Job offer: Invitation to apply to LaCaixa “INPHINIT” predoctoral fellowship on microplastics and gut microbiota.

We are seeking a competitive candidate to apply to the upcoming LaCaixa INPHINIT predoctoral grant. We offer a PhD project on microplastics exposure and gut microbiota among infants at the Water Pollution and Health Team. 
 

• Degree in medicine, biology, environmental sciences, and similar scientific disciplines.
• Master in Public Health or similar 
• Experience in environmental epidemiology, exposure science, statistical data analysis. 
   

The eligibility criteria of LaCaixa INFNIT is determined by the call: https://fundacionlacaixa.org/es/becas-doctorado-inphinit
 

Studies pursued 

All individuals who hold a higher education degree when they start at the host institutions (by Sept – Nov 2025), which allows them to enrol in an official doctoral programme in accordance with the regulations in force, are eligible to apply for the fellowship. 
The host university should verify upon starting the admission process to the doctoral programme that the studies taken up by candidates make them eligible to enrol in an official doctoral programme in accordance with the regulations in force in Spain or Portugal. Should they be found not eligible after verification, the fellowship will be withdrawn. 
Under no circumstances may candidates have previously enrolled in the same doctoral studies for which they are applying for the fellowship.
Note that if these studies have been completed by the deadline for applications, the credits awarded and the total number of credits for the degree must also appear. If these studies are still in progress, candidates must submit the transcript of records in its current status upon submission of the application. 
Candidates may optionally include in the same document the transcripts of records for any other degrees they hold (bachelor’s, master’s, etc.).

Language proficiency 
Applicants must accredit their proficiency in the English language by submitting any of the certificates mentioned in Section 4.3 of the attached Rules, including exceptions Under no circumstances will any other certificate be accepted.

Deadline for language certification: if not submitted by the 18th of February (call deadline), the accreditation can be submitted via the online platform by the 4th of March 2025 at 23:59 (CET).

Research experience 
On the deadline for applications, applicants must still be within the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers. They must also not have any previous doctoral degree, and not be in a position to apply for it. To be considered fellows, selected candidates must obtain the admission to the doctoral programme for which they applied for. If not, they will lose the right to the fellowship.

Incompatibilities

• Individuals who have already availed of a postgraduate fellowship from the ”la Caixa” Foundation or individuals who were previously awarded a fellowship but declined it without any duly justified circumstance of illness or a reason of force majeure cannot apply for this fellowship.
• Candidates applying for this fellowship will not have the option to simultaneously apply for another ”la Caixa” Foundation fellowships programme of the same call.
• Individuals who have already started a doctoral programme before the beginning of the Doctoral INPhINIT Retaining fellowship cannot apply for this programme.
• These fellowships are exclusively for in-person studies, that is, to train and do research at the host institution’s facilities, with fellows completely devoting themselves to their studies on a full-time basis.

The candidate will conduct literature review, analyse data, lead publications, attend and present in seminars, and participate in other scientific activities in ISGlobal. The candidate will adhere at the ISGlobal PhD guidelines. 
 

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 asessment process.
 

• Balance between team player and independent work
• 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 accountable to ensure ISGlobal policies and procedures .
 

Full-time study: These fellowships are exclusively for in-person studies – to train and research in the university or research centre’s facilities, with fellows completely devoting themselves to their studies on a full-time basis.

Fellowship amount
The payment amount will be broken down as follows: 

• €35,800 x 4 annual payments that includes the gross salary, employer's Social Security contribution and other current or future compulsory taxes. Fellow gross salary: 25.000€ / year aprox. 
• €3,500 per year, as an additional amount for conferences, courses, research stays, consumables, equipment, charges for the use of intellectual property, etc. 
• The tuition fees to the official doctoral programme where the fellow will be admitted to.

Training programme
In addition to the financial support, the fellowship includes a training programme on transversal skills, which has been specially designed by leading international institutions in the sector. This programme includes aspects such as technology transfer, entrepreneurship, commercialisation of innovation, intellectual property, leadership, creativity, communication skills, teamwork, personal development, planning, assertiveness and networking.
 
Duration
1-year full-time labour contract, renewable annually after favourable reports – 4 years’ maximum.
Start date: between September and the 30th of November 2025. Only in duly justified cases, until 31 January 2026.

The fellowship is made effective when the selected candidates and the host institutions reach an agreement regarding their admission.
Note: If the thesis defence takes place before the 4 years of the fellowship are up, the fellowship will end on the same day of the defence.

Applicants must fill in the request form and include the following code reference position: INPHINIT_PhD_Villanueva_Nov24, attach the CV (including Bachelor and Master Degree marks) and a Cover Letter. Each attached document must be named with the candidate name and surname. 

The receipt of applications will be open until 31 of December 2024.

Applications will be accepted until 17.00 CET of the closing date.

Only the applications submitted through the request form will be considered.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

The interviews could be placed during the reception candidatures period.
Diverse candidatures are encouraged, that includes: gender, race, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, physical abilities, and political views.
 

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.

If needed any technical test could be pass. 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.

ISGlobal supports the initiative #ScienceforUkraine. Therefore, to sustain Ukraine’s presence in the European Research Area and international scholarly community, candidates from Ukraine on all levels of scholarly career are welcome: students, PhD candidates, early career researchers and senior scholars.

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.

ISGlobal expresses its unconditional support for all those researchers and their teams who are in conflict zones, in a firm commitment in favor of peace and human rights from the commitment to academic excellence and transformative research in any context. And we are open to considering with special attention those proposals that may involve a link with ISGlobal.