Summary:
Applications are invited for two full-time Doctoral Candidate (DC)/PhD positions within the MSCA Doctoral Network INTRABRAIN – “Nanoplatforms and Oncolytic Viruses for Novel Cancer Immunotherapy Strategies,” funded by the EU (Agreement No. 101227308). The positions are based at the Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy. The project focuses on developing innovative translational strategies for glioblastoma using nanomedicine, viral vectors, and computational imaging approaches.2 Doctoral Candidate (PhD) Positions – MSCA Doctoral Network INTRABRAIN, Italy
Designation: Doctoral Candidate (PhD Student)
Table of Positions:
| Position | Focus Area | Location | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| DC10 | Preclinical development and validation of nanomedicine-based therapeutic strategies for glioblastoma | University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy | Full-time, duration per MSCA guidelines |
| DC14 | Development of advanced computational approaches for multimodal imaging analysis in glioblastoma | University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy | Full-time, duration per MSCA guidelines |
Research Area: Translational Neuro-Oncology, Nanomedicine, Oncolytic Viruses, Glioblastoma, Computational Imaging, Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Research
Location: Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
Eligibility / Qualification:
- DC10: Master’s degree in Biotechnology, Biology, Neuroscience, Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacology, Biomedical Engineering, or related disciplines with strong experimental experience.
- DC14: Master’s degree in Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Applied Mathematics, Physics, Bioengineering, Computational Biology, Neuroscience, or related disciplines with a strong quantitative background.
- MSCA Eligibility:
- No prior doctoral degree at the start date.
- Mobility rule: Must not have resided/worked in Italy >12 months in the last 36 months.
- Proficiency in English is required.
Job Description:
- DC10 (Experimental Focus):
- Design, optimize, and validate nanoparticle-encapsulated recombinant adenoviral vectors expressing IL-12 for glioblastoma therapy.
- Conduct in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies using rodent models.
- Utilize focused ultrasound for blood-brain and blood-tumor barrier permeabilization.
- Evaluate therapeutic efficacy, safety, biodistribution, and immune responses.
- International secondments to Finland, Israel, and France to gain complementary skills.
- DC14 (Computational Focus):
- Develop computational pipelines integrating multimodal imaging (MRI, PET, optical) with spatial biology for glioblastoma analysis.
- Create AI models (PINNs, multitask learning, transformer-based) for imaging data integration.
- Validate imaging biomarkers and correlate with molecular/spatial biology data.
- International secondments to Italy, Israel, and Finland to enhance interdisciplinary expertise.
Required Skills / Experience:
- DC10: Cell culture, molecular/cellular biology techniques (IHC, IF, WB), in vivo experiments, interdisciplinary collaboration.
- DC14: Programming (Python/MATLAB), data analysis, machine learning, medical image analysis, computational modeling, statistics, AI frameworks.
Preferred Experience:
- DC10: Animal experimentation, glioblastoma/neuro-oncology models, neurosurgery in rodents, viral vector and nanoparticle work.
- DC14: MRI/PET imaging, radiomics, synthetic data, multimodal integration, deep learning frameworks, biophysical modeling.
Salary: Competitive, per MSCA Work Programme (Living and Mobility allowance). Conditional Family allowance may apply.
How to Apply:
Send a single PDF containing:
- Filled INTRABRAIN DC application form
- Curriculum Vitae (max 2 pages)
- Cover Letter (max 1 page) with motivation for the specific DC position
- Master’s Degree Certificate and Transcript
- Proof of English proficiency
- Contact details of 2 referees
- List and manuscripts of publications (if applicable)
- Work/research experience certificates (if applicable)
Email the PDF to Prof. Nicola Toschi at nicola.toschi@uniroma2.eu
Last Date for Apply: 04/06/2026
