About the Project
Supervisor: Dr Fátima Gebauer
Closing date: Sunday, November 22, 2026
Funding: Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
The Gebauer lab studies how RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) control mRNA translation and impact cancer progression. We are interested in RBP regulatory networks, which mechanisms RBPs use to regulate translation, and how they can be harnessed for cancer treatment.
Regulation of the encoded genome has been extensively studied. Beyond the genome, however, there is a dynamic layer of non-templated mRNA features, exemplified by the poly(A) tail, whose regulation remains poorly understood. It has been recently uncovered that poly(A) tails are not merely homogeneous stretches of adenosines: they can contain non-adenosine nucleotides that introduce an additional regulatory layer whose functions are only beginning to emerge. This hidden molecular language may be read by proteins that recognize distinct tail compositions, but only proteins from the PABP family and a small number of other poly(A)-tail-associated factors are currently known. Unlocking the full regulatory potential of the poly(A) tail therefore requires a comprehensive identification of its bound proteome and the interaction networks connecting it to the broader proteome. This project aims to develop methods to specifically identify and characterize the poly(A)-tail-bound proteome and its functional interactions in cancer cells. The results may reveal new RNA biology and novel players in cancer cell plasticity.
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for a highly motivated, creative and collaborative student with a degree in molecular biology, biochemistry, biotechnology or related disciplines willing to pursue ambitious projects. Prior experience in RNA-related research is desirable.
About us
The Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) is an international biomedical research institute of excellence, created in July 2000. It is a non-profit foundation funded by the Catalan Government through the Department of Business & Knowledge and the Department of Health, the Spanish Ministry of Science & Innovation, the "la Caixa" Banking Foundation, and includes the participation of Pompeu Fabra University.
The mission of the CRG is to discover and advance knowledge for the benefit of society, public health and economic prosperity.
The CRG believes that the medicine of the future depends on the groundbreaking science of today. This requires an interdisciplinary scientific team focused on understanding the complexity of life from the genome to the cell to a whole organism and its interaction with the environment, offering an integrated view of genetic diseases.
How to apply
Apply now to boost your scientific career at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona. The CRG is a center of excellence with international teams representing a broad range of disciplines, with first-class core technologies to support the research projects, a wide range of seminars given by high-profile invited speakers, and courses on complementary and transferable skills integrated with the training programme.
Start your application here.