IRB Barcelona International PhD Programme IRB-DRIVE: Driving Talent Towards Professional Excellence and High Impact Biomedicine IRB Barcelona in Spain

The IRB Barcelona International PhD Programme IRB-DRIVE is a prestigious doctoral training initiative designed to attract and develop outstanding young researchers in the field of biomedicine. Hosted by IRB Barcelona, a leading multidisciplinary research institute, the programme is co-funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. IRB-DRIVE offers 10 four-year fellowships (with 5 available for the 2026-2027 academic year) to doctoral candidates who will pursue their PhD degrees at either the University of Barcelona or University Pompeu Fabra. The programme is structured to provide a fellow-centric, impact-oriented training experience, preparing students for both academic and non-academic careers in biomedicine.

Fellows will join one of 18 cutting-edge research groups at IRB Barcelona, many of which are led by ERC grant awardees and focus on frontier topics such as personalized medicine, advanced therapies, cancer and metastasis, ageing, and artificial intelligence-driven healthcare tools. The training itinerary includes a novel career-driven track system, comprehensive mentoring, onboarding, and mental health support, ensuring holistic professional development. The fellowship provides exceptional working conditions, including a gross annual salary of €31,000 (subject to Spanish tax and social security), as well as additional funds for travel, networking, university fees, family allowance, and relocation.

Applicants must hold a Master's degree or equivalent in a relevant field (biology, biochemistry, computer science, or cancer research) and demonstrate excellent English proficiency. The application process is highly competitive and international, with a deadline of 9 January 2026. Interested candidates should review the participating research groups and apply online through the IRB Barcelona PhD programme portal. This is an outstanding opportunity for motivated researchers to join a vibrant scientific community and contribute to high-impact biomedical research in Barcelona.