DECODES 15 PhD Positions 2026: Closed Recruitment Guide

DECODES MSCA Doctoral Network

DECODES is coordinated by the University of Santiago de Compostela and focuses on alternative RNA splicing and its role in human disease. The network links RNA biology with computational genomics, structural biology, disease modelling, RNA biochemistry, medicinal chemistry and pharmacological screening.

The programme recruited 15 doctoral researchers into an international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral training network combining academic, clinical and industrial research environments.

All 15 DECODES Research Projects

The 2026 call included 15 distinct doctoral projects across RNA biology, clinical genomics, structural biology, disease modelling and drug development. The table identifies every advertised project rather than grouping separate vacancies under one heading. These are historical descriptions of a closed recruitment call, not currently available jobs.

Prospective applicants to similar programmes should distinguish their research preparation by project: DC1 and DC2 involve multi-omics and computational analysis, DC5 and DC6 emphasise molecular or structural methods, while DC13–DC15 focus on therapeutic development. The official DECODES vacancy contains the full project objectives and supervisors.

Eligibility for the Closed 2026 Call

• Academic qualification: a master’s degree or equivalent in molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, biotechnology, biomedicine or another relevant field; project-specific preparation also mattered.
• Doctoral status: applicants could not already hold a PhD. A researcher who had successfully defended a doctoral thesis but had not yet received the degree was also ineligible.
• Nationality: candidates from any country were eligible, subject to the remaining requirements.
• MSCA mobility: at recruitment, candidates could not have resided or carried out their main activity for more than 12 months during the preceding three years in the country of their recruiting organisation. Short visits such as holidays are generally excluded.
• English: the call expected at least B2 proficiency. A recognised certificate was encouraged and could support the assessment, but the EURAXESS additional comments said it was not strictly mandatory for initial screening.
• Secondments: candidates needed to be willing to relocate for research stays with academic or industrial network partners.

These are the published conditions for the 2026 recruitment. They must not be assumed to govern a later call without a fresh announcement.

Funding and Employment Terms

DECODES advertised 36-month doctoral employment contracts under the applicable MSCA Doctoral Networks rules and each recruiting organisation’s employment framework. EURAXESS identified the following monthly EU funding contributions:

These amounts are not a guaranteed personal gross or net salary. The published values can cover salary and institutional employment costs, depending on the country and employer. Country corrections, deductions and other employment conditions affect the final remuneration. Candidates receiving an offer should obtain the host institution’s actual employment terms.

How Applicants Submitted Their 2026 Applications

Applications are closed. During the 2026 call, applicants could choose one, two or three positions and rank them in preference order. The central submission method was one PDF attachment by email to mscadn.decodes@usc.gal. This address is retained as the historical recruitment contact, not as an active application route.

The published application package consisted of:

• Detailed academic CV
• Motivation letter aligned to the selected research project(s)
• Bachelor’s and master’s academic transcripts
• English-proficiency evidence, if available; a B2 certificate was encouraged but not essential for initial screening

The required email subject was DECODES_1,5,8_YourSurnameName for an applicant ranking DC1, DC5 and DC8. Candidates were required to submit before 1 October 2026, 23:45 Europe/Madrid. This application format is provided to help readers understand the completed recruitment process; it is not a currently open submission instruction.

For a comparable future call, applicants should tailor their motivation statement to experimental or computational methods specified for each position and document previous research experience accurately. This is CareerAidHub’s editorial advice, not a separate DECODES recruitment criterion.

2026 Recruitment Calendar

The interview dates above are the published recruitment schedule; they do not independently establish that interviews took place or that offers have been made. No later general application cycle has been verified.