The Institute

The Centro Nacional de Análisis Genómico (CNAG) is one of the largest genomic sequencing centers in Europe.
CNAG is a non-profit public consortium formed by the General State Administration through the Ministry of Science, Research and Universities (MICIU) and the Government of Catalonia (CG).
CNAG carries out genome sequencing and analysis projects in diverse areas such as human disease (cancer, rare diseases, immune-mediated diseases), microbial genomics, biodiversity, evolutionary studies, and the improvement of species of agricultural/livestock interest. Our organization contributes to strengthening the life sciences ecosystem at both national and international levels, participating in Catalan, Spanish, European and global initiatives aimed at breaking the barriers of current knowledge and building new solutions with international reach.
We participate in major international genomic initiatives such as the Human Cell Atlas (HCA), the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC), the International Human Epigenome Consortium (iHEC), the International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC), the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA), and the European Life Sciences Information Infrastructure (ELIXIR).
CNAG´s annual turnover is more than 12 million Euros.

The Team

The successful candidate will join the Human Genetics team, under the joint supervision of Dr.Sergi Beltran (Human Genetics team leader) and Dr.Leslie Matalonga (Clinical Genomics Manager).

The team is part of the CNAG Bioinformatics Unit, led by Dr. Sergi Beltran, which comprises over 30 researchers and provides a collaborative and supportive environment with strong opportunities for training and professional development.

The group operates in a highly stimulating scientific setting, applying state-of-the-art sequencing technologies and advanced computational approaches to cutting-edge genomics research, with a strong focus on rare diseases and a direct impact on human health.

The Role

We are seeking to recruit a research trainee with strong interest and potential to pursue a PhD within the Human Genetics team at CNAG. The successful candidate will join cutting-edge research projects in rare disease genomics, embedded in ongoing international initiatives aimed at improving the diagnosis and understanding of rare disorders through advanced genomic and computational approaches.

In this context, the candidate will work on integrating long-read genome sequencing, multi-omics data, and AI-driven methods to advance variant interpretation and support clinical decision-making. The research will leverage state-of-the-art sequencing technologies and computational frameworks to bridge molecular data with clinically actionable insights. We are seeking a highly motivated candidate who will contribute to the development of innovative computational and methodological approaches for the integration and interpretation of complex biological data. The successful candidate will help shape research directions driven by real clinical needs, design and implement robust analytical workflows, and contribute to translating genomic discoveries into clinically relevant knowledge. The candidate will work in close collaboration with clinicians, geneticists, bioinformaticians, and engineers, and will actively contribute to scientific dissemination through high-impact publications, conference presentations, and participation in international collaborative efforts.

Responsabilities

• Contribute to the design, development, and validation of both AI-driven and human-in-the-loop decision-support tools for variant interpretation in rare diseases
• Contribute to the development, optimization, and maintenance of reproducible AI/ML workflows for integrative multi-omics analysis, variant classification and variant prioritization
• Collaborate with clinicians to translate findings into diagnostic insights
• Disseminate results through publications, conferences, and consortium activities

Requeriments

• MSc in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Biotechnology, Physics, or related field
• Strong motivation to transform biological data into clinically actionable knowledge
• Programming experience (Python preferred)
• Strong background on molecular biology and genomics
• Background on bioinformatics, data analysis, machine learning or computational or biophysical modeling
     - Interest in rare diseases and translational genomics
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary and collaborative environment
• Advanced in English (written and spoken)

Nice to have

• Working experience with NGS or clinical data
• Previous experience developing software
• Familiarity with machine learning frameworks

The Offer

• We offer a full-time research training position, with the possibility of conversion to a predoctoral contract subject to the candidate fulfilling the applicable eligibility criteria.
• Estimated annual gross salary: Salary is commensurate with qualifications and consistent with our pay scales.
• Target start date: as soon as possible

We provide a highly stimulating environment with state-of-the-art infrastructures, and unique professional career development opportunities.

We offer and promote a diverse and inclusive environment and welcomes applicants regardless of age, disability, gender, nationality, race, religion or sexual orientation.

We are committed to reconcile a work and family life for our employees and are offering the opportunity to benefit from annual leave and flexible working hours.

Aplication Procedure

All applications must be addressed to People Management - people@cnag.eu

Email subject: 2026-3 CNAG: Research Trainee in Human Genetics

Deadline: Please submit your application by 07/June/2026

All applications must include:

• A complete CV including contact details.
• Contact details of two referees.
• Cover Letter

Selection Process

The pre-selection process will be based on qualifications and expertise reflected on the candidates CVs.
Shorlisted candidates will be called for an interview.

See all our job openings in the “Jobs” section of the CNAG website: https://www.cnag.eu/jobs