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ERC Advanced Grant Project T6S-PoreMech Open Positions

On-site in Leioa·Added 2 days ago

Instituto Biofisika

4 open roles

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Overview

Requirements

Have the right to work in Spain
Instituto Biofisika doesn't mention sponsorship in the ad.
Work in English
English is required, per the ad.
Work on-site in Leioa
No relocation package mentioned.
University degree
“Essential qualifications: Ph.D. in Biophysics, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or a related field.” — per the ad.

Pay & benefits

What you'll get

Involvement in a high-impact, pioneering European research project.
Access to state-of-the-art biochemistry, electrophysiology, and high-end cryo-EM facilities.
A collaborative, international, and stimulating research environment.
Competitive salaries commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Requirements

What we're looking for

Postdoctoral Researcher - Biophysics & Toxin Function (Postdoc 1)

Role: Lead the in vivo and in vitro functional characterization of T6SS pore-forming toxins and their biophysical molecular mechanisms.
Essential qualifications:
- Ph.D. in Biophysics, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or a related field.
- Demonstrated expertise in biophysics, membrane proteins, and/or pore-forming toxins.
Desirable qualifications:
- Experience with single-channel planar lipid bilayer electrophysiology, liposome/nanodisc reconstitutions, or flow cytometry-based cellular assays.

Postdoctoral Researcher - Cryo-EM & Structural Biology (Postdoc 2)

Role: Drive high-resolution single-particle cryo-EM structure determination of active, membrane-inserted toxin pores in nanodiscs and toxin-immunity complexes using megabody technologies.
Essential qualifications:
- Ph.D. in Structural Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, or a related field.
- Demonstrated expertise in cryo-EM (sample preparation, grid vitrification, data collection, and processing), membrane proteins, or pore-forming toxins.
Desirable qualifications:
- Experience with nanodisc reconstitution, megabodies/nanobodies, or membrane protein purification.

Technical Specialist - Protein Biochemistry

Role: Support the day-to-day laboratory operations, manage molecular biology pipelines, and lead the expression and purification of challenging bacterial membrane proteins to support all project pillars.
Essential qualifications:
- B.Sc., M.Sc., or Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or a related field.
- Proven expertise in protein biochemistry, specifically protein expression and purification (bacterial expression systems, affinity/size-exclusion chromatography).
Desirable qualifications:
- Prior experience in handling membrane-associated proteins, lab management, and inventory ordering is highly valued.

The role

Open Positions: ERC Advanced Grant project "T6S-PoreMech"

This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme (Grant Agreement No.101265901)

The T6S-PoreMech project, funded by a prestigious ERC Advanced Grant, aims to establish a new unifying framework for understanding Type VI Secretion System (T6SS) Pore-Forming Toxins (PFTs). By combining cutting-edge single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), membrane protein biochemistry, and single-channel electrophysiology, the project will resolve the atomic architectures of active, membrane-inserted toxin pores and decipher how bacteria defend themselves against these molecular weapons.

We are seeking three highly motivated and talented team members to join this exciting 5-year initiative at Instituto Biofisika:

How you'll work

Contract Duration: 2-year initial contract, renewable for up to 2 additional years (2+2 years) subject to project needs.
Position starting: From 2027 (flexible)

Hiring process

Application Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting 1st September 2026, and the positions will remain open until filled.

Recruitment follows an Open, Transparent, and Merit-based (OTM-R) process across four stages:

Eligibility Check

Compliance with formal degree requirements and application completeness.

CV & Background

Technical expertise alignment based on job description and academic/professional track record.

Interview

Presentation of past research, technical competence, problem-solving, English fluency, and project fit.

Reference Check

Confidential evaluation of past performance, teamwork, and reliability from 2-3 references.

Notice: Reference checks and interviews form an integral part of evaluation. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview. Equal opportunity principles strictly apply throughout selection.

Interested candidates should send a single PDF containing a cover letter, a CV with a full publication list, and contact details for 2-3 references to davidalbesa@gmail.com with the subject line "ERC T6S-PoreMech - [Position Name]". Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis starting 1st September, 2026

More info: OFFER_152- ERC ALBESA- multi posit.pdf (298.75 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
Website: biofisika.org

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

Location: Instituto Biofisika (Bilbao, Spain)
Principal Investigator: Prof. David Albesa-Jové
Research group: Structural microbiology laboratory https://www.biofisika.org/en/research/structural-microbiology
Publication Date: July 27, 2026

All open roles at Instituto Biofisika