Postdoctoral Researcher Position for multimodal analyses of biomarkers in Alzheimer’s disease
About the job
The Barcelonaβeta Research Center (BBRC) is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the research group led by Dr Marc Suárez-Calvet. The successful candidate will conduct translational research focused on the analysis of biomarker and proteomics data from well-characterized cohorts, with a strong emphasis on multimodal approaches and biological interpretation.
The researcher will be embedded in a highly multidisciplinary environment, working closely with biochemists, neuropsychologists, medical doctors, and bioinformaticians. Collaboration across disciplines is a core element of the group’s research approach.
The Postdoctoral Researcher will work on the analysis of fluid biomarkers (CSF and blood), including immunoassay-based and proteomic data, and their relationships with clinical, cognitive, neuroimaging, and genetic variables. Extensive and well-characterized biomarker datasets are already available through established cohorts, including ALFA, b-AARC, and BIODEGMAR, covering the full Alzheimer’s disease spectrum. In addition, large-scale proteomic data generated using multiple platforms (e.g., Olink and SomaScan), together with in-house measurements using the Alamar NULISA platform, offer substantial opportunities to address novel and emerging research questions in neurodegeneration.
Although this is a non-clinical position, the researcher will be encouraged to participate in clinical meetings and discussions, with the aim of strengthening the translational perspective and gaining deeper insight into disease mechanisms and clinical phenotypes.
In addition to contributing to ongoing projects, the researcher will be encouraged to develop and pursue independent research questions. Over time, they are expected to gain increasing scientific autonomy and to supervise junior team members, as appropriate. Structured mentorship will be provided to support the development of an independent scientific career. Funding to attend international scientific meetings will be provided.
The position will be funded for three years in the first instance, with the possibility of extension. The expected start date is 2026, with flexibility regarding the exact timing.
About the employer
Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center
The Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC) is a research center dedicated to the prevention of Alzheimer's disease and the study of cognitive functions affected in healthy and pathological aging. It was created in 2012 by the Pasqual Maragall Foundation, with the support of the Pompeu Fabra University.
The mission of the BBRC is to provide innovative solutions to decipher and prevent biological changes and cognitive dysfunction associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Due to the aging of the world population, these diseases constitute a global challenge, since for example, dementia can reach epidemic levels in 2050, with a forecast of more than 150 million people affected, if a way is not found to prevent its appearance and development.
The BBRC received the HR Excellence in Research award (HRS4R) granted by the European Commission; a recognition that shows its adherence to the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Research Staff. The center offers a stimulating and favorable working environment in accordance with the Charter and Code, which describe the rights and responsibilities of researchers and their employers, and contributes to the creation of a transparent, attractive and open ecosystem at international level.
Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Pompeu Fabra University and “la Caixa” Foundation are permanent members of the BBRC Board. The center is affiliated and located in the Ciutadella Campus of the Pompeu Fabra University of Barcelona, in a building inaugurated in 2016. The BBRC headquarters has excellent technical facilities, including a 3T MRI scanner dedicated to research, and spaces for conducting Clinical Trials and EEG. State-of-the-art scientific facilities, effective management and continuous high-standard peer-review evaluation are the BBRC core proceedings to ensure achieving world-class research results.
BBRC is also part of the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB), a large research facility that hosts seven other research institutions related to biomedical research, including the Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), the Department of Experimental and Health Sciences of the Pompeu Fabra University (CEXS-UPF), the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE CSIC-UPF), the Barcelona Institute of Global Health (ISGlobal) and the Barcelona site of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), among others, in a multidisciplinary, collaborative and stimulating international environment in close contact with a clinical setting, thereby conducive to translational research.
More information about BBRC: www.barcelonabeta.org
About the project
The ALFA cohort
The setup of preventive studies requires the understanding, from a molecular perspective, of how risk factors generate the risk and the identification of individuals with an increased risk of developing AD in the near future that are suitable to be recruited as asymptomatic subjects in prevention studies and clinical trials. With this in mind, and aiming at increasing our knowledge of the pathophysiology and pathogenic factors emerging at early preclinical AD stages, the Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Centre (BBRC) started the ALFA (for ALzheimer and FAmilies) programme for the prospective follow-up of a cohort of cognitively normal subjects, most of which are the offspring of AD patients. Our programme currently consists of the ALFA registry, the ALFA parent cohort, the ALFA+ study and associated ones. The ALFA registry contains basic demographic data of people willing to participate in current and/or future BBRC projects. The ALFA parent cohort is composed of 2,743 cognitively normal participants, most of them first-degree descendants of AD patients, aged between 45 and 74 years, who have been thoroughly characterised from a sociodemographic, clinical, lifestyle and cognitive point of view. Blood samples of these participants have also been acquired and stored.
A subset of the ALFA parent cohort participants is invited to take part in a nested longitudinal long-term study, named the ALFA+ study, in which a more detailed phenotyping is performed. On top of a similar characterization as in the ALFA parent cohort (neuropsychological, clinical, etc.), it entails the acquisition of both wet (CSF and blood sample collection) and imaging (MRI and PET) biomarkers. In brief, the ALFA+ study will serve to untangle the natural history of the disease and to model the preclinical stages in order to develop successful trials. The ALFA+ longitudinal cohort includes 400 individuals, which are selected to participate based on their specific AD risk profile. The ALFA+ study started in October 2016 and complete follow up visits every three years, with the fourth visit currently ongoing.
The b-AARC study enrols 200 participants aged 55 to 80 with subjective and/or mild objective decline in memory (SCD or MCI) or other cognitive abilities. Subjects are followed prospectively on a yearly basis with clinical and cognitive assessments, lifestyle habits, digital biomarker tools, diagnostic imaging and fluid biomarkers including CSF as well as novel blood-based biomarkers for AD.
The BIODEGMAR cohort is an observational longitudinal study that enrolls patients with neurodegenerative diseases visiting the Cognitive Decline and Movement Disorders Unit of Hospital del Mar Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain). In BIODEGMAR, participants perform a detailed neuropsychological and functional evaluation by a trained neuropsychologist, brain MRI scan, APOE ε4 genotyping, lumbar puncture for CSF collection and blood sampling. Clinical evaluation and diagnoses were performed by a specialized neurologist in cognitive disorders. BIODEGMAR participants undergo a yearly follow-up visit that includes neuropsychological and clinical evaluation. The cohort includes CU participants with SCD as well as MCI or dementia patients from different etiologies. Aβ pathology was determined using the CSF. A comprehensive description of the BIODEGMAR cohort, the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the core AD CSF biomarkers measurements and cutoffs determination was previously published. Local ethics committee approval was obtained for BIODEGMAR cohort.
Responsibilities
- Conduct translational research focused on Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers, particularly fluid biomarkers, across the disease continuum, and apply statistical methods to the analysis of multimodal (biochemical, proteomic, cognitive, clinical, neuroimaging, and genetic) cross-sectional and longitudinal data.
- Develop and progressively lead independent research questions aligned with personal scientific interests and the group’s research lines.
- Contribute to the training and supervision of students, fellows, and other group members, as appropriate.
- Prepare and publish high-quality scientific manuscripts, contributing to the academic environment of the laboratory and institute, and participate in applications for competitive research funding.
Required qualifications, competences and technical skills
PhD or MD degree (or expected to be obtained in the coming months) in bioinformatics, biostatistics, computational biology, data science, medicine, neuropsychology, neuroscience, or a related field, with a solid publication record, including first-author research publication(s) in peer-reviewed international journals.
Strong interest in Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and neurodegeneration.
Strong statistical and data analysis skills, with good knowledge of statistical programming in R and/or other statistical software packages.
Experience working with biomarker and proteomics data will be positively considered.
Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
A high level of motivation, initiative, drive, and enthusiasm.
We offer
Starting date: 2026 (starting date can be negotiated)
Full-time position, 38 hours per week.
Initial 3-year contract.
Salary will depend on experience and will be in accordance with BBRC’s salary scales.
Hybrid working model (on-site + teleworking).
We offer and promote a diverse and inclusive environment and welcome applicants regardless of age, disability, gender, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity. The position offers a unique research opportunity in a highly innovative project in a multidisciplinary institution.
Selection Process
Pre-selection: The pre-selection process will be based on qualifications, expertise and motivation reflected in the candidate’s cover letter and CV. It will be merit-based.
Interview: Preselected candidates will be interviewed by Dr Marc Suárez-Calvet and other team members as well as staff from the Human Resources Department.
Offer Letter: Once the successful candidate is identified the Human Resources department will send a Job Offer, specifying the start date, salary, working conditions, among other important details.
Application process
To apply, please submit a single PDF file containing the following:
Cover letter addressed to Dr Marc Suárez-Calvet describing research interests and relevant background
CV
The names of up to three individuals who could provide reference letters. All files or inquiries should be submitted electronically to:talent@barcelonabeta.org
Subject: Postdoctoral Researcher Barcelona
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