Ngs Staff Scientists

About IGATech

IGATech is a leading Italian provider of next-generation sequencing services, active since 2009 and collaborating with hundreds of academic and industrial clients worldwide. With more than 50,000 samples processed annually, we support cutting-edge research through advanced sequencing technologies and state-of-the-art bioinformatics.

Our in-house infrastructure includes molecular biology laboratories, sequencing platforms (Illumina, Element Biosciences, Oxford Nanopore), automation systems, and a dedicated HPC environment. We actively participate in European research projects and collaborate with universities, research institutes, hospitals (IRCCS), and private companies in biotech, biopharma, and agri-genomics.

The Position

We are looking for a Junior Scientist to join our Single-Cell, Exome & Epigenomics team, with a role strongly focused on cell and tissue manipulation and sample preparation for advanced NGS applications.

The selected candidate will contribute to the 3-DIMENSION project, funded by the Italian Fund for Applied Sciences (FISA-2024-00045).

This role operates upstream of sequencing, ensuring the quality, integrity, and reproducibility of cellular and tissue samples that are critical for single-cell, epigenomic, and exome experiments. Prior experience in NGS is a plus, but strong hands-on skills in cell and tissue biology are the top priority. NGS-specific protocols will be learned through structured training.

This position is ideal for scientists who want to work with frontier technologies in a real applied setting, where experimental rigor and data quality truly matter.

Key Responsibilities

Cell and tissue handling

- Preparation, manipulation, and storage of biological samples (fresh, cryopreserved, FFPE).
- Mechanical and enzymatic tissue dissociation, with protocol optimization based on sample type.
- Cell counting, viability assessment, and quality evaluation of cell suspensions.
- Cell enrichment, cleaning, and selection (filtration, gradients, external sorting collaborations).
- Handling of low-input and biologically critical samples.

Single-cell and epigenomics sample preparation

- Sample preparation for single-cell applications (scRNA-seq, scATAC-seq, multiome).
- Nuclei preparation for epigenomic assays.
- Support for exome sequencing and low-input DNA/RNA workflows.
- Pre-library quality control (quantity, integrity, contamination).

NGS and molecular biology

- NGS library preparation (single-cell, exome, epigenomics) using standard and custom protocols.
- Supporting molecular biology techniques (PCR, qPCR, clean-ups, normalization).
- QC of DNA, RNA, and libraries (Bioanalyzer, TapeStation, Qubit or equivalent).
- Coordination with the sequencing team for sample planning and traceability.

Quality, organization, and continuous improvement

- Accurate documentation and full sample traceability.
- Contribution to protocol optimization and experimental troubleshooting.
- Close collaboration with application scientists, bioinformaticians, and platform managers.
- Support for standardization and maintenance of internal quality standards.

Requirements

Education

- MSc or PhD in Biotechnology, Biology, Molecular Biology, or related fields.

Core skills (priority)

- Hands-on experience with cell and/or tissue manipulation.
- Familiarity with tissue dissociation and cellular sample handling.
- Ability to work with delicate and low-input biological material.
- Strong awareness of sample quality as a determinant of data quality.

NGS experience (preferred)

- Experience with NGS library preparation.
- Knowledge of single-cell, exome, or epigenomics workflows.
- Familiarity with commercial NGS kits and platforms.
- Experience with laboratory automation is a plus.

Additional skills

- Good laboratory practices and safety compliance.
- Ability to work in SOP-driven and quality-oriented environments.
- Fluent Italian and good technical-scientific English.

Personal attributes

- Precision and attention to detail.
- Methodical mindset and responsibility for produced data.
- Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams.
- Operational autonomy combined with openness to technical discussion.
- Experimental problem-solving attitude and scientific curiosity.
- Ability to manage priorities without compromising quality.

What We Offer

- 24-month fixed-term contract.
- CCNL Chimico-Farmaceutico, level C2.
- Gross annual salary range: €30,000 – €35,000, based on experience.
- Welfare benefits and meal vouchers.
- Full-time (40 h/week) or part-time (35 h/week).
- Workplace: Udine – “Luigi Danieli” Science and Technology Park.
- Progressive specialization in advanced single-cell and epigenomics technologies.