Human Technopole is looking for enthusiastic postdoctoral researchers interested in applying for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships (PF) 2022.

Human Technopole (HT) is a new life science research institute located in Milan (Italy), whose aim is to develop innovative strategies to promote human health through a multidisciplinary and integrated approach. HT is composed of five Centres: Computational Biology, Structural Biology, Genomics, Neurogenomics and Health Data Science. HT offers a highly collaborative, international culture to foster top quality, interdisciplinary research by promoting a vibrant environment consisting of independent research groups with access to outstanding graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and core facilities.

The Centre for Genomics, led by Piero Carninci and Nicole Soranzo, aims at uncovering the complex mechanisms governing gene expression and how heritable genetic information translates into phenotypic traits.

Projects should focus on the following research areas:

• The Bienko Group aims at revealing fundamental design principles that regulate how chromatin is spatially organized in the nucleus of mammalian cells and how the three-dimensional organization of the genome is affected by alterations in its sequence, such as those commonly encountered in human cancers. To this aim, the group develops novel out-of-the-box NGS technologies, new DNA/RNA FISH methods as well as new computational methods.
• The Calviello Group (adjunct with the Computational Biology Research Centre) employs advanced computational and experimental approaches revolving around the omics of translation, a fundamental process which dictates the functions of transcribed genome. Main projects in the lab deal with quantifying multi-step regulation of gene expression, time series modelling of ribosome dynamics using AI methods, and proteogenomics applications between RNA and protein.
• The Carninci Group develops and applies new technologies to understand gene regulation, with particular focus on the role of non-coding part of the genome and non-coding RNA. We study the role, structure, modifications and interactome of SINE elements embedded in antisense lncRNAs, we develop transcription profiling technologies, and we establish approaches to detect interactomes of molecules.
• The Domínguez Conde Group aims to understand early-life human immunity and inborn errors of immunity using cutting-edge genomic and computational methods. Our approaches include state-of-the-art genomic technologies including single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) coupled to single-cell T and B cell receptor sequencing; single-cell assay for transposase accessible chromatin sequencing (scATAC-seq); short and long read genome sequencing and CRISPR genome engineering.
• The Glastonbury Group uses and develops supervised and unsupervised machine learning methods to help understand the genetic basis of complex disease. One of the main goals in the group is computational phenotyping, defining accurate and disease relevant "sub-phenotypes" of disease from modalities such as imaging, that can be used to help explain why more complex traits and diseases manifest genetically.
• The Soranzo Group uses high-resolution, population-scale genomic analyses of phenotypes representing different hierarchical levels of gene regulation, cellular and organismal phenotypes, to unravel how genetic variation influences human traits and disease. The group also uses the power of other genomic and multi-omic technologies to drive a greater understanding of the molecular and functional basis of diseases and blood immunity and to advance hypotheses of therapeutic target prioritisation.
• The Soskic Group uses a range of state of the art genomic and immunological approaches to study how immune disease variants affect cellular processes and cell-cell interactions. We are particularly focused on understanding the crosstalk between T and B cells, which is central to protective immunity

The Centre for Neurogenomics, led by Giuseppe Testa, investigates the biological mechanisms underlying human neuropsychiatric and neurological diseases, combining basic and translational research through different experimental systems and computational approaches.

Projects should focus on the following research areas:

• The Davila-Velderrain Group leverages single-cell neurogenomic technologies and start-of-the-art computational developments to study and understand the evolution, development, and dysfunction of the human brain.
• The Harschnitz Group develops state-of-the-art human pluripotent stem cell models to study neuroimmunological disease at a single-cell resolution. We are particularly interested in host-virus interactions in the central nervous system and the molecular mechanisms that regulate viral latency.
• The Kalebic Group The focuses on the molecular and cell biological mechanisms underlying human neocortex development and evolution along with their implication for neurodevelopmental and neuro-oncological diseases
• The Taverna Group is interested in understanding the cell biological basis of brain development and evolution. We employ state of the art methods to study the cell biological logic of fate choice in neural stem cells during brain development and the synapse’s evolution in the primate lineage using iPSCs-derived neurons
• The Testa Group studies the molecular basis of human neuropsychiatric and neurological diseases (NPD), by chasing the dynamics of their unfolding in physiopathologically relevant experimental models (mainly human brain organoids) and straddling multiple scales of analysis from single-cell resolution to organismal function. We are also investigating the logic of the gene regulatory networks underlying the evolution of human brain through the prism of the human neurodevelopmental disorders.

The Centre for Structural Biology, led by Alessandro Vannini, aims at gaining precise knowledge of the structure of macromolecules and their organisation within cells to understand how they function.

Projects should focus on the following research areas:

• The Casañal Group is focused on understanding the structure and function of macromolecular machines involved in gene expression (epitranscriptomics). The lab uses an integrated approach that combines cryoEM with biochemistry, biophysics, and mass-spectrometry methods to unravel the mechanisms behind the addition and removal of biochemical marks on RNA.
• The Coscia Group uses integrative structural biology (cryo-EM, biochemistry and cell biology) to unravel the molecular mechanisms behind thyroid function and disease, from molecular scale to native organoids systems.
• The Erdmann Group uses High Resolution in situ Structural Biology (cryo-electron tomography, focused ion beam milling, correlative fluorescence and electron microscopy) in native cells to explore the molecular sociology of liquid-liquid phase separated compartments involved in pathogenic processes.
• Pigino Group Cilia are eukaryotic organelles that are required for embryo development, tissue homeostasis and organ functionality. The Pigino Group investigates the biology and the 3D molecular structure of ciliary components in the native cellular context and in isolation, to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of ciliary functions and dysfunctions in human ciliopathies.
• The Vannini Group employs an Integrative Structural Biology approach (cryo-EM, structural mass-spectrometry, molecular and cellular biology) to obtain a mechanistic understanding of non-coding transcription (RNA Polymerase III) and genome structure and organization (SMC and architectural complexes).

The Centre for Computational Biology, led by Andrea Sottoriva, develops new computational methods for biology- and health-related data analysis, generates new datasets based on computationally-informed experimental designs, analyses and interprets data generated by other HT centres, and asks fundamental questions about biology and human health through computational approaches, from mathematical modelling of dynamical systems to machine learning and AI.

Projects should focus on the following research areas:

• The Iorio Group designs and uses statistical, mathematical and machine-learning methods for the identification of new oncology therapeutic targets and biomarkers from the analysis of functional genetic and pharmacogenomic screens and cancer multi-omic datasets. We also work on methods for design/optimisation of CRISPR screens and in-silico drug repositioning.
• The Jug Group is pushing the boundary of what AI and machine learning can do to better analyse and quantify biological data. While image data is our core expertise, we also seek to apply the latest and most powerful AI methods to challenging biomedical analysis tasks. Postdoctoral fellows with big ideas are highly encouraged to apply to join our lab and receive our fullest support to realize their proposed project(s).
• The Pinheiro Group integrates theoretical and experimental research to develop a predictive framework for evolutionary processes under ecological complexity. We combine systems biology approaches, evolutionary modelling, computational methods, data analysis, and data from evolution experiments, to advance our understanding of antibiotic resistance evolution in realistic scenarios, including microbial communities.

The Centre for Health Data Science, led by Emanuele Di Angelantonio, focuses on integrating diverse types of (big) data to develop tools to support the healthcare system, particularly in the areas of precision medicine, health management and health economics.

The research areas on which the project should focus are:

• For more information on Emanuele Di Angelantonio research please follow this link
• The Zuccolo Group analyses complex data to disentangle intergenerational effects in maternal/child/adolescent health. We develop new phenotype captures (from record linkages, wearables tracking), apply causal inference methods to traditional and ‘omic data, and study health and developmental trajectories, their determinants, and predictors.

Eligibility criteria

• The researcher must hold a doctoral degree with no more than 8 years of experience after the completion of their PhD
• The researcher can be of any nationality
• The researcher must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Italy for more than twelve months in the three years immediately prior to the call deadline

How to apply

Please apply, indicating the Research Group of interest, by sending your CV and a brief outline of the proposed research project describing how it synergizes with the Research Centre and Group (1 page maximum) to MSCA@fht.org by June 30^th 2022.

Potential candidates will be internally pre-selected and notified of the outcome of their application by July 15^th 2022, in order to proceed with the official MSCA-PF application (deadline September 14^th 2022). Selected applicants will develop their MSCA-PF proposal in cooperation with the proposed supervisor.

Description of MSCA Postdoctoral fellowships

The objective of PFs is to support researchers’ careers and foster excellence in research. The Postdoctoral Fellowships action targets researchers holding a PhD who wish to carry out their research activities abroad, acquire new skills and develop their careers. PFs help researchers gain experience in other countries, disciplines and non-academic sectors.

The fellowship typically covers the researcher's salary (living and mobility allowance) for two years, research, training and networking activities costs and overheads for the host institution.

Duration

1 to 2 years

Benefits

• A living allowance
• A mobility allowance
• If applicable, family, long-term leave, and special needs allowances
• Funding for research, training, and networking activities
• Management and indirect costs (to the host institution)

More information about MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2022:

MSCA workplan 2021-2022

MSCA PF website

Callwebsite