Postdoctoral position in organelle biology and neurodegeneration

📍 Work location: Pieve Emanuele, (Milano) Italy

📄 Contract type: Co.co.co

Postdoctoral position in organelle biology and neurodegeneration

Why Humanitas

Choosing Humanitas means joining an environment where quality of care is built every day through clinical expertise, innovation and teamwork, where everyone contributes to the patient care journey.

Who we are

Humanitas Research Hospital is a highly specialized research and university hospital, and the first in Italy to be certified as an Academic Hospital by the Joint Commission International. Research is driven daily by over 500 physicians, biologists, physicists, data scientists, and technologists working across hospital wards and 10,000 sqm of high-tech laboratories. Our mission is to transform discoveries into concrete cures, with a strategic focus on five key areas: cancer, immunology, neuroscience, gastrointestinal medicine, and molecular cardiology.

The context

Our laboratory investigates how membrane contact sites coordinate organelle dynamics and function in health and disease, and how disruption of these processes contributes to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Our projects focus on proteins involved in organelle communication, including VAPB and VPS13D, and explore how they regulate lipid homeostasis, mitochondrial function and cellular stress responses. We combine gene editing with cell biology, quantitative imaging, biochemistry and proteomics, using complementary models that include human iPSCs and iPSC-derived neurons.

Humanitas offers a dynamic, international and scientifically competitive research environment, with access to advanced core facilities and opportunities for collaboration across basic and clinical research.

Who we are looking for

We are seeking a passionate and enthusiastic postdoctoral researcher to join our team. Applicants should hold a PhD in cell biology, neurobiology or a related discipline. We are looking for someone with:

• A genuine passion for science, enthusiasm for discovery and a strong commitment to research.
• A strong background in cell biology, particularly in organelle dynamics, membrane contact sites or related fields.
• A solid understanding of cellular and molecular neurobiology, including mechanisms of neuronal homeostasis, dysfunction and degeneration.
• Research experience in neurobiology or neurodegeneration, preferably involving neuronal models. Experience with motor neurons or ALS-related research would be particularly valuable.
• Experience in mammalian cell culture; experience with human iPSCs, neuronal differentiation and maintenance of neuronal cultures would be a strong advantage.
• Experience in confocal microscopy, ideally including live-cell imaging.
• Practical expertise in biochemistry and molecular biology.
• Curiosity, initiative and the ability to develop research questions and critically evaluate experimental evidence.
• A collaborative mindset, good communication skills and a willingness to contribute ideas and expertise to the team.

We particularly welcome applicants who enjoy engaging deeply with scientific questions, taking ownership of a project and working through challenges with creativity and perseverance.

What we offer

Working at Humanitas means contributing to a future where care, wellbeing and professional excellence grow together. For this reason, we offer:

• a wellbeing programme that also includes initiatives supporting physical and psychological health;
• practical work-life balance measures, including initiatives supporting parenthood and financial wellbeing;
• training and development opportunities to foster talent and enhance skills in a dynamic and innovative environment;
• a dynamic, international and scientifically competitive research environment, with access to advanced core facilities and opportunities for collaboration across basic and clinical research.

Position and application

The position is initially for 12 months, with the possibility of renewal. The earliest anticipated start date is 1 January 2027.

This offer is open to candidates in compliance with Legislative Decrees 198/2006, 215/2003 and 216/2003.