Postdoc in Population-scale single cell genomics

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 two highly motivated scientists with a strong interest in the application of population-scale approaches in single cell biology to address human disease predisposition. The successful candidates will work on a variety of cutting-edge computational projects at the interface of immunology and disease biology. Leveraging a world-unique dataset of 10M single-cell in multi-ethnic, deeply phenotyped cohorts, the candidates will be able to apply latest statistical approaches to extract and test disease and environmental perturbation signatures from the integration with genetics and clinical phenotypes. Additionally, the project includes the development and benchmarking of novel statistical methods for combining genomic information with functional genomics and disease endpoints across biobank-scale datasets.

The successful 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 working at the interface of single-cell analysis, machine learning and immunogenomics (Prof. Oliver Stegle, Prof. Fabian Theis, Prof. Sarah Teichmann, Prof. Muzz Haniffa, Dr. Craig Glastonbury), with opportunities to travel between Human Technopole and the UK (Wellcome Sanger Institute, University of Cambridge). Applicants from underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to apply.

Key tasks and responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a research programme based on latest advances in the single-cell genomics and population-scale approaches;

• 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 Computational Biology, Machine Learning, Immunogenomics, Statistical genetics or related fields;

• Deep experience in analysing single-cell sequencing technologies 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:

• Familiarity with human genetics, GWAS or computational biology workflows and tooling more broadly;

• Familiarity with standard tools for genomic and genetic association analysis;

• Familiarity with scverse ecosystem, scvi-tools;

• Familiarity with solutions for integration of large-scale single-cell datasets;

• Familiarity with packages and methods used for the analysis of multi-modal single-cell data (gene expression combined with scATAC and / or CITE-seq data);

• Knowledge of compiled (e.g. Go/Rust/C) languages;

• Experience in robust computational genomics workflows and pipelines based on workflow languages (e.g. Nextflow, Snakemake) and software containers (e.g. Docker, Singularity);

• Experience or interest in git and other good software development practices;

• 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 immunology.

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.

Questions concerning the role and any queries regarding the terms and conditions should be sent to recruitment@fht.org (terms and conditions) (these email address should not be used to send applications).

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 for 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.

• Maternity 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: 2
Contract offered: CCNL Chimico Farmaceutico, Fixed-term - 4 years - employee level.

Salary indication: up to 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”