Postdoctoral position available in

Mathematical QSP modeling of mRNA-based products

Laboratory of Computational Modeling, CIBIO Department,

University of Trento (https://www.cibio.unitn.it/1321/laboratory-of-computational-modeling)

Updated application deadline: 12.00 (noon) of January 31 st , 2022

The Laboratory of Computational Modeling at the University of Trento (CIBIO Department, PI Luca Marchetti), in collaboration with Fondazione COSBI, is seeking for a postdoctoral mathematical modeler with previous experience in quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) projects, preferably applied to the area of mRNA-based products, to foster a joint investigation effort in mathematical QSP modeling of mRNA-based products (vaccines and monoclonal antibodies), in the context of the International Wellcome Leap project “R3: RNA Readiness and Response”.

Project description

mRNA technology has recently demonstrated the ability to change the timeline for developing and delivering a new vaccine from years to months. As member of the Laboratory of Computational Modeling at the University of Trento, the applicant will have the opportunity to join the international consortium of R3 performers, which collects a wide range of leading organizations around the world (academic institutions, biotech companies, private and public research centers), and to contribute to the development of novel mRNA-based products addressing viral and non-viral targets.
We will promote the development of quantitative mathematical models providing a systems view of the main biological processes involved in novel mRNA-based products with the aim of developing a tool able to simulate the generated immune response at organism level. The research will initially focus on predicting the pharmacodynamic profile, the potency (amount of mRNA to provide to obtain the desired response), and the reactogenicity (the quantitative extent of innate-immunity response induced by the mRNA-based product).
During the project, the successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary and highly motivated group across University of Trento and Fondazione COSBI. The candidate will be in charge of developing mathematical QSP models of novel mRNA-based products, leveraging on an effective systems biology pipeline already targeting mRNA vaccines and recently developed by the group (Leonardelli et al. 2021; Selvaggio et al. 2021).

Job Details

Type of contract: post-doc researcher fellowships
Application decree numbers: 470/2021
Application call: https://www.unitn.it/en/ateneo/bando/71741/department-cibio-call-for-the-selections-for-the-awarding-of-no-1-research-fellowship-decree-no-4702
Updated application deadline: 12.00 (noon) of January 31 st , 2022
Salary: 28,850 euros/year gross (about 25,500 euros/year net)
Duration: 1 year, renewable until project ending (2024-2025)
Start date: February/March 2022
Contact person: Luca Marchetti (PI), luca.marchetti@unitn.it
Activity venue: University of Trento (Laboratory of Computational Modeling), and Fondazione COSBI, Rovereto

Your required skills and experience

Please, refer to the official call links for precise information on application requirements.
• PhD in computational biology, bioinformatics, mathematics or related fields
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to work in team and meet project deadlines
• Mathematical/QSP modeling previous experience, ideally applied to the area of mRNA-based products
• Knowledge of the main computational techniques for mathematical model calibration, validation and qualification
• Programming skills in at least one language among MATLAB, R and Python

Desirable skills

• General understanding of biological processes and in particular of the immune response
• Knowledge of the main bioinformatics workflows for data analysis to support mathematical modeling
• Ability to work with preclinical and clinical data
• Publication record in mathematical/QSP modeling of biological processes, ideally applied to the area of mRNA-based products