Contest point 2 – Research Associate - Returnee

12 Dec 2025
Job Information

Organisation/Company

RUĐER BOŠKOVIĆ INSTITUTE

Department

Division of Physical Chemistry

Research Field

Biological sciences » Biology

Researcher Profile

Established Researcher (R3)

Positions

Other Positions

Country

Croatia

Application Deadline

12 Jan 2026 - 23:00 (Europe/Zagreb)

Type of Contract

Permanent

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

40

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by a EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

We invite applications for a Research Associate (Returning Scientist) position in the field of Natural Sciences – Biology, specifically Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

The candidate will contribute to research on microbial biodiversity and genetic potential using omics approaches and advanced analytical methods, with applications in biotechnology and bioremediation.

Where to apply

E-mail

natjecaji.pisarnica@irb.hr

Requirements

Research Field

Biological sciences » Biology

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

• PhD in Natural Sciences (Biology) or Biotechnical Sciences (Biotechnology or Food Technology).
• Proven scientific research experience and authorship of scientific publications.
• Experience in research involving microbial diversity and genetic potential using omics methods.

 

Preferred Qualifications

 

• Research experience working with microorganisms.
• Proficiency in advanced molecular biology techniques, including recombinant DNA technologies for heterologous expression and protein purification.
• Experience with bioinformatic tools for genome, gene, and protein analysis.
• Ability to interpret cryo-electron microscopy data.
• Experience in obtaining research funding as collaborator or PI, including cooperation with industry partners.

Specific Requirements

Candidates for the scientific position of "Scientist – Returnee" must meet the following prescribed criteria in addition to the aforementioned conditions:

1. At least 4 years of work experience in the science system outside the Republic of Croatia, gained after obtaining the academic title of Doctor of Science.

2. Exceptionally, at least 2 years of work experience for a candidate who completed their doctoral studies at a prestigious foreign institution and was additionally engaged in scientific work for at least 2 years at a prestigious institution. Prestigious institutions are considered to be universities ranked within the top 300 universities according to the most recently published "Academic Ranking of World Universities" (the so-called "Shanghai" ranking), or non-university institutions ranked within the top 300 government institutions or the top 300 institutions in the field of health according to the "Scimago Institutions Ranking."

3. Exceptionally, for a candidate, whether a Croatian or foreign citizen, who is the leader of a European Research Council (ERC) project funded by the EU Framework Programme, the required work experience may be less than 4 years, or 2 years.

4.       Exceptionally, for a foreign candidate, participation in a project in the Republic of Croatia that can secure funding for their research for at least one year is required, as well as at least 3 years of work experience at prestigious institutions.

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Good

Research Field

Biological sciences » Biology

Years of Research Experience

1 - 4

Additional Information
Benefits

• Work in a modern laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment for molecular biology, mass spectrometry, and proteomics.
• Opportunity to collaborate within multidisciplinary research teams.
• Support for career development, international mobility, and project-based research activities.

Eligibility criteria

ln addition to the general conditions for employment, applicants must meet the requirements stipulated by the Higher Education and Scientific Activity Act and the Ordinance on Additional Selection Criteria for Election to Scientific Positions of the Rudjer Boskovic Institute and the Ordinance on the Conditions for Selection to Scientific Titles published in Official Gazetta.

The following should be attached to the application form:

1.   Biography - general information, data on education, acquired professional qualifications and doctoral degree, professional work experience

2.   Proof of the academic degree  

3.   Brief summary of scientific activities in the last position held

4.   Information on the fulfilment of the criteria prescribed in the Ordinance on the Conditions for Selection to Scientific Titles published in Official Gazette (Narodne novine 28/17, 72/19, 21/21 and 111/22)

5.   Abbreviated program (up to one page) of the planned research

6.   A list of proposed foreign scientists from whom the Appointment Commission shall request written recommendations for the candidate: 

• Tenured Senior Scientist and Senior Scientist - six foreign scientists
• Senior Research Associate - four foreign scientists
• Research Associate – two foreign scientists 

7.   List of scientific publications 

8.   List of the most significant scientific publications in accordance with Article 19, paragraph 1, point 10 of the Ordinance on additional criteria for elections to scientific positions

9.   Data confirming that the additional prerequisites for appointment to the scientific positions from Article 5 - 18 of the Regulations on Supplementary Prerequisites for Appointments to Scientific Positions have been fulfilled (indexation and citation of publications, journal impact factor and h-index, principal authorship, as well as the contact data on the collaboration representatives or the principal author when the candidate's contribution to the publications authorship is needed) 

10. lf the applicant is an employee of the Rudjer Boskovic Institute, he/she is obliged to attach a Certificate of indexation and citation of publications, journal impact factor and h-index. In other cases the expert committee will obtain the Certificate.

Applicants for a scientific position who have obtained a higher education qualification abroad must attach (to the application for a competition for a scientific position) an Opinion on the evaluation of a foreign higher education qualification issued by the Agency for Science and Higher Education or a Certificate of initiation of the evaluation procedure of a foreign higher education qualification issued by the Agency for Science and Higher Education.

Additional comments

ln accordance with Article 13 of the Gender Equality Act, persons of both sexes may compete in hiring competitions.

Late applications and applications without proof that the required prerequisites have been met will not be considered, as well as applications without a specified position and contest point to which the candidate is applying and applications submitted unaccordingly to the instructions for electronic submission.

Instructions for submitting tender applications - electronically only:

Deadline for applications is January 12, 2026. Applications should be submitted as a single .pdf file (no more than 15 MB). Do not submit author's works, dissertations, etc. - they can be referred to by a link.

In the subject line of the electronic message the following has to be written: Application for job vacancy Research Associate - Returnee , Contest Point No. 2. 

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Ruđer Bošković Institute

Country

Croatia

City

Zagreb

Postal Code

10000

Street

Bijenička c. 54

Geofield

Contact

City

Zagreb

Website

http://www.irb.hr/eng/Research/Divisions/Division-of-Physical-Chemistry

Street

Bijenicka cesta 54

Postal Code

10000

E-Mail

natjecaji.pisarnica@irb.hr

STATUS: EXPIRED

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