Postdoctoral Researcher in Synthetic Biology: The Synthetic Cell Programming Lab led by Dr. Javier Santos-Moreno at the University Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher position. The successful candidate will design and engineer synthetic gene circuits to program temporal tasks in E. coli cells as part of the ERC Starting Grant project “TICK-TOCK Do and Die.”
This is an exciting opportunity to join a young, dynamic, and international research group located at the Biomedical Research Park of Barcelona (PRBB) — one of Europe’s leading life sciences hubs.
📋 Position Summary Table
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Designation | Postdoctoral Researcher (Postdoc) |
| Research Area | Synthetic Biology, Genetic Circuit Engineering |
| Project Title | TICK-TOCK Do and Die (ERC Starting Grant) |
| Principal Investigator | Dr. Javier Santos-Moreno |
| Institution | University Pompeu Fabra (UPF) |
| Department | Medicine and Life Sciences (MELIS) |
| Location | Biomedical Research Park of Barcelona (PRBB), Spain |
| Contract Duration | Up to 3.5 years (Full-time) |
| Start Date | 1st January 2026 or upon agreement |
| Application Deadline | 26th October 2025 or until filled |
🧫 Designation
Postdoctoral Researcher – Synthetic Biology
🔍 Research Area
Synthetic Biology, Gene Circuit Design, CRISPRi Systems, Temporal Programming in E. coli.
📍 Location
Synthetic Cell Programming Lab,
Department of Medicine and Life Sciences (MELIS),
University Pompeu Fabra (UPF),
Biomedical Research Park of Barcelona (PRBB), Spain
🎓 Eligibility / Qualification
Required:
- Ph.D. in Life Sciences or related field.
- One or more first-author publications in major peer-reviewed international journals.
- Strong background in wet-lab synthetic or molecular biology.
Highly Desirable:
- Experience in gene circuit design or computational modeling.
Desirable:
- Experience in one or more of the following:
- NGS sequencing (Illumina, Nanopore, etc.)
- Base editing, synthetic memory, biocontainment, bioproduction, or microfluidics.
Skills & Competencies:
- High motivation, scientific rigor, and integrity.
- Strong organizational and teamwork skills.
- Proficient in written and spoken English.
- Ability to work independently in a collaborative environment.
🧪 Job Description
The postdoctoral researcher will:
- Design and build synthetic gene circuits to program temporal behaviors in E. coli.
- Use CRISPRi, transcription factors, and molecular cloning tools to construct and fine-tune circuits.
- Characterize systems using microplate readers, flow cytometry, and fluorescence microscopy.
- Collaborate on circuit integration and optimization with other group members.
- Publish research articles and present findings at scientific conferences.
- Mentor PhD and undergraduate students and participate in collaborative projects.
- Optional: engage in teaching and outreach activities.
💼 What We Offer
- Full-time postdoctoral contract (up to 3.5 years).
- Competitive salary and full benefits under the Spanish social security system.
- 36 paid holidays per year (22 personal + 14 bank holidays).
- Access to public healthcare, retirement, and unemployment benefits.
- Flexible work policies, including parental leave and family-life balance support.
- Access to career development programs, free training courses, and mentoring.
- Collaborative, international, and inclusive research environment within the PRBB community.
📨 How to Apply
Send a single PDF titledPostdoc-timers-Nov_yourName_yourSurname.pdf
to javier.santos@upf.edu with the subject line:
“Postdoc timers 2025”
The PDF should include:
- Motivation Letter
- Curriculum Vitae (with publication list)
- Contact details of three references
Include your ID/Passport number in the body of the email.
📅 Last Date to Apply
26th October 2025 (or until the position is filled)
📧 Contact for Queries
Dr. Javier Santos-Moreno
Email: javier.santos@upf.edu
Lab Website: santosmorenolab.org
