Technician

Technician | Human Technopole, Milan
**Build the science that shapes the future of human health.

Application closing date:
Join a place where ambitious science thrives**
Human Technopole (Milan) is a rapidly expanding life science institute where international researchers and cutting-edge technologies converge to accelerate biomedical discovery. Our mission is to transform bold scientific ideas into advances that improve human health.

Within this mission, the Soranzo Group investigates how genetic variation shapes complex human traits and disease using population-scale genomics. The team leads international efforts to identify genetic loci, biomarkers, and causal pathways underlying complex human diseases. Its research integrates genomics, transcriptomics, and epigenomics to elucidate the molecular basis of blood and immune disorders. Single-cell and functional genomic technologies are applied to dissect gene regulation and blood cell formation. Multi-omic and loss-of-function analyses are leveraged to prioritize therapeutic targets and inform drug discovery and repurposing.

We are seeking a talented
Technician
to develop and apply a scalable perturbation platform for modelling cardiometabolic complications. The candidate will report to
Prof. Nicole Soranzo
, Head of the Center of Population and Medical Genomics.
About The Flagship Research Programme
Flagship Research Programmes at Human Technopole (HT) are strategic, collaborative initiatives that leverage state-of-the-art infrastructure and cross-disciplinary expertise to advance translational research in human disease.

Within the
Cardiometabolic Flagship Research Programme
, we aim to transform the understanding and prevention of cardiometabolic disease by integrating population-scale genomic and multi-omic data with deep molecular, cellular, and functional characterization. A central goal is to translate statistical associations from human populations into mechanistic insight, enabling the prioritization of actionable molecular targets and pathways that drive disease risk, onset, and progression.

About The Position
This project focuses on the functional characterization of cardiometabolic disease–associated germline variants and target genes identified through population-scale genomic and multi-omic analyses. The successful candidate will support the development and application of human stem-cell–based experimental systems combined with genome editing, high-content phenotyping, and single-cell genomics, with the aim of establishing causal links between genetic variation, cellular phenotypes, and cardiovascular risk.

The role sits at the interface of experimental disease modelling and functional genomics and will involve close interaction with computational scientists, platform facilities (GEDI, Genomics, Imaging), and external collaborators.

Your mission
As Technician you will contribute to the development of disease-relevant human cellular models harboring natural or engineered genetic variation, including:

• Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) or induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) engineered by CRISPR/Cas9 to introduce cardiometabolic disease–associated variants or gene perturbations.
• Differentiation of edited stem cells into relevant hematopoietic lineages and/or cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts.
• Implementation of 2D co-culture systems (e.g. immune–cardiac fibroblast interactions) and 3D heart-forming organoids engrafted with immune cells to model tissue-level and immune–cardiac crosstalk.
• Phenotypic profiling using single-cell transcriptomics and tailored functional assays (e.g. apoptosis, fibrosis-related readouts, cytokine secretion, cardiac stress responses), with a view towards future scalability through high-content screening (HCS) platforms.

The selected candidate will be actively involved in optimizing cutting-edge protocols, producing high-impact scientific outputs, and will contribute to the dissemination of new experimental methods developed in the context of this project.

Grow Your Skills
You will enhance your scientific and professional skills by:

• Supporting the maintenance, engineering, and differentiation of hESC/hiPSC lines into disease-relevant cardiac and immune cell types.
• Optimizing 2D co-culture and 3D organoid systems relevant to cardiometabolic disease.
• Performing cellular phenotyping using multiparametric flow cytometry and contribute to sample preparation for single-cell RNA.
• Assisting with CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, clonal expansion, and genotypic validation of engineered cell models.
• Participating in the execution of functional assays assessing stress responses, inflammatory signaling, fibrosis-related phenotypes, and cell viability or proliferation.
• Maintaining meticulous records of experimental workflows in accordance with the established frameworks/protocols, ensure reproducibility, proper sample tracking, storage, and quality control, and contribute to collaborative data interpretation in line with established protocols.
• Presenting the pipeline, related data and results internally as well as at external national and international meetings and conferences.
• Providinging technical support to other laboratory members, including introduction of new laboratory techniques and support in the use of lab equipment.

Human Technopole supports career development through training, mentoring and dedicated learning opportunities.

Essential
What you'll bring

• Master degree in a relevant subject, e.g., biotechnology, biology, genetics, biochemistry, or in a related field of the life sciences.
• Previous experience in iPS and embryonic stem cells culture and organoid differentiation. Experience with flow cytometry.
• Familiarity with single-cell profiling methods.
• Fluency in English, the working language of HT.

Preferred

• Practical experience with patient-derived model systems, such as organoids or primary cell cultures, including advanced cell biology techniques (e.g., organoid derivation, differentiation, or co-culture systems).
• Theoretical knowledge of gene perturbation technologies, including gene editing or silencing approaches techniques (e.g., CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, siRNA, shRNA, antisense oligonucleotides and similar technologies).

Organizational And Social Skills

• Demonstrated reliability, accountability, and a professional attitude toward collaborative work and shared goals, including a consistent and proactive approach to on-site responsibilities.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment and to work independently.
• Excellent communication, troubleshooting, and organization skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills demonstrated by the ability to lead and gain the assistance and cooperation of others in a team endeavour.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

At HT, your discoveries contribute to a global effort to improve human health.
Why Human Technopole
HT offers an international and dynamic workplace, competitive welfare provisions, flexible working policies and relocation support. Researchers moving to Italy may benefit from attractive tax benefits. We promote work–life balance and provide parental support initiatives.

Submit
How to apply

• CV
• Motivation letter (English)
• Contact details of two referees

This is a 3-year contract offered under CCNL Chimico Farmaceutico, Level C2.

Salary: from € 38.000,00 up to € 45.000,00 depending on the candidate' seniority.

The position is based in Milan, Italy, within our vibrant international campus.

We strongly encourage applications from candidates belonging to protected categories (L. 68/99).
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.