Research Group: Elena Cattaneo – Department of Biosciences, University of Milan and National Institute of Molecular Genetics (INGM)

Via F. Sforza 35, Milano

Research:

The laboratory of Elena Cattaneo at the University of Milan has been studying Huntington’s disease (HD), a rare genetic and neurodegenerative disorder, for more than 30 years. Our research aims to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying HD pathophysiology and to develop pharmacological, genetic, and cellular strategies to slow disease progression or prevent its onset. HD is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the Huntingtin gene, which ultimately leads to the progressive dysfunction and death of striatal and cortical neurons.

Among its research activities, the lab is currently pursuing several interconnected research lines, including investigating the abnormalities caused by extreme somatic CAG expansions in specific neuronal subtypes in human cells and mouse models through multiomic approaches, as well as the transcriptional programs associated with cognitive and motor rescue following therapeutic interventions in HD mouse models.

These projects generate a broad range of high-dimensional datasets, including single-nucleus and bulk RNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics, amplicon sequencing, and proteomics. Several projects involve monitoring somatic CAG repeat instability with novel bioinformatic approaches. We use both short-read (Illumina) and long-read (Oxford Nanopore Technologies) sequencing technologies, creating opportunities for the development and application of computational approaches for data analysis, integration, and biological interpretation.





The lab is looking for a highly motivated candidate with a genuine interest in bioinformatics and computational biology to join our team. The selected candidate will work at the interface between computational and experimental biology, contributing to data analysis and multi-omic integration across multiple ongoing projects. The position offers the opportunity to work with diverse sequencing technologies and datasets while interacting closely with researchers with complementary expertise.

The candidate should be comfortable working in a multidisciplinary environment and communicating with researchers from non-computational backgrounds. The lab has received substantial funding, including an ERC Synergy Grant and funds from CHDI Foundation (NY, U.S.A.) and Telethon (Italy) and maintains several active international collaborations with leading laboratories worldwide.

Required Expertise:

- A Master’s degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Bioengineering, or a related field
- Experience with scripting languages such as R, Python, and Bash
- Experience working in High-Performance Computing (HPC) cluster
- Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team
- Good communication skills
- Proficiency in spoken and written English
- Knowledge of neurobiology is a plus

Salary will be commensurate with qualification and experience.

Prospective candidates interested in learning more about the project and the position are welcome to contact: [email protected]

Candidate selection will take place through a public call for applications, which will soon be published on the University of Milan website.

📌 Research Fellow in Bioinformatics (Milano)
🏢 Universita Degli Studi Di Milano
📍 Milano