Computational RNA Biologist
Pubblicato il 12-09-2026 - IFOM in Varese
IFOM is an internationally recognized non-profit cancer research institute supported by AIRC, Foundation for Cancer Research, based in Milan within a highly dynamic urban environment
IFOM continuous success is ensured by the recruitment of highly selected undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate researchers from over 24 countries worldwide.
IFOM is committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment, based on mutual respect and the enhancement of diversity, offering equal job opportunities to all qualified candidates.
We seek for our Institute: Computational RNA Biologist
About the position
Bioinformatic position to lead the computational discovery pipeline connecting RNA isoform diversity to protein structure prediction. Alternative splicing is pervasive in cancer, yet its structural consequences remain largely uncharted. The candidate will:
Integrate long-read (Iso-Seq/Nanopore) and short-read RNA-seq data from colorectal cancer cohorts to curate full-length transcript variants and define translationally supported open reading frames,
combining transcript-level and ribosome profiling (Ribo-seq) evidence to distinguish real, translated isoforms from noise.
Develop systematic workflows for investigating the structural consequences of alternative splicing (AlphaFold2/3, AlphaFold-Multimer, or equivalent): how exon inclusion or skipping events reshape domain architecture, interaction interfaces in cancer-relevant isoforms.
Use the resulting atlas to generate concrete, testable mechanistic hypotheses: which isoforms lose or gain functional motifs, which show tumor-biased expression shifts, and which are worth prioritizing for experimental validation by the lab's wet-lab team.
Department overview
Molecular Machines in Signalling Pathways group, led by Prof. Simona Polo, at IFOM. The position is supported by a 5-year AIRC research programme focused on alternative splicing in colorectal cancer.
Profile Description
The ideal candidate is a motivated researcher holding