CRG Research Fellowships 2026/27 in Barcelona, Spain: Eligibility, Stipend and How to Apply

The Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona offers paid research fellowships for undergraduate and master’s students during the 2026/27 academic year. Fellows spend up to four months in a CRG lab, receive 700 euros a month and get help with their flight. Each project stays open until the right person is found, so the earlier you apply, the better your chance.

This guide was last checked on 21 October 2026 against the CRG’s official page for undergraduate and master’s students.

CRG fellowships at a glance

Is the CRG fellowship right for you?

These fellowships suit students who want real lab or computational research experience in Europe during their degree. Check these points:

• Are you enrolled now? You must be in an official undergraduate or master’s programme, and the fellowship must happen during the 2026/27 academic year.
• Will your university cooperate? It must sign a learning agreement with CRG. Some universities need weeks to do this.
• Do you have the skills? Several projects require Python, and one also needs Bash. Lab projects need relevant practical experience.
• Can you afford Barcelona? 700 euros gross a month helps, but you may need extra money for rent and living costs.
• Do you want a research career? A few months in a research group can help with a thesis, a master’s application or a later PhD.

What is the CRG?

The Centre for Genomic Regulation is a research institute in Barcelona that studies genomes and how they work. Its research groups work across biology, genomics and computational science. The undergraduate and master’s fellowships let students join one of these groups and work on a real research project.

Why Barcelona and the CRG

A research stay abroad teaches more than science. You learn to work in a team where people come from many countries, to communicate your work in English, and to manage a project with real deadlines. Barcelona is a major European city with a large international student community, which makes it easier to settle in for a few months. Combined with a monthly stipend and travel support, the CRG fellowship is an accessible way for students from many countries to get research experience in Europe before applying for a master’s or PhD.

What the fellowship pays

• Stipend: 700 euros gross a month, for up to four months.
• Travel: a return ticket up to 1,000 euros for flights from outside Europe, or up to 400 euros for flights within Europe.
• Training: hands-on research with an international team and training in modern research methods.

Gross means before any tax or deductions. The stipend helps with living costs but may not cover all of them in Barcelona, so plan a budget.

Projects listed for 2026/27

CRG’s page lists these fellowship projects. Each has its own contacts, so read the description on the official page before you write.

CRG says it will offer 10 fellowships, so more projects may be added. Check the page regularly.

Understanding the projects in plain words

The project titles can sound technical. Here is a simple guide to the areas, to help you decide which fits you:

• Proteomics and liquid biopsies: proteomics measures the proteins in a sample. LC-MS/MS is a lab method that separates and identifies proteins. Liquid biopsies use body fluids such as blood instead of tissue. This suits students with lab or analytical chemistry experience.
• Missense variants and protein folding: a missense variant is a DNA change that alters one building block of a protein. This project uses probabilistic machine learning to study how such changes affect protein folding. It suits students with Python and some statistics.
• Genotype-phenotype maps: these describe how genes relate to traits. This project looks at how the environment changes that link, and suits students interested in systems or synthetic biology.
• Structural variants: large changes in the structure of DNA. This project looks at regulatory motifs, short DNA patterns that control genes, within them. It needs Python and Bash.
• Cancer mutations and the immune system: this project models how cancer mutations may trigger immune responses. It needs Python and suits students interested in evolution, modelling or cancer biology.

Read the full description on CRG’s page before you write to a supervisor.

Who can apply

• You are enrolled in an official undergraduate or master’s programme.
• Your university will sign a learning agreement with CRG.
• You are a new recruit, not a student already working at CRG.
• You can do the fellowship within the 2026/27 academic year.
• You have the skills the project asks for, such as Python or Bash for computational projects.

CRG says it welcomes students of all nationalities.

Skills that help

• Programming: Python is required for three projects, and Bash for one. If you have used them in a course or project, describe what you built.
• Data analysis: experience with statistics, data cleaning or visualisation is useful for computational projects.
• Lab skills: for experimental projects, mention techniques you have used, such as sample preparation or analytical methods.
• English: CRG teams are international. The official page does not state a language requirement, but you will need to communicate well with your group.

General internships at CRG

If none of the fellowship projects fits, CRG also accepts applications for general internships all year round, with a learning agreement from your university. The page does not state the length or any stipend for these, and acceptance depends on each group’s capacity and ongoing projects. To try this route, find a lab whose research interests you and write to its group leader with the same documents: a motivation letter, CV, reference letter and transcripts.

What is a learning agreement?

A learning agreement is a document signed by your university and the host institute that says the internship is part of your studies. It usually describes the project, the dates and how your university will recognise the work. Ask your university’s internship or international office early how they handle learning agreements, because getting signatures can take time. CRG requires one for both the fellowships and general internships.

How to apply

1. Choose a project or lab. Read the fellowship projects, or browse CRG’s research pages for a lab that matches your interests.
2. Prepare your documents: a motivation letter, CV, reference letter and university transcripts.
3. Email the group leader or supervisor directly, using the contacts listed for the project.
4. Follow up politely if you do not hear back after about two weeks.
5. If accepted, arrange the learning agreement between your university and CRG.

Questions go to the CRG Training and Academic Office at training@crg.eu.

A sample timeline

Questions to ask the group leader

If a group leader replies with interest, a short call or email exchange helps you both. Useful questions include:

• What would a typical week on the project look like?
• Which skills should I practise before I start?
• When could the fellowship start, and how long should it last?
• Who would supervise me day to day?
• What would you expect me to produce by the end?

Writing your email to the group leader

Your first email is your application, so make it short, clear and specific:

• Subject line: name the project, for example “Application: CRG fellowship, structural variants project”.
• First paragraph: who you are, your programme and university, and when you are available.
• Second paragraph: why this project interests you, with one detail that shows you read about it.
• Third paragraph: your relevant skills and experience, such as lab techniques, Python or a past project.
• Close: say that your motivation letter, CV, reference letter and transcripts are attached.

Preparing your transcripts

CRG asks for your university transcripts. Use the most recent official version you can get, and add an English translation if the original is in another language. Make sure the grading scale is clear, and highlight relevant courses in your CV or letter so the group leader can find them quickly. If your transcript is long, you can mention in your email which courses relate most closely to the project.

Making a good impression after you are accepted

Once a group leader accepts you, respond quickly and keep them updated on the learning agreement and your travel dates. Before you arrive, read two or three recent papers from the group and practise the main tools you will use. On your first day, ask about the group’s routines, data storage and safety rules. Small steps like these help you start well and get more from a short stay.

Writing the motivation letter

Keep the letter to one page. Explain what you want to learn, why this lab and project fit you, and what you bring. Mention specific methods from the project description that you have used or want to learn. End with how the experience fits your plans, such as a master’s thesis or a PhD. Our motivation letter template shows a clear structure.

Preparing your CV and reference letter

Your CV should highlight relevant courses, lab work, programming skills and any projects. Our research CV guide shows how to present projects clearly. For the reference letter, ask a teacher or supervisor who knows your practical work, ideally someone who saw you in a lab or on a coding project. Our guide on strong recommendation letters explains how to ask.

Planning your stay in Barcelona

• Visa: if you are not an EU citizen, check the Spanish visa or residence rules for students or interns on the official website of the Spanish embassy in your country. Start as soon as you have an offer.
• Housing: look for a room early. Shared flats and student residences are common options.
• Budget: plan how the 700 euro monthly stipend and your own savings will cover rent, food and transport.
• Insurance: check what health insurance you need for your stay, and whether your university’s insurance covers internships abroad.
• Travel: keep your flight receipts, since travel support is capped at 1,000 euros from outside Europe or 400 euros within Europe.

What to expect during the fellowship

You will join a research group and work on your project with a supervisor, alongside researchers from many countries. Expect to learn the group’s methods, read papers, run experiments or analyses, and present your progress to the group. Keep a clear record of what you do, because you may need it for your university’s credit or thesis. At the end, ask your supervisor for feedback and, if it went well, a reference letter for future applications.

Timing and follow-up

Because each project closes when it is filled, timing matters. Apply as soon as you are ready. If you do not hear back after about two weeks, send one polite follow-up email. If a project is already filled, ask whether the group has other openings, or move on to another lab.

How the fellowship can help your career

A few months in a research institute gives you experience that is hard to get in class. You learn current methods, work in an international team and see how research projects are planned and carried out. Many students use an experience like this for a bachelor’s or master’s thesis, and a good reference from a CRG group leader can support later applications for master’s or PhD programmes and scholarships.

Other CRG programmes for students

CRG’s page also mentions a CRG Summer Internship Programme and a CRG International Master Internships Programme, but lists them under past opportunities with no current dates. If you are interested in these, check the CRG training pages again later or ask the Training and Academic Office at training@crg.eu.

Related research opportunities

• LPI Summer Intern Program in Houston, USA.
• USTC Research Internship Program in China.
• NIMS Internship Program in Japan.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Sending a general email to many labs at once without naming the project.
• Applying to a computational project without the required programming skills.
• Waiting too long, since each project closes when it is filled.
• Forgetting to check whether your university can sign a learning agreement.
• Missing one of the four documents.

Checklist before you apply

• I am enrolled in an official undergraduate or master’s programme.
• My university can sign a learning agreement with CRG.
• I chose a project and meet its skill requirements.
• My motivation letter, CV, reference letter and transcripts are ready.
• My email to the group leader is short and specific.
• I can do the fellowship within the 2026/27 academic year.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the CRG fellowship pay?

700 euros gross a month for up to four months, plus travel support of up to 1,000 euros from outside Europe or 400 euros within Europe.

Is there a deadline?

No single deadline. Each project stays open until a suitable candidate is found.

Can international students apply?

Yes. CRG says it welcomes students of all nationalities.

Who do I send my application to?

The group leader or supervisor of the project you choose, using the contacts on CRG’s page.

Do I need to speak Spanish or Catalan?

A language requirement is not stated on the official source. CRG teams work internationally, so check with the group leader.

Can I apply if I have finished my degree?

The fellowships require you to be enrolled in an official undergraduate or master’s programme, with a learning agreement from your university.

How many fellowships are there?

CRG says 10 fellowships, but its page lists five projects so far. More may be added.

Can I do the fellowship in summer?

The fellowship must be taken within the 2026/27 academic year. Agree the exact dates with the group leader and your university.

Is the stipend taxed?

CRG gives the stipend as a gross amount, which means before any tax or deductions. Ask the Training and Academic Office how much you will receive after deductions.

Where to apply

See the projects and contacts on the official CRG page for undergraduate and master’s students. Our CRG fellowship page keeps the key facts in one place.