The ”la Caixa” Foundation, which firmly believes that scientific progress, research, mobility, and professional qualification are key to societal development, is launching a fellowships programme for young researchers of any nationality to undertake a doctorate in health and life sciences, technology, physics, engineering, and mathematics. These fellowships are available in Spain or Portugal at accredited institutions with Severo Ochoa or María de Maeztu excellence distinctions, any centre of the Carlos III Health Institute, and units recognized for excellence by the Foundation for Science and Technology in Portugal.
These fellowships aim to provide researchers with additional training skills to enhance their career development in academia, industry, and entrepreneurship.
The Foundation offers 30 fellowships for official doctoral studies at accredited host organizations meeting the above excellence criteria. Applicants must meet the admission requirements for a doctoral program, fulfill mobility criteria, and not have previously started any doctoral studies.
The fellowship becomes effective once an agreement is reached between the candidate and the host institution, which will hire the fellow using the Foundation's funds. The host must hold the necessary excellence accreditation at the contract start date.
Fellows should commence between September and November 2025; a justified delay until 31 January 2026 may be permitted.
See the PhD open positions at IGTP:
* Cinta Folch
* Eduard Serra
Main Responsibilities:
Project 1: Ovarian Cancer Research — Focuses on integrating multi-omics data and developing preclinical models to understand treatment resistance. Responsibilities include conducting experiments, developing models, testing therapeutics, and collaborating with biologists.
Project 2: Public Health Community Research — Involves supporting community research projects, data analysis, and report writing, aimed at improving health responses for vulnerable populations in Latin America.
Project 3: Childhood Liver Oncology — Investigates hepatoblastoma, studying tumor microenvironment and potential therapeutic targets, utilizing biorepositories and collaborating with clinical trials.
Project 4: Tuberculosis Immunology — Studies immune responses across TB spectrum, using mouse models, with aims to understand host-pathogen interactions and develop stratification models.
Project 5: Neural Crest Tumors — Focuses on genomics and cell identity in PNS tumors, utilizing primary cultures, iPSC models, and genomic repositories to explore malignancy mechanisms and therapeutic vulnerabilities.
Project 6: Clinical Genomics — Develops RNA-based diagnostic tools to detect variants affecting splicing, using long-read sequencing technologies to improve genetic diagnosis of hereditary diseases.
Project 7: Colorectal Cancer Microenvironment — Aims to enhance immunogenicity of CRC via epigenetic remodeling, employing molecular biology techniques and preclinical models to identify therapeutic targets.
Project 8: Neurofibromatosis and PNS Tumors — Uses multi-omics and models to understand tumor progression, with opportunities for data integration, pipeline development, and early detection research.
Project 9: Neurodegenerative Biomarkers — Investigates platelet miRNAs and their role in Lewy body disorders, aiming to develop early diagnostic biomarkers and understand disease mechanisms.
Project 10: Thyroid Cancer Epigenetics — Focuses on epigenomic biomarkers for prognosis and resistance in thyroid cancer, using multi-omics, functional validation, and liquid biopsy approaches.
Project 11: Tumor Microenvironment & Immunotherapy — Studies macrophages and immune responses in cancer, collaborating with industry to translate findings into therapies.
Qualifications include a higher education degree eligible for doctoral enrollment, proficiency in English, research experience within four years, and mobility restrictions according to the program rules.
What We Offer: The Foundation provides a yearly stipend of €35,800 (minimum €25,000), research costs (€3,500/year), and coverage of tuition fees. The host institution manages the fellowship payments and employment conditions.
Application Deadline: July 31.
More information and application details are available on the Foundation’s website.
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