Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) is a public sector institution, located in Barcelona (Spain) that promotes and develops innovative biomedical research at the University Hospital Vall d'Hebron. The Cardiovascular Diseases Research Group generates knowledge on the mechanisms of heart diseases and proposes new diagnostic and therapeutic tools to be applied in patients with cardiomyopathies.

The group is looking for candidates to apply to the next call of Ayudas para la Formación de Profesorado Universitario (FPU2026) and join its research team to undertake doctoral studies in cardiovascular research.

More information about our group can be found at:

We are seeking an early-stage predoctoral researcher who is ready to develop their research career through structured training and active participation in high-quality scientific projects. You will undertake doctoral-level research under the supervision and mentorship of experienced researchers, while developing scientific, technical and transferable skills.

You will be expected to contribute to high-quality research in line with the scientific objectives of the team, work towards the completion of your doctoral thesis and participate in the dissemination of research results through scientific publications, conferences and seminars.

In addition, you will participate in training and professional development activities, contribute to outreach and collaborative research activities, and develop the skills and experience required for the next stage of your research career.

Main responsibilities and duties:





- Develop and complete a doctoral research project and thesis focused on addressing an unmet clinical need in cardiology, in accordance with the agreed research and training plan.

- Conduct high-quality translational research under the supervision of senior researchers, including experimental work using appropriate in vitro and in vivo animal models, data collection and measurement, statistical analysis, interpretation of results, and literature review.

- Contribute to the design of experiments, development of research protocols, and implementation of appropriate methodologies.

- Collaborate with senior researchers and other members of the team in the development of research projects and contribute to scientific publications and communications.

- Present and discuss research findings within the group and participate in scientific conferences, seminars, and other research dissemination activities.

- Participate in doctoral training, scientific events, and continuous professional development activities.

- Actively contribute to scientific discussions and foster knowledge exchange within the research group.

Education and qualifications:

Required:

- Hold a university degree in Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacy, Biomedicine, Veterinary Medicine, or a related discipline.





- Have a minimum average grade of 8 out of 10 in the Bachelor's degree .

- Hold a completed university degree and a Master's degree, with a minimum of 300 ECTS credits in official university studies at the time of application. Alternatively, hold an official university qualification from a country within the European Higher Education Area comprising at least 300 ECTS credits, including a minimum of 60 ECTS credits at Master's level, that provides access to doctoral studies.

- Meet the eligibility requirements for the FPU2026 call, including the following:

- Not have previously been awarded an FPU grant under any previous call.

- Not hold a doctoral degree from any Spanish or foreign university.

- Not have held a predoctoral contract for more than 12 months prior to submitting the application.

- Be enrolled in or admitted to a doctoral programme for the 2026–2027 academic year at the time of application. Candidates who are not yet enrolled or admitted may also apply if they will meet this requirement by the date the employment contract is formalised.

- Be admitted to the relevant doctoral programme and enrol in the corresponding doctoral studies at the beginning of the appointment.

- Have an English proficiency level of at least B2 or equivalent , according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Desirable:

- Accredited training in laboratory animal science, such as the Training Course in Laboratory Animal Sciences for Scientists Responsible for the Design or Conduct of Animal Experiments.

- Previous scien

📌 Predoctoral Researcher (Barcelona)
🏢 VHIR
📍 Barcelona