Build the science that shapes the future of human health.
Application closing date: 09.09.2026

FUNDED by Start up grant Fondazione AIRC

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 Giustacchini group investigates how leukaemia and the immune system interact to shape treatment response, with a particular focus on CAR T-cell fitness. In collaboration with Professor Persis Amrolia at University College London (UCL), we combine longitudinal clinical samples, single-cell multiomics and computational modelling to identify mechanisms that can improve cellular immunotherapies for paediatric leukaemia.

We are seeking an ambitious Computational Postdoc to lead the analysis of CAR T-cell samples from multiple clinical studies, including longitudinal samples from patients receiving different CAR T-cell products and targeting strategies. This project builds directly on multimodal single-cell analyses initiated in the group and will extend the analysis of infused products and longitudinal samples across treatment. The successful candidate will integrate transcriptomic, surface-protein, CAR-detection and clinical data to define the cellular states and tumour-immune interactions associated with CAR T-cell expansion and therapeutic outcome. 

Your mission

You will develop a computational programme to define how CAR T-cell intrinsic states and bidirectional interactions with leukaemia and the immune microenvironment shape therapeutic response. In particular, you will:

• Develop computational workflows for the analysis and integration of longitudinal single-cell and multiomic datasets from multiple CAR T-cell clinical studies, encompassing different CAR designs and targeting strategies.
• Characterise CAR T-cell composition, activation, differentiation, fitness, expansion, persistence and dysfunction, integrating RNA, surface-protein, CAR-detection, and clinical information.
• Resolve bidirectional CAR T-leukaemia and immune-cell crosstalk, linking CAR T-cell states to tumour and immune composition at matched time points to identify mechanisms of response, resistance and persistence for functional validation.
• Lead the interpretation of complex datasets and contribute to manuscripts, grant applications and collaborative translational studies with clinical and academic partners.

Grow your skills

The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary team of computational biologists, immunologists and experimental researchers within the Population and Medical Genomics Centre. The project will be developed in close collaboration with Professor Persis Amrolia and colleagues at UCL, who lead the associated CAR T-cell clinical studies and provide access to unique longitudinal patient samples and clinical expertise. The role will benefit from Human Technopole infrastructure in single-cell genomics, computational biology, data science and high-performance computing, alongside direct interaction with colleagues performing functional CAR T-cell studies.

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

What you'll bring

Essential

• PhD in computational biology, bioinformatics, biostatistics, systems biology, immunology with a strong computational component, or a related discipline (thesis at least submitted).
• Demonstrated experience analysing single-cell RNA-seq data, including cell-state annotation, differential expression, pathway analysis and biological interpretation.
• Strong proficiency in R and/or Python
• Ability to work collaboratively across computational, experimental and clinical disciplines while independently driving a research project.

Preferred

• Experience analysing multimodal and longitudinal single-cell data, such as CITE-seq, immune-receptor repertoires, CAR transgene/detection data or paired transcriptomic and protein measurements.
• Knowledge of T-cell and CAR T-cell biology, tumour immunology, haematological malignancies or immune-tumour interactions.
• Experience with longitudinal clinical cohorts, trajectory or clonal analyses, cell-cell communication methods, or integration of molecular and clinical outcome data.

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.

How to apply
Submit:
• CV

This is a 3-year contract (linked to the duration of the grant), offered under CCNL Chimico Farmaceutico, 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).