
The Center for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) is an independent organization established as a Consortium of four main research institutions: the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), and University of Barcelona (UB).
This innovative arrangement brings together diverse plant and farm animal research groups, and provides a unique nurturing ground for research and training, exploring the genetic and genomic determinants that are common for plants and animals. CRAG is devoted to leading-edge research in the molecular basis of genetic characters of interest in plants and farm animals, and in the applications of molecular approaches for breeding of species important for agriculture and food production. Research at CRAG spans from primarily basic science to applied studies in close collaboration with Industry. The Center is organized into four different Scientific Programs: Plant Development and Signal Transduction, Plant Responses to Stress, Plant Synthetic Biology and Metabolic Engineering, and Plant and Animal Genomics. These Programs are supported by several state-of-the-art technological platforms, that are also open to the wider scientific community.
CRAG strives to translate the results of its research into benefits for society. It also aims to train the next generation of plant and farm animal scientists, who will play a vital role in helping to address the societal and global challenges of this century.
Our main goals are to decipher the genetic determinants of bacterial plant diseases and to characterize the main executioners of the hypersensitive response cell death.We combine genetics, biochemistry and molecular biology in an integrated approach to study both plants and their pathogens.The Bacterial Plant Diseases and Cell Death team is located in the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) in Bellaterra, Barcelona. The CRAG isa consortium between the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the Catalan Institute for Food and Agricultural Research and Technology (IRTA), the University of Barcelona (UB) and the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB).
For more info: http://www.ub.edu/bactplantdiseases/
Bacterial wilt caused by the wide-host range pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum is a devastating disease affecting over 200 plant species from disparate families including potato, tomato, peanut, eucalyptus, clove, etc. We study the expression and the functions of R. solanacearum virulence genes inside its plant hosts. The work includes generation of straind mutant or over expressing candidate genes and evaluating their impact on bacterial virulence and survival.
From June 15 to August 31, 2026 (adjustable at the discretion of the organisation)
The Monte Lab investigates how plants and algae adapt to constantly changing light environments, with the long-term goal of understanding how photosynthetic organisms maintain growth and fitness across the wide dynamic range of natural light conditions. Using Arabidopsis and Chlamydomonas as model systems, the lab combines classical approaches with advanced molecular, cellular, and physiological techniques to uncover the mechanisms that regulate light-responsive development and stress adaptation.
Our research spans three major areas:
Photoreceptor molecules sense the light environment to enable optimal adaptation. The microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii contains a suite of photoreceptors, many of which remain uncharacterized. Interestingly, light can activate photoprotective mechanisms that prevent photodamage under high irradiance, although the specific photoreceptors involved are largely unknown. In this context, we have identified a novel histidine kinase (BLUE1) photoreceptor member of the two-component signaling family. BLUE1 is required for photoprotection. However, its partner response regulator is still unknown. The Chlamydomonas genome encodes only a limited number of potential partners. This project aims to identify the signaling partner of the BLUE1 protein. Photoreceptors are also critical in Arabidopsis to sense the light environment as the seed germinates to regulate chloroplast biogenesis and cotyledon expansion. Our latest research is contributing to the understanding of how tissue and cell type-specific signaling underlie these processes, as well as the role of interorganellar communication. Research will integrate a range of approaches including Computational prediction, Bimolecular complementation (BiFc) coupled with high-resolution microscopy, CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, physiological and phenotypical studies, and advanced transcriptomics.
From June 15 to August 31, 2026 (adjustable at the discretion of the organisation)
We offer an internship opportunity in our laboratory focused on the intricate plant physiology and biochemistry of brassinosteroid receptor signaling, with a particular emphasis on the BRL3 receptor in Arabidopsis thaliana. This position is ideal for master or graduate students with a strong interest in plant biology, hormone signaling, and advanced molecular techniques.
The intern will engage in cutting-edge research aimed at elucidating the role of brassinosteroids receptors, specifically BRL3, in regulating cell-specific development, and stress responses. Their responsibilities will include biochemical assays of BRL3 signaling components, and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of single-cell profiles associated with BRL3 signaling pathways. They will also investigate cell-type-specific signaling mechanisms activated by BRL3 to understand how these pathways influence physiological responses at the cellular level in response to stress.
In addition to hands-on laboratory work, you will assist in characterizing the morphological changes induced by BRL3 activation under various stress conditions. This may involve using imaging techniques and statistical analyses to assess plant phenotypes.
The ideal candidate should possess a foundational understanding of plant physiology and biochemistry, along with experience in molecular biology techniques such as PCR, RNA extraction, and bioinformatics analysis related to RNA-seq data. Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team are essential.
This internship offers a unique opportunity to develop practical skills in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication. Interns will have the chance to present their findings at lab meetings and contribute to ongoing research projects that explore the significance of brassinosteroid signaling through receptors like BRL3 in plant adaptation and resilience to abiotic stresses.
If you are passionate about plant science and eager to delve into the complex world of brassinosteroids and their signaling mechanisms in planet, we encourage you to apply for this enriching internship experience.
The Center for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) is an independent organization established as a consortium of four major research institutions: the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the Institute for Food and Agricultural Research and Technology (IRTA), the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), and the University of Barcelona (UB). This innovative partnership brings together diverse research groups working on plants and farm animals, providing a unique environment for research and training focused on the genetic and genomic determinants shared across species.
CRAG is dedicated to cutting-edge research on the molecular basis of traits of agricultural relevance, as well as the application of molecular approaches to the improvement of plant and animal species important for food production. Its research spans from fundamental biology to applied studies conducted in close collaboration with industry.
The Center is organized into four Scientific Programs: Plant Development and Signal Transduction, Plant Responses to Stress, Plant Synthetic Biology and Metabolic Engineering, and Plant and Animal Genomics. These programs are supported by several state-of-the-art technological platforms, which are also open to the wider scientific community.
CRAG is committed to translating research outcomes into societal benefit and to training the next generation of plant and animal scientists who will help address the major agricultural and global challenges of the twenty-first century.
A major unresolved question in plant immunity is how the early signaling events triggered by immune receptor activation or pathogen recognition lead to the execution of cell death, and how this process contributes to systemic acquired immunity in surrounding tissues. The spatiotemporal regulation of cell death is of central importance, yet many gaps remain before we can design strategies to harness programmed cell death as a tool for controlling invading pathogens.
Recently, we developed a spatiotemporally resolved gene-expression analysis in Arabidopsis that identified a distinctive and time-dependent set of differentially expressed genes in tissues undergoing immune-related cell death compared with their surrounding cells. This project focuses on characterizing one of the most important yet unstudied markers of this process: a predicted AAA+-ATPase. We have already generated a comprehensive set of molecular tools for this gene, including loss-of-function mutants, overexpression lines, and reporter constructs.
In this project, knock-out mutants and overexpression lines will be quantitatively assessed for their capacity to initiate immune-related cell death and to restrict the growth of the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. We will also examine the protein’s localization dynamics during immune activation and cell death using confocal microscopy and molecular simulations.
Together, these studies will provide mechanistic insight into the role of this AAA+-ATPase in immune-mediated cell death and its potential as a target for engineering disease resistance.
From June 15 to August 31, 2026 (adjustable at thediscretion of the organisation)
Research within the Plant and Animal Genomics Programme focuses on understanding the organization, evolution, and variability of crop and domestic animal genomes, uncovering their domestication processes, and elucidating the genetic basis of traits relevant to crop and livestock improvement. The Programme is structured into six research groups that routinely employ a wide range of genetic, genomic, paleogenomic, bioinformatic, statistical, population genetics, and phenotypic approaches across crops such as melon, peach, apple, strawberry, and wheat, as well as livestock species including pig and goat.
We develop bioinformatics methodologies and software tools for genome data analysis, and we apply gene-editing technologies for the functional validation of candidate genes associated with traits of interest. The main objective of the Plant and Animal Genomics Programme is to translate genomic information into phenotypes; accordingly, some of our research activities are carried out in collaboration with private companies and public institutions through commercial breeding programmes.
The project forms part of the Catalan Biogenome Project, an initiative within the Earth Biogenome Project (EBP). The EBP aims to generate a reference-quality genome assembly for every eukaryotic species on Earth. As climate change and the over-exploitation of natural resources continue to impact biodiversity and disrupt ecosystems worldwide, high-quality genome assemblies have become essential for informing conservation policies and supporting nature-based solutions.
Dr Botigué leads a consortium of more than 11 researchers dedicated to generating genome assemblies of plant species. Using long-read sequencing, Hi-C, and transcriptome data, the project’s main goals are to assemble complete genomes, annotate repetitive and functional elements, and publish high-quality reference genomes.
This internship offers an excellent opportunity to gain experience in genome assembly and to work with a broad range of bioinformatic tools. Students will also have the chance to engage with the wider EBP and the European Reference Genome Atlas communities by attending relevant meetings. Because the plant species involved vary widely in mating systems, repetitive DNA content, and genome size, there is no single universal strategy; students will learn to evaluate and troubleshoot results at each stage of the workflow. Among the species available is Crepis triasii, an endemic plant from the Balearic Islands whose populations have shifted with past sea-level changes, providing a useful model for studying natural adaptation to climate change in endemic species.
For some species, Hi-C DNA extraction is still required, so opportunities to gain wet-lab experience are also available. This part of the project is carried out in collaboration with researchers at CREAF. Completed genomes will be published in manuscripts and made available according to EBP guidelines.
From June 15 to August 31, 2026 (adjustable at the discretion of the organisation)