The English-language job board for Spain

SpainJobs.io

Postdoctoral Opportunity in SAXS-Microfluidics for Biomedicine

On-site in Leioa·Added today (last checked 30 Oct)

Instituto Biofisika

5 open roles

Apply

Our summary

Work mode
On-site, Leioa
English
Required
Education
Doctorate

Visa options

  • The ad doesn’t mention sponsorship

    Not a refusal, but not a yes. Worth asking in your first message.

Find jobs with visa support

Skills

Nice to have

Requirements

What we're looking for

Applicants should have:

  • A PhD in Physics, Chemistry, Nanotechnology, Engineering, or a closely related discipline (obtained, or to be defended before the contract start date).
  • A strong background in scattering techniques (SAXS, SANS or related), demonstrated through publications or beamtime experience.
  • Experience in rheology and/or microfluidics.
  • A strong publication record relative to career stage.
  • Excellent written and spoken English.
  • The ability to work independently and in an interdisciplinary team.

Nice to have

The project provides advanced training in:

  • Lipid nanoparticle and lipoprotein biophysics
  • Small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering (SAXS/SANS)
  • Neutron reflection
  • FTIR spectroscopy
  • OMICS approaches
  • Single Particle Profiler (SPP)
  • Cryo-electron microscopy
  • Quantitative data analysis and structural interpretation

The candidate will have opportunities to perform experiments at international neutron and synchrotron facilities and to present research at international conferences.

Experience with flow or rheo-SAXS, microfabrication (e.g. soft lithography), lipid nanoparticles or drug delivery systems, and programming for data analysis (e.g. Python) will be considered an advantage.

Pay & benefits

What you'll get

  • A two-year postdoctoral employment contract.
  • A project at the interface of soft-matter physics, microfluidics and drug delivery.
  • Access to leading European large-scale research infrastructures.
  • An international, collaborative, and multidisciplinary research environment.
  • Opportunities to attend international conferences and specialized training courses.
  • Support to develop an independent research profile, including supervision experience and help with applications for fellowships and funding.

The role

We seek an outstanding and highly motivated Postdoctoral candidate to join the Biocolloids and Neutron Scattering Laboratory, led by Prof. Marité Cárdenas, to work on the research project " Shear-Stress-Responsive Nanotechnology and Microfluidic Platforms for Targeted Cardiovascular Therapy and Atherosclerosis Management" (grant IKUR 2027-2028, funded by Basque Goverment).

The project aims to develop and understand nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery to stenotic regions of blood vessels, where narrowing of the vessel creates locally elevated shear stress. By combining microfluidic models of stenosed vessels with small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), the research seeks to resolve how flow and shear change the nanostructure of drug carriers and trigger the release of their cargo.

What you'll do

The position involves:

  • Design, fabrication and operation of microfluidic devices that mimic healthy and stenotic vessel geometries.
  • Preparation and characterisation of lipid-based and other soft-matter drug carriers.
  • In situ and flow-SAXS/SANS experiments, including rheo-SAXS and microfluidic-SANS, at laboratory sources and synchrotron facilities.
  • Rheological characterisation of carriers and carrier-containing fluids.
  • Quantitative analysis and modelling of scattering and flow data.
  • Co-supervision of PhD and Master's students, and contribution to publications and proposals for beamtime and funding.

How you'll work

The successful candidate will be appointed through a two-year postdoctoral employment contract and will join Instituto Biofisika (IBF).

The project includes close collaboration with leading research groups in the Basque Country, Spain and abroad, as well as experimental use of major international large-scale research infrastructures, such as ESRF (France) and the Institut Laue-Langevin (France).

Hiring process

Compliance with formal degree requirements and application completeness.

Pass / Fail

Academic excellence, technical background, research experience, and overall suitability for the project.

Motivation, scientific reasoning, communication skills, English proficiency, and project fit.

Confidential assessment of academic potential, commitment, and teamwork from two academic referees.

Notice: Reference checks and interviews form an integral part of the evaluation process. Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview. Instituto Biofisika is committed to equal opportunities and recruits following the principles of Open, Transparent and Merit-based Recruitment (OTM-R).

Please send a single PDF containing:

  • Curriculum vitae (maximum two pages)
  • Motivation letter (maximum one page)
  • PhD certificate, or a letter from the supervisor stating the expected defense date
  • Publication list
  • Contact details for two academic referees

Applications should be sent to marite.cardenas@ehu.eus with the subject line:

Job Application_158: Postdoctoral Researcher in Microfluidics and SAXS for Drug Delivery

Application deadline: 21 November 2026

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting 15 November 2026, and the position will remain open until filled. Early applications are strongly encouraged. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

More info: OFERTA 158_POSTDOCTORAL POSITION.pdf (312.72 KB) APPLY

About Instituto Biofisika

Instituto Biofisika (IBF) is a biophysics research centre operating in partnership with Fundación Biofísica Bizkaia (FBB). It is a joint research centre of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), and its research focuses on advancing knowledge about the physical and chemical processes underlying biology and disease. The institute carries out innovative biochemical and biophysical research in a research building with cutting-edge facilities located on the Leioa campus of the EHU, and is one of only two joint centres of CSIC and EHU and one of only nine Basque Excellence Research Centres (BERCs) accredited by the Basque Government.

The institute is located in Leioa, Bizkaia, in the Science Park of the UPV/EHU, near Bilbao in the northern Basque region of Spain. Its stated mission is to train new scientists and advance scientific knowledge under core values that include integrity, excellence, collaboration, transparency, community, diversity, inclusion, and innovation. It actively recruits for research roles — its current openings include laboratory assistant, research technician, and fully funded PhD positions, as well as positions on an ERC Advanced Grant project — making it relevant for international scientists seeking research careers in Spain.

Industry
Biophysics Research
In Spain
Leioa

Good to know if you are moving

  • Located in the Science Park of the UPV/EHU in Leioa, Bizkaia (Spain), near Bilbao in the northern Basque region of Spain.
  • Joint research centre of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the University of the Basque Country (EHU); the FBB is accredited as a Basque Excellence Research Centre (BERC) by the Basque Government — one of only nine BERCs in the Basque Country.
  • Stated mission is to train new scientists and advance scientific knowledge under core values including integrity, excellence, collaboration, transparency, community, diversity, inclusion, and innovation.
  • Current openings include laboratory assistant, research technician, and fully funded PhD positions, as well as positions on an ERC Advanced Grant project.
  • Works in a research building with cutting-edge facilities on the Leioa campus of the EHU.

In their own words

About the company & team

Instituto Biofisika (IBF) is a joint research center of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). Together with Fundación Biofísica Bizkaia, a Basque Excellence Research Centre (BERC), IBF provides an internationally recognized environment for interdisciplinary research in biophysics, structural biology, and advanced imaging.

Located on the UPV/EHU campus near Bilbao, the institute hosts internationally competitive research groups and offers access to state-of-the-art scientific infrastructure.

The successful candidate will join the Biocolloids and Neutron Scattering Laboratory, an internationally active research group specialized in the physicochemical characterization of biological colloids and membrane systems.

All open roles at Instituto Biofisika

More jobs like this

or browse Mid-level·Research Institutes & Deep Tech·Biophysics Research

WhatsApp

More jobs from Instituto Biofisika

See all 5 jobs

Similar jobs