The Laboratory of Evolutionary and Functional Genomics, based at the Botanic Institute of Barcelona (IBB, CSIC–CMCNB) and led by Dr. Josefa González, is offering a position in the JAE-Intro fellowship to join its research team
PROJECT SUMMARY
Understanding the genomic basis of adaptive evolution is key to explaining a central evolutionary process, and has direct applications in designing conservation strategies, improving animal and plant production, and in medical genetics.
In today’s global change scenario, the geographic ranges of many species are shifting, including those that act as vectors of human diseases. In addition, increasing global connectivity is accelerating biological invasions, making it even more urgent to understand the molecular processes that allow adaptation to new environments.
Despite recent advances, the knowledge of the genomic bases of adaptive evolution remains limited, as many approaches still focus mainly on a single type of genetic variant: single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). However, mounting evidence across multiple organisms shows that transposable elements contribute greater nucleotide-level diversity, which can have functional relevance. Our laboratory is at the forefront of research on the role of transposable elements in adaptive evolution.
RESEARCH LINES
The project is structured around two main lines:
- The role of mobile elements in environmental transitions in dipterans.
- The role of mobile elements in the diversification of the transcriptome and generation of proteomic novelty in eukaryotes.
TASKS TO BE CARRIED OUT
The selected candidate will participate in tasks such as:
- Identification of mobile elements using bioinformatics pipelines.
- Annotation of mobile elements in eukaryotic genomes.
- Analysis of mobile element dynamics in annotated genomes.
- Study of the role of mobile elements in generating new transcripts and changes in gene expression.
FELLOWSHIP DETAILS
- Duration: 5 months (start date to be agreed with research staff).
- Commitment: 20 hours per week.
- Remuneration: total 3,500 € (5 payments of 700 €, no additional funding).
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Completed or ongoing degree in bioinformatics, biotechnology, biology, genetics, or related fields.
- Minimum GPA of 6.0 (0–10 scale, two decimals).
- If the degree has been completed, enrollment in a related official Master’s program is required.
DESIRABLE MERITS
- English proficiency.
- Experience in UNIX/Linux command-line environments.
- Knowledge of programming in R and/or Python.
APPLICATION PROCESS
- The call was published in the
BOE on 7 February 2026
. - The application period is open until 10 March 2026.
- All information and the application procedure are available on the
CSIC website
.