The position
The Computational Cancer Biology Lab of Martin Schaefer at the European Institute of Oncology (IEO, Milan) is looking for a computational postdoctoral researcher.
Our research aims to understand how tumors evolve from early lesions to metastatic and therapy-resistant disease. While hundreds of cancer genes have been identified through recurrent mutations, much less is known about the role of other molecular alterations, such as copy-number changes and epigenetic alterations. We develop computational models to identify which of these alterations drive tumor evolution and how they contribute to carcinogenesis. Ultimately, our goal is to address clinically relevant questions, including how these alterations shape metastasis formation, treatment response and therapy resistance.
To address these questions, we work closely with clinical and experimental collaborators and generate omics data from primary tumors and metastases. We develop statistical, machine learning (ML) and network-based approaches to identify molecular alterations under positive or negative selection during cancer evolution and use explainable ML to understand how these alterations contribute to cancer initiation and progression.
The successful candidate will contribute to the development of novel computational methods and apply them to large cancer genomics and epigenomics datasets. A central goal will be the integration of selection signals across molecular layers and molecular networks to identify genes, pathways and subnetworks under selection during tumor evolution.
The successful candidate will work closely with other members of the lab as well as with wet-lab, clinical and computational collaborators.
The project builds on our previous work on selection acting on DNA methylation and copy-number alterations (Heery and Schaefer, NAR 2021; Alfieri, Caravagna and Schaefer, Nature Communications 2023).
Candidate profile
Candidates should hold a PhD in bioinformatics, computational biology, biostatistics, computer science, physics, mathematics or a related field. They should have strong expertise in statistics, programming and the analysis of biological data. Experience in cancer genomics, machine learning, network biology or tumor evolution is highly desirable.
What we offer
- A highly interdisciplinary environment at one of Europe's leading cancer hospitals and research institutes, with close interactions between computational, experimental and clinical researchers.
- Access to unique patient-derived cohorts.
- Training and hands-on experience in cancer genomics, machine learning, network biology and statistical modeling of tumor evolution.
- Scientific freedom to develop and pursue independent research ideas within the broader scope of the lab.
- Opportunities to collaborate with clinicians, wet-lab researchers and international partners.
- Support for fellowship applications, career development and the establishment of an independent scientific profile.
The lab combines expertise in cancer evolution, machine learning and network biology and aims to provide an intellectually stimulating and collaborative environment for early- or mid-career researchers.
The position is initially funded through a one-year fellowship and is expected to be extended following a positive evaluation. We are looking for researchers interested in developing their own scientific profile and growing with the lab. Depending on performance and funding availability, opportunities for long-term positions, increasing scientific independence and career progression may become available.
Processing of personal Data
The personal data, compulsorily provided, will be processed in compliance with Legislative Decree no. 101 of 10 August 2018, which adapts the Personal Data Protection Code (Legislative Decree no. 196 of 30 June 2003) to the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2016/679, and only for the fulfilments related to this procedure and for those consequent to the possible establishment of the working relationship, according to what is also provided for in the privacy policy, which must be accepted by each candidate at the time of sending his/her application.
Equal Opportunities
This notice is issued in compliance with equal opportunities between men and women for access to employment (L. 903/77) and economic treatment, pursuant to Legislative Decree no. 198/2006.
Application
For informal inquiries or to send an application (including a CV, cover letter, publication list and contact details of 2–3 referees), please contact: [[email protected]] (mailto:[email protected]).
The position is available immediately.
Posted on 16th June 2026