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The past, present & future of Doctoral research

The past, present & future of Doctoral researchThe past, present & future of Doctoral research

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About

Over the past two decades, the CRG International PhD Programme has brought together hundreds of talented researchers from around the world, building a vibrant global community and launching careers that have shaped science, innovation, and society.

On Wednesday 25 November 2026, we warmly invite our alumni, current students, supervisors, and mentors to celebrate this remarkable journey and reflect on twenty years of scientific excellence, personal growth, and lifelong connections, while exploring the future of doctoral training.

Join us to reconnect with the community that helped shape these journeys and inspire the next generation of scientists.

Throughout the day we will:

  • Celebrate the achievements and impact of CRG PhD alumni across the world.

  • Reconnect with former colleagues, mentors, supervisors and friends.

  • Discover how doctoral training has evolved over the last two decades.

  • Hear inspiring alumni stories from a wide range of career paths.

  • Reflect on the role of doctoral education in addressing the scientific and societal challenges of the future.

  • Explore what the next twenty years of PhD training might look like through a round-table discussion with leaders from academia and beyond.

  • Whether you graduated recently or were among the very first CRG PhD students, your story is part of the programme's history and its future.

More than a PhD

A PhD is much more than a research project. It is a period of discovery, challenge, resilience, friendships, international experiences, and personal transformation.

At the CRG, we are proud not only of the science our students have produced, but also of the global community they have built. Today, our alumni can be found across continents and sectors, applying the skills developed during their doctoral training to tackle complex problems, lead teams, innovate, communicate science, and make a positive impact on society.

This anniversary celebrates every one of those journeys.

Join us

Whether you are returning to the CRG after many years or are still closely connected to our community, we would be delighted to welcome you back to Barcelona.

Come reconnect with old friends, meet new generations of researchers, celebrate shared memories, and help us envision the future of doctoral training.

Registration is now open.

We look forward to celebrating twenty years of discovery, community, and lifelong connections with you.

Contact 

CRG Training & Academic Office (TAO) 
training@crg.eu 

Program

Program Overview

The event will blend short oral presentations, videos and round tables. This is a preliminary programme that will be updated with a full list of speakers in due time.

 Morning: 9:30-12:30 

  PhD memory lane
The program begins with a warm welcome from our current CRG Director Monica Bettencourt and one of our first PhD students at CRG Roser Zaurin. We will continue with short presentations and videos of how PhD education has evolved in the last 20 years at CRG, including how La Caixa and CRG benefited from each other and grew together. We will have a special session with CRG alumni guests on how their careers were shaped after their PhD at CRG.
9:30-9:45 Welcome & Opening remarks - Monica Bettencourt & Roser Zaurin
Welcome from the CRG director and co-organizer of the first PhD Symposium in 2006.
9:45-10:15 20 Years Together: The Story of the CRG PhD Programme – where it all started - Juan Valcárcel & Isabelle Vernos
From the programme's early days to the dynamic international community it has become, hear from PIs who have shaped the CRG PhD Programme from the very beginning.
10:15-10:25 Mapping 20 years of talent - CRG Training & Academic Office
The CRG PhD Alumni Genome
10:25-10:45 Two Decades of Scientific Evolution - Luis Serrano & Fátima Gebauer
How the PhD Programme shape(d)s the strategy of science at the CRG
10:45-11:15 Coffee break
11:15-11:30 Pioneering Innovation in Doctoral Training: la Caixa and CRG - La Caixa
11:30-12:30 PhD memory lane – My CRG Story: Why I Came and What I Took With Me - Alumni, Imma Falero & Anna Solé
12:30-14:00 Group Picture & lunch

 Afternoon: 14:00-17:30

  Back to the future
The program continues with short presentations and a round table discussing the future of doctoral research. What will a PhD look like in the following years? What should scientists consider after finishing their PhD? What will PhD fellows or even institutes need in this new digital era?
14:00-14:20 Evan Floden - CRG PhD Alumni & Seqera CEO & Co-founder
14:20-15:30 Round table – Future of doctoral education training
Moderator: Iris Uribesalgo Micas
  • Annelies Van de Ven, Policy Officer, MSCA Unit (Postdoctoral Fellowships and Choose Europe), European Commission
  • Ruben Vicente, Coordinator of the PhD Programme in Biomedicine, Universitat Pompeu Fabra
  • Luis Zapata, Team Leader Evolutionary Immunogenomics, The Institute of Cancer Research, UK (& PhD Alumni)
  • La Caixa
  • Damjana Kastelic, Head of the CRG Training & Academic Office
15:30-16:00 Coffee break
16:00-17:15 Beyond the PhD - Daring to Choose Your Own Path - Damjana Kastelic & CRG PhD Students
17:15-17:30 Summary of the day

 Evening: 17:30 onwards - Farewell and Party