The Vall d´Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) Seeks a “Predoctoral Position (PhD Student) – FPI Fellowship Application”
Reference: 2026-026-01
Application deadline: 01/05/2026
Number of vacancies: 1
The project:
The Computational Immunogenomics Group at VHIO (Barcelona), led by Dr. Francisco Martínez Jiménez, is seeking an outstanding PhD candidate to develop AI and transcriptomics-based approaches to study cancer cell-intrinsic HLA-II expression across human tumors. The project will integrate single-cell and bulk RNA-seq data across large pan-cancer cohorts to understand how tumor-intrinsic HLA-II expression shapes the genomic landscape, tumor microenvironment, and clinical behavior of cancer. This position is intended for a candidate applying for a Spanish FPI fellowship.
The group:
The successful candidate will join the Computational Immunogenomics Group at the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) in Barcelona. The group develops computational and genomic approaches to understand the biological basis of tumor evolution and immune evasion, with a strong focus on identifying clinically relevant biomarkers and mechanisms that can inform the next generation of cancer immunotherapies.
The lab offers a highly collaborative and international environment at the interface of cancer genomics, immunology, and data science. The candidate will work with large-scale genomic and transcriptomic datasets and will interact closely with computational scientists, translational researchers, and clinicians.
Find more about our research here: https://www.franmartinezlab.com/ and https://vhio.net/pf/computational-immunogenomics-group/
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in bioinformatics, maths, biological sciences, or a related field
Proficiency in Unix/Linux operating systems
Strong programming skills in Python and/or R, as well as Bash
Experience with machine learning and AI models
Experience with single-cell analysis tools such as Scanpy and Seurat, and familiarity with other relevant pipelines would be considered a plus
Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary team environment
Strong verbal communication skills in English
Additional information:
We offer:
📈The possibility of developing your professional career in a competitive environment.
ð§ To be part of a center that is constantly developing, pursuing excellence in research and collaborating with leading teams.
ð«±ð»âð«²ð¾We offer and promote a diverse and inclusive environment, and welcome all people equally, regardless of age, disability, gender, nationality, race, religion or sexual orientation.
ðª´We care about our environment and understand the importance of sustainability. We have the GreenVhio program, which you can be a part of.
Conditions:
ðPre-doctoral contract under the Science Law. - El contrato laboral de la beca PREP2024-002713 está financiado por el MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/
ðï¸Full-time position, 37.5 hours per week.
ð¶Salary according to qualifications and experience following VHIO pay scales.
ð³Flexible remuneration program (includes restaurant vouchers/cards, transport, medical insurance, and âbaby daycareâ voucher).
â°Flexible working hours and measures to balance work, family, and personal life, and promote gender equality, as established in the VHIO collective agreement.
ðºï¸24 days of holidays and 6 personal days.
ðFully subsidized Catalan, Spanish, or English courses.
ðââ¡ï¸Take advantage of doing sports at great prices with Urban Sports Club
ð©ºYouâll have access to weekly physiotherapy sessions at the office, offered at a reduced price for the team.
Vall dâHebron Institute Oncology (VHIO) endorses the Requirements and Principles of the European Charter for Researchers, the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers promoted by the European Commission and follows Equal Opportunities policies.
On 10th April 2018 VHIO was awarded the âHR Excellence in Researchâ logo. Our Institute was consequently granted permission to use the HR Excellence in Research Award logo as demonstration of its stimulating and favourable work environment in line with the Charter & Code.
Under the leadership of Josep Tabernero, the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) has established itself as a cancer research center of proven excellence internationally. It is thanks to Josep's directorship and VHIO's optimal organizational structure based on a purely multidisciplinary and translational model that VHIO talents continue to anticipate and tackle the many unresolved questions in combatting this multifaceted and heterogeneous disease.
Located within the Vall d´Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, our researchers closely collaborate and interact with Vall d´Hebron University Hospital physician-scientists. Translational science and clinical research are therefore tightly connected which promotes superb interaction and teamwork which, in turn, accelerates the bench-bedside-bed cycle of knowledge. This privileged environment affords VHIO direct access to patients as well as the entire spectrum of oncology professionals who care for them, and a second-to-none appreciation of how cancer science can translate into more powerful, targeted treatments and better practice for the care of patients.
VHIO's pioneering model and programs, coupled with its belief in combining strengths through cross-border collaborations, continue to spur advances in reversing cancer resistance, halting metastatic spread and more effectively treating even the most undruggable tumour types.
VHIO's translation toward precision oncology.
