions in 1,676 regions from 129 countries (see indicator 1.1.5 in DOI 10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01919-1).

The chosen candidate will be involved in the following tasks:

• to use epidemiological models to model the synergistic health effects of environmental exposures, mainly temperature, humidity and air pollution (e.g. PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, wildfires, desert dust);

• to study the synoptic atmospheric conditions and modes of variability that favour compound climate and air pollution episodes;

• to transform operational weather and air pollution forecasts into health predictions;

• to analyse and compare the forecast skill of weather and air pollution forecasts with that of health predictions; and

• to use this comparative forecast skill assessment to develop an operational, fit-for-purpose, impact-based early warning system representing the synergistic health impacts of compound episodes.

The job position includes two in-person secondments with world-recognised Professors Francesca de’Donato (Department of Epidemiology in Rome) and Apostolos Voulgarakis (Technical University of Crete), and the attendance in in-person international meetings and training network events.

The work will mount on previous work and experience within the hosting group (see recent publications in DOIs 10.1038/s41591-025-03954-7, 10.1073/pnas.2426516122 and 10.1126/sciadv.ado5286; and see the operational platform Forecaster.Health, https://forecaster.health/). The final aim of the work is to better inform potential end-users, such as public health agencies, to activate emergency plans directly targeting vulnerable groups.

AUXILIAR TASKS

This job description reflects the present requirements of the post but may evolve at any time in the future as duties and responsibilities change and/or develop providing there is appropriate consultation with the post-holder.

This job description is not a definitive or exhaustive list of responsibilities but identifies the key responsibilities and tasks of the post holder. The specific objectives of the post holder will be subject to review as part of the individual professional assessment process.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE / QUALIFICATIONS

The chosen candidate is requested to

• have good programming skills in R;

• have a good level of English;

• be willing to work in an inter-disciplinary project team within a highly collaborative research institute.

The chosen candidate is also requested to comply with the mobility rule of MSCA: not have resided or carried out the main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Spain for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date.

The chosen candidate is also requested to have a master degree entitling access to a PhD programme in Spain. Please see the section “Admission requirements” in this link:

https://www.upf.edu/web/doctorats/biomedicina
(choose English language in the top menu).

In addition, the following non-mandatory skills will be positively considered:

• have experience in the modelling of the relation between environmental exposures and human health, e.g. distributed lag nonlinear models, spatial Bayesian methods, case time series, case crossover;

• have experience with the management and analysis of large climate and/or health databases;

• have experience with Linux environment and scripting;

• have experience with Shapefiles and geospatial data.

We are aware of gender biases in selection processes, so we strongly encourage female candidates to apply.

The post holder will adhere to ISGlobal principles contained in People management policy, including Equity, diversity and health safety. The post holder will respect, and be accountable to ensure ISGlobal policies and procedures.

CONDITIONS

• Duration: 36 Months

• Starting date: Autumn 2026

• Contract Type: Full time

• Salary range: 39.000-43.000€ gross annual
  

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants must fill in the request form and attach the CV and a Cover Letter. Reference Letters will be positively considered, but they are not mandatory. Each attached document must be named with the candidate name and surname.

The receipt of applications will be open until 31th of December 2026.

The interviews could be placed during the reception of candidatures period.

Diverse candidatures are encouraged, that includes: gender, race, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, physical abilities, and political views.

SELECTION PROCESS

The selection process is designed in two phases:
1- Interview phase of a technical nature, with the team that requires the incorporation. To assess the person's skills and CV.
2 - Meeting with HR with the finalist(s) to finish assessing the profile and discuss contractual and institutional issues.

If needed any technical test could be passed. A Psychological Competency Evaluation Test will be required for the structural or transversal positions.

In accordance with the OTM-R principles, a gender-balanced recruitment panel is formed for every vacancy at the beginning of the process. After reviewing the content of the applications, the panel will start the interviews, with at least one technical and one administrative interview. A profile questionnaire as well as a technical exercise may be required during the process.

In ISGlobal we are committed to maintaining and developing a work environment in which the values and principles of our organization are respected and equal opportunities between women and men be promoted in each of the areas in which we operate, not tolerating discrimination based on criteria such as age, gender, marital status, race, ethnicity, functional diversity, political leanings, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

We confirm our commitment towards the value of the diversity of our staff and student population and seek to promote peace, equity, diversity and inclusion as essential elements in contribution to improving health worldwide.