Postdoc in Genetic Epidemiology/Statistical Genetics

APPLICATION CLOSING DATE: 19 January 2025

Human Technopole (HT)is an interdisciplinary life science research institute, created and supported by the Italian Government, with the aim of developing innovative strategies to improve human health. HT is composed of five Centers: Health Data Science, Genomics, Computational Biology, Neurogenomics and Structural Biology. The Centers work together to enable interdisciplinary research and to create an open, collaborative environment to help promote life science research both nationally and internationally.

The Health Data Science Centre (HDSC) focuses on systematically generating, mobilising, and harvesting “big data” to create a dynamic and agnostic collection of information and deliver a new class of research that will enable a better understanding of the clinical, molecular, behavioural and environmental determinants of non-communicable diseases, ultimately benefiting patients and society. The Centre owns exceptionally rich genetic and molecular (especially proteomic data) datasets in cohorts of various ethnicities.

The Di Angelantonio-Ieva group and the Zuccolo group are seeking to recruit two highly motivatedPostdocs in Genetic Epidemiology/Statistical Genetics. The postholders will be involved in or lead major projects to understand the genetic architecture of molecular traits alone and in interaction with the environment. They will help in defining the direction of scientific work, conducting research, analyzing data, preparing the work for publication and disseminating results. The work of the post-holders is expected to lead to high-impact publications.

Your main tasks and responsibilities:

• Designing and leading analyses to integrate genetic and molecular data in various populations, taking advantage of the exceptionally rich data available at the Centre;

• Developing effective ways of handling, cleaning and integrating complex genetic and molecular phenotype data into epidemiological datasets (pipelines);

• Working with epidemiologists and other colleagues in the Centre to help develop and implement methodologically appropriate analysis strategies for genetic and ‘omic data integrated into epidemiological investigations;

• Collaborating with external (including many international) researchers to lead or contribute to large-scale consortia and meta-analyses;

• Working closely with colleagues to help interpret findings and draft manuscripts and other reports for publication;

• Anticipating, communicating and solving any potential problems that arise with analyses or other aspects of research projects;

• Contributing to reports, presentations and publications by preparing numerical and graphical summaries (visualizations) using relevant computer software;

• Assisting with preparing grant applications to secure further funding for relevant projects;

• Helping establish new projects and research consortia relating to the Centre’s research interests (cardiometabolic health – Di Angelantonio-Ieva group- and women’s health and child health – Zuccolo group), including designing and conducting pilot studies;

• Following and promoting open science practices within the Centre;

• Reviewing, analyzing or presenting information relative to own or related projects when requested;

• Contributing to the Centre’s training program by teaching and tutoring on internal and external workshops (online and in person);

• Contributing to disseminating scientific results to the public and taking part in patients and public involvement and engagement activities;

• Contributing to MSc and PhD students supervision, as requested and appropriate.

Essential Requirements

• PhD Degree in a relevant scientific field (e.g. genetic epidemiology, molecular epidemiology, statistical genetics, biostatistics, health data science, etc) to be obtained max. within 6 months from the closure of this call;

• A sound understanding of applying relevant statistical methods to highly-dimensional complex data from molecular phenotypes coupled with genotypes, for discovery, prediction and causal inference in epidemiological studies (including but not limited to genome-wide association studies of molecular phenotypes, Mendelian Randomization, co-localisation);

• Experience of statistical or other programming languages to manipulate large-scale datasets – e.g. Python, R;

• Strong quantitative skills and analytical reasoning applied to observational data;

• A track record of authoring scientific publications;

• Fluency in English.

Preferred Requirements

• High-level report writing and presentation skills;

• A specific experience in gene expression QTL or protein QTL studies.

Organizational and social skills

• Ability to work accurately, with attention to detail;

• Self-motivated, able to work independently and organize own workload;

• Excellent communication skills;

• Enthusiastic team player and able to work collaboratively and across different disciplines.

Any questions concerning the role and/or queries regarding the relevant terms and conditions should be addressed to recruitment@fht.org (this email address should not be used to send applications).

Application instructions

Please apply by sending:

• your CV;

• a motivation letter in English highlighting how your methodological skills, scientific knowledge and work experience fit with the positions specific requirements;

• the names and contact details of 3 referees.

WHY HUMAN TECHNOPOLE

HT seeks scientific excellence. We recruit the best scientific talents through international, open calls.

Our working environment is international, friendly and inclusive. Our scientists work together across disciplines on research topics of biomedical relevance, leveraging synergies between their diverse skill sets and methodological approaches.

We believe that highly diverse teams yield the best and most innovative results.

We engage in outward-facing scientific activities aimed at benefiting the national and international research community. Training is also at the heart of our activity, with initiatives and opportunities for our staff, including scientific courses, conferences and workshops.

MAIN BENEFITS

• Welfare plans;

• Canteen service;

• Work-life balance provisions;

• Italian language training for foreigners;

• Parental leave up to 1 year and other support for new parents;

• Counselling;

• Flexible working hours;

• Possibility of flexible working hours;

• Support for relocation;

• Researchers coming to Italy for the first time, or returning after residing abroad, benefit from very attractive income tax benefits.

Special consideration will be given to candidates who are part of the protected categories list,

according to L. 68/99

Number of positions offered: 2

Contract offered: CCNL Chimico Farmaceutico, Fixed-term 3 years in first instance with option for extension - employee level.

Salary: € 40K

The position is based in Milan

“The Foundation reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to extend, suspend, modify, revoke, or cancel this job posting without giving rise to any rights or claims whatsoever in favour of the candidates; the Foundation reserves, however, the right not to proceed with the awarding of the above-described assignment due to the effect of supervening regulatory provisions and/or obstructive circumstances”.