Location: Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona / Monells, Girona, Spain
Institution: Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA)
Opportunity type: PhD Position
Field: Gut Microbiome · Animal Welfare · Genetics · Multi-omics
Contract: 4 years, full-time
Start: January 2027 (approximately)
Deadline: October 4, 2026
APPLICATIONS OPEN
The Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA) in Catalonia is looking for a PhD candidate to investigate how the gut microbiome and maternal microbial transmission can be harnessed to improve pig welfare, resilience and performance.
The candidate will join the Animal Breeding and Genetics and Animal Welfare teams and participate in the ProBioPig project, funded by the Spanish State Research Agency.
The research
The project focuses on how beneficial gut bacterial consortia can influence pig performance and welfare, while investigating how the maternal microbiome is transmitted to offspring and how this relates to:
- Behaviour
- Immunity
- Welfare
- Resilience
- Microbiome composition
- Multi-omics signatures
The work combines animal experimentation, microbiome research, behavioural assessment and computational analysis.
What will the PhD candidate do?
The position involves:
- Coordinating and conducting experiments at IRTA’s experimental farm in Monells.
- Animal handling and implementation of a social stress model.
- Collecting faecal, blood and tissue samples.
- Supporting behavioural, cognitive and learning tests.
- Analysing shotgun metagenomics, metaproteomics and targeted metabolomics.
- Integrating multi-omics datasets with animal phenotypic data.
- Applying multivariate and machine-learning approaches to the data.
Who can apply?
Applicants should have a Master’s degree in a relevant field such as:
- Animal Welfare
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Microbiology
- Biomedicine
- Related disciplines
Previous experience with animal experimentation and handling is required, preferably with pigs or other livestock.
Applicants should also have knowledge of statistical analysis and bioinformatics using R and/or Python, as well as fluent English.
Candidates must not already hold a PhD.
Additional experience valued
Experience in any of the following would strengthen an application:
- Bioinformatics
- Genomics
- Biostatistics
- Next-generation sequencing
- Metagenomics
- Multi-omics integration
- R / Python / Unix/Linux
- Animal behaviour and welfare assessment
Knowledge of Catalan and Spanish is also valued.
Salary & benefits
The position is a 4-year contract with salary paid in 14 instalments:
Years 1–3: €23,322.09 gross/year
Year 4: €26,325.47 gross/year
The doctoral grant also provides up to €7,000 in additional funding for:
- Research stays of at least one month at other R&D centres
- Tuition fees for the four-year PhD programme
Additional conditions include:
- 37.5-hour work week
- Friday afternoons off
- Intensive summer schedule
- 23 vacation days
- 3 family/work conciliation days
- 45 personal days
- 6 remote-work days per month
- Flexible working hours
- Continuous training and professional development
For candidates from outside the EU, IRTA’s People Department provides support with residence and work permits.
Where is the position based?
The position involves two IRTA locations:
📍 Torre Marimon, Caldes de Montbui – Barcelona
📍 Monells – Girona
The experimental farm activities are conducted in Monells.
Why this opportunity stands out
This is an interesting PhD for someone who wants to combine experimental biology with quantitative and computational research.
The project sits at the intersection of:
Gut Microbiome · Animal Welfare · Behaviour · Immunity · Metagenomics · Multi-omics · Machine Learning
That combination makes it particularly relevant for candidates who want to move beyond a purely experimental PhD and develop bioinformatics and data-analysis skills alongside laboratory and animal research.
Application
Applicants should submit:
- CV
- Motivation letter
Selected candidates must provide proof of admission to or enrolment in a doctoral programme when signing the employment contract.
Deadline
📅 October 4, 2026
Official source
IRTA – Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology
View the official vacancy and apply
Last checked: August 28, 2026