The Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) is a public sector institution that promotes and develops research, innovation, and biosanitary teaching of the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital. Through the excellence of our research, we identify problems of society and contribute to spreading them around the world. In April 2015, VHIR obtained recognition from the European Commission in HR Excellence. This recognition proves that VHIR endorses the general principles of the European Charter for Researchers and a Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (Charter & Code). VHIR embraces equality and diversity.
As reflected in our values, we work toward ensuring inclusion and equal opportunity in recruitment, hiring, training, and management for all staff within the organization, regardless of gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, age, disability, or race.
Postdoctoral ResearcherNeurodegenerative Diseases Research Group studies the mechanisms of inter-organ communication in Parkinson's disease to establish novel pathogenic mechanisms and new possibilities for biomarkers and disease-modifying therapeutic strategies. Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common progressive human neurodegenerative disorder of unknown origin that is becoming more frequent due to the increase in life expectancy. Importantly, there are no reliable biomarkers that allow an early diagnosis nor therapies that stop or slow down its progression, making it an incurable disease.
This project looks more deeply into the communication between the brain and other body organs in PD. Current diagnosis requires the identification of classical motor symptoms, first noticeable when there is already significant neuronal loss in susceptible brain regions. However, PD patients present with other non-motor symptoms (NMS) that usually appear clinically before the manifestation of parkinsonism in a prediagnostic phase of several years. These include gastrointestinal alterations and other alterations of the autonomic nervous system. Also, an altered microbiota composition has been reported in the gut of PD patients.
The main aim is to understand how alterations in the gut-brain axis and other communication axes (i.e. neuroendocrine, immune, and metabolic) contribute to the onset and/or progression of the disease, with the goal of identifying possible early biomarkers and new therapies to prevent or slow down disease progression. The project has been recently funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII). The transversal position offered ranges from the analysis of human biological samples and clinical data from patients to the basic understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying Parkinson's disease in rodent and cellular models.
JOB DESCRIPTIONEducation and QualificationsRequired: PhD in Neurosciences, Microbiology, Biochemistry or Molecular Biology.Good communication skills and fluency in spoken and written English.Desired: Certification and experience to work with rodent experimental models.Experience and KnowledgeRequired: Previous experience in Neurosciences, Microbiology, Biochemistry or Molecular Biology.Previous experience in laboratory research techniques (Immunohistochemistry, Western Blot, PCR, gene expression, flow cytometry).Knowledge in statistical and bioinformatic analyses.Proactive, dynamic, and outstanding organizational skills.Strong sense of responsibility, initiative, self-motivation, and social skills as key personal abilities.Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.Author of high-impact scientific publications.Desired: Experience working with rodent experimental models.
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