Ashwin Woodhoo

The Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS) at the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, invites applications for two postdoctoral positions under the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026. These positions are available in the Gene Regulatory Control in Disease Laboratory (supervised by Prof. Ashwin Woodhoo) and the Liver Metabolism and Disorders Laboratory (supervised by Prof. Marta Varela Rey). Project 1, led by Prof. Ashwin Woodhoo, focuses on the molecular control of myelination and nerve repair. The research investigates how specialized ribosomes regulate translation in myelinating glial cells, with implications for understanding and treating neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, diabetic neuropathy, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. The project employs advanced techniques including cryo-EM, quantitative proteomics, genome-wide ribosome profiling, and genetic mouse models, in collaboration with leading European research groups. For more information, visit the Gene Regulatory Control in Disease Laboratory . Project 2, under Prof. Marta Varela Rey, explores the molecular mechanisms underlying liver disease and regeneration. The research addresses chronic liver diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cholestatic liver disease, and liver cancer, as well as the liver's remarkable regenerative capacity. The selected candidate will investigate hepatic cellular responses and contribute to the development of diagnostic biomarkers and regenerative therapies. More details can be found at the Liver Metabolism and Disorders Laboratory . Both laboratories are internationally recognized and funded by the European Commission (ERC Consolidator Grant), the Spanish Ministry of Science, and private foundations. The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships offer a competitive salary, mobility allowance, and research costs, supporting international, interdisciplinary, and inter-sectoral mobility for excellent researchers of any nationality. Eligibility: Applicants must hold a PhD in a biomedical sciences-related subject, with the thesis defended before September 9, 2026, and have no more than 8 years of postdoctoral research experience (excluding career breaks). Candidates must not have resided or worked in Spain for more than 12 months in the 36 months prior to the deadline. At least one peer-reviewed publication as first or corresponding author is required, and excellent English proficiency is essential. Application Process: Interested candidates should send a CV (max 3 pages, including publications) and a motivation letter (max 1 page) to Prof. Ashwin Woodhoo at [email protected] by May 31, 2026, with the subject line 'REF: MSCA PF 2026 fellowship'. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted in May and June. Selected candidates will prepare a joint MSCA-PF proposal with the PI for submission by September 9, 2026. Please note that an employment contract is contingent upon the award of the MSCA-PF by the European Commission. For further information, visit the CiMUS group page or the Euraxess job listing .

DECODES is a Europe-wide MSCA Doctoral Network coordinated by the University of Santiago de Compostela and built around one major scientific challenge: deciphering the splicing code in human disease. The network focuses on alternative splicing, a key post-transcriptional mechanism that expands protein diversity and is increasingly recognised as a driver of cancer, neurodegeneration, metabolic syndromes, and rare genetic disorders. This call offers 15 PhD positions across leading European universities, research institutes, and industry partners in Spain, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Portugal, Germany, Poland, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden. The doctoral projects span a broad, highly interdisciplinary research programme that integrates computational genomics, structural biology, disease modelling, RNA biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, and translational therapeutic development. Examples of project themes include advanced multi-omic approaches for rare disease diagnosis, discovery of disease-related isoforms, splicing regulation in diabetes and cancer, liquid-liquid phase separation in splicing, structural biology of spliceosome assembly, splicing in hepatic fibrosis and demyelinating disorders, regulatory mechanisms in stem-cell activation, ASO-based modulation for ultra-rare neurodegenerative mutations, and chemical approaches for splice-switching RNA therapeutics. The programme is designed to train Doctoral Candidates in both fundamental RNA biology and translational applications. Funding is provided through Horizon Europe’s MSCA Doctoral Networks under grant agreement 101312753. Successful candidates will be appointed on 36-month contracts with a monthly living allowance of 4,010 EUR, a mobility allowance of 710 EUR, and a family allowance of 660 EUR if applicable, subject to country correction coefficients and host-institution rules. The positions are full-time and embedded in an international, interdisciplinary, and intersectoral environment, with industrial secondments and structured doctoral training. Eligibility is restricted to Doctoral Candidates who do not already hold a PhD. Applicants may be of any nationality, but must satisfy the MSCA mobility rule and must not have spent more than 12 months in the recruiting country during the three years prior to recruitment. A Master’s degree in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Biotechnology, Biomedicine, or a closely related life science field is required, together with strong English, laboratory competence, basic data-analysis skills, and motivation for collaborative research across academia and industry. Applications must be submitted as a single PDF by email to [email protected]. Candidates should include a detailed CV, motivation letter, bachelor’s and master’s transcripts, and an English certificate, and they may apply for up to three positions by listing their preferences in the email subject line. The application deadline is 1 October 2026.