Barbara Richichi

PhD position available at the Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, within the EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network CanGoNano. The Doctoral Candidate (DC3) project focuses on mRNA delivery , glyconanotechnology , cancer immunotherapy , cellulose nanocrystals , and nanomaterial functionalization . The specific research topic is the development of glycosylated polycationic cellulose nanocrystals (pCNCs) and mRNA polyplexes for precision delivery of genetic material to antigen-presenting cells. This is an interdisciplinary project spanning chemistry , materials science , biomedicine , and immunology . The network offers advanced training in nanomaterial characterization, microscopy, immunological techniques, and international secondments with academic and industrial partners. Eligibility highlights: candidates should have a Master’s degree in Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Biotechnology, (Nano)Materials Science, or a closely related field, and a strong interest in working across chemistry, nanotechnology, and biomedicine. The position is a 36-month MSCA Doctoral Candidate appointment. Application deadline: 21 October 2026. Applications must be submitted via the official CanGoNano portal, and full details are available on EURAXESS. Location: University of Florence, Italy.

The University of Florence is recruiting one Doctoral Candidate within the MSCA-DN project CanGoNano , a European Training Network supported by Horizon Europe and focused on glyconanomaterials for cancer immunotherapy. The advertised PhD project, DC3 , explores glycosylated polycation cellulose nanocrystals and mRNA polyplexes for precision delivery of genetic material to antigen-presenting cells . The research is hosted by the Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff” at the University of Florence (Italy) and is supervised by Prof. Barbara Richichi and Prof. Marco Marradi , with co-supervision from Maria Elisa Perico and Sandra van Vliet . The project places the doctoral researcher at the intersection of organic chemistry, nanomaterials, and immunotherapy, with planned secondments at AUMC and APT to strengthen expertise in APC–T cell cross-talk and in vivo immunogenicity studies. Research activities include synthesis of polycationic cellulose nanocrystals with quaternary ammonium groups, multiple functionalization with amine-bearing carbohydrate fragments and fluorescent probes via carbamate chemistry, synthesis and physicochemical characterization of pCNC/mRNA polyplexes, and evaluation of their immunogenicity. Training will cover synthesis and characterization of pCNC-based polyplexes, advanced microscopy, antibody isotyping, and T-cell culture. The position is a 36-month full-time PhD fellowship funded under the MSCA Doctoral Networks scheme. The salary is provided as a temporary gross research fellowship according to MSCA rules. The post is open to candidates of any nationality, but applicants must meet MSCA eligibility rules, including having a Master’s degree or equivalent and not already holding a doctoral degree. Candidates must also satisfy the MSCA mobility rule, meaning they must not have lived or carried out their main activity in Italy for more than 12 months during the 3 years before recruitment. Eligible applicants should hold a Master’s degree in Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Biotechnology, (Nano)Materials Science, or a closely related discipline. Prior practical experience in organic chemistry, materials chemistry, and characterization techniques is expected, together with good English skills and a proactive, team-oriented attitude. Additional conditions include full-time commitment to the project, exclusive focus on the research programme, and compliance with intellectual property and confidentiality requirements. Applications must be submitted via the project website and completed in English using the required 8-step procedure. Required documents include a CV, motivation letter, recommendation letter(s), and copies of diplomas and relevant supporting documents. The application deadline is 21 October 2026 . This is an attractive opportunity for candidates interested in glycoscience, nanotechnology, cancer immunotherapy, and advanced biomaterials research within a highly international and interdisciplinary doctoral network.

The University of Florence is offering a fully funded PhD position within the MSCA-DN “CanGoNano” European Training Network, focusing on glycosylated cellulose nanocrystals/gold nanoparticles hybrids for the precision delivery of antigenic peptides to antigen presenting cells. This innovative project is part of the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks, aiming to advance glyconanomaterials as tools for cancer immunotherapy. The research will be conducted at the Department of Chemistry ‘Ugo Schiff’, University of Florence, under the supervision of Prof. Barbara Richichi and Prof. Marco Marradi, with co-supervision from Dr. Jürgen Mairhofer (EnGenes Biotech GmbH, Austria) and Dr. Paula Videira (Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal). The project involves multiple functionalization and characterization of CNC-Au-LA with N3-tagged HER2/OVA peptides and fluorescent probes, biomolecular interaction studies using cryo-EM, and in vitro evaluation of functional activity. Training will cover synthesis of CNC-based glyconanomaterials, advanced microscopy, recombinant lectin expression, and cell biology. Doctoral candidates will benefit from international, intersectoral, and interdisciplinary training, including planned secondments at EnGenes Biotech (industry, Austria) and Universidade Nova de Lisboa (academia, Portugal). The position is for 36 months, starting 1 November 2026, and includes enrolment in the PhD School of Chemical Science at the University of Florence. Applicants must hold a Master’s degree in Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Biotechnology, (Nano)Materials Science, or related fields, with practical experience in organic and materials chemistry and characterization techniques. Good English proficiency is required. Candidates must not already possess a doctoral degree and must comply with the MSCA mobility rule. Full-time commitment to research, adherence to intellectual property and confidentiality regulations, and submission of all required documents in English are mandatory. The fellowship is paid in accordance with MSCA rules, with salary and benefits as per Horizon Europe guidelines. Equal opportunities policy applies, and candidates of all nationalities and genders are encouraged to apply. International mobility during the fellowship is mandatory and may account for up to 30% of the contract duration. To apply, candidates must submit their application via the project website (www.cangonano.eu) using the 'APPLY NOW' function, following the 8-step procedure. Required documents include CV, motivation letter, recommendation letter(s), and relevant diplomas. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews with supervisors from the network. For questions not addressed in the guidelines, contact [email protected]. The application deadline is 26 April 2026. The position offers a unique opportunity to work at the forefront of glyconanotechnology and cancer immunotherapy, with tailored training and international collaboration across the CanGoNano consortium.