MSCA PF 2026 hosting in Breathomics and multiplatform metabolomics for Lung Cancer Precision Medicine

CEMBIO was established to deliver top‑level research in metabolomics applied to a wide range of biomedical challenges. Our team brings together more than 35 international, diverse and highly dynamic researchers working in an interdisciplinary environment. We are proud to have hosted several MSCA fellows, integrating them smoothly into our extensive network of international collaborators.

Our infrastructure includes three fully equipped laboratories. Two of them are dedicated to sample preparation, featuring advanced tools such as ultrasonic devices, vortex mixers, stirrers, cryogrinders, tissue lysers, vacuum evaporators and controlled-environment workstations. The third laboratory houses our complete suite of state‑of‑the‑art MS‑hyphenated analytical platforms from Agilent Technologies.

Prof. García, Full Professor of Analytical Chemistry and CEMBIO co-founder, brings over 20 years of expertise in high-resolution mass spectrometry, clinical metabolomics, biomarker discovery and translational workflows, supported by major international collaborations (Imperial College London, NIH Baltimore, BOKU Vienna, USP São Paulo, major Spanish hospitals and research centres)

This project aims to discover volatile organic compound (VOC) signatures in human exhaled breath as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for lung cancer progression. A high-sensitivity methodology based on SPME-GC-MS will be implemented to achieve at least a 10-fold improvement in sensitivity (sub-ppb limits of detection) for small molecules. This approach will be validated against multiplatform plasma metabolomics from the same individuals. 

Our established breath collection-SPME-GC-MS workflow and proprietary "VOCs in exhalates" mass spectral library (retention index + MS) will be employed to cohorts (n>100)-healthy controls, untreated lung cancer patients, and immunotherapy-treated patients stratified by responders and non-responders. Parallel plasma analysis employs HILIC-LC-QTOF-MS (polar metabolites) and RP-LC-QTOF-MS (lipidomics), enabling direct cross-comparison through integrated multivariate statistical analysis. 

This establishes breath VOCs as validated non-invasive surrogates of systemic lung cancer metabolic alterations, creating gold-standard references for European clinical implementation. 

Candidate requirements: Dynamic postdoctoral candidates of any nationality (max. 8 years after defense) with:

• PhD in Chemistry (analytical, biochemistry) or Pharmacy or Biotechnology 

• Strong background on mass spectrometry, breath analysis, SPME-GC-MS, bioinformatics, metabolomics

Applicants are encouraged to submit an expression of interest to antogar@ceu.es (Attn: Antonia García PI). Your file should contain the following elements:  

• A short CV (Max. 2 pages)

• A one-page research proposal

• Two letters of reference (recommended)

USP‑CEU is a competitive and supportive host institution for MSCA‑PF candidates, with a strong track record including 10 awarded fellowships, an exceptional 100/100 score, and two recent successes in the MSCA‑PF 2025 call. We offer personalised guidance throughout the proposal preparation process, as well as our International Talent Retention Programme, which provides successful MSCA Fellows with an additional 6–12‑month contract to support long‑term career development.

https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/hosting/msca-postdoctoral-hosting-breathomics-and-multiplatform-metabolomics-lung-cancer