This funded PhD position at the University of Udine, Department of Medicine, is part of the INT2ACT Doctoral Network and focuses on developing and optimising a protocol for quantifying oxidative lesions in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The project aims to translate this protocol into a standardized commercial kit, addressing a critical need for sensitive and reproducible methods to detect mtDNA oxidative damage—a key factor in neurodegenerative diseases and other pathological conditions. The research will integrate advanced molecular biology techniques, including qPCR-based assays, DNA damage quantification, and lesion-specific polymerase arrest assays, to measure oxidative modifications in mtDNA. Initial work will refine and validate the protocol in standard biological models, followed by adaptation for complex systems such as neuronal cell models relevant to neurodegeneration. A major goal is to produce technical guidelines for applying the protocol across species and experimental contexts. The final phase will focus on high-throughput and commercial adaptation, ensuring scalability, reproducibility, and user-friendliness. The host laboratory, led by Dr. Carlo Vascotto, specializes in DNA repair mechanisms, mitochondrial RNA processes, and the role of mitochondria in tumor progression and resistance, with access to state-of-the-art facilities for cell culture, flow cytometry, confocal and nanoscope microscopy, and in vivo fluorescence imaging. The project includes secondments to collaborating groups in Germany (Prof. Lena Burbulla, Ludwig Maximilian University; Dr. Thomas Frischmuth, baseclick GmbH), requiring willingness to travel and spend time abroad. Eligibility requires a Master’s degree in Biology, Biotechnology, or related field, compliance with the mobility rule, and proficiency in English. Applicants should have research experience in cellular and molecular biology, with mitochondrial biology and nucleic acids analysis as strong assets. Application involves submitting a statement of interest, CV, examination certificate, and degree certificate (in English) as a single PDF. The deadline is January 31, 2026. For more information, visit the INT2ACT project website or contact Dr. Carlo Vascotto.

This funded PhD position at the University of Udine, Italy, focuses on investigating the role of Cyclophilin D (CypD), a mitochondrial matrix protein, in mitochondrial RNA (mtRNA) metabolism. While CypD is traditionally known for its role in regulating the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), recent findings from Dr. Carlo Vascotto’s laboratory suggest it may also be involved in post-transcriptional regulation of mitochondrial gene expression. The project aims to elucidate the functional interactions between CypD and mtRNAs, potentially revealing new mechanisms in mitochondrial biology and identifying therapeutic targets for diseases linked to mitochondrial dysfunction. The research will involve developing a novel protocol for immunoprecipitating CypD–RNA complexes from mitochondrial fractions, followed by high-throughput RNA sequencing to identify and classify bound mtRNA species. Bioinformatic analyses will characterize RNA families and regulatory motifs associated with CypD binding. Functional relevance will be assessed by modulating CypD expression in cell models using shRNA knockdown and overexpression systems, with subsequent analyses including qPCR, Western blotting, and mitochondrial functional assays to measure changes in mtRNA abundance, stability, and organelle physiology. The host laboratory, led by Dr. Vascotto, specializes in DNA repair mechanisms, mitochondrial RNA processes, and the role of mitochondria in tumor progression and resistance. The lab is well-equipped with facilities for mammalian cell culture, flow cytometry, advanced microscopy, and instruments for monitoring cell viability, apoptosis, and mitochondrial respiration. The project includes secondments to collaborating groups in Poland (Prof. Barbara Uszczynska-Ratajczak, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences) and the UK (Dr. Alexander Jackson, Nanovery Ltd.), so candidates must be willing to travel and spend time abroad. Eligibility requires a Master’s degree in Biology, Biotechnology, or a related field, and compliance with the mobility rule (not residing in Italy for more than 12 months in the past 36 months). Research experience in cellular and molecular biology is required, with mitochondrial and/or RNA biology experience as a strong advantage. Proficiency in English is mandatory, demonstrated by a recognized test unless exempted. Applicants must submit a statement of interest, CV, university examination certificate with marks, and a final degree certificate translated into English (if not available, can be submitted later), all merged into a single PDF. Selected candidates will be invited for an interview and must provide referee contact details. The application deadline is January 31, 2026. For more information, visit the INT2ACT recruitment page or contact Dr. Carlo Vascotto.

This PhD project focuses on developing and optimizing a novel nanoparticle-based biosensor platform for the rapid detection of nucleic acids from infectious pathogens. Traditional diagnostic methods such as PCR and sequencing, while accurate, are slow, expensive, and require centralized laboratory facilities, limiting their scalability for widespread diagnostic needs. The research aims to address these limitations by advancing a gold colloidal biosensor technology capable of direct detection of viral nucleic acids from biological fluids, eliminating the need for purification or amplification steps. The project will expand the platform to detect multiple clinically relevant pathogens, validate its analytical and clinical performance, and prepare it for commercialisation and compliance with in vitro diagnostic regulations. Hosted at IIS Biogipuzkoa Health Research Centre in Spain, the work will be conducted within Dr. Charles Lawrie’s Molecular Oncology group, which integrates biomarker discovery, diagnostic tool development, and therapeutic innovation. The laboratory offers access to advanced facilities for cell culture, flow cytometry, microscopy, genomics, histology, and clinical trials, as well as strong links to oncology medical services. The position is part of the INT2ACT Doctoral Network, providing opportunities for secondments at collaborating institutions, including Shanghai University in China. Candidates should have a Master’s degree in materials science, biomedical engineering, biotechnology, chemistry, or a related field, and must not already hold a doctoral degree. Desirable skills include bioinformatics, computational biology, nucleic acid detection, nanomaterials, biosensor development, and experience with medical device translation or regulatory aspects. Strong motivation, multidisciplinary research interest, and proficiency in English are required. The position is fully funded under EU MSCA regulations, including salary, benefits, and travel support. Applications require a statement of interest, CV, academic certificates, and degree documentation, submitted as a single PDF. The deadline for applications is January 31, 2026.

This PhD project, hosted at the University of Udine and Flomics Biotech SL in Barcelona, focuses on the identification and implementation of novel cell-free RNA (cfRNA) biomarkers for early cancer detection using liquid biopsy. Flomics Biotech is pioneering a multi-purpose blood test that leverages optimized cfRNA profiling via Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and advanced machine learning analysis to detect cancer and other complex diseases before symptoms arise. Unlike traditional liquid biopsy approaches that target circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), this project emphasizes cfRNA, which is more abundant and informative in early disease stages, as it is released from both cancerous and non-cancerous cells, including those from the immune system and stroma. The candidate will utilize proprietary RNA sequencing protocols and analyze a large in-house dataset (~1,100 samples) covering five cancer types and healthy controls. Research will involve developing bioinformatics pipelines to explore RNA-based signals beyond gene expression, such as mitochondria-derived RNAs, circular RNAs, single nucleotide variants, and novel transcripts. The project includes advanced data normalization and removal of unwanted variation, addressing key challenges in cfRNA research. Machine learning models will be developed to classify cancer patients versus healthy controls with high accuracy, integrating novel biomarker types and global gene expression signatures. The position is part of the INT2ACT Doctoral Network, offering strong collaboration and secondments with leading European research groups, including the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry (Polish Academy of Science) and University of Udine. The host laboratory at Flomics Biotech provides a dynamic environment with cutting-edge genomics and bioinformatics resources. Applicants must have a Master’s degree in a relevant field, proficiency in English, and willingness to travel for collaborative research. Funding is provided, and the application deadline is January 31, 2026.

This PhD position, hosted at IIS Biogipuzkoa Health Research Centre in Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain, is part of the INT2ACT Doctoral Network and affiliated with the University of Udine. The project, BIOCART, aims to identify novel blood-based biomarkers in CAR-T–treated patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphomas. CAR-T therapy has revolutionized treatment for these patients, but resistance and toxicities such as cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity remain significant challenges. The project addresses the urgent clinical need for biomarkers to better predict and manage these toxicities and monitor disease progression. Unlike previous studies that relied on single omic approaches and small cohorts, BIOCART employs a comprehensive multi-omics strategy, including cfDNA, miRNA, methylomics, glycomics, and spectroscopy, in a large, prospective, international, multicenter study. Blood samples are collected at multiple time points before and after CAR-T infusion, and the resulting data are used to develop and train machine learning pipelines capable of integrating and harmonizing multi-omics datasets. The goal is to identify biomarkers for early treatment response, disease progression, and therapy-related toxicities. The developed algorithms and biomarkers will be validated in an independent cohort of 120 patients. The PhD student will focus on bioinformatics analyses, data fusion, and the development of new computational tools for data harmonization. The host laboratory, led by Prof. Charles Lawrie, is well-equipped with facilities for cell culture, flow cytometry, microscopy, genomics, histology, and clinical trials, and maintains strong connections with oncology medical services. The project includes secondments to collaborating groups in China (Prof. Lei Zhang, SSIAT, Shanghai University) and Spain (Dr. Marc Weber, Flomics Biotech SL, Barcelona), so willingness to travel is essential. Applicants must have a Master’s degree in a relevant field, not already hold a doctoral degree, and comply with the mobility rule. Experience in bioinformatics, computational biology, and programming (Python, R, C++) is advantageous, as is knowledge of machine learning. Proficiency in English is required. Funding is provided through the INT2ACT Doctoral Network, with details available on the recruitment web page. The application deadline is January 31, 2026. For more information, visit the INT2ACT website or contact Dr. Charles Lawrie.