PhD Position / Doctoral Candidate – SPACE-MEL (Project 101311007) MSCA Doctoral Networks

Università degli Studi di Perugia; Italia; On-site; EUR 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The PhD fellow position at Università degli Studi di Perugia will join a project developing prognostic and predictive markers for mucosal melanoma by integrating multi-omics and spatial analyses. The candidate will analyse tumor genomic features and work across secondments to study single-cell and spatial data under Prof.

Mario Mandalà, with a strong emphasis on translational immune-oncology. The MSCA-DN funded fellowship supports a 36-month program with room for international collaboration,

Qualifications

• Master's degree in biology, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Sciences.
• Applicants must be doctoral candidates, i.e not already in possession of a doctoral degree.
• Proficiency in English is required, along with good oral and written communication skills (at least B2 level).
• Mobility rule: researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date.
• 1 to 2 academic or professional references from professors or supervisors are welcome, but not mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Analyse genomic profiling of tumour samples and correlate findings with prognostic parameters.
• Study single cell and transcriptomic analyses during secondments.
• Engage in spatial analyses and translational immune-oncology approaches.
• Collaborate across partner labs and international secondments.

Skills

English proficiency

Communication skills

Education

Master's degree in biology, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Job description

Organisation/Company Università degli Studi di Perugia Department Department of Medicine and Surgery Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 8 Nov 2026 - 13:00 (Europe/Rome) Country Italy Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number 101311007 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

DC12 will develop novel prognostic and predictive markers for mucosal melanoma (MuM) by integrating multi-omics and spatial analyses of MuM tissues. The project will apply WP1 multi-omics approaches, WP2 spatial multi-omics methods and WP3 computational algorithms to map melanoma phenotypes, immune cell subsets and their spatial organisation. It pursues two integrated objectives: i) refine prognostic markers for MuM; and ii) identify multiparametric predictive and spatial biomarker signatures with potential clinical relevance. Working with EORTC melanoma centres, the project will also investigate immune-suppressive pathways and treatment-driven mechanisms of immune tolerance.

At the University of Perugia, the candidate will analyse genomic profiling of tumour samples and correlate findings with prognostic parameters to refine the prognostic value of genomic features and to the identification of predictive biomarkers. During a first secondment at Bosisio’s Lab the candidate will be able to study single cell and transcriptomic analysis, the candidate as well as training in spatial analyses and translational immune-oncology approaches. A second secondment at IB for spatial analysis (2nd secondment). Expected results: (1) Predictive tissue-based biomarkers; (2) Functional studies of tolerogenic immune cells; (3) Identification of treatment-driven immune tolerance mechanisms.

Requirements

Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Master's degree in biology, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Applicants must be doctoral candidates, i.e not already in possession of a doctoral degree.

Mobility rule: researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date.

Specific Requirements

To Outline the research interests, career goals, motivation, and why you fit the specific academic environment.

1 to 2 academic or professional references from professors or supervisors are welcome, but not mandatory.

Proficiency in English is required, along with good oral and written communication skills (at least B2 level).

• Curriculum vitae, including the candidate’s educational background, scientific and professional achievements, and list of publications
• Copy of the Master’s degree diploma
• Documents confirming the course of studies, including an official transcript of records or Diploma Supplement
• Copies of documents confirming scientific or professional achievements
• Consent to the processing of personal data for recruitment purposes

Additional Information

The Doctoral Candidate will receive a 36-month salary to cover living costs, as reported in the following table and in accordance with the MSCA-DN guidelines:

Living allowance: € 4.010,00 per person-month x country correction coefficient

Mobility allowance: € 710,00 per person-month

Family allowance (if applicable): € 660,00 per person-month

These are gross amounts paid by the REA including compulsory deductions under national law (such as employer and employee social security contributions and direct taxes or the fixed-amount fellowship). The Researcher will be paid the amounts indicated minus the compulsory deductions under national legislation. Net salaries will depend on the national taxation applied by the recruiting Institution's country and on possible extra-benefits granted by the employing Institution.

The Family allowance applies to Doctoral Candidates who have or acquire family obligations, i.e. persons linked to them by:

(i) marriage;
(ii) a relationship with equivalent status to marriage, recognised by the legislation of the country or region where the relationship was formalised; or
(iii) dependent children who are being maintained by the Researcher.

Additional comments

The PhD fellow will be based at the University of Perugia under the supervision of Prof. Mario Mandalà. The laboratory specialises in comprehensive genomic profiling, biomarker evaluation in melanoma. The host provides strong expertise in translational oncology, molecular diagnostics, melanoma biomarkers research.

The host laboratory offers access to tissue processing, multiplex immunohistochemistry, whole-slide imaging and advanced image analysis infrastructure.The laboratory is equippedwith an Ion Torrent PGM, Ion Gene Studio S5 System, Illumina HiSeq 2500, c-Bot System, Illumina MiSeq, MicrolabSTARlet8 Hamilton, 3500 Series Genetic Analyzer, Real-time PCR platforms (StepOne and 7300 Real-Time PCR System), Thermal cyclers, Covaris S220, Cluster HPC E8000.

Secondments:This project is carried out in strong collaboration with the following groups, and visits to their laboratories are expected during the project. A willingness to travel and spend time abroad is therefore essential:

• 6 months at Prof. Francesca Bosisio, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, KU Leuven Institute for Single Cell Omics.