Published:18/08/2026

Deadline:15/09/2026

Envisaged Job Starting Date:
At the earliest convenience

A PhD position is available within a collaborative project between the Biomolecular Nanotechnology Laboratory, led by Prof. Aitziber L. Cortajarena at CIC biomaGUNE, and the Neurogenetics, RNA Biology and Therapies Laboratory, led by Dr. Lorea Blázquez at Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute.

The project, “Design and evaluation of repeat RNA-binding proteins for RNA-targeting therapies (RNATher)”, aims to develop engineered RNA-binding proteins as a new platform for therapeutic modulation of disease-associated RNAs, with a particular focus on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The project will also explore AI-guided protein engineering and protein language models to generate improved PPR and PUF variants with enhanced RNA-binding properties. In addition, these programmable RNA-binding scaffolds will be engineered to incorporate new therapeutic functionalities, including targeted RNA degradation and RNA editing.





The project is highly multidisciplinary and combines research and combines protein engineering, protein biochemistry and biophysics, molecular and cell biology, RNA biology, artificial intelligence-assisted protein design, and cellular and in vivo models of neurodegenerative disease.

The project will be carried out jointly at CIC biomaGUNE and Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute, two multidisciplinary and international research institutes in San Sebastian, Spain, offering state-of-the-art infrastructure and a highly collaborative research environment at the interface of chemical, biological and medical sciences.

Required Education Level:
Required Skills/Qualifications:
Duration:
Project Funding:
RNATher - CICBMG_PhD_01_2026 - (CIC biomaGUNE )

Informal Inquiries:
Equal opportunities Policy:
CIC biomaGUNE is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to: age, disability, gender, na

📌 Phd Position in Protein Engineering and Rna-targeting Therapies (Donostia / San Sebastián)
🏢 Cic Biomagune
📍 Donostia / San Sebastián