Research Fellows in Stem Cell Biology, Cell Barcoding and Single-Cell Genomics

Vedi l’offerta su Go Lavoro: golavoro.it/annuncio-lavoro/855uw0

Research Group
Bioinformatician)
Elena Cattaneo (Full Professor), Dario Besusso (Tenure Track Researcher), Simone Maestri (Senior Scientist,
Depart. of Biosciences, University of Milan & National Institute of Molecular Genetics, Via F. Sforza 35, Milan

Projects Context
The lab has received substantial funding, including an ERC Synergy Grant (2026-2031), as well as funding from
the C.H.D.I. Foundation (New York, USA) and Fondazione Telethon (Italy) (2026-2029). These projects aim to
advance our understanding of Huntington’s disease (HD) pathogenesis and explore innovative therapeutic
approaches. They are supported by an extensive network of active international collaborations with leading
research laboratories worldwide.

Research Environment
Our team (www.cattaneolab.it) investigates the pathophysiology of HD and develops stem cell-based models
to study disease mechanisms and cell-based therapeutic strategies. HD is caused by a CAG repeat expansion
in the Huntingtin gene, which undergoes further somatic expansion in brain cells during disease progression.




A major research effort focuses on identifying key aspects of HD pathogenesis at the level of individual cells
and their neuronal and non-neuronal descendants in vitro. This approach integrates human stem cell
engineering, lentiviral barcoding, lineage-tracing strategies, 10x Genomics-based single-cell technologies,
and targeted sequencing, supported by established wet-lab and bioinformatic expertise. In particular, human
stem cell lines carrying different CAG repeat lengths are genetically barcoded and differentiated using 2D
cultures and 3D organoid systems. Lineage-tracing barcodes, single-cell omics and CAG sizing are used to
connect clonal ancestry, cell identity and molecular state with repeat dynamics over time. Mosaic cellular
systems are used to investigate interactions between genotypes and distinguish cell-autonomous from non-
cell-autonomous defects.

Offer
We are seeking motivated and enthusiastic Jun

Vedi l’offerta su Go Lavoro: golavoro.it/annuncio-lavoro/855uw0