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' logo 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

The Malhotra lab is looking to hire a research trainee. The candidate is expected to contribute to the study of the process of unconventional protein secretion in yeast and/or mammalian tissue culture cells. The candidate should have a background in cell biology, with a special interest in trafficking and quality control of proteins for secretion outside of the cell.

About the lab

The Intracellular compartmentation lab studies different aspects of protein secretion. Protein secretion is an old problem of fundamental interest in cell biology. While over the last decades a lot of progress has been made in understanding protein secretion, a number of questions remain unsolved. The lab aims to understand different aspects of this. On the one hand they focus on the transport and secretion of large, complex cargoes (like collagens and mucins) that do not fit the conventional secretory pathway. On the other hand, they study the process whereby cytoplasmic, signal sequence lacking proteins are secreted from cells upon certain stimuli (known as unconventional protein secretion). Research performed in the lab has implicated a yeast protein called Grh1 to be central in the unconventional secretion of a number of cytoplasmic proteins. However, the exact mechanism by which cargoes are selected and how Grh1 contributes to their secretion remains unclear to date. The lab is currently investigating the role of mammalian Grh1 (GRASP) proteins in the secretion of selected cytoplasmic cargoes, such as ACBP.

Whom would we like to hire?

Professional experience

Must Have

• You have experience in cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry
• You are eager to learn and work in a collaborative research environment

Desirable but no required / Nice to have

• You have imaging skills (epifluorescence as well as confocal microscopy, fixed cells as well as life cell imaging)
• You have experience in protein analysis techniques
• You have knowledge of DNA & RNA techniques
• You have experience in gene editing techniques in tissue culture cells
• You have advanced software skills (Adobe Acrobat, ImageJ)

Education and training

• You hold a Master’s degree in biology, biochemistry, biomedical sciences, biotechnology, or a related field

Languages

• You are proficient in English

Technical skills

• You have experience of mammalian cell culture techniques
• You have knowledge of working with yeast as a model system
• You have knowledge with standard cellular, molecular biology and microbiological techniques
• You have knowledge of protein analysis techniques
• You have advanced MS Office software skills

Competences

• Excellent organisational skills
• Works well in a team, but is also capable of working in an independent manner
• Attention to detail

The Offer – Working Conditions

• Contract duration: 6 months
• Estimated annual gross salary: Salary is commensurate with qualifications and consistent with our pay scales.
• Target start date: October 1, 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 welcomes applicants regardless of age, disability, gender, nationality, race, religion or sexual orientation.

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.

Application Procedure

All applications must include:

1. A motivation letter addressed to Dr Vivek Malhotra.
2. A complete CV including contact details.
3. Contact details of two referees.

All applications must be addressed to Dr. Vivek Malhotra and be submitted online on the CRG Career site - http://www.crg.eu/en/content/careers/job-opportunities

Selection Process

• Pre-selection: The pre-selection process will be based on qualifications and expertise reflected on the candidates CVS. It will be merit-based.

• Interview: Preselected candidates will be interviewed by the Hiring Manager of the position and a selection panel if required.

• Offer Letter: Once the successful candidate is identified the People department will send a Job Offer, specifying the start day, salary, working conditions, among other important details.

Deadline: Please submit your application by September 20th, 2026.

Contract funded by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No 951146)