Organisation/Company Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, CBGP (UPM-INIA) Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 1 Dec 2026 - 00:00 (Europe/Madrid) Country Spain Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Asegúrese de presentar su candidatura con toda la información solicitada, tal como se expone en la descripción del puesto a continuación.
Offer Description

Root organogenesis, regeneration and regeneration laboratory. Center for Plant Biotechnology and Genomics (CBGP) in Madrid, Spain

We are seeking a highly motivated Ph.D. student to investigate how climate change-induced temperature fluctuations affect root stem cell formation and tissue regeneration.

Root stem cell formation and tissue regeneration are highly plastic processes regulated by key transcription factors, hormones such as auxin, and environmental cues. Our previous work has demonstrated the influence of environmental stress on stem cell formation through the identification of biomarkers, changes in telomere length dynamics, and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‑seq) analyses. This Ph.D. project will explore how unpredictable spring temperature regimes reshape cell fate during regeneration. The successful candidate will investigate the largely unexplored molecular feedback loops linking stem cell regulators, telomere dynamics, and auxin signaling under temperature conditions that mimic naturally occurring climate fluctuations.

During the project,



the student will gain hands‑on experience in state‑of‑the‑art technologies, including:

- Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‑seq) to characterize cell fate transitions and cellular trajectories.
- AI‑powered 3D confocal imaging to monitor telomere length dynamics using advanced microscopy and machine learning‑based image segmentation.
- Spatial transcriptomics (Molecular Cartography) to map gene expression at single‑cell resolution and uncover gene regulatory dynamics within their spatial context.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for a curious, persistent, and highly motivated candidate who is eager to tackle challenging scientific questions. The idóneo applicant should be committed to developing scientific independence and taking ownership of their research project. Candidates must hold a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Biotechnology, Biology, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, or a related field. Experience in plant molecular biology, developmental genetics, or computational biology is highly desirable. Programming skills in R or others will be considered a strong asset for transcriptomic data analysis.

Application Details

- Application deadline: December 1st.
- Interviews: Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews during December.

- Position: Fully funded 4-year predoctoral contract associated with the Spanish AEI Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento program.
- Salary: Competitive salary according to the national Ph.D. salary scale and UPM regulations, including full social security coverage, healthcare benefits, and tuition fee reimbursement. Salary progression throughout the contract will follow AEI guidelines. xqbhyrx
- International Mobility: Includes a fully funded 3-month research stay at a leading international research laboratory.

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📌 Ph.D. Student Position: MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF ROOT STEM CELL REGENERATION UNDER CLIMATE INESTABILITY (España)
🏢 Empresa Confidencial
📍 España