Senior Technician of Technology Development - National Facility for Genomics

APPLICATION CLOSING DATE: December 20th 2024.

The National Facility for Genomics provides state-of-the-art and innovative services in genomics. Its core mission is to implement robust experimental and analytical workflows to probe all major domains of genomic exploration, including but not limited to the analysis of DNA, RNA, chromatin and other markers of epigenetic and regulatory activity. These techniques can be applied to diverse areas of biology, with resolution spanning to whole organisms, to tissues or individual cells. Overall, NF Genomics aims to empower research in all domains of genomics for the Italian scientific community at large.

The Human Technopole Foundation is looking for aSenior Technicianfor the UI4Technology DevelopmentUnitof the National Facility for Genomics.

The NF for Genomics foresees four Infrastructural Units (IU):

UI1 High Throughput Sequencingmainly focused on providing state-of-the-art high-throughput sequencing services. This dedicated unit specializes in delivering top-tier genomics, transcriptomics, and epigenomics analyses, employing the latest protocols for sample processing and sequencing.

UI2 Multi-Omics Technologiesspecialized in multi-omics technologies. Its focus extends to providing cutting-edge services in single-cell and spatial multi-omics analysis, as well as long-read sequencing. This Unit closely collaborates with the Tissue Processing Unit and NF-Imaging, specifically dedicated to implementing spatial transcriptomics protocols.

UI3 Computational Genomicsis the computational core of the NF for Genomics, the team is dedicated to developing, implementing, and maintaining automated pipelines for the preprocessing and primary data analysis of sequencing data. This unit closely collaborates with the NF for Data Handling and Analysis.

UI4 Technology Developmentstays at the forefront of innovation, this dedicated team is committed to methods and technology development. The highly qualified staff is continuously engaged in the evaluation of new technologies and instruments, considering them for acquisition into our NF. This dedicated unit specializes in supporting the development, optimization and scale-up of custom experimental protocols, offering these services to the broader scientific community.

In the context above outlined, theSenior Technician of Technology Development, reporting directly to the Senior Manager of the IU4, will become part of the team of theTechnology Development Unitunit of the Genomics National Facility.

Your main tasks and responsibilities:

• Proactively contribute to implement custom protocols developed by internal or external researchers into the Facility.
• Optimize and standardize custom protocols ensuring robustness and reproducibility
• Facilitate protocols’ scale-up and automation on high-throughput platforms, collaborating with researchers and specialists.
• Manage library preparation and sequencing, including the use of a LIMS for data and sample tracking.
• Support transfer and implementation of optimized protocols and workflows to the UI1 High Throughput Sequencing and UI2 Multi-Omics Technologies to facilitate service integration.
• Support in the development and implementation of SOPs and/or experimental pipelines.
• Participate in key aspects of general Facility management and organization (e.g., managing inventories and stocks of samples, reagents, equipment, and materials).
• Participate in internal and external users’ trainings, fostering ongoing collaboration and access to the Unit's work.
• Report regularly with colleagues and line manager on the flow and timeline of sequencing projects.

Job requirements

Mandatory Requirements

• Master’s degree in a relevant subject, e.g., molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, or in a related field of the life sciences.
• +3 years experience with NGS platforms and protocols including library preparation, sequencing, and quality control
• Experience in optimizing and validating custom library preparation and sequencing protocols
• Experience with single cell analysis approaches (i.e.microfluidics, plate based)
• Fluency in English – HT is an international research institute.

Preferred requirements

• Previous experience in working with automated systems for samples preparation (i.e.nucleic acids extraction, library preparation);
• Familiarity with epigenetic/multiomics approaches (e.g., to profile DNA methylation, chromatin accessibility, histone modifications);
• Experience with third-generation single molecule sequencing approaches (Nanopore and/or PacBio) including library preparation, sequencing, and quality metrics evaluation;
• Good understanding and critical interpretation of sequencing metrics and related bioinformatics tools output to support experimental troubleshooting;
• Experience with cellular biology, histology and microscopy would be considered a plus;
• Previous experience in a facility is considered a plus.

• Organizational and social skills:
• Pro-active mindset, excellent organizational and problem-solving skills;
• Ability to independently develop, optimize and deploy research support, as a member of a closely collaborative team;
• Excellent communication skills and work ethic.

Application Instructions

Please apply online by sending

I) a CV

II) a motivation letter in English

III) names and contacts of 2 referees

Only for general enquires concerning the role, please contact:recruitment@fht.org(this email address should not be used to send applications).

Why Human Technopole

HT seeksscientific excellence, we recruit the best scientific talents through international, open calls.

Our working environment isinternational,friendlyandinclusive. Our scientistswork together across disciplineson research topics of biomedical relevance,leveraging synergiesbetween their diverse skillsets and methodological approaches.

We believe thathighly diverse teams yield the best and most innovative results.

We engage inoutward-facing scientific activitiesaimed at benefiting the national and internationalresearch community.Training is also at the heart of our activity, with initiatives and opportunities for our staff, including scientific courses, conferences and workshops.

Main benefits

• Welfare plans
• Canteen service
• Work-life balance provisions
• Italian language training for foreigners
• Maternity leave up to 1 year and other support for new parents
• Counseling
• Possibility of flexible working hours
• Support for relocation
• Tax benefits where applicable.

Special consideration will be given to candidates who are part of the protected categories list, according to L. 68/99.

Number of positions offered:1

Location:Milan

Contract offered:CCNL Chimico Farmaceutico, 3 years fixed-term.

Salary:up to 41k.

The Foundation reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to extend, suspend, modify, revoke, or cancel this job posting without giving rise to any rights or claims whatsoever in favour of the candidates; the Foundation reserves, however, the right not to proceed with the awarding of the above-described assignment due to the effect of supervening regulatory provisions and/or obstructive circumstances.