Research and Innovation for the sustainable use of water
JOB CHARACTERISTICS
(*) This offer and contracting are subject to the obtaining of the project (Concession Resolution), the availability of economic funds and the effective start of the project.
JOB DESCRIPTION
ICRA is looking for a highly motivated person to join as a predoctoral researcher (R1) and develop a doctoral thesis within the framework of the FOODTRACK project (PID2025-172036NB-C21), funded by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities / State Research Agency (MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) and by FSE+ within the Knowledge Generation Projects 2025 and Actions for the training of predoctoral research staff 2025.
FOODTRACK is an interdisciplinary and ambitious project that aims to understand how chemical and microbiological exposures from food relate to the human exposome, the gut microbiome and resistome, and to the signals observed at the population scale in urban wastewater.
The project is based on the integrated analysis of three types of samples and complementary scales:
– Representative food baskets, designed to characterize dietary exposures in different socioeconomic contexts.
– Human biological samples from a well-characterized population cohort, especially fecal samples and other biological matrices.
– Wastewater collected directly from urban collectors and wastewater treatment plants, together with sewage sludge, providing a population-scale perspective.
By combining microbiology, molecular biology, metagenomics, bioinformatics, human biomonitoring, and wastewater-based epidemiology, FOODTRACK will investigate how microbial communities, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and chemical exposures are distributed and connected along the food–human–wastewater continuum.
The selected person will join the ICRA research team and develop a doctoral thesis focused mainly on the microbiome, resistome and mobilome components of FOODTRACK. The thesis will not focus on a single type of sample. The candidate will work with samples from food baskets, human samples, and wastewater and sludge samples, which will allow for direct comparison of microbial communities and determinants of antimicrobial resistance between these interconnected matrices.
The research will analyze which microorganisms, determinants of antibiotic resistance, and mobile genetic elements are shared or specific to food, human, and wastewater; explore possible connections between these matrices; and assess the extent to which dietary, individual, environmental, and socioeconomic factors may contribute to observed microbiome and resistome patterns.
The position offers an especially attractive opportunity to work at the interface between environmental microbiology, food microbiology, human microbiome, antimicrobial resistance, metagenomics, environmental epidemiology, and public health.
The selected person will work within the framework of a multidisciplinary collaboration that includes ICRA, IDAEA-CSIC and Dipsalut, and will have access to complementary datasets and sample collections generated specifically within the framework of FOODTRACK.
The researcher will receive training in experimental, computational and quantitative approaches and his/her scientific independence, participation in international scientific conferences, publication of results in scientific journals and the development of a competitive profile for a future research career will be progressively encouraged.
The position corresponds to a four-year full-time predoctoral contract, with guaranteed minimum salary conditions in accordance with the Statute of Predoctoral Research Staff in Training (EPIF).
The call for applications and subsequent contracting are subject to the decision to grant the FOODTRACK project, the availability of funding and the effective start of the project.
MAIN FUNCTIONS
The selected person will develop research activities in the food, human cohort and wastewater components of FOODTRACK, with special emphasis on microbiome, resistome and mobilome analyses.
The main functions will include:
– Extraction, quality control and preparation of DNA from samples of food baskets, human biological samples, wastewater collected in urban collectors and treatment plants, and sewage sludge.
– Application and optimization of molecular biology and microbiology procedures for the characterization of microbial communities and determinants of antimicrobial resistance in different matrices.
– Analysis of whole genome and metagenome sequencing data.
– Characterization of the microbiome, resistome and mobilome, including antibiotic resistance genes, mobile genetic elements and, where possible, their microbial hosts.
– Development, implementation, and documentation of reproducible bioinformatics workflows for metagenomic analysis.
– Comparative analysis of microbial communities and antimicrobial resistance profiles between food → human samples → wastewater.
– Identification of microbial taxa, resistance determinants and mobile genetic elements shared between matrices or enriched in specific environments.
– Investigation of possible relationships between diet-associated microbial exposure, the human gut microbiome/resistome, and signals observed at the community level in wastewater.
– Analysis of associations between the characteristics of the microbiome and resistome and relevant dietary, individual, environmental and socioeconomic variables.
– Contribution to the identification and validation of microbiological markers with potential application in wastewater-based epidemiology and surveillance on a population scale.
– Integration of microbiological results with chemical exposure data generated in FOODTRACK.
– Statistical analysis, interpretation, and visualization of complex, multidimensional datasets.
– Standardization and documentation of experimental and computational procedures.
– Active participation in project meetings and collaboration with researchers in microbiology, analytical chemistry, environmental sciences, epidemiology and public health.
– Preparation of scientific articles, technical reports, contributions to congresses and oral presentations.
– Dissemination and communication of research results to the scientific community and, where appropriate, to public health agents.
– Preparation of a doctoral thesis based on the research carried out within the framework of the project.
EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
Requirements
Research Field or Field of Knowledge:
Candidates must have academic training in one or more of the following fields:
Biology, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology or closely related disciplines.
Qualifications and Level of Education:
University degree and official master’s degree or equivalent qualification that allows access to doctoral studies in Spain.
It will be necessary to meet the academic requirements to access a doctoral program.
A strong academic record is required and consistent with the competitive nature of the predoctoral contract.
Abilities:
High motivation to develop a research career and complete a doctoral thesis in an interdisciplinary environment.
Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary research teams.
Scientific curiosity and willingness to work at the intersection of microbiology, environmental science, food science, human health, and data analysis.
Ability to work autonomously, maintaining fluid interaction with supervisors and collaborators.
Rigorous, organized and methodical way of working in both experimental and computational activities.
Ability to analyze complex data sets and critically interpret scientific results.
Good communication and scientific writing skills.
Ability to document research procedures and generate reproducible analyses.
Willingness to learn new laboratory methodologies, bioinformatics and statistical analysis.
Willingness to work with different biological and environmental matrices, including food, human samples, and wastewater.
Valid B driving licence.
Required Languages:
English: level sufficient to read and write scientific literature, prepare manuscripts and presentations, and participate in scientific meetings.
Catalan and Spanish.
Experience Required:
Candidates must have previous academic, research or professional experience relevant to the proposed doctoral thesis, which may include:
Previous participation in a university environment or in a research team.
Hands-on experience with molecular biology techniques, especially DNA extraction, PCR-based techniques, or other related procedures.
Experience in the analysis, interpretation and presentation of scientific or technical data.
Experience in the preparation of scientific or technical reports, master’s degree final projects, research reports or other equivalent documents.
Experience in the oral or written presentation of scientific or technical results, preferably including communication in English.
Desirable
Experience in bioinformatics, computational biology or sequencing data analysis.
Experience in metagenomics, microbiome, resistome or mobilome analysis.
Familiarity with next-generation sequencing workflows.
Experience with R, Python, Linux, and/or command-line environments.
Knowledge of bioinformatics tools for taxonomic profiling, genome or metagenome assembly, detection of antibiotic resistance genes, functional annotation or analysis of mobile genetic elements.
Knowledge of microbial ecology, food microbiology, environmental microbiology or human gut microbiome.
Previous experience in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) or antibiotic resistance genes.
Experience in the analysis of food samples, human biological samples, wastewater or sewage sludge.
Experience in comparing microbial communities between different environmental or biological matrices.
Experience with cohort data, epidemiological data, or integration of biological and contextual variables.
Knowledge of statistics, multivariate analysis or data visualization.
Experience in reproducible research practices, version control or workflow management.
Scientific publications, contributions to conferences or other research results in accordance with the candidate’s professional stage.
Previous research stays or experience in international or multidisciplinary environments.
Interest in understanding the connections along the food-human-urban environment continuum and their relevance for food safety, antimicrobial resistance and public health surveillance.
Above all, we are looking for an individual with a strong scientific background, intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm for developing new skills. Applicants with high scientific potential are particularly encouraged to apply, even if they do not yet have experience in all the methodological components of the project.
BENEFITS
Working Conditions: Hiring in compliance with Spanish legislation and regulations. Workers receive benefits from the Spanish Social Security System that cover illness, maternity/paternity leave and accidents at work.
International Environment: Opportunity to join a prestigious international research institution and be part of a young and growing team.
Continuous training in a high-quality environment.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE AND SELECTION PROCESS
All applications must include:
CV
Letter of Motivation that includes a statement that the Doctorate degree from any national or foreign university is not available.
DNI or NIE (valid and with a work permit in Spain). If you do not have a NIE, attach a statement in which you agree to carry out the necessary procedures to obtain a work and residence permit in Spain.
Academic Degrees
Deadline for Submission of Applications:
Submission of applications in Calls – ICRA
The deadline for submitting the application is November 19th, 2026.
Selection process:
In accordance with the principles of the OTM-R, at the beginning of the process, a gender-balanced Selection Committee is set up for each vacancy. The evaluation and selection process will guarantee the principles of competition, publicity and transparency, as indicated in article 12.1 of the call for grants for knowledge generation projects and actions for the training of predoctoral research staff, within the framework of the State Plan for Scientific, Technical and Innovation Research 2024-2027. Likewise, and in accordance with article 12.2, the application evaluation process will be based on the criteria and sub-criteria provided for in this article of the call.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
05/11/2026 - 19/11/2026
Girona
minim EPIF - màxim 29.000€
4 years
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