Enrico Iaccino

University of Magna Graecia of Catanzaro is advertising a fully funded PhD opportunity in the PhD Program in Molecular and Translational Oncology (XLII Cycle), with a research project at the intersection of laboratory medicine, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence. The project focuses on solving the preanalytical challenge in extracellular vesicle (EV)-based liquid biopsy. The aim is to develop a next-generation electrochemical biosensor that can standardize EV isolation and selectively capture cancer-derived EVs using phage display-selected tumor-specific peptides. The clinical application is centered on patients with multiple myeloma and lymphomas, with the broader goal of improving diagnostic precision and translational laboratory medicine. Research and training areas include laboratory medicine and preanalytics, EV isolation, phage display, nanotechnology, biosensor functionalization, multiplex proteomics, digital PCR, and applied machine learning for predictive clinical signatures. The post highlights industrial partnerships and international collaborations, suggesting a strong translational and networked research environment. Eligible applicants should hold an MSc (Laurea Magistrale) in Biotechnology, Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Medicine, or a related field. The poster explicitly says prior EV expertise is not required; the team will provide training from scratch on the relevant technologies. The opportunity is framed for candidates with curiosity, resilience, and interest in clinical translation. The official application deadline is 2026-08-03 at 12:00 PM CET. Applicants should use the university’s online application system and consult the official call and related updates on the University of Magna Graecia of Catanzaro website.