BITRECS (Biomedicine International Training Research Programme for Excellent Clinician-Scientists), is an IDIBAPS fellowship program that gives the opportunity to a postdoctoral researcher with a "clinician-scientist" profile so that they can dedicate themselves intensively to biomedical research for 3 years with a project framed within the activity of an IDIBAPS group. In addition, it provides high-level professional training with the aim of becoming a future leader in their area of specialization.
First edition – BITRECS European Commission and La Caixa - 2019
In 2024, a new call for the BITRECS programme was opened, funded by the "la Caixa" Foundation, and 1 excellent clinician-scient was hired. You can find all the details in this link.
Third edition - BITRECS AECC 2025
Description
BITRECS within AECC Program of Excellence The Biomedicine International Training Research programme for Excellent Clinician-Scientists (BITRECS) will support 3 outstanding post-doctoral clinician-scientist to be fully devoted to research during 28 months. They will be implementing their research projects and be hig-level trained to become future leaders in the area of cancer. This is the third edition of the program to be part of the Program of Excellence, code number EPAEC246711CLIN financially supported by the Fundación Científica Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer” (AECC) Each position is focused on a specific research line that can be consulted in the BITRECS website:
Pioneering Strategies to Maximize Immunotherapy Efficacy in lymphoid malignancies
Pioneering Strategies to Maximize Immunotherapy Efficacy in liver cancer
Pioneering Strategies to Maximize Immunotherapy Efficacy in breast cancer
The IDIBAPS is a foundation for research of excellence that tackles diseases with high prevalence, morbidity and mortality in society. The Clinic Barcelona hospital, a century-old reference hospital committed to healthcare, research and teaching, covering virtually all medical and surgical specialities is part of this foundation.
The close interaction of 99 IDIBAPS clinical and laboratory research groups drives forward original translational and multidisciplinary research oriented to solve relevant biological and clinical questions for human health. Moreover, the institute have been being pioneering dedicated programmes to promote the profiles of clinician-scientists.
IDIBAPS tackles cutting-edge translational research in 6 main areas focusing on:
IDIBAPS offers training and career development opportunities, and access to state-of-the-art facilities in the institute. Different departments ensure that IDIBAPS researchers have access to modern working spaces with functional research equipment and comprehensive lab management support. Moreover, IDIBAPS organizes in-house activities, seminars, courses and workshops, promoting professional and personnel growth and interaction.
The institute offers excellent working conditions and creative environment as ensured by the HR Excellence in Research award (European Commission).
Calendar for the call for applications
The calendar for submitting applications for the BITRECS is as follows:
Preparation of the call: Early April
Dissemination of the call: April-May
Evaluation of the call:
June (first phase)
July (interviews)
Resolution: July
Starting dates: Since October
Terms and conditions of BITRECS
Object
A research contract will be awarded to 3 postdoctoral clinician-scientists. Awarding of the grant for the contract will be linked to the development of an integrated translational project.
The duration of the research contract will be 28 months.
The job offer you must follow is this link.
Applicants
Demonstrate a PhD prior to the call deadline.
At the time of submitting the application, the applicant must have completed the clinical residency training in the last 10 years or have minimum 3 years of experience to clinical activity.
Be the main author (first, last or corresponding) of an original article with impact in a specific research area.
Knowledge of English (minimum B2 level)
Endowment
The contract will have a duration of 28 months. The selected applicant will carry out the contract at the centre calling for applications (IDIBAPS) and will finish the contract on the dates indicated in the decision.
The research contract will be endowed with an approximate amount of 55.000€ per year (gross salary).
The contractual relationship of the successful applicant shall be researcher employee of IDIBAPS.
Application
The application shall include the following documentation as it is detailed in the corresponding call:
Application form duly completed by the applicant.
Motivation letter indicating the reason for submitting the application (maximum 1.000 characters, including spaces), indicating the IDIBAPS group that you would like to join based on your profile and interests (see Appendix IDIBAPS Groups)
Research proposal.
Two reference letters
University Degree
PhD Diploma
Clinical Residency Training Diploma or equivalent
Letter/s and/or certificate/s referring to the equivalences for the PhD or the clinical residency training.
Signed authorization in reference to personal data protection law. European Regulation (UE) 2016/679
All templates and necessary information is available in this website. All the documentation must be sent to the e-mail address fcrbrrhh@recerca.clinic.cat following the instructions detailed in the call before the deadline for submitting applications.
Evaluation procedure
The selection process and the assignation of the research contract shall be carried out by an evaluating committee of experts of recognized prestige in the area of clinical or translational research.
The committee shall act following the Open, Transparent and Merit-based Recruitment process (OTM-R).
Candidates' evaluation consists of two phases:
Phase 1. Application Assessment to select the best eligible candidate in terms of excellence.
Phase 2. Face-to-face interview and final selection phase to help judge the potential of each candidate to be future independent and outstanding European research leaders.
Evaluation criteria:
Candidate (60%): Considering the track record; and other scientific merits.
Research proposal (30%): Excellence and impact in the scientific field; and coherence and feasibility of the research proposal’s work plan.
Adequacy and motivation (10%): Appropriateness of the institutional environment; and motivation to enrol BITRECS.
Evaluators will consider the candidate’s excellence in terms of scientific performance and research proposal, together with their motivation and commitment to the initiative.
Decision
The decision on the call for applications shall be published here.
The call for applications may be declared null and the decision of the evaluating committee may not be appealed.
Once the decision on the call for the applications has been made, the name of the beneficiary of the research contract and the composition of the evaluating committee shall be published on the IDIBAPS website.
Signing
The start of the exercise of the contract shall take place no later than three months from the signing of the acceptance commitment (in exceptional cases it would be negotiable according to the candidate’s availability).
Acceptance
Applicants shall comply with the provisions of the legislation in force on the protection of personal data.
Applying to this call for applications implies acceptance of its terms and conditions and decision.
