Cristian Cañestro

Fully funded PhD opportunity at the University of Barcelona in the Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio) and the Genetics Doctoral Programme. Cristian Cañestro’s lab is offering a 4-year FPI predoctoral contract linked to the project Gene loss impact: evolution of cardioparaxial-neuromesodermal development and genome scrambling in Oikopleura dioica as a case study (OikoLoss). The project asks how massive gene loss can shape evolutionary innovation, using the chordate Oikopleura dioica as a natural evolutionary knockout model. The research combines evo-devo, functional genomics, single-cell transcriptomics, population genomics, ecology, and bioinformatics . The PhD project includes two main goals: understanding how gene loss has reshaped heart, axial muscle, and neuromesodermal development; and uncovering how genome scrambling and chromosomal breakpoints generate gene-loss alleles and may influence adaptation to ocean environmental conditions. Students will gain hands-on experience with embryo culture and manipulation, microinjection, CRISPR knockouts, interference knockdowns, HCR whole-mount in situ hybridization, confocal microscopy, single-cell RNA sequencing, PacBio HiFi long-read sequencing, comparative and population genomics, and bioinformatics. The position is intended for candidates with a background in Biological Sciences , especially Biology, Genetics, or Bioinformatics, and an interest in evolutionary developmental biology, genomics, and evolutionary/population genetics. Excellent English is required. The successful applicant will work in a multidisciplinary environment with opportunities for research stays and collaboration with international partners, including OIST (Okinawa), IGFL (Lyon), SARS (Bergen), and CRG (Barcelona). Funding : the post is fully funded under the FPI programme, including salary, doctoral fees, mobility support, and social-security coverage according to official regulations. Application : early contact is strongly recommended. Expressions of interest and pre-selection are already open, while the formal application process is expected to open in September 2026. The deadline shown is 15 November 2026.