Senior Researcher in Genomics & Multiomics for Brain Aging & Neurodegeneration Research

Context

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 role 

The Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC) is looking for a highly experienced Senior Researcher to join our Genomics Group, led by Prof. Arcadi Navarro. The successful candidate will provide strong scientific and operational support by acting as a senior scientific reference within the group.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide direct operational and scientific support to the GL, helping coordinate and implement day-to-day priorities and ensuring smooth execution of group activities.
• Support representation of the group and/or represent it in internal and external scientific meetings when requested by the GL.
• Provide scientific and technical guidance to PhD and MSc students, postdoctoral researchers, technical staff, and other group members (e.g., troubleshooting, feedback on analyses, best-practice workflows), in coordination with the GL.

Research and Scientific Activities

• Contribute to research projects under the supervision of the GL, in close alignment with the GL’s research agenda (e.g., human genomics, GWAS, multi-omics data analysis, comparative genomics, etc.).
• Implement, optimize, and document complex analyses involving large-scale datasets; ensure reproducibility and quality control of pipelines and outputs.
• Contribute to scientific publications (e.g., methods, results, figures, and internal review) under the direction of the GL.
• Ensure the proper deposition, documentation, and controlled access (when applicable) of datasets generated by the group in appropriate repositories, in line with institutional policies, funder requirements, and FAIR principles.
• Maintain and curate the group’s computational outputs (analysis pipelines, scripts, containers, and workflows), including version control, documentation, and reproducible execution guidelines.

Funding Preparation and Laboratory Management

• Support the preparation and reporting/justification of competitive funding proposals (technical sections, methods, preliminary analyses, and administrative inputs as needed).
• Coordinate day-to-day operations of wet and dry lab activities (e.g., scheduling, interfaces with platforms/collaborators, data management, documentation, and compliance support), in coordination with the GL.

Required Qualifications and Experience

•  PhD in Genetics, Genomics, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Neuroscience, or a closely related field.
• Completed postdoctoral training in a relevant research area.
• Demonstrated experience in biomedical research, with a strong track record in human genomics, GWAS, multi-omics, comparative genomics, or related high-dimensional data analysis.
• Proven ability to independently design, implement, and interpret complex analyses involving large-scale datasets.
• Peer-reviewed publications in relevant scientific fields.

Technical and Analytical Skills

•  Strong expertise in genomic data processing, quality control, and association analyses.
• Experience integrating multiomics datasets and interpreting results in a biological and translational context.
• Advanced programming skills in R, Python, or equivalent languages.
• Experience working in high performance computing environments and implementing reproducible workflows, including version control practices.
• Understanding of data governance, controlled access procedures, and FAIR data principles.

Funding and Project Management

• Demonstrated experience contributing to the preparation and scientific justification of competitive research funding proposals.
• Experience contributing to scientific reporting for funded projects.

Leadership and Organisational Skills

• Experience supervising or mentoring students, postdoctoral researchers, or technical staff.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to coordinate multiple projects and laboratory activities.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• Experience working with well-characterised human cohorts, particularly in brain aging, neurodegeneration, or dementia research.
• Experience in laboratory coordination across wet and dry lab environments.
• Experience curating and maintaining computational pipelines, containers, and documented reproducible analysis environments.
• Prior involvement in successful competitive grant applications as co-applicant or key contributor.
• Experience interacting with clinical collaborators and multidisciplinary research environments.
• Strategic mindset aligned with long-term research programme development.

We offer

• Immediate start.
• Permanent contract
• Full-time: 38 hours/week
• Salary: dependent on experience, in line with the BBRC Reward Policy and Development Plan
• Flexible compensation plan: meal card, health insurance, kindergarten
• Holidays: 23 working days per year, proportional to start date, plus additional days such as long weekends and periods inMarch-April and December
• Stimulating work environment, with cutting-edge infrastructure and unique professional development opportunities

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: A shortlist of preselected candidates will be interviewed.
•  Offer Letter: Once the successful candidate is identified the People Area 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 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: Senior Researcher in Genomics & Multi-omics for Brain Aging & Neurodegeneration Research

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