Job Opening: Researcher in Plant Biochemistry/Biotechnology for IRTA's Postharvest Program

IRTA is currently seeking a motivated Researcher with a Ph.D. related to Plant Biochemistry and/or Biotechnology and experience in plant physiology to join the Postharvest Program. It is expected that the candidate will lead research of excellence resulting in important advances in fruit postharvest. We invite applications from ambitious and enthusiastic candidates with relevant research experience to conduct research and innovation activities on fruit postharvest.

Main job characteristics

• Head of the Program: Dr Neus Teixidó
• Program’s key researcher/s for this position: Dr Christian Larrigaudière & Dr Gemma Echeverria
• Job location: Fruitcentre (Lleida)
• Full-time position: 37.5 h/week
• Terms of appointment: This is a permanent full-time position, or a full-time tenure track position, subject to the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate
• Gross Annual Salary: To be resolved according to the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate
• Employee Benefits: 22 vacation days, 3 days of family & work conciliation, 45h of personal days, Friday afternoon off, Compressed Summer schedule from 15/06 to 15/09, Conciliation schedule.

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Proactively initiate, supervise and /or lead research projects (national and/or international) and promote contractual research with private companies.
• Supervise and train, in conjunction with other researchers from the program, the technical team.
• Continuously update scientific knowledge and transfer the results to stakeholders and end-users.
• Help positioning the Postharvest Program as a group of excellence through regular peer-reviewed publications, contributions at national and international congresses and supervision of PhD and postdoctoral researchers.
• Work in close collaboration with other IRTA researchers, as well as with external academic, institutional and industrial partners.
• Contribute to the activities of the research Program, taking part in the planning and execution of the experiments to ensure the achievement of milestones of research projects.
• Perform literature review, data collection and management, involving statistical analysis.
• Contribute to the scientific production of the research and innovation activities of the Program.
• Lead and actively contribute fund rising through the preparation and submission of project proposals for public competitive calls and contracts with the private sector, as well as reporting process, such as writing progress and final reports of research activities.

Required qualifications and experience:

• BSc and MSc in Biology, Agronomy, or related field with a PhD in Plant Biochemistry and/or Biotechnology and proven scientific excellence and practical experience.
• Experience in fruit and/or vegetable Postharvest Physiology and an outstanding record of scientific publications.
• 2-years Postdoctoral experience abroad and achievements in similar fields.
• Hands-on practice on analytical techniques such as liquid and gas chromatography and/or others for the determination of target compounds.

Desirable requirements:

• Experience in data processing and bioinformatics will be highly valued.
• Experience in Molecular Biology (gene expression analysis by RT-qPCR or RNAseq, etc).
• Good communicative skills and teamwork experience.
• Experience in project management, with good organizational and coordination skills.
• Full driving license for Europe and traveling availability.
• Ability to establish and build good collaboration within and outside the institution that will allow pursuit of the objectives of the R&D activities and the program's strategic research goals.

Languages:

• Proficiency in English.
• Catalan and Spanish are valued.

More information and application process

About IRTA

IRTA is a research institute owned by the Government of Catalonia ascribed to the Ministry of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda. IRTA is one of the CERCA centers of excellence of the Catalan Research System. Our purpose is to contribute to the modernization, competitiveness and sustainable development of agriculture, food and aquaculture sectors, the supply of healthy and quality foods for consumers and, generally, improving the welfare and prosperity of the society. We are granted by the EU with the HRS4R distinction for “HR Excellence in Research” and thus we offer a rich environment for knowledge development and exchange where to develop a scientific career, and possibilities for professional promotion according to the attained achievements. Check our initiatives here.