Postdoctoral Fellowship In Biomedical Gynaecology

The Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), affiliated with the Autonomous University of Barcelona, invites applications for a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA-PF) in the Biomedical Gynaecology Research Group (GineLab). This position is funded under the Horizon Europe programme and supports outstanding researchers pursuing an original research project with international mobility. The fellowship duration ranges from 12 to 24 months, offering a competitive living allowance, mobility and family allowances, and comprehensive social security coverage.

The project aims to develop an in vitro diagnostic triage test for patients at risk of endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer based on protein biomarkers detected in cervical fluids. Endometrial cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, with rising incidence and a critical need for non‑invasive early detection strategies. Current diagnosis relies on imaging and invasive biopsies, leading to unnecessary procedures for many women. By leveraging recently developed key reagents, the fellow will advance the pre‑analytical and analytical validation of the biomarker panel, assess its performance in symptomatic pre‑ and postmenopausal women, and evaluate its utility in Lynch syndrome carriers who undergo annual surveillance.

In parallel, the fellowship will investigate the proteomic landscape of endometrial cancer progression using a transgenic mouse model and cervical fluids from atypical endometrial hyperplasia patients. This work seeks to elucidate tumour progression mechanisms and identify additional biomarkers that could improve the triage test’s sensitivity and specificity. The research will be conducted within GineLab’s multidisciplinary environment, which combines clinical expertise from Dr. Antonio Gil‑Moreno and translational innovation led by Dr. Eva Colás.

The Biomedical Gynaecology Research Group maintains a strong track record in technology transfer, having spawned the femtech spin‑off MiMARK Diagnostics S.L., which has secured over €8 million in funding, including a €2.5 million EIC Accelerator grant. GineLab also leads international consortia such as the European CytoMARK network and collaborates with leading institutions including the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, the Luxembourg Institute of Health, and numerous European and US universities. The group’s commitment to talent development is evidenced by the supervision of six PhD theses with honours since 2022 and an active internal training programme that attracts researchers from across Europe.

The successful candidate will be expected to participate in translational research projects, collaborate with group members, support managerial activities of the principal investigator, and disseminate results through publications and conference presentations. Applicants must hold a PhD degree (or have defended their thesis before the call deadline of 09 September 2026), satisfy the MSCA mobility rule (not having resided or carried out their main activity in Spain for more than 12 months in the last 36 months), be fluent in English, and demonstrate a strong publication record, preferably as first author. Additional desirable qualifications include experience with complex human samples, mass spectrometry, immunoassay, and manuscript drafting. The position is based on‑site in Barcelona, Catalonia, offering a vibrant scientific environment and access to state‑of‑the‑art core facilities.