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 postdoctoral researchers interested in applying for Ayudas Juan de la Cierva 2026, granted by Agencia Estatal de Investigación in the field of biomedicine.

Juan de la Cierva aims to promote the incorporation of early-career researchers into Spanish R&D; institutions after completing their PhD.

Candidates are encouraged to review the list of CaixaResearch Institute labs currently accepting Juan de la Cierva candidates (see below) to identify research areas that align with their research interests and experience.

Key dates To apply: contact us by 30th October 2026

Call deadline: 3th December 2026

Eligibility





Please carefully confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria for this call before applying.

Academic requirements

- Hold a PhD degree, obtained between 1st January 2024 and 31st December 2026.

You are not eligible to apply if

- You have previously been awarded a Juan de la Cierva fellowship/contract.

- Must not have applied for the 2026 Ramón y Cajal call by the application deadline

- If applied to the 2025 Juan de la Cierva call, the proposal must have scored ≥50 points.

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, research track and alignment with the host laboratory.

María Martínez Lab

We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher to investigate maternal immunity during pregnancy and lactation, and its impact on tumour progression. The project combines state-of-the-art single-cell transcriptomics, spectral flow cytometry, and functional assays to decipher immune remodelling and neuroimmunological crosstalk.

- Keywords: Maternal immunity, neuroimmunology, stress, tumour progression.

- Preferred expertise: background in immunology or neuroimmunology. Experience with in vivo mouse models, single-cell techniques and spectral flow cytometry is desired.

📌 JdC - Martínez Lab (Barcelona)
🏢 CaixaResearch Institute
📍 Barcelona