Doctoral Candidate / PhD Position in the SPACE-MEL MSCA Doctoral Network

Descrizione

Doctoral Candidate / PhD Position in the SPACE-MEL MSCA Doctoral Network Sintesi in italiano (traduzione automatica): Il programma SPACE-MEL, finanziato dall'UE, cerca un candidato per un dottorato di ricerca presso l'Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Maria Sklodowska-Curie in Oncologia. Il ruolo prevede l'analisi della melanoma mucosale, un raro sottotipo di melanoma, utilizzando tecniche di multi-omics spaziali. Il candidato lavorerà con campioni di tessuto e dati clinici per scoprire biomarcatori spaziali durante la progressione della malattia. È richiesta una laurea in biologia, biotecnologie o discipline affini. Il progetto include collaborazioni internazionali e periodi di formazione presso istituzioni in Belgio e Italia. Le competenze richieste includono biologia molecolare, oncologia computazionale e ricerca clinica. Gli obiettivi principali sono identificare i driver della metastasi e i meccanismi di recidiva indotti dal trattamento. Background: SPACE-MEL is an EU-funded MSCA Doctoral Network advancing the next generation of spatial single-cell omics technologies for precision medicine. The programme brings together leading European universities, technology providers, clinical partners and innovative companies to address key experimental and computational challenges currently limiting the clinical translation of spatial biology. By integrating multi-omics approaches, enabling the transition from 2D to 3D tissue analysis and developing advanced data interpretation methods, SPACE-MEL aims to unlock deeper insights into cellular organisation and disease mechanisms. The network will train 15 Doctoral Candidates through an interdisciplinary programme spanning spatial imaging technologies, molecular biology, computational biology, pathology and biomarker discovery. DC14 focuses on mucosal melanoma (MuM), a rare melanoma subtype in which disease progression, metastatic spread and treatment-induced relapse may be driven by spatially organised tumour microenvironment interactions and sub-clonal evolution. Project aim: The aim of the project is to investigate microenvironmental and sub-clonal heterogeneity in mucosal melanoma during progression. The project will apply spatial multi-omics methods and WP3 computational tools to longitudinal MuM samples to compare primary tumours and associated metastases. The project pursues two integrated objectives: (i) to identify spatial and cellular drivers of metastasis; and (ii) to investigate treatment-induced relapse mechanisms using pseudotime modelling. At the Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, the Doctoral Candidate will work with MuM tissue repositories and clinical data to support spatial biomarker discovery across disease progression. The host offers access to dedicated biobank infrastructure, tissue repositories and clinical data resources for mucosal melanoma, as well as expertise in melanoma pathology, biobanking, computational oncology and clinical-translational research. The project will be carried out in strong collaboration with international partners. Planned secondments include 6 months at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Department of Imaging and Pathology, Belgium, focused on spatial multi-omics analysis and pseudotime modelling, and 3 months at Diatech Pharmacogenetics S.r.l., Italy, focused on the clinical translation of identified progression and relapse markers. Expected outcomes include improved MuM biobanking/storage protocols and the identification of drivers of progression and relapse . Annuncio in inglese. Fonte: Euraxess (Commissione europea).