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 and IQS are jointly seeking a full-time Predoctoral Fellow to develop a 3-4-year doctoral thesis project investigating the contribution of environmental exposures and nutritional status to mortality in low- and middle-income settings. The thesis will integrate metallomic (ICP-MS) and metabolomic (LC-HRMS) analyses of post-mortem tissue samples collected through Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling (MITS) in Mozambique and Brazil, building on the existing CaDMIA and CaDMIA-Plus biobanks.

The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary team of pathologists, epidemiologists, analytical chemists and bioinformaticians, with the goal of identifying biochemical signatures of toxic exposure, micronutrient deficiency and other physiological stresses associated with specific causes of death across neonates, stillbirths, children, adults and maternal deaths. The project's overarching aim is to generate evidence to inform public health and environmental policy in vulnerable populations and to establish a reproducible multi-omics framework for post-mortem studies.

The thesis project is jointly developed by ISGlobal and IQS – Institut Químic de Sarrià, combining ISGlobal's expertise in global health, pathology and post-mortem mortality surveillance with IQS's leadership in advanced analytical chemistry workflows.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Doctoral research and scientific activities:

• Develop and carry out the doctoral thesis project on integrated metallomic and metabolomic profiling of post-mortem tissues from Mozambique and Brazil, under the joint supervision of ISGlobal and IQS.

• Contribute to the design and optimization of ICP-MS and LC-HRMS analytical workflows adapted to post-mortem tissue samples, in close collaboration with the analytical team at IQS.

• Select and curate post-mortem tissue samples from the existing CaDMIA and CaDMIA-Plus collections, ensuring adequate sample size, representativeness and traceability for robust multi-omics analyses.

• Perform laboratory work including sample preparation, instrument operation (under supervision), quality control and data acquisition.
  Data analysis and interpretation:

• Process, normalize and quality-check metallomic and metabolomic datasets using established bioinformatics pipelines.

• Conduct statistical and multivariate analyses to characterize elemental and metabolic profiles across age groups, organs and demographic strata.

• Identify biologically meaningful correlations between multi-omics profiles and causes of death, integrating clinical and epidemiological metadata provided by ISGlobal.

• Contribute to the interpretation of findings in light of environmental health, nutrition and pathology literature.
  Scientific communication and dissemination:

• Prepare scientific manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed open-access journals.

• Present results at national and international conferences and at internal project meetings.

• Contribute to the writing of the doctoral thesis dissertation in accordance with the requirements of the enrolling doctoral programme.

• Support the dissemination of findings to broader audiences, including policy-relevant briefs where appropriate.
  Project coordination and collaboration:

• Participate in coordination meetings between ISGlobal, IQS and partner institutions in Mozambique and Brazil.

• Contribute to sample logistics planning, including coordination with ISGlobal teams on shipment, preservation and biosafety compliance of post-mortem samples.

• Support ethical and regulatory documentation related to the use of human post-mortem samples.

• Apply for complementary research grants and predoctoral fellowships.

SPECIFIC DUTIES

Scientific and technical skills

• Foundation in analytical chemistry and/or biochemistry, with understanding of mass spectrometry principles.

• Practical experience in laboratory work, including sample preparation of biological matrices.

• Working knowledge of at least one programming or statistical environment (R, Python, MATLAB) for data analysis.

• Capacity to read, interpret and synthetise scientific literature across disciplines (analytical chemistry, epidemiology, pathology, environmental health).

• Ability to design, execute and document experimental protocols following good laboratory practice and reproducibility standards.

Personal and interpersonal skills:

• Strong organizational, problem-solving and analytical thinking skills, with rigorous attention to detail.

• Proactive attitude, scientific curiosity and capacity to work autonomously while integrating feedback from supervisors.

• Ability to communicate scientific results clearly in writing and orally, including in international and multicultural research environments.

• Commitment to working as part of a multidisciplinary team distributed across institutions and countries.

• Ethical commitment to research integrity, data protection and the responsible handling of human biological samples.

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

• Teamwork.

• Problem resolution.

• Learning capacity.

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

• The Predoctoral Fellow will hold a Master's degree (or equivalent qualification granting access to doctoral studies in Spain) in Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacy, Biotechnology, Environmental Sciences, Biomedical Engineering or a related field. A solid academic record and a clearly demonstrated interest in pursuing a doctoral thesis combining analytical chemistry and global/environmental health research are essential.

• Previous hands-on laboratory experience is required, ideally including one or more of the following: mass spectrometry techniques (ICP-MS, LC-MS, LC-HRMS), sample preparation of biological matrices (tissues, fluids), trace-element analysis, untargeted/targeted metabolomics workflows, or omics data processing. Familiarity with quality control procedures, instrument calibration and good laboratory practice will be considered an asset.

• Experience or formal training in bioinformatics and statistical analysis of omics data (R or Python, multivariate analyses, normalization pipelines, pathway analysis) is highly desirable. Prior exposure to post-mortem research, pathology samples, biobanking, or studies conducted in low- and middle-income countries will be positively valued but is not required.

• The ideal candidate will be rigorous, curious and capable of working both independently and within a multidisciplinary, multi-site team distributed across ISGlobal (Barcelona), IQS (Barcelona) and project partners in Mozambique and Brazil. The fellow will be expected to enrol in a doctoral programme at a partner university and to complete the doctoral thesis within the project's 3-4 year duration.

LANGUAGE LEVEL

• English: B2–C1 (Upper-intermediate to advanced)

• Spanish and/or Catalan: B1 or above — desirable

CONDITIONS

• Contract: 3 years (predoctoral contract aligned with the duration of the doctoral thesis project).

• Salary: According to ISGlobal internal salary scale

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

• Start date: to be defined

• Enrolment in a doctoral programme at a partner university is required as a condition of the contract.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants must complete the application form and upload a CV and a Cover Letter. Each document must be clearly named with the candidate’s name and surname.

Applications will remain open until 17th of July.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and shortlisted candidates may be contacted and interviewed as applications are received. Interviews may take place during the application period.

We encourage diverse applications, including but not limited to gender, race, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, physical abilities, and political beliefs.

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.