Head, Histopathology Core Facility CF

Head, Histopathology Core Facility

IRB Barcelona invites applications for the position of Head, Histopathology Core Facility. The successful candidate will report to the Director, Technology Strategy and Core Facilities, and will play a key role in providing high‑quality, innovative histopathological services to the research community at IRB Barcelona and collaborators.

The Histopathology Core Facility is a centralized, high‑quality support service that delivers a full range of histopathological and spatial biology solutions. The Facility supports both internal IRB researchers and external collaborators from public and private biomedical sectors. It offers a range of routine and advanced histological techniques, cutting‑edge digital and spatial pathology solutions, and tailored experimental services, complemented by specialized training and collaborative project design.

The Head of the Histopathology Core Facility will lead and oversee the operational and strategic development of the platform, driving the implementation of next‑generation spatial biology technologies and fostering a culture of innovation and scientific excellence. The successful candidate will manage a team of research and technical officers and collaborate with multiple research groups across disciplines, including oncology, immunology, metabolic diseases, and aging research.

This is a unique opportunity to join a multidisciplinary, forward‑thinking environment and contribute to the advancement of biomedicine through innovative histopathological and spatial biology approaches.

This position is financed by the Postdoctoral Research Staff Stabilization Support Program (ESTAB) 2024 of the Departament de Recerca i Universitats de la Generalitat de Catalunya ( 797016).

• Lead and oversee the operations, personnel, and strategic development of the Histopathology Core Facility.
• Mentor and train staff and users in histopathology, digital pathology, and spatial biology techniques.
• Provide expert consultation on experimental design, sample preparation, and data interpretation in histopathology and spatial omics.
• Coordinate histopathology input for drug discovery, biomarker identification, and disease modeling studies.
• Implement and validate new technologies in molecular pathology, spatial biology, and digital image analysis.
• Ensure high standards in quality control, reproducibility, and data integrity.
• Establish and maintain collaborations with local, national, and European research institutes, biotech, and pharma companies.
• Foster an innovative environment by continuously exploring and adopting novel histopathological and spatial analytical methods.
• Promote the visibility and services of the Core Facility externally.

• A Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Sciences, Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, or a related discipline.
• Prior experience in competitive research environments and team management or coordination.
• Solid hands‑on expertise in state‑of‑the‑art histological techniques and experimental animal pathology.
• Strong understanding of image analysis tools and digital pathology, and an enthusiasm for spatial biology technologies.
• Fluency in English, both spoken and written.
• A proactive, innovative mindset with the ability to identify, evaluate, and implement cutting‑edge methodologies.
• Strong organizational and communication skills, and the ability to manage a technical service.
• A service‑oriented mindset and willingness to collaborate closely with researchers and support staff.
• Demonstrated ability to foster collaborative environments and drive innovation.

• PhD in Pathology and/or an equivalent recognized postgraduate qualification in experimental animal pathology.
• Prior experience leading a core facility, technical platform, or research team.
• Familiarity with preclinical drug and biomarker studies.
• Experience with spatial transcriptomics, multiplexed imaging, or advanced tissue profiling technologies.
• Hands‑on experience with digital pathology platforms and AI‑based image analysis.
• Knowledge of Spanish and/or Catalan.

• To be part of something meaningful – We are a biomedical research centre that…