Post-doctoral position in Computational Biology - Ref. 2025-10-BA/52

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POST-DOCTORAL POSITION IN COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY

Ref. 2025-10-BA/52

 Bruno Amati’s group

Oncogenes, Transcription and Cancer

 Unraveling oncogene-drug interactions through computational analysis of transcriptional profiles

Our research aims to address the molecular mechanisms underlying the oncogenic action of the MYC transcription factor [1-7] and to exploit them for pre-clinical development of targeted therapies [8, 9]. Through a combination of mechanism-driven hypotheses and high-throughput screens, we identified diverse synthetic-lethal interactions that allow selective killing of MYCdriven cancer cells by targeted genetic or pharmacological interventions [10-13]. Essential mechanistic insight is provided by the alterations in mRNA expression and processing profiles elicited by combined MYC activation and drug treatment. In order to map these alterations, we use next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based genomic approaches, such as RNA-seq or ChIP-seq.

We seek to recruit an ambitious, motivated, team-oriented scientist with a PhD in computational biology, or related. The successful candidate will be involved in the computational analysis of NGS datasets produced in the laboratory, in close collaboration with experimental scientists in the group. He/she will benefit from a strong, integrative computational community in our institute. Special attention will be given to MYC and drug-induced alterations in gene expression at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels (e.g. alternative splicing, degradation, translation) which ultimately impact protein production and cell fate.

Type of contract and salary will be offered depending on experience and qualifications.

Applications will be received until assignment of the positions. Interested candidates should send a motivation letter and CV with the names and contacts of 3 referees applying through the appropriate link.

Processing 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 and economic treatment, pursuant to Legislative Decree no. 198/2006.

 

  1. Sabò, A. and B. Amati, Genome recognition by MYC. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med (2014) 4, a014191 https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a014191
  2. Kress, T.R. et al., MYC: connecting selective transcriptional control to global RNA production. Nat Rev Cancer (2015) 15,

593-607 https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc3984

  1. Sabò, A. and B. Amati, BRD4 and MYC-clarifying regulatory specificity. Science (2018) 360, 713-714 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aat6664
  2. Tesi, A. et al., An early Myc-dependent transcriptional program orchestrates cell growth during B-cell activation. EMBO Rep (2019) 20, e47987 https://doi.org/10.15252/embr.201947987
  3. Bisso, A. et al., Cooperation Between MYC and beta-Catenin in

Liver Tumorigenesis Requires Yap/Taz. Hepatology (2020) 72, 1430-1443 https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.31120

  1. Pellanda, P. et al., Integrated requirement of non-specific and sequence-specific DNA binding in Myc-driven transcription. EMBO J (2021) 40, e105464 https://doi.org/10.15252/embj.2020105464
  2. Tanaskovic, N. et al., Polycomb group ring finger protein 6 suppresses Myc-induced lymphomagenesis. Life Sci Alliance

(2022) 5 https://doi.org/10.26508/lsa.202101344

  1. Bisso, A. et al., MYC in Germinal Center-derived lymphomas: Mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities. Immunol Rev

(2019) 288, 178-197 https://doi.org/10.1111/imr.12734

  1. Donati, G. and B. Amati, MYC and therapy resistance in cancer: risks and opportunities. Mol Oncol (2022) 16, 3828-

3854 https://doi.org/10.1002/1878-0261.13319

  1. D'Andrea, A. et al., The mitochondrial translation machinery as a therapeutic target in Myc-driven lymphomas. Oncotarget

(2016) 7, 72415-72430 https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.11719

  1. Ravà, M. et al., Therapeutic synergy between tigecycline and venetoclax in a preclinical model of MYC/BCL2 double-hit B cell lymphoma. Sci Transl Med (2018) 10, eaan8723 https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.aan8723
  2. Donati, G. et al., Targeting mitochondrial respiration and the BCL2 family in high-grade MYC-associated B-cell lymphoma. Mol Oncol (2022) 16, 1132-1152 https://doi.org/10.1002/1878-13115
  3. Donati, G. et al., Oxidative stress enhances the therapeutic action of a respiratory inhibitor in MYC-driven lymphoma. EMBO Mol Med (2023) 15, e16910 https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.202216910

 

Posted on October 17th, 2025

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