The CaixaResearch Institute is a newly established immunology research centre with the mission of becoming a general leader in immunological research. It focuses on studying immune system processes and their interaction with the most prevalent diseases, including neurological, oncological, and infectious conditions, as well as on analysing the influence of environmental factors. The institute is devoted to understanding the role of the immune system in health and disease, analysing the environmental factors that influence these processes, and developing advanced technologies to observe and decode them in greater detail.

The institute is part of the rich ecosystem of biomedical research centres supported by the “la Caixa” Foundation, which includes ISGlobal, the Barcelona Beta Brain Research Centre (BBRC), VHIO, IRSICaixa, and the Sant Joan de Déu Foundation—all based in Barcelona—as well as The Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM) in Lisbon.

CaixaResearch Institute invites applications from outstanding predoctoral researchers interested in applying for a Formación de Profesorado Universitario (FPU) 2026 granted by Agencia Estatal de Investigación in the field of biomedicine.

FPU aims to support early-stage researchers in developing their scientific careers and completing a PhD. FPU fellows will carry out an original doctoral research project for 4 years, gaining advanced knowledge, skills and experience to contribute to scientific progress.

Candidates are encouraged to review the list of CaixaResearch Institute labs currently accepting FPU fellows (see below) to identify research areas that align with their interests and find an appropriate CaixaResearch Institute supervisor.

Key dates To apply:



contact us by 16th October 2026

Call deadline: 20th November 2026

Eligibility

Please carefully confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria for this call before applying. More information: FPU guidelines

Academic requirements.

· You have obtained a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 8.0 in your Bachelor’s degree, according to the Spanish grading system.

· You are enrolled in or have been admitted to a doctoral programme for the 2026/2027 academic year.

· You are not yet enrolled or admitted, but you will be eligible to do so by the time the contract is formalized (i.e. you will have completed your Master’s degree by October 2027).

You are not eligible to apply if

· You have already started a predoctoral period with another predoctoral grant or fellowship.

· You hold a PhD awarded by any university.

· You have previously held a predoctoral contract for more than 12 months.

Nationality

Any nationality.

What we offer

· The opportunity to join a newly established immunology research centre with state-of-the-art infrastructure and a highly collaborative research environment.

· Access to the ecosystem of biomedical research centres supported by the “La Caixa” Foundation.

· Institutional support throughout the preparation and submission of the FPU proposal.





· Guidance from experienced principal investigators and support services during the application process.

· A vibrant international scientific environment in Barcelona.

Selection procedure

Candidates will be selected based on their CV, academic record and alignment with the host laboratory.

Host laboratory and field of expertise

Huerga-Encabo Lab

We are looking for a PhD candidate interested in understanding how somatic mutations arising in hematopoietic stem cells shape immune cell development and function during ageing. The PhD candidate will investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms linking clonal haematopoiesis with altered innate immune responses, combining human experimental models with genome editing, advanced flow cytometry and single-cell and epigenomic approaches. The project will explore how clonal evolution and inflammatory environments interact to influence immune function and resilience.

· Keywords: Clonal haematopoiesis, somatic mutations, hematopoietic stem cells, innate immunity, inflammation, immune ageing, clonal evolution, single-cell transcriptomics, epigenetics

· Preferred expertise: Immunology, haematology, stem cell biology. Experience with cell culture, flow cytometry, genome editing and/or bioinformatics is desirable. Candidates interested in combining experimental and computational approaches are particularly encouraged to apply.

If you are interested in applying for a FPU Fellowship with this lab as host please apply including CV, academic record and letter of interest.

* For qualifications obtained outside Spain you must attach the declaration of equivalence of the grade point average (MICIU electronic office) of both bachelor and master, if applicable.

📌 FPU - Huerga-Encabo Lab (Barcelona)
🏢 CaixaResearch Institute
📍 Barcelona