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

ISGlobal is seeking a motivated postdoctoral researcher to support the International Human Exposome Network (IHEN) project for a period of six months. IHEN has received funding from Horizon Europe (grant agreement 101137317) and is focused on building the international network, tools, demonstrators and roadmap needed to improve global research and cooperation on the exposome.

The postdoctoral researcher, will contribute to testing and improving exposome-related tools, including bio.tools resources, and will support IHEN demonstrator projects with a particular focus on data harmonisation related to blood pressure. The role will also assess the utility of the IHEN cohort catalogue for omics research, support the IHEN ambassador programme, contribute to mentoring and coordination activities, and assist with final reporting to the European Commission.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Contribute to the testing, documentation and refinement of IHEN exposome-related tools, including bio.tools resources, and provide feedback on usability, interoperability and relevance for exposome researchers.

• Support IHEN demonstrator projects by contributing to data harmonisation activities, with a particular focus on blood pressure-related variables and their comparability across cohorts.

• Assess the utility of the IHEN cohort catalogue for omics research, including the visibility, completeness and usability of metadata needed to identify cohorts with relevant omics data and associated exposome information.

• Support the development and implementation of IHEN demonstrator activities by liaising with project partners, compiling information, tracking progress and contributing to deliverables.

• Support the IHEN ambassador programme, including communication with ambassadors, preparation of materials, follow-up of activities and documentation of outputs.

• Contribute to mentoring and knowledge-transfer activities within the team, including supporting junior researchers or students involved in IHEN-related analyses and demonstrators.

• Contribute to the preparation of scientific and technical outputs, including internal summaries, project documents, deliverables, manuscripts and final reporting to the European Commission.

• Inform the ongoing development of the IHEN network, toolbox, cohort catalogue and roadmap by identifying strengths, gaps and recommendations emerging from demonstrator testing and catalogue evaluation.

SPECIFIC DUTIES

• Review and test selected IHEN tools and bio.tools entries relevant to exposome research, documenting strengths, limitations and improvement needs.

• Map and harmonise blood pressure variables across participating cohorts or demonstrator datasets, including variable definitions, units, timing, measurement protocols and derived indicators where needed.

• Evaluate whether the IHEN cohort catalogue adequately captures information required for omics-based exposome research, such as available biospecimens, omics platforms, sample size, timing and linked exposure/health data.

• Prepare concise reports, tables and summaries to support demonstrator interpretation, cohort catalogue improvement and project decision-making.

• Support meetings, follow-up actions and coordination with IHEN partners, ambassadors and work package leads as needed.

• Support final IHEN reporting by compiling evidence of activities, outputs, lessons learned and recommendations from the demonstrators, tools testing, cohort catalogue assessment and ambassador programme.

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.

SKILLS

• Excellent scientific writing and reporting skills.

• Strong organisational skills and ability to deliver within a short project timeframe.

• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a collaborative team.

• Analytical and problem-solving skills, with attention to detail in data harmonisation and metadata review.

• Good communication skills for interaction with project partners, ambassadors and multidisciplinary collaborators.

• Proactive, flexible and eager to contribute to the development of shared exposome research tools and resources.

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.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE / QUALIFICATIONS

• PhD in Epidemiology, Public Health, Environmental Health, Data Science, Bioinformatics, Biostatistics or related disciplines.

• Experience in exposome research, environmental epidemiology, cohort studies, omics, or related population-health research.

• Experience with data harmonisation, metadata curation, cohort catalogues, or research data infrastructures would be an asset.

• Experience with scientific writing, project reporting and collaborative European research projects would be an asset.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to work with multidisciplinary teams across epidemiology, exposome science, omics, data science and research infrastructure.

• Ability to review, test and document digital research tools and catalogues, including bio.tools resources and the IHEN cohort catalogue.

• Good understanding of cohort data structures, harmonisation workflows and metadata requirements for reuse of health and omics data.

LANGUAGE LEVEL

• Proficiency in English.

CONDITIONS

• Contract: 6 months

• Salary: 35.373€ gross annual

• Work-Life Balance: 36 days off per year (23 vacation days + 13 personal days)

• Start date: June 2026

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants must fill in the request form and attach the CV and a Cover Letter. Each attached document must be named with the candidate name and surname.

The receipt of applications will be open until 25th of May 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.