Postdoctoral Position
Cancer Cell Biology
Endocytosis, Signalling and Cancer Lab
(Ref. 2026-01-PPDF/04)
We are seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher in Cancer Cell Biology to join the Endocytosis, Signalling and Cancer Laboratory headed by Prof. Pier Paolo Di Fiore at the European Institute of Oncology (IEO) in Milan. The position is part of a project funded by the Italian Fund for Science (FIS) and aims to improve prognostic stratification and treatment of breast cancer patients by exploiting phenotypic intertumoral heterogeneity through an integrated clinical, multi-omics, and biological platform.
Project Title: Shifting the Paradigm: Harnessing the Phenotypic Heterogeneity of Breast Cancer for Improved Prognostics and Treatments
CUP: J53C25002260001
Project Code: FIS-2024-03951
Start date of the contract: 01/04/2026
Duration: 1 year, renewable
Gross salary: 35.000 euro per year, inclusive of full social security
About the Project
Breast cancer management is hindered by extensive molecular and phenotypic heterogeneity. Despite advances in molecular stratification and precision medicine, major unmet clinical needs persist, particularly in intermediate-risk Luminal breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), the most aggressive subtype.
Our laboratory has recently developed two multigene signatures: PetSign, capturing metabolic (glycolytic) alterations, and StemPrintER, reflecting the acquisition of cancer stem cell properties. This project aims to leverage these signatures to improve prognostic stratification of Luminal and TNBC patients and to identify FDA-approved drugs capable of targeting these phenotypes.
Role and Responsibilities
The successful candidate will:
- Design and perform drug screening experiments in breast cancer cell lines to identify compounds targeting defined tumor phenotypes
- Evaluate the impact of candidate drugs on cellular phenotypes of interest
- Apply single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to characterize drug-induced changes in tumor cell states and phenotypic heterogeneity
- Perform downstream validation of selected hits in patient-derived organoids (PDOs) and other advanced in vitro models
- Integrate functional and single-cell data with computational analyses in close collaboration with computational biologists
Qualifications:
We seek creative, self-driven scientists with:
- A PhD in Cancer Biology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Systems Medicine or a related life sciences discipline
- Strong experience in mammalian cell culture and functional assays
- Experience with single-cell technologies (scRNA-seq) and/or patient-derived organoid models is highly desirable
- Familiarity with phenotypic heterogeneity and functional characterization of cancer cell states
- A genuine interest in translational cancer research
Application deadlines and modalities:
Applications for participation in the selection must be received no later than 12.00 noon on February 22nd, 2026. Applications must be sent through the appropriate link (APPLY Button)
The application must contain:
- a detailed and updated CV, dated and signed, certifying training and professional activities, with specific authorization to process personal data pursuant to art. 13 of GDPR 679/16;
- a cover letter outlining your research interests;
- any document or declaration useful for the assessment by the Examination Board;
- name and contact details of two references familiar with your previous work.
The European Institute of Oncology accepts no responsibility for applications not received by the deadline; the official date of receipt shall be the date on which the application is actually received.
Only applications that are complete, include all required documentation, and are submitted according to the indicated procedure will be considered.
Selection and evaluation procedure:
The selection of the successful applicants will take place through a comparative evaluation of the candidates based on qualifications and, if considered appropriate, an oral interview. The assessment will include an evaluation of the candidate's curriculum vitae, aimed at verifying the knowledge and skills required for the activities planned in the project.
The oral interview, if conducted, will be aimed at further examining the candidate's professional experience, personal motivation and aptitude, as well as to assess the candidate's availability for the multidisciplinary activities required for the project.
Failure to attend the interview, regardless the reason, will be considered as a withdrawal from the selectionprocess.
Candidate evaluations will be conducted solely for the technical and discretionary purposes of identifying the most suitable candidate for the collaborative relationship covered by this announcement, in accordance with the private autonomy of the European Institute of Oncology pursuant to the Italian Civil Code.
These evaluations will not oblige the European Institute of Oncology to recruit individuals ranked appropriately on the ranking list. Participation in this procedure, therefore, will not entitle the first candidate on the ranking list to be hired.
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 accordance with the principles of equal opportunity and non-discrimination in employment and remuneration, with particular regard to equality between men and women, pursuant to Legislative Decree No. 198/2006.
Posted on January 23rd, 2026