The Vall d´Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) Seeks a “Predoctoral Position (PhD Student) – FPI Fellowship Application”

Reference: 2026-027-01

Application deadline: 01/05/2026

Number of vacancies: 1

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate to join our Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Group as a fully funded PhD student. The successful applicant will become part of a dynamic, multidisciplinary team focused on developing novel and improved cancer immunotherapies.

Research Group

Immunotherapies harness the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer. Alongside surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, immunotherapy has become a fourth pillar of cancer treatment. Our group focuses on understanding naturally occurring T-cell responses to cancer and leveraging these insights to develop more effective and personalized immunotherapies.

Our research explores strategies to identify and exploit tumor-reactive T cells circulating in peripheral blood, enabling minimally invasive monitoring and therapeutic development. We combine experimental and computational approaches, including single-cell profiling, high-throughput screening, and ctDNA-based neoantigen discovery, to better understand immune responses and resistance mechanisms.

Through these efforts, we aim to expand the reach and efficacy of T-cell-based therapies across multiple cancer types and contribute to the next generation of precision immunotherapy.

Our group is actively involved in translational and clinical research. In close collaboration with clinical teams, we are conducting early-phase clinical trials evaluating neoantigen-selected tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in patients with advanced cancers

Candidate Profile:

• University degree in Biology, Genetics, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or a related discipline

• Master’s degree in Immunology, Biomedical Sciences, Biotechnology, Biomedicine, or a related field

• Strong interest in T cell immunology within the context of cancer and translational research

• Previous experience in techniques such as:

  • Flow cytometry

  • Cytotoxicity assays

  • Single-cell sequencing

  • Cell culture

  • High-throughput screening (HTS)

  • Animal experiments

• Highly motivated, proactive, and able to work both independently and collaboratively

• Good command of English

Additional information:

We offer:

• 📈The possibility of developing your professional career in a competitive environment.

• 🧠To be part of a center that is constantly developing, pursuing excellence in research and collaborating with leading teams.

• 🫱🏻‍🫲🏾We offer and promote a diverse and inclusive environment, and welcome all people equally, regardless of age, disability, gender, nationality, race, religion or sexual orientation.

• 🪴We care about our environment and understand the importance of sustainability. We have the GreenVhio program, which you can be a part of.

Conditions:

• 📝Pre-doctoral contract. El contrato laboral de la beca PREP2024-002713 está financiado por el MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ FEDER

• 🗓️Full-time position, 37.5 hours per week.

• 💶Salary according to qualifications and experience following VHIO pay scales.

• 💳Flexible remuneration program (includes restaurant vouchers/cards, transport, medical insurance, and “baby daycare” voucher).

• ⏰Flexible working hours and measures to balance work, family, and personal life, and promote gender equality, as established in the VHIO collective agreement.

• 🗺️24 days of holidays and 6 personal days.

• 🎓Fully subsidized Catalan, Spanish, or English courses.

• 🏃‍➡️Take advantage of doing sports at great prices with Urban Sports Club.

• 🩺You’ll have access to weekly physiotherapy sessions at the office, offered at a reduced price for the team.

Vall d’Hebron 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 “HR Excellence in Research” 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.