Independent Research Fellows at the Barcelona Collaboratorium for Modelling and Predictive Biology

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 CRG and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory have created the ‘Barcelona Collaboratorium for Modelling and Predictive Biology’, an exciting new initiative that will kick off with an inaugural symposium, “Programmable Life” on the 4-5th of October.

About the Barcelona Collaboratorium for Modelling and Predictive Biology

The Barcelona Collaboratorium for Modelling and Predictive Biology is a new space for computational and theoretical biology launched as a joint initiative of two leading life science institutes - the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) and EMBL Barcelona .  The open plan space is designed to promote collaboration, the sharing of ideas, and synergy across disciplines and scales.  Each area of biology has its own unique features, but concepts and tools from one discipline can provide important fresh insights and new perspectives into another. Our focus is to bring together experts from different disciplines, into the same space, from molecular, cellular and tissue biology, up to epidemiology and ecosystems. The Collaboratorium will start in September 2022 with an inaugural symposium on Programmable Life (October 4-5).

The 21st century has seen a revolution in biology. We can sequence whole genomes cheaply and fast, image the dynamics of gene activity from microscopic bacteria up to the whole human body, and precisely modify the DNA of almost any organism. This is creating vast quantities of molecular data, and giving us the tantalising hope of being able to control, repair and engineer living systems.

However, these impressive technical advances have not yet translated into an ability to accurately control, or even to accurately predict, the behaviour of most real living systems. Biology is complex, and a remaining revolution is still ahead of us: to make biology predictable and controllable – from the design of new proteins and the repair of human organs, up to the prediction of whole ecosystems. Data-generation is no longer the primary concern – technologies for quantitative data generation continue to improve at break-neck speed, both in quality and quantity. The deeper concern now is a lack of theoretical and computational tools to understand and predict complex biology – across all relevant scales.

The Collaboratorium will host independent research fellows, postdoctoral and doctoral researchers working with local groups and both short term and extended visits by international leaders in the fields of theoretical biology, artificial intelligence/machine learning, complex systems, physics of life, computer science and engineering.

The role: Independent Research Fellows

Collaboratorium Fellows are faculty-level appointments suitable for original and ambitious researchers in modelling and predictive biology, including researchers seeking independence immediately after completion of their PhD or after a period of postdoctoral research. 

Applicants may have a background in any relevant discipline (including computer science, physics, mathematics, engineering or biological sciences) and should be interested in working in a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment of individual researchers, visitors and small teams.  Fellows will be provided with space suitable for a team of maximum 3 researchers. Collaborating with local or international experimental laboratories is encouraged but purely theoretical and computational work is also suitable.  Fellows can work on biological systems at any scale from individual molecules to networks, cells, tissues, organs and ecosystems.

In addition to conducting cutting-edge research in modelling and predictive biology, Collaboratorium Fellows are also expected to participate in and organise internal seminars and Collaboratorium activities,

Interested candidates are also encouraged to apply for La Caixa Junior Leader Fellowships 2023 (https://fundacionlacaixa.org/en/postdoctoral-fellowships-junior-leader-incoming ).

Languages

• You have excellent command of spoken and written English

Technical skills & Experience

• You are innovative and have original research record relevant to the ambitions of the Collaboratorium in Modelling and Predictive Biology

The Offer – Working Conditions

• Contract duration: 3 years with the possibility of a 2-year extension after evaluation.
• Estimated annual gross salary: Salary is commensurate with qualifications and consistent with our pay scales.
• Target start date: Before the end of 2022.

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, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.

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

Application Procedure

All applications must include:
1. A motivation letter.
2. A proposal of your research plan (max. 3-4 pages)
3. A complete CV including contact details.
4. Contact details of two referees.

Applications and informal enquiries should be addressed to Professors Ben Lehner and Luis Serrano ([email protected] and [email protected] ) and applications should be submitted online on "Apply" button below.

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.

₋ Interviews: Preselected candidates will be interviewed by a selection panel, including the Strategy Board of the Collaboratorium.

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

Deadline: Please submit your application by October 31, 2022.

Suggestions: The CRG believes in ongoing improvement and promotes a culture of feedback. This is one of the reasons we have in place, at your disposal as a candidate, a mechanism to gather your suggestions/complaints concerning your candidate experience in our recruitment processes. Your feedback really matters to us in our aim at creating a positive candidate journey. You can make a difference and help us improve by letting us know your suggestions through the following form.