Offer Description
Do you want to develop your research at a leading water research institute?
Are you an expert in water-related topics interested in joining a research institute at the forefront of wastewater treatment, nature-based solutions, membrane technologies, bioelectrochemical systems, water reuse, water quality, economic and institutional analysis, ecotoxicology, antibiotic resistance, algae and cyanobacteria monitoring, cyanotoxin bioremediation, or microbial ecology?
IMDEA Water Institute is seeking a Leading Researcher of internationally recognized excellence. The selected candidate will have the opportunity to be nominated for the upcoming Spanish ATRAE Programme call.
The ATRAE programme will fund the researcher’s salary and research-related costs for 3–4 years.
A Leading Researcher of internationally recognized excellence is understood to be a professional who meets criteria such as:
- Being among the top 10% of researchers worldwide in their field
- Being (or having been) Principal Investigator of a European Research Council (ERC) project
- Holding a senior academic/research position in their country of origin
- Having acted as Principal Investigator in multiple competitive research projects (especially European)
Candidates are expected to have made significant, high-impact contributions to their field.
Eligibility criteria
- A PhD obtained before January 1st, 2019
- At least 5 years of professional affiliation with non-Spanish research institutions between January 1st, 2020 and the application start date
Additionally, candidates must:
- Not hold a permanent position within Spanish public universities or public research bodies.
- Not have been selected or appointed to such positions during the application process
Research areas at IMDEA Water
- Sustainable water resource management
- Water quality and pollution
- Water treatment and reuse
- Economic and institutional analysis
Facilities and infrastructure
IMDEA Water Institute offers state-of-the-art facilities, including:
- Chemical analysis laboratory (advanced chromatography, ICP-MS, Py-GC-MS, FTIR-Raman, etc.).
- Soils laboratory (water retention systems, smart greenhouse).
- Biology and microbiology laboratories (molecular biology, ecotoxicology, cyanobacteria research).
- Geomatics laboratory (GIS and advanced statistical tools).
- Pilot plants (membrane systems, mesocosms, microbial electrochemical reactors, etc.).
Additionally, the Imdea Water Institute provides a unique opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research in wastewater treatment and reuse, supported by access to real wastewater and groundwater streams feeding experimental pilot plants.
How to apply
If you are a leading researcher working in any of the above areas, please submit:
- Your CV
- A brief project outline
to: empleo.agua@imdea.org
Subject line: “2026 ATRAE Expression of Interest”
Deadline: May 7, 2026
Where to apply
E-mail: empleo.agua@imdea.org
Skills/Qualifications
- Internationally recognized research excellence
- Proven track record of high-impact scientific contributions
- Demonstrated leadership in research (e.g., Principal Investigator roles)
- Ability to develop and lead independent research lines
- Experience as Principal Investigator in competitive research projects, particularly at European level
- Experience in securing or leading prestigious funding (e.g., European Research Council grants or similar)
- Strong positioning within the research community (e.g., top 10% in the field)
- Expertise in one or more of the following areas:
- Wastewater treatment
- Nature-based solutions
- Membrane technologies
- Bioelectrochemical systems
- Water reuse and water quality
- Ecotoxicology
- Antibiotic resistance
- Microbial ecology
- Algae and cyanobacteria monitoring
- Cyanotoxin bioremediation
- Economic and institutional analysis of water systems
Specific Requirements
- PhD obtained before 1 January 2019
- Minimum 5 years of affiliation to non-Spanish research institutions (2020–application date)
- Compliance with eligibility conditions of the ATRAE Programme
- Not holding or having been selected for permanent positions in the Spanish public research system
Additional Information
Benefits
- Competitive funding package covering salary and research costs for 3–4 years through the Spanish ATRAE Programme.
- Opportunity to develop an independent research line within a leading international research institute.
- Access to state-of-the-art research facilities and pilot plants (including real wastewater and groundwater systems).
- Possibility to conduct applied research under real-scale conditions, enhancing scientific and societal impact.
- Work in a multidisciplinary and international research environment.
- Collaboration opportunities across a wide range of water-related research fields.
- Support in the preparation and submission of a competitive proposal to the national ATRAE call.
Eligibility criteria
- PhD degree obtained before 1 January 2019
- Minimum of 5 years of professional affiliation with non-Spanish research institutions between 1 January 2020 and the start date of the application period
- Applicants must comply with the eligibility conditions established by the Spanish ATRAE Programme
Candidates must not:
- Hold a position within the public university teaching staff bodies in Spain
- Be a career civil servant researcher within Spanish Public Research Organisations
- Be employed as a permanent or tenure-track academic (or equivalent) in a Spanish public university or regional system
- Have been selected or appointed to any of the above positions during the application process
Selection process
If you are a leading researcher and develop your research activity in any of the areas of interest of IMDEA
Water, please submit your CV and a brief project outline to empleo.agua@imdea.org, indicating “2026 ATRAE
expression of interest” in the subject of the email.
Additional comments
DEADLINE to submit your expression of interest: May 7, 2026.
Website for additional job details: https://agua.imdea.org/
