The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is one of the highest ranked scientific research organizations in the world. EMBL Barcelona focuses on research in Tissue Biology and Disease Modeling, and is located within the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB), one of the largest infrastructures in Southern Europe dedicated to biomedical research. The main focus of the EMBL Barcelona site is tissue biology and disease modeling. We build tissues to understand them, either in vitro or in silico. We go beyond the molecular and cellular scale to ask questions such as: How do thousands of cells dynamically self-organise to create tissues and organs? How do new emergent properties arise at the tissue level? Why does this sometimes go wrong, causing disease? Can we engineer healthy or novel tissues in the laboratory? To tackle these grand challenges, our Unit combines an interdisciplinary mix of approaches, integrating molecular and cellular data with gene circuits, tissue engineering, multicellular omics, 3D mesoscopic imaging and computer modelling. Our current 7 research groups span work on organoids, in vitro vascular models, disease modelling, self-organisation and computational modelling of multicellular systems, with some of the groups combining both wet-lab and dry research.
The Sharpe Group studies limb development in mice, and is now seeking to recruit a research technician to work in, and coordinate, the experimental side of the lab. They will be expected to organise collective aspects of the lab, and also follow some of their own research projects in limb development and related topics.
Your role
You will work closely with group members and EMBL core-facilities. You will:
Oversee daily laboratory operations, ensuring safety, compliance, and smooth logistics
Perform wet-lab experiments related to the current group projects.
Manage consumables, reagents, stocks, vendor relations, procurement, and inventory systems
Supervise, train, and mentor junior staff, technicians, and students on lab protocols and equipment usage
Maintain and service key laboratory instrumentation; coordinate maintenance, calibration, and repair schedules
Liaise with core facilities and technical services within EMBL (e.g. microscopy, sequencing, animal facility)
Implement and enforce health & safety standards, SOPs, and regulatory compliance (e.g. hazardous waste, biosafety)
Maintain lab documentation, records, lab notebooks, and data management systems
Support project planning, budgeting, resource forecasting, and grant administration as needed
Participate in group meetings, contribute to strategic planning, and assist with outreach, training, or public engagement activities
You will be a key node connecting daily lab operations, group research goals, and institutional infrastructure.
You have
Education & Experience
A Master’s degree or preferably PhD in biology, molecular biology, or related discipline
Approved European Certificate to work with laboratory animals
Several years’ experience (e.g. 3–5+) working in a research laboratory environment
Proven track record in managing lab operations, consumables, procurement, and budgets
Technical Competencies
Hands-on experience with mouse breeding, molecular biology, developmental biology (such as whole mount in situ hybridisation), histology, microscopy, or related techniques
Familiarity with laboratory equipment maintenance, calibration, repair contracts
Good knowledge of health & safety regulations (biosafety, chemical safety, waste disposal)
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, ability to multitask and prioritize
Soft Skills & Personal Attributes
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, proactivity and problem solving skills, ability to work independently and to quickly set up effective networks and working relationships
Proactive, problem-solving mindset and ability to work independently as well as part of a team
Leadership skills, mentoring capability, and team motivation
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and Spanish.
You may also have
Knowledge of immunofluorescence, Hybridization Chain Reaction (HCR), whole-mount in situ hybridization, Expansion Microscopy.
Informal inquiries on the position can be directed to headofficebcn@embl.es
Contract length: 3 years (renewable to a maximum of 9 years)
Salary: Grade 5 or 6; depending on qualifications and experience (monthly salary starting from 3.236,77 EUR after tax, excluding EMBL social security contributions of 13% plus other paid benefits depending on circumstances)
Why join us
EMBL is curiosity-driven, community-oriented and international. As an inclusive, equal opportunity employer, we believe that diversity enables us to collaborate more effectively and be innovative in our approaches. We are, therefore, committed to creating an inclusive and flexible culture - one where everyone can realise their full potential and make a positive contribution to our organisation.
We encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing team – we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and personal experiences reflect the diversity of the populations that our science serves. We actively encourage applications from all genders and cultures, ethnic groups and all demographics to help us avoid perpetuating biases and oversights at this transformational point in our people strategy.
Enjoy lots of benefits:
Financial incentives: Salary free of income tax, Monthly family, child and non-resident allowances, annual salary review, pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work and unemployment insurances
Flexible working arrangements
Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family (including all prescriptions and generous dental & optical cover)
Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition to public holidays
Relocation package including installation grant (if applicable)
Campus life: Free shuttle bus (Heidelberg), library, subsidised on-site cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely)
Family benefits: Kindergarten (Heidelberg), 10 days of child sick leave, generous paid maternity/parental leave and monthly family & child allowances
Benefits for international newcomers: Visa exemption, education grant for private schooling, financial support to travel back to your home country every second year and a monthly non-resident allowance.
For detailed information please visit our employee benefits page here
What else you need to know
International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. Visit our International Applicants page, to find out more.
EMBL is a signatory of DORA. Find out how we apply DORA principles to our recruitment and performance assessment processes here.
Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL, we believe that diverse teams drive innovation and scientific excellence. We encourage applications from candidates of all genders, identities, nationalities and/or any other diverse backgrounds.
How to apply: To apply please submit a cover letter and a CV through our online system. Applications will close at 23:59 CET on the date shown below. We aim to provide a response within two weeks after the closing date.
Closing Date
20/05/2026