The Fraunhofer Spain Research foundation is looking for a RESEARCH ASSISTANT / PROSPECTIVE PhD CANDIDATE to join the Fraunhofer Center for Applied Theragnostics in Catalonia (Fraunhofer CAT) and contribute to a research project focused on the development of advanced in vitro intestinal models to study the early stages of colorectal cancer.
The position is intended to develop into a PhD project, providing the successful candidate with interdisciplinary training at the interface of cell biology, bioengineering, quantitative imaging and computational modelling.
The contract will be within the framework of the Fraunhofer CAT project, whose objective is the development of new diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic tools in the field of precision medicine.
This project is funded by: Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Generalitat de Catalunya and Ajuntament de Barcelona.
Main duties and responsibilities
- Colorectal cancer (CRC) is frequently initiated by mutations in the tumor suppressor gene APC,



leading to constitutive activation of the Wnt signaling pathway and altered epithelial organization. Increasing evidence suggests that interactions between healthy and mutant cells, through processes such as cell competition, play a key role in the early stages of CRC development.
- We are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic candidate to join an interdisciplinary research project investigating how healthy and APC‑mutant intestinal epithelial cells interact and compete within engineered tissue environments. This project offers an exciting opportunity to study the cellular mechanisms underlying CRC initiation using state‑of‑the‑art experimental models.
- The successful candidate will work with advanced organoid‑derived intestinal epithelial models that recapitulate key features of the native tissue. By combining these models with microengineered culture systems, live‑cell imaging and quantitative image analysis, the project aims to uncover the cellular and tissue

📌 RESEARCH ASSISTANT (Barcelona)
🏢 Barcelona Institute Of Science And Technology (Bist)
📍 Barcelona