The Institute

The Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) is an international biomedical research institute of excellence, based in Barcelona, Spain, with more than 400 scientists from 44 countries. The CRG is composed by an interdisciplinary, motivated and creative scientific team which is supported both by a flexible and efficient administration and by high-end and innovative technologies.

In April 2021, the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) received the renewal of the 'HR Excellence in Research' Award from the European Commission. This is a recognition of the Institute's commitment to developing an HR Strategy for Researchers, designed to bring the practices and procedures in line with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (Charter and Code).

Please, check out our Recruitment Policy

The role

Summary

The Höpfler lab is looking for a research trainee with a strong background in biochemistry and molecular biology to support a project in the field of RNA biology and gene regulation.

The successful candidate will join the Dynamics of Protein Synthesis and RNA Decay Group. Their work will address an exciting question in gene regulation: how cells dynamically control the stability of messenger RNAs by selective degradation during protein synthesis by the ribosome, a process known as peptide-mediated mRNA decay (PMD). The lab studies this problem in the context of both fundamental molecular mechanisms and disease-related regulation.

The position will be a chance to join a young, ambitious and curiosity-driven lab at the CRG, one of Europe’s prime institutes for molecular life sciences, surrounded by the dynamic Barcelona research environment.

Key responsibilities include:

• Development of in vitro methods to study peptide-mediated mRNA decay
• Identification and mechanistic characterization of PMD candidate substrates
• Active participation in lab meetings and contribution to a culture of technical excellence and scientific curiosity

About the Höpfler lab

Group leader: Dr. Markus Höpfler

How do cells accurately tune protein production according to cellular needs? This fundamental question is not only fascinating but also crucial to human health: Aberrant protein levels are commonly linked to diseases such as developmental defects, cancer, or neurodegenerative diseases, where aggregation-prone proteins tend to accumulate in neurons.

In the “Dynamics of protein synthesis & RNA decay” lab we are interested in how cells tune protein production by adjusting the stability of messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Each cell in our body expresses around 12,000 different mRNAs at any given time. To control this complex transcriptome—and thus protein synthesis—cells adjust half-lives for individual mRNAs from minutes to several days. Traditionally, the selective degradation of mRNAs has been attributed to the recognition of nucleotide sequence elements by proteins or small RNAs that subsequently recruit decay factors. In our lab, we investigate a distinct, newly emerging paradigm of gene regulation termed “peptide-mediated mRNA decay” (PMD). In PMD, not the mRNA sequence but rather the nascent protein is recognized to trigger degradation of the encoding mRNA during its translation by the ribosome, as we recently established for tubulin mRNAs.

Using a highly interdisciplinary approach spanning biochemistry, structural biology, cell biology, genetics, and advanced sequencing methods, we aim to answer the following questions: What are the factors and molecular mechanisms driving peptide-mediated mRNA decay? How are these mechanisms controlled, and what are the consequences of impaired mRNA turnover for cells and organisms? What is the transcriptome-wide scope of regulation by peptide-mediated mRNA decay?

Answering these questions will be highly relevant to human biology and disease, as highlighted by the examples of tubulin and aggregation-prone proteins regulated by PMD. Furthermore, insights into mRNA decay mechanisms will enable development of optimized mRNA-based therapeutics like mRNA vaccines.

Recent publications include:

• Höpfler et al., Mol Cell, 2023
• Höpfler & Hegde, Mol Cell, 2023
• Batiuk, Höpfler et al., Nat Commun, 2024

Additional information can be found on the lab website: https://www.crg.eu/en/programmes-groups/hopfler-lab

Whom would we like to hire?

Must Have

• MSc degree in biochemistry, molecular biology, or related disciplines
• Experience with common lab techniques in cell & molecular biology

Desirable but not required/ Nice to have

• Background in RNA biology, translational control or related fields

Languages

• Fluency in written and spoken English

Computer skills

• Skilled with data analyses software (R/Python, Prism)
• Advanced MS Office experience

Competences

• Curiosity and critical thinking
• Rigor, organization and autonomy
• Strong analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills

The Offer – Working Conditions

• Contract duration: 6 months (extendable for other 6 months).

• Estimated annual gross salary: Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and consistent with our pay scales
• Target start date: from October 2026

We provide a highly stimulating environment with state-of-the-art infrastructures, and unique professional career development opportunities. To check out our training and development portfolio, please visit our website in the training section.

We offer and promote a diverse and inclusive environment and welcome applicants regardless of age, disability, gender, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.

The CRG is committed to reconcile a work and family life of its employees and are offering extended vacation period and the possibility to benefit from flexible working hours.