Candidati su Kit Lavoro: kitlavoro.it/lavoro/7yx7nl

PhD Student / Doctoral Researcher in Synthetic and Generative Biology for Protein and Cellular EngineeringCompany Description The University of Udine is a public research university in north-eastern Italy, founded in 1978 in response to the 1976 Friuli earthquake. The University combines advanced education, research, and international collaboration across a broad range of scientific, biomedical, technological, and humanistic disciplines.

The position is part of the PhD Programme in Molecular Medicine at the Department of Medicine, University of Udine. The doctoral project will be supervised by Dr Gianluca Petris and is linked to the research programme “Synthetic and Generative Biology for Protein and Cellular Engineering” , within the broader framework of chromosome-scale genome engineering, synthetic biology, and therapeutic cell engineering.

Role Description

This is a full-time, on-site PhD student / doctoral researcher position at the Università degli Studi di Udine, located in Udine, Italy.

The project focuses on the development of integrated approaches combining AI-assisted protein design, genome engineering, and the manipulation of protein folding and degradation pathways . The overall goal is to reprogramme the mechanisms that regulate protein function, stability, localization, and fate in cellular systems, within a synthetic and generative biology framework.

The successful candidate will contribute to an interdisciplinary research programme combining wet-lab and in silico approaches. Activities may include:

- computational design and prioritization of polypeptide or protein variants;
- molecular cloning and genetic engineering of cellular systems;
- genome editing and synthetic biology workflows;




- experimental analysis of protein folding, degradation, stability, and proteostasis;
- cellular and molecular assays to assess engineered protein function;
- analysis, interpretation, and documentation of experimental and computational data;
- preparation of scientific reports, presentations, manuscripts, and conference contributions.

The position is suited for a candidate interested in working at the interface between molecular biology, protein engineering, genome engineering, cellular biotechnology, and computational/generative biology.

Qualifications

Required or strongly preferred qualifications include:
- Master’s degree, or equivalent qualification, in Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences, Computational Biology, Bioengineering, Synthetic Biology, or a related discipline;
- eligibility for enrolment in a PhD programme;
- strong foundation in molecular and cellular biology;
- interest in protein biology, protein folding, degradation pathways, proteostasis, or engineered protein function;
- experience or strong motivation to learn genome engineering, CRISPR-based methods, molecular cloning, and cellular engineering;
- ability to work in an integrated wet-lab / in silico research environment;
- analytical thinking, problem-solving ability, and scientific rigor;
- good organizational skills and ability to document experimental work accurately;




- effective communication and collaboration skills;
- fluency in English.

Additional desirable experience:
- previous research experience in an academic or biotechnology laboratory;
- experience with mammalian cell culture;
- experience with protein expression, degradation, localization, or functional assays;
- familiarity with computational biology, protein design tools, Python/R, structural biology, or AI-assisted biological design;
- experience with flow cytometry, microscopy, sequencing-based assays, or omics data analysis;
- knowledge of Italian is advantageous but not required.

Research Environment The selected candidate will join an interdisciplinary research environment combining molecular biology, cellular engineering, genome engineering, synthetic biology, and computational design. The project will provide training in both experimental and computational approaches and is intended for candidates willing to engage with technically complex, high-innovation research.

Application

Applications must be submitted through the official University of Udine PhD application procedure for the 42nd cycle, PhD Programme in Molecular Medicine. Candidates should refer to the official call and related documents for eligibility criteria, required documents, deadlines, selection procedures, and legally binding information.

Project title: Synthetic and Generative Biology for Protein and Cellular Engineering

Supervisor: Dr Gianluca Petris

Programme: PhD Programme in Molecular Medicine, University of Udine

Location: Udine, Italy

Start date: November 2026

- Application deadline, first selection period: 4 June 2026, 14:00 Italian time

Candidati su Kit Lavoro: kitlavoro.it/lavoro/7yx7nl

📌 Researcher PHD Student (Udine)
🏢 Universita Degli Studi Di Udine
📍 Udine