Postdoc in Cancer Synthetic Lethality Prediction and AI-Driven Target Discovery

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 Iorio Group
works at the intersection of computational biology, functional genomics, and precision oncology, integrating machine learning, large-scale CRISPR screening, and multi-omics data to uncover cancer vulnerabilities and enable next-generation therapeutic target discovery. The group is supported by major competitive funding, contributes actively to international initiatives and collaborates extensively across academia and industry. We offer a vibrant, inclusive, and highly interdisciplinary environment in which postdoctoral researchers lead high-impact projects, shape scientific strategy, and contribute to defining the future of data-driven cancer research.

We are seeking an ambitious Postdoc to be involved in a new project at the intersection of artificial intelligence, multi-omics data integration, and functional genomics, aimed at predicting synthetic lethality in cancer - including representation learning, nonlinear embeddings, and predictive modelling of genetic interactions - and guiding the design of next-generation genetic interaction screens for anti-cancer target discovery.

Your mission

• Lead innovative computational genomics research at the intersection of machine learning, CRISPR screening data analysis, and multi-omics to uncover genetic interactions and synthetic lethalities in cancer.
• Develop and apply scalable, reproducible computational methods for integrative analysis of large-scale perturbation and omics datasets, translating results into experimental strategies in close collaboration with wet-lab teams.
• Drive scientific output and visibility through high-quality publications, conference presentations, and contributions to grants and open science resources.
• Provide scientific leadership and collaboration, mentoring junior researchers and co-leading internal and external projects in alignment with strategic, funded research initiatives.

Grow Your Skills
You will enhance your scientific and professional skills by working on biology-driven experiments, including CRISPR and Perturb-seq, single-cell transcriptomics, and spatial-omics screens.

Human Technopole supports career development through training, mentoring and dedicated learning opportunities.
Essential
What you'll bring

• Hold a Ph.D. in a relevant field, such as Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Machine Learning, Systems Biology, Genomics, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrate a solid research background, supported by a track record of peer-reviewed publications in reputable scientific journals.
• Proven experience with large-scale genomics or functional genomics datasets.
• Strong programming skills in Python and/or R, with experience in version control (e.g., Git)
• Familiarity with machine learning frameworks (e.g., scikit-learn, PyTorch, TensorFlow) applied to biomedical data.

Preferred

• Familiarity with CRISPR-Cas9 or CRISPRi/a screening data, RNA-seq, single-cell or spatial transcriptomics data processing
• Competence in acquiring, handling, and analysing large and complex datasets, including multi-omics and perturbation-response data, with a strong emphasis on data quality, reproducibility, and biological interpretability.
• Practical experience in collaborative, hybrid settings, including direct interaction with wet-lab scientists, technicians, and experimental facilities to co-design and support integrated, computationally guided experiments (e.g., CRISPR-based screens, single-cell or spatial transcriptomics).
• Experience with reproducible research environments (e.g., Docker, Snakemake, Nextflow).
• Strong mathematical / statistics background

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 4-year contract offered under CCNL Chimico Farmaceutico, Employee Level B2

Salary: up to € 43.000,00 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.