PhD Graduate Student – Molecular Medicine (DNA & RNA Repair)

About the role

The University of Udine invites applications for a PhD position in Molecular Medicine, focusing on regulators and repair factors that influence stress‑induced DNA and RNA modifications in cancer. The project will be carried out in the Laboratory of Molecular Biology and DNA Repair, within the Department of Medicine.

Key responsibilities

• Investigate the protein interactome of Base Excision Repair (BER) factors in ovarian and lung cancer cells under genotoxic stress.
• Characterize the impact of BER enzymes on G‑quadruplex‑containing miRNA processing using biochemical and biophysical methods.
• Perform high‑throughput screening to identify small molecules that disrupt BER‑protein/RG4‑miRNA complexes.
• Validate candidate inhibitors in 2D cell cultures and patient‑derived organoids (3D).
• Generate data for potential biomarkers and therapeutic development.

Required profile

• Master’s degree in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, or a related field.
• Strong interest in DNA/RNA repair mechanisms and cancer biology.
• Experience with cell‑based assays and molecular techniques.
• Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team.

Required skills

• NGS sequencing
• High‑throughput screening
• Biochemical assays
• Biophysical assays
• In silico structural tools

What we offer

• Full PhD scholarship with stipend and research funding.
• Access to state‑of‑the‑art laboratory facilities and core imaging platforms.
• Opportunities for international collaborations and conference participation.