Head of the Machine Learning for Biomedical Research unit (R4)

• Coordinate a team of researchers to develop efficient solutions to biomedical problems based on the use of machine learning.
• Contribute to the generation of resources and tools dedicated to the application of machine learning in biomedical research.
• Provide support in biomedical projects related to machine learning int he Life Sciences department.
• Foster collaboration on biomedical applications of machine learning, including high-performance computing and social impact, within the department, the BSC and with relevant local and international stakeholders.
• Secure the financial sustainability of the Unit via competitive funding in collaboration with other groups at the BSC.
• Train future technicians and researchers in applying machine learning methods to solve biomedical research questions., * A cover/motivation letter with a statement of interest in English, clearly specifying for which specific area and topics the applicant wishes to be considered. Additionally, two references for further contacts must be included. Applications without this document will not be considered.

Development of the recruitment process

The selection will be carried out through a competitive examination system ("Concurso-Oposición"). The recruitment process consists of two phases:

• Curriculum Analysis: Evaluation of previous experience and/or scientific history, degree, training, and other professional information relevant to the position. - 40 points
• Interview phase: The highest-rated candidates at the curriculum level will be invited to the interview phase, conducted by the corresponding department and Human Resources. In this phase, technical competencies, knowledge, skills, and professional experience related to the position, as well as the required personal competencies, will be evaluated. - 60 points. A minimum of 30 points out of 60 must be obtained to be eligible for the position.

The recruitment panel will be composed of at least three people, ensuring at least 25% representation of women.

In accordance with OTM-R principles, a gender-balanced recruitment panel is formed for each vacancy at the beginning of the process. After reviewing the content of the applications, the panel will begin the interviews, with at least one technical and one administrative interview. At a minimum, a personality questionnaire as well as a technical exercise will be conducted during the process.

The panel will make a final decision, and all individuals who participated in the interview phase will receive feedback with details on the acceptance or rejection of their profile.

At BSC, we seek continuous improvement in our recruitment processes. For any suggestions or comments/complaints about our recruitment processes, please contact recruitment [at] bsc [dot] es. For more information, please follow this link.

• Education

• PhD in Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Physics, or similar

• Essential Knowledge and Professional Experience

• Ample experience in applying ML methods to solve biomedical research questions.
• Experience in training researchers (students and technicians) in the bioinformatics area.
• Leadership experience in international academic research projects that require the application of machine learning methods to biomedicine.
• More than 5 years of work experience in this field.

• Additional Knowledge and Professional Experience

• Fluency in English.

• Competences

• Leadership and mentoring skills.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills.
• Competent in executing tasks under pressure and tight time constraints.

• The position will be located at BSC within the Life Sciences Department
• We offer a full-time contract (37.5h/week), a good working environment, a highly stimulating environment with state-of-the-art infrastructure, flexible working hours, extensive training plan, restaurant tickets, private health insurance, support to the relocation procedures
• Duration: Open-ended contract due to technical and scientific activities linked to the project and budget duration
• Holidays: 22 days of holidays + 6 personal days + 24th and 31st of December per our collective agreement
• Salary: we offer a competitive salary commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate and according to the cost of living in Barcelona
• Starting date: 01/05/2026

The Barcelona Supercomputing Center - Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS) is the leading supercomputing center in Spain. It houses MareNostrum, one of the most powerful supercomputers in Europe, was a founding and hosting member of the former European HPC infrastructure PRACE (Partnership for Advanced Computing in Europe), and is now hosting entity for EuroHPC JU, the Joint Undertaking that leads large-scale investments and HPC provision in Europe. The mission of BSC is to research, develop and manage information technologies in order to facilitate scientific progress. BSC combines HPC service provision and R&D into both computer and computational science (life, earth and engineering sciences) under one roof, and currently has over 1000 staff from 60 countries. Look at the BSC experience: BSC-CNS YouTube Channel Let's stay connected with BSC Folks! We are particularly interested for this role in the strengths and lived experiences of women and underrepresented groups to help us avoid perpetuating biases and oversights in science and IT research. In instances of equal merit, the incorporation of the under-represented sex will be favoured. We promote Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, fostering an environment where each and every one of us is appreciated for who we are, regardless of our differences. If you consider that you do not meet all the requirements, we encourage you to continue applying for the job offer. We value diversity of experiences and skills, and you could bring unique perspectives to our team. Context And Mission The Life Sciences department of the BSC is looking for a lead of the 'Machine Learning for Biomedical Research Unit. His/her main responsibility will be coordinating a team of researchers and research technicians working on various aspects of computational biology and bioinformatics. More specifically, the team applies machine learning to biomedical problems generating resources and tools for biomedical research and secondary use of the data. The Unit is focused on providing support in machine learning projects spanning several application areas, including precision medicine, genomics, and systems biology, establishing collaborations with specialized groups at other BSC departments. The Unit provides consultancy and technical advice in machine learning applications for the Life Sciences Department. Furthermore, it develops its projects and collaborations inside and outside the BSC, such as the BSC Bioinfo4Women initiative and the ELIXIR Machine Learning Focus Group. The Unit is also involved in training and dissemination activities.