Talent
Talent Attraction & Retention
Robertas Ursache has joined CRAG as a Junior Group Leader in the Plant Synthetic Biology and Metabolic Engineering programme. He leads the research group “Plant Cell Wall Remodeling and Adaptation” to study the molecular mechanisms involved in cell wall remodelling during plant growth and in response to environmental stress conditions, such as nutrient imbalance, temperature stress, drought, osmotic stress or salinity.
rePLANT institutional MSCA COFUND grant
In 2022, CRAG was awarded another institutional MSCA COFUND grant from the EU to be added to the previous AGenT (Agricultural Genomics Transversal) received in 2020. The rePLANT (Reconstruction Biology in Plant Sciences) Doctoral Training Program is an ambitious research and training initiative coordinated by CRAG together with the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research (MPIPZ; Cologne, Germany) and the John Innes Centre (JIC; Norwich, UK). These prestigious grants not only enhance our ability to bring in exceptional talent but also reinforce our commitment to fostering a diverse and dynamic research environment. By securing such competitive funding, we ensure that our center continues to thrive as a global leader in scientific research and innovation.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND (Grant Agreement No 101081581). Co-funded by the grant CEX2019-000902-S funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033.
AGenT deployment
During 2022-2023, we have continued to deploy the AGenT project awarded to CRAG in 2020. This institutional MSCA COFUND grant from the EU had several calls planned to incorporate multiple postdoctoral researchers during the duration of the project. In addition, as part of the initial project, fellows performed secondments to other international research institutes, and multiple training activities took place, both in specific research areas and in transferable or transversal skills. Overall, these activities made this a unique postdoctoral programme, enhancing the fellow’s professional development while conducting projects of research of excellence.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 945043. Co-funded by the grant CEX2019-000902-S funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033.
Fellowships received by CRAG personnel:
The grants and fellowships received by our personnel are crucial for attracting and retaining talented people at CRAG. These prestigious awards not only recognize the exceptional capabilities of our researchers but also enhance our center’s reputation as a hub of scientific excellence. By securing competitive funding, we create an environment that nurtures innovation, fosters professional growth, and attracts leading scientists from around the world.
| Category | Fellowship/Grant | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technicians | PTA (Personal Técnico Apoyo – AEI) | 0 | 1 |
| Predoctoral researchers | FPI | 6 | 6 |
| FI (Joan Oró) | 2 | 2 | |
| Beatriu de Pinós | 1 | 0 | |
| rePLANT MSCA COFUND predoctoral | 0 | 5 | |
| International predoctoral fellowships (China, Paraguay, Chile) | 15 | 16 | |
| Industrial Doctorate (ongoing) | 1 | 1 | |
| Postdoctoral researchers | Juan de la Cierva (JdC) | 3 | 1 |
| AGenT MSCA COFUND postdoctoral | 2 | 3 | |
| Career Track Fellows | MSCA individual | 1 | 2 |
| RyC | 2 | 2 | |
| 33 | 39 |
Awards
In 2022 and 2023, CRAG researchers have continued to receive recognition for their outstanding contributions to the scientific community. In 2022, Carlos Vicient was a finalist in the XII Podcast 2022 Association Awards for the Best Popular Science Podcast, ‘Podcast Fascinación por las Plantas’, highlighting the importance of science communication in our mission.
In the same year, L. Maria Lois was honored with the Plaque of Honour 2022 by the Spanish Association of Scientists (AEC), a testament to her significant contributions to the scientific community and her role in advancing research and as CRAG’s director.
In 2023, Alex Clop was awarded the Guilleries Research Prize for his project on the role of herbivores in the biodiversity of plant communities. This award underscores the importance of ecological research in understanding and preserving biodiversity.
These awards not only recognize the individual achievements of our researchers but also reflect the overall excellence and impact of CRAG’s research activities. As we move forward, we remain committed to fostering an environment that supports our researchers in their pursuit of scientific excellence and innovation.
