IRB Barcelona is seeking an enthusiastic, motivated and ambitious Postdoctoral fellow to join the Colorectal Cancer Laboratory (led by Dr. Eduard Batlle) at the Cancer Science Programme. The Batlle Lab at IRB Barcelona is an international reference for the study of colorectal cancer (CRC). Their pioneering studies have contributed to advance the state of the art in several important areas such as the connection between stem cells and cancer, the role of the tumor microenvironment in poor prognosis CRC and the identification of mechanisms of metastasis and immune evasion. Further information can be found at: https://www.irbbarcelona.org/en/research/colorectal-cancer-laboratory#eduard-batlle and https://www.icrea.cat/community/icreas/17443/eduard-batlle-gomez/

The successful candidate will develop an exciting project aiming to understand immune-evasion mechanisms in metastatic dissemination and disease relapse. It will make use of KRAS inhibitors to study tumour cell plasticity and persister-cells. The approach is multidisciplinary and aims to translate basic research to clinically relevant data, using animal and cell models, as well as genetic profiles of tumour samples. The project involves state of the art technologies including FACS, scRNAseq; genetic editing by Crispr/Cas; in vivo models of immunocompetent metastatic cancer based on organoids; spatial tissue profiling and advanced methods of microscopy.

YOU HAVE:  

• Experience:

- Doctoral degree in Life Sciences (Biology, Biotechnology, Biomedicine, or a related field). Applicants who have not completed a doctorate at the end of the application period may also apply, provided that all requirements for a completed degree are met before the (intended) date of employment.

- Official Accreditation to perform Animal Experimentation

• Knowledge and skills:

- Strong background in Tumour Immunology

- Verified skills in cell culture and Molecular Biology

- Good knowledge of Antibody-based tissue analyses, including FACS analyses of tumor cell populations and analysis of imaging data

- Verified skills in In vivo experiments

- Fluent in English.

• Competences:

- Self-Motivated

- Good communication skills, both for oral presentations as well as for scientific writing

- High organization capacity

- Ability to interact effectively and work within a team

- Good analytical and problem-solving skills

YOU MIGHT ALSO HAVE

•  Experience:

- Organoid Culturing

- At least one (first-author) research paper during your PhD

- Proven experience in immunology

• Knowledge:

- Candidates with experience with big data analyses, and coding with R and/or Python will be prioritized.

WHAT WE OFFER:

To be a part a part of something meaningful: We are a biomedical research centre that tirelessly works to achieve a society free of diseases. Our mission is to carry out research of excellence to cure cancer and other diseases linked to ageing.

Good Working conditions: Employed in compliance with Spanish legislation and regulations under a full-time contract. Employees receive the benefits of the Spanish Social Security system covering sickness, maternity/paternity leave and injuries at work.

Competitive salary: commensurate with experience and qualifications.

International Environment: Nearly 90 Postdoctoral researchers (more than a half non-Spanish nationals) are currently working at IRB Barcelona.

Multidisciplinary Research: Research of excellence at the unique interface between biology, chemistry, and structural and computational biology.

Training and Career: Postdoctoral researchers joining IRB Barcelona gain access to the Institute’s advanced research training and career development opportunities, all within in a competitive international environment. Courses and workshops on themes of particular interest to postdocs are offered regularly by the Institute.

Relocation & Visa Assistance: Trained staff provides support on visa paperwork, administrative requirements, and practical information on living and working in Barcelona, etc.

Social Life: We like to have fun. We promote several activities, like a Football League, an annual skiing trip, a Mountaineering Club, a Running Club and "Cool-off sessions", where members meet informally for drinks, snacks and scientific discussions.

Fairness: Our recruitment is open, transparent and merit-based, and all applicants compete on the same terms. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, ethnic origin or disability.

HOW TO APPLY & SELECTION PROCESS:

• Deadline for applications: 18/10/2026 (If no suitable candidate is found, the deadline will be extended) 

• Number of positions available: 1

• Selection process:

  • Pre-selection: Will be based on CV, motivation letter & experience.

  • Interviews: Short-listed candidates will be interviewed.

  • Job offer: Will be sent to the successful candidate after the interview. 

IRB BARCELONA endorses the Requirements and Principles of the European Charter for Researchers, the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, and Open, Transparent, Merit-based recruitment promoted by the European Commission and follows Equal Opportunities policies.

On 9 December, 2014, IRB Barcelona was awarded the "HR Excellence in Research" logo. This recognition reflects the commitment of the Institute to the continuous improvement of its human resources policies in line with the Charter & Code. The Institute works to ensure fair and transparent recruitment and appraisal procedures.

Please check our Recruitment Policy.

Note: The strengths and weaknesses of the applications will be provided upon request.

ABOUT IRB BARCELONA,

Created in 2005 by the Generalitat de Catalunya (Government of Catalonia) and the University of Barcelona, IRB Barcelona is a Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence—a seal that was awarded in 2011.

The institute is devoted to conducting research of excellence in biomedicine and to transferring results to clinical practice, thus improving people’s quality of life, while simultaneously promoting the training of outstanding researchers, technology transfer, and public communication of science. Its 27 laboratories and 9 core facilities address basic questions in biology and are orientated to diseases such as cancer, metastasis, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and rare conditions.

IRB Barcelona is an international centre that hosts 500 members and 45 nationalities. It is located in the Barcelona Science Park. IRB Barcelona forms part of the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST) and the “Xarxa de Centres de Recerca de Catalunya” (CERCA).