PhD in Microscopy for Evolutionary Cell Biology (Barcelona)
Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona
Have you ever wondered how organisms can survive in the ice of North pole and the peaks of Himalaya? How will these organisms preserve their molecular systems in the face of global warming? The group of Oriol Gallego (UPF) opens a 4-year microscopist PhD position to investigate the physical principles that underlie the adaptation of molecular systems in cells exposed to cold environments (cryosphere) and how they respond to climate change. The student will combine advanced imaging techniques to obtain in situ quantitative measurements in non-conventional yeast species. Some of the microscopy techniques employed are Single Molecule Localization Microscopy (SMLM), particle tracking and cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET).
We now have the computational and gene-editing power to enter in a new era in biological imaging. For instance, our lab pioneered cell engineering and advanced livecell imaging to resolve molecular architectures in vivo with up to 2 nm precision (Picco et al, 2017, Cell; Irastorza-Azcarate et al, 2019, Structure; Hernández et al, 2024, NAR GAB). In collaboration with the groups of Daniel Castaño-Díez (Biofisika Institute, Spain) we continue pushing the limits of microscopy to investigate molecular systems in situ (Puigtintó, 2025, bioRxiv). We are looking for an experimentalist student willing to join us in the search for new biology. The PhD student will develop culturing and gene-editing approaches that allow us to image cell biology in unexplored fungi species that live in the cryosphere. The project might include field trips to isolate yeast species from highaltitude mountains. The student will extract mechanistic insight from advanced microscopy data, aiming to uncover the physical principles of cellular adaptation to environmental fluctuations associated with climate change.
The student will have a 4-year fellowship with higher salary than the average. The group currently hosts 10 researchers from 6 different countries developing imaging techniques at the frontier between cell biology and structural biology. Our lab is located at the PRBB, a leading scientific campus in southern Europe, with state-of-the-art research facilities. If you are interested, please send a short cover letter, your CV and the contact details of 2-3 referees to oriol.gallego@upf.edu (please indicate “Application to PhD in Microscopy in Evolutionary Cell” in the subject)
Deadline: until the position is filled or end of October 2025
Starting date: Autum 2025-Winter2026
Requirements
- BSc or MSc in biology, chemistry, biotechnology, or related disciplines.
- Minimum 1 year expertise working in a wetlab.
- Expertise with yeast or eukaryotic microorganisms, computer programming (Python, R, Matlab or FiJi), SMLM, particle tracking or cryo-EM/cryo-ET will be valued, but it is not required.
- Excellent track-record will be valued, but it is not required (>=8/10 GPA for Spanish students).