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Positions in our lab

Postdoc position in tumor epigenome evolution

The position:

We are looking for a computational researcher to join our team. Our research aims to understand how tumors evolve from early lesions to metastatic and therapy-resistant disease. While hundreds of cancer genes have been identified through recurrent mutations, much less is known about the role of other molecular alterations, such as copy-number changes and epigenetic alterations. We develop computational models to identify which of these alterations drive tumor evolution and how they contribute to carcinogenesis. Ultimately, our goal is to address clinically relevant questions, including how these alterations shape metastasis formation, treatment response and therapy resistance. To address these questions, we work closely with clinical and experimental collaborators and generate omics data from primary tumors and metastases. We develop statistical, machine learning (ML) and network-based approaches to identify molecular alterations under positive or negative selection during cancer evolution and use explainable ML to understand how these alterations contribute to cancer initiation and progression. The successful candidate will contribute to the development of novel computational methods and apply them to large cancer genomics and epigenomics datasets. A central goal will be the integration of selection signals across molecular layers and molecular networks to identify genes, pathways and subnetworks under selection during tumor evolution. The successful candidate will work closely with other members of the lab as well as with wet-lab, clinical and computational collaborators. The position is initially funded through a one-year fellowship and is expected to be extended following a positive evaluation. We are looking for researchers interested in developing their own scientific profile and growing with the lab. Depending on performance and funding availability, opportunities for long-term positions, increasing scientific independence and career progression may become available.

Learn more:

This project builds upon our previous work, in particular: Heery and Schaefer. NAR. 2021, Alfieri, Caravagna and Schaefer. Nat Comm. 2023 and Heery and Schaefer. NAR. 2025. Watch also a video describing our quest for identifying epigenetic drivers of tumor evolution.

About us and the application procedure

What we offer:

World-class research environment: The IEO, located on the IFOM-IEO campus in central Milan, is renowned for its excellence in cancer research, with a strong emphasis on genomics, clinical applications, and the mechanistic understanding of cancer biology.
You’ll be part of a dynamic, interdisciplinary and international team.
Opportunities to collaborate with clinicians, wet-lab researchers and international partners.
Scientific freedom to develop and pursue independent research ideas within the broader scope of the lab.
State-of-the-art infrastructure: Access to excellent HPC infrastructure and core facilities, ensuring you have the resources to excel in your research.
Learning opportunities: You will receive close supervision and mentorship, with significant opportunities to expand your expertise in network biology, machine learning, and programming.

More information on our institute can be found here: www.research.ieo.it.

Requirements:

For postdoc candidates: PhD in Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Biophysics or a related field.
For PhD candidates: Master in a computational discipline.
Background in population genomics, machine learning or network biology.
Proficiency in programming languages (e.g., Python, R).
Experience with large-scale data analysis and high-performance computing.
Enthusiasm for learning and applying new computational methods to biological questions.

How to apply:

For informal inquiries or to send an application (which should include a CV, cover letter, a list of publications and contact details of 2 - 3 referees) please contact: martin.schaefer@ieo.it. Please note that candidates interested in pursuing a PhD will additionally need to apply to and enroll in our graduate school upon initial acceptance.

Bachelor and master theses

We are always looking for bachelor and master students interested in doing their thesis or internships with us. Please directly contact: martin.schaefer@ieo.it.

The workplace

The European Institute of Oncology (IEO) is one of Europe’s leading cancer research institutes. The lab is in the Department of Experimental Oncology (DEO), which is located on the IFOM-IEO campus in a central location of Milan. The IEO hosts an international and vibrant research community (with a growing computational component). It is strong in genomics analyses, clinical aspects and mechanistic understanding of cancer. The IEO has an excellent HPC infrastructure and core facilities. The institute and the lab provide a collaborative and diverse work environment. The working language is English.