PhD Students
We are one of Europe’s leading biomedical research institutes and and one of only ten life-science centres in Spain to hold the prestigious Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence accreditation, the highest national distinction for a research institute. Our International PhD programme offers rigorous scientific training, access to world-class facilities, and the chance to be part of a vibrant research community in Barcelona, the most dynamic life sciences hub in the Mediterranean.
With just over 400 people, the CRG is a close-knit, ambitious institute. Our Group Leaders, more than half of whom hold grants from the European Research Council, are organised into four scientific programmes: Systems & Synthetic Biology, Computational Biology & Health Genomics, Genome Biology, and Quantitative Cell Biology. This structure creates an interdisciplinary environment where experimental, computational, and theoretical approaches meet, enabling projects at the cutting edge of genomics and quantitative biomedicine.
Doing your PhD project at the CRG, you’ll be immersed in research that pushes the boundaries of knowledge in genome regulation, disease mechanisms, AI, synthetic biology, and data-driven biomedicine.
We are international by design. English is our working language, and four in five of our PhD students come from abroad. Around half of the CRG staff are international, representing over 55 nationalities. You’ll join a truly global peer group and build connections that will stay with you throughout your future career, either you decide to stay in academia or elsewhere.
Doing a PhD at CRG means cutting-edge science in an inspiring setting. We are housed in the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB), one of the largest life sciences hubs in Southern Europe. This means daily opportunities to attend seminars, exchange ideas, and collaborate with researchers from neighbouring institutes and hospitals.
Our labs overlook the Mediterranean Sea, just steps from the beach and the heart of Barcelona, a vibrant cosmopolitan city known for its creativity, culture, and energy. Beyond the bench, you’ll find a lively student and social community, with a supportive environment where world-class science and a student life go hand in hand.
OUR COMMUNITY
We have more than one hundred students within our community, and they are at the heart of life at our institute. They come from 30 different countries around the world, making our PhD community lively, diverse, and active in and outside the lab. From training and career development opportunities, annual symposia and international retreats to social events, sports, and cultural activities, students create their own networks and shape the scientific culture of our institute. Your voice matters here: student representatives sit on our Graduate Committee, ensuring that feedback and new ideas are heard. Whether through implementing new initiatives, organizing seminars, running social clubs, or simply joining colleagues for volleyball on the beach, being part of the CRG means belonging to a supportive and international community.
PHD PROGRAMME & TRAINING
We open one international PhD call per year, usually in October. This is a four-year journey that combines rigorous scientific training with personalized career development and mentoring. Each year has clear milestones to guide your progress, supported by your supervisor, thesis committee, and our Training & Academic Office.
Along the way, you’ll access a wide range of courses and workshops: compulsory training in research integrity and scientific writing, advanced technical training in genomics or imaging, and transferable skills such as project management, communication, and data analysis. You’ll also receive support to present your work at international conferences and to prepare for careers both inside and beyond academia.
[Find out about our comprehensive PhD programme]
APPLY FOR 2026
The 2026 call is now open. We offer up to 20 fully funded positions across a wide range of CRG research groups. Selected students receive a four-year employment contract with a competitive salary, health and social security coverage, and access to all our training and career development resources.
The admissions process is inclusive, transparent and supportive, with online information sessions to help you prepare a strong application, followed by panel and in-person interviews in Barcelona.
[Apply to the 2026 PhD programme]
TRAINING & ACADEMIC OFFICE
Behind the CRG International PhD programme is a dedicated Training & Academic Office (TAO). This team ensures your progress is well-supported from day one, coordinating your milestones, organising workshops, and providing advice on training opportunities. The office also organises a one-month-long onboarding PhD course where students not only get the overview of the science at the institute but also science communication, integrity, data management, IP, unconscious bias and extensive bioinformatics module.
The TAO also serves as a point of contact for wellbeing and career guidance, working closely with student representatives and supervisors. Whether you need help preparing for a presentation, want to register for a course, or simply have a question about your training pathway, the TAO is here to support your growth as a scientist.
To contact us, email training@crg.eu