Amics del VHIR - Institutional call for the incorporation of Early-stage (R1) researchers

AIM

The Vall d’Hebron University Hospital Foundation – Research Institute VHIR makes its own and open call for a doctoral fellowship programme devoted to attracting early-stage researchers with a special interest in biomedical research who wish to carry out doctoral studies at VHIR.

The aim of these grants is to train 4 doctoral candidates over a period of four years within the research groups of the Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus environment.

The conditions of the call are established in compliance with the European Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R), which establishes the implementation of open, gender equality, transparent and merit-based recruitment measures, to contribute to the promotion of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI).

DURATION

4 years

ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

The Amics del VHIR PhD Call 2026 offers 4 fellowships for a 4-year pre-doctoral contract with expenses regulated to “Estatut del Personal Investigador en Formació” (EPIF) every year. Approximately, the gross annual salary will be 19.563€ for the first two years, 20.629€ for the third year, and 25.079€ for the fourth year. The Amics del VHIR PhD Call is funded through donations from Amics del VHIR.

ELEGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR APPLICANTS

• Candidates must have the acceptance of a hosting VHIR research group at the closing date of application submission.
• Candidates must not have a PhD.
• Candidates must be in possession of a university degree and a master’s degree (in the fields of biomedical research, clinical research, epidemiology, management and evaluation of health services and technologies) or must hold an official university qualification from a country of the European Higher Education Area with a minimum of 300 ECTS of official university studies at the time of the fellowship application.
• Candidates performing or having completed the medical specialization (Formació Sanitària Especialitzada, FSE) accessing to a PhD program will not be eligible.
• Candidates must have finished the university studies ( 300 ECTS) between 1st January 2025 and the closing date of application submission.
• Candidates must have obtained a minimum average grade of the academic record of the studies of degree equal to or higher than 7.
• Admission to a doctoral programme will not be required at the time of application submission, but must be obtained no later than December 2026.
• Candidates must not have held a PhD contract exceeding twelve months in any research institution previous to the closing date of application submission.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR’S (PI)

• PIs should have a PhD.
• Eligible PIs must be formally affiliated with a VHIR research group and maintain a formal link with the Vall d’Hebron Campus (VH Campus) throughout the entire fellowship period. In addition, applicant PIs must hold a contract with one of the following entities: VHIR or Vall d’Hebron Hospital, Blood and Tissue Bank (BST), Institut de Diagnòstic per la Imatge (IDI), or Fundació Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV).

Researchers employed exclusively by CIBER, UAB, or any other external institution will not be eligible, even if they are affiliated with a VHIR research group or collaborate with VHIR.

• PI should be affiliated to VHIR and have an active competitive project at the time of application. The project must be managed by VHIR, funded with 20.000€ and should cover at least the first year of the fellowship. Extensions will not be considered as active

competitive projects. Projects with PI and CO-PI figures can only be considerate in one candidacy.

• Each PI may submit only one application
• PIs will not be able to present a candidature if they are hosting a PhD researcher from a current VHIR institutional PhD fellowship (unless being in the last year).

DOCUMENTATION TO SUBMIT

Applications must be formalised by the applicant in their own name and interest and must be submitted via VHIR job offer website, by September 27th 2026.

The candidate’s application must be accompanied by the following documentation. Documentation must be sent numbered and named as indicated.

1. Excel Template located on the VHIR web link. The name of this document must be: "1.VHIR_PhD_Call_Template_Surname”.

2. Abbreviated curriculum vitae of the candidate in normalised format (i.e. CVA). Candidates must use the FECYT application for creating the document. The name of this document must be: "2.VHIR_PhD_Call_CVA_Surname”.

3. Bachelor's degree diploma or proof of payment fee. The name of this document must be: "3.VHIR_PhD_Call_Bachelor _Surname”.

4. Academic certificate with the average grade of the bachelor's degree and the termination date. In the case of studies carried out abroad, ANECA certification as specified in Clause 2.g. The name of this document must be: "4.VHIR_PhD_Call_Bachelor_ grades _Surname”.

5. Master’s degree diploma or proof of payment fee. The name of this document must be: "5.VHIR_PhD_Call_Master_Surname”.

6. Academic certificate/record of master's degree studies, including average grade and termination date. The name of this document must be: "6.VHIR_PhD_Call_Master_ grades _Surname”.

7. PDF document with the first page of the publications (and/or page(s) where the authors contribution appears). The name of this document must be: "7.VHIR_PhD_Call_Publications _Surname”.

8. PDF document that accredits the candidate’s non-academic internship periods, including start and end dates, and hours. The research institute should be identified, including Letterhead and/or Stamp of the institution and signature of the tutor/supervisor. The name of this document must be: "8.VHIR_PhD_Call_Interships _Surname”.

9. PDF document that accredits the candidate’s Erasmus+ internships, including start and end dates. The university should be identified, including Letterhead and/or Stamp of the institution and signature of the tutor/supervisor. The name of this document must be: "9.VHIR_PhD_Call_Erasmus _Surname”.

10- PDF document that accredits Dissemination Activities and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI). The name of this document must be: "10.VHIR_PhD_Call_RRI_Surname”.

11. PDF document that accredits Prizes and Grants: The name of this document must be: “11.VHIR_PhD_Call_Prizes_Grants_Surname”.

12. PDF document that accredits attendance or participation in Scientific Congresses. The name of this document must be: “12.VHIR_PhD_Call_Congresses_Surname”.

13. PDF document that accredits other merits: Attendance to seminars, certificates of languages, etc. The name of this document must be: “13.VHIR_PhD_Call_Other_Merits_Surname”.

14. Acceptance letter of the hosting VHIR research group. Template located on the VHIR web link. The letter must be signed by the PI supervisor of the candidate and should include the date of signature. The name of this document must be: "14.VHIR_PhD_Call_Letter_Surname”.

15. If applicable, accreditation for the exceptional extension of the evaluable period for one of the reasons mentioned in Clause 2.e. of the Eligibility Criteria. The name of this document must be: "15.VHIR_PhD_Call_Extension _Surname”

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

Candidates may submit their applications until September 27th 2026.

For more information and documents please click on the below link:

We want to encourage you to apply to this call. Please, do not hesitate to contact us for anything you need at scientificcoordination@vhir.org