Postdoc in Pangenomes

APPLICATION CLOSING DATE: January 10th, 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: Neurogenomics, Computational Biology, Structural Biology, Genomics, and Health Data Science. The Centers work together to enable interdisciplinary research and to create an open, collaborative environment that will help promote life science research both nationally and internationally.

Human Technopole is looking for a Postdoc in the research group of Prof. Nicole Soranzo, the head of the Genomics Research Centre. The laboratory is focused on developing and deploying large-scale genomics technologies to understand various facets of genetic predisposition to common complex diseases and disease biology in human populations. We focus on blood and immunity and a broad set of human genetics questions.

For this post, we are seeking a highly motivated scientist with a strong interest in pangenomics and human biology. The successful candidate will work on cutting-edge computational projects that leverage human pangenome graphs to elucidate complex regions pertinent to immunology and evolutionary biology. This role involves assembling newly generated long-read sequencing data and integrating them into pangenome graphs as part of the Human Pangenome Reference Consortium (HPRC). Additionally, the project includes the development and benchmarking of novel computational methods for genotyping complex regions across biobank-scale datasets.

The suitable candidate will work closely with a dynamic team of people at the Population and Medical Genomics Centre and will also have regular and sustained collaboration with an international team of researchers from the University of Tennessee (Dr. A. Guarracino, Prof. E. Garrison) and the University of California, Berkeley (Prof. Peter Sudmant). Applicants from underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to apply.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a research project based on latest advances in the Human Pangenome field.
• Manage experimental and analytical workflows within their project.
• Implement, benchmark and run long-read sequencing/pangenome workflows and pipelines.
• Generate reliable data for publication in their project and recording all data and results in specified forms (paper and electronic).
• Publish reproducible research.
• Supervise master’s and PhD students.
• Present, share and discuss research results within their group, collaborators and scientific conferences.
• Proactive interaction with the research team, the Genome Analysis Unit, the Biostatistics Unit and the Genomics Facility.

Mandatory requirements:

• PhD in Genomics, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Genetics or related fields.
• Experience working with human genetics data.
• Experience in analysing long-read sequencing technologies (e.g. PacBio/ONT) and their outputs.
• Strong experience working with genomic data in a HPC environment.
• Proven scientific track record, such as publications in journals or conferences.
• Advanced programming skills in scripting (e.g. R/Python).
• Fluency in English – HT is an international research institute.

Preferred requirements:

• Previous work with de novo genome assemblies, genotyping methods and pangenome workflows.
• Familiarity with standard tools for genomic and pangenomic analysis.
• Familiarity with genome assembly methods and chromatin-conformation (e.g. Hi-C/Omni-C) data.
• Experience with variant calling methods for the identification of human genetic variants from long-read sequencing data.
• Knowledge of compiled (e.g. Go/Rust/C) languages.
• Experience or interest in git and other good software development practices.
• Familiarity with human genetics, GWAS or computational biology workflows and tooling more broadly.
• Experience in the core areas of responsibility, with a strong focus on one or more of the following: large-scale population genomic studies, human genomics or genetics.

Organizational and social skills:

• Ability to interact effectively with other colleagues and work synergistically to drive projects forward.
• Collaborative and kind personality.
• A willingness to help more junior members of the team grow.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment and to work independently.
• Ability to build trust through operating with transparency and creating an open and positive environment.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Strong interpersonal skills demonstrated by the ability to lead and gain the assistance and cooperation of others in a team endeavour.

Application Instructions:

To apply, please send the following:

• a CV
• a motivation letter in English relating your track record to the specifics of the call
• names and contacts of at least 2 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.
• Counseling.
• Flexible working hours.
• Remote working policy.
• Support for relocation.

Special consideration will be given to candidates who are part of the protected categories list, according to L. 68/99.

Number of positions offered: 1

Contract offered: CCNL Chimico Farmaceutico, Fixed-term 4 years - Employee Level

Salary range: 40k
Tax benefits where applicable.

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 favor 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.”