15 PhD positions in the MSCA Doctoral Network DECODES: Deciphering the Splicing Code in Human Disease University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain

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.