Position for one computational Postdoc is immediately available in the laboratory of Dr. Luigi Nezi at European Institute of Oncology in Milan. Our Lab aims to develop innovative approaches in cancer prevention and therapy by manipulating the microbiome. We have reported causality between composition (Science 2018, Science 2021), stability and antigenicity (Cell Host and Microbes 2024) of the gut microbiome and immunotherapy efficacy in patients with melanoma, modeling clinically relevant microbiome-host interactions on pre-clinical animal or on-chip models (Nature biomedical Engineering 2025) while developing innovative tools to extrapolate microbial signals from sequencing dataset (Genome medicine 2023). In the proposed project we will integrate metagenomic, metabolomic and functional data to decode the interplay between the microbiome and the host’s immunesystem, during immunotherapy, in different tumor types. The candidate will have the possibility to actively interact with worldwide-recognized experts in microbiome and immunological analisys, to learn and develop new pipelines.
As part of your project you will:
- develop computational approaches to analyze and integrate metagenomic, transcriptomic and metabolomics data from humans;
- build a model to identify biotic and abiotic bacterial components to elicit a systemic antitumor response;
- develop 3D models of TCR-antigen interactions
- interact with a team that will validate findings in vitro and in vivo pre-clinical models.
Overall, the results of this study will better inform the design of new strategies for cancer prevention and treatment.
Skills covered in this project:
- Metagenomic whole (shotgun) genome sequencing
- Genomic and transcriptomic analysis (bulk and single cell)
- Metabolomic analysis
- TCR sequenicing
- Multiparametric Analysis of immunological data
- Imaging analysis
The candidate should hold a PhD degree in Bioinformatics or a similar discipline with a computational or mathematical focus (computer science, physics, mathematics). They should have experience in developing efficient algorithms, ideally in the disciplines of optimization, network science or machine learning. Good programming skills are required both in a higher programming language and in R. The researcher should have experience in working with cancer omics data. Expertise in analyzing metagenomic and metabolomic datasets and building AI-driven workflows is a plus. Scientific understanding of general research questions in molecular and cancer biology is required. Competitive salary based on professional experience.
Please submit your completed application, including your CV, a short statement of research background/interests, and two references to dr. Luigi Nezi ([email protected]).
Generic AI-written inquires will be discarded.
Key words
Microbiome, Metagenomics, Computational biology, Metabolomics, Transcriptomics, AI.
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.
Posted on 19th May 2026