PhD Position: Unveil the role of Land’s pathway as Treg immunometabolic checkpoint

Organisation/Company Università degli Studi di Milano Department Phd and Post Graduate Programmes Office Research Field Pharmacological sciences » Other Chemistry » Biochemistry Medical sciences » Health sciences Biological sciences Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 15 Mar 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Rome) Country Italy Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Not Applicable Offer Starting Date 1 Sep 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA Reference Number Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Applications are invited for 15 Doctoral Candidate (DC) positions (f/m/d), full-time for the duration of 36 months at the earliest on 1st August, 2026. These positions are funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network (MSCA-DN), on “UNderstanding Lipid ImmunoMetabolIsm To trEat Disease” (UNLIMITED) within the Horizon Europe Programme, latest until 31st August, 2029.

The position at University of Milan (Position #7) will be filled as Doctoral candidate (DC) fulltime and consists in a three-years research contract under the rules of the MSCA Doctoral Network (see 1.1 Applicable unit contribution ) and the Italian law (art. 22-ter della Legge 30 dicembre 2010, n. 240, come modificata dal Decreto-legge 7 giugno 2025, n. 45).

The UNLIMITED network brings together a unique consortium of 15 beneficiaries, comprising 14 academic and 1 non-academic organizations, to deliver a comprehensive, interdisciplinary training program. This program integrates scientific, technical, and transferable skills to prepare the next generation of researchers in lipid immunometabolism. It promotes excellence in interdisciplinary training and innovation, enabling them to develop advanced and validated approaches for immune-related diseases.

The UNLIMITED consortium consists of the following partners:

• University Medical Center of Mainz, Germany (Positions #3, #6, #15)
• Carlos III National Cardiovascular Research Centre, Spain (Positions #8)
• Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany (Positions #9)
• Leiden University Medical Centre, Netherlands (Position #12)
• Amsterdam Umc Foundation, Netherlands (Position #2)
• University of Milan, Italy (Position #7)
• University of Padua, Italy (Positions #4)
• The Provost, Fellows, Foundation Scholars & The Other Members of Board, of The College of The Holy & Undivided Trinity, Ireland (Position #11)
• National Centre for Scientific Research CNRS, France (Position #1)
• University of Cologne, Germany (Position #13)
• Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg (Position #14)
• Medical University of Vienna, Austria (Position #10)
• Vugene UAB, Lithuania (Position #5)

Research Focus

The UNLIMITED project explores how lipid metabolism regulates immune cell function and its role in diseases such as cancer and autoimmunity. It will train 15 Doctoral Candidates in interdisciplinary research combining immunology, bioinformatics, metabolism, and drug development. Using cutting-edge methods like multi-omics, single-cell technologies, and advanced lipidomics, the project aims to uncover novel therapeutic targets. UNLIMITED will advance precision medicine and strengthen Europe’s leadership in health innovation.

Available Positions and Research Topics

The UNLIMITED network offers 15 Doctoral Candidate positions across four themes:

(1) development of innovative tools for single-cell and spatial analysis of lipid immunometabolism (Subprojects 1–5);

(2) molecular pathways linking lipid metabolism to immune activation and differentiation (Subprojects 6–10);

(3) tissue-specific and systemic metabolic regulation of immune function (Subprojects 11–13);

(4) discovery of therapeutic targets within lipid metabolism (Subprojects 14–15).

Collectively, the UNLIMITED network will unravel the lipid–immune interface to generate mechanistic insights that guide the development of precision immunotherapy. Each researcher will receive interdisciplinary, intersectoral training across academia and industry, integrating advanced technologies with transferable and entrepreneurial skills.

• UNLIMITED application form (the document is available for download via our webpage ). In this form, applicants are asked to select from one up to three preferred DC topics and indicate their order of preference.
• Full curriculum vitae (including list of publications, if applicable. Maximum 2 pages).
• Cover letter (maximum 1 page) describing previous research experience and current research interests, clearly outlining the fit to the desired PhD topic(s).
• At least two reference letters, plus the names and contact details of two referees.
• Transcripts of grades obtained for B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees, expected final grade (and anticipated graduation date if applicable). The final certificate of the M.Sc. degree must be presented upon hiring. All documents must be submitted in English. Official translations are required for documents originally issued in another language. Administrative verification of the academic qualification's eligibility for PhD admission at University of Milan:M.Sc. degree (i.e. 2° level title), issued by an officially recognized academic institution, which grants admission in PhD programmes in the country of issuance. In order to evaluate the University career, the candidate should provide:

-Official Transcript of Records

-Master's degree OR official university document stating provisional date of graduation (if not graduated yet)

-Official Transcript of Records

The relevant university shall issue the documents. Documents issued in Italian or English, are accepted. If the documents are written in other languages, please upload both the original version AND the official translation in Italian or English and attach the merged document.

Application information

Submission procedure

For general questions about the personnel selection procedure and for questions about the content of the advertised position, please contact:

• Only complete applications submitted in English and compiled into a single PDF file will be considered.
• Please submit your application with all complete documents (cover letter, curriculum vitae, qualification certificates, references) to the project UNLIMITED webpage , quoting the reference ‘Application UNLIMITED DC – (Your Name)’, until 15/03/ :00 GMT as a single PDF file.
• Please note that no photos are to be attached to the application documents.

Your application will be processed jointly by the members of the UNLIMITED consortium and handled in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Applications failing to include the requested documentation, that do not indicate the preferred research projects, or that do not meet the eligibility criteria WILL NOT be considered in this competition.

General Information about Host Institution (This section must be adapted by each beneficiary to describe their own host institution.)

The University of Milan (La Statale) is a leading public research university known for its multidisciplinary academic offer and strong international profile. Its mission is to advance knowledge through high-quality research and education while promoting accessibility, inclusivity, and social responsibility. As the only Italian member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU) , it supports excellence, innovation, and open scientific collaboration. The University is committed to sustainability, public engagement, and the dissemination of knowledge through its “Third Mission”.

Within this framework, the Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences (DiSFeB) conducts cutting-edge research on molecular and cellular mechanisms, therapeutic targets, biomarkers, and the pharmacological and toxicological properties of bioactive substances. It hosts a multidisciplinary PhD program and fosters collaborations with clinical, academic, and industrial partners, contributing to advancements in pharmacology, translational research, and public health.

Applicants must be Doctoral Candidates, i.e., at the date of recruitment, not already in possession of a doctoral degree. A Master’s degree (or University Diploma) in a field relevant to the position (e.g. Medicine, Pharmacy, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Biology ) is required.

• UNLIMITED application form (the document is available for download via our webpage ). In this form, applicants are asked to select from one up to three preferred DC topics and indicate their order of preference.
• Full curriculum vitae (including list of publications, if applicable. Maximum 2 pages).
• Cover letter (maximum 1 page) describing previous research experience and current research interests, clearly outlining the fit to the desired PhD topic(s).
• At least two reference letters, plus the names and contact details of two referees.
• Transcripts of grades obtained for B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees, expected final grade (and anticipated graduation date if applicable). The final certificate of the M.Sc. degree must be presented upon hiring. All documents must be submitted in English. Official translations are required for documents originally issued in another language. Administrative verification of the academic qualification's eligibility for PhD admission at University of Milan:M.Sc. degree (i.e. 2° level title), issued by an officially recognized academic institution, which grants admission in PhD programmes in the country of issuance. In order to evaluate the University career, the candidate should provide:

-Official Transcript of Records

-Master's degree OR official university document stating provisional date of graduation (if not graduated yet)

-Official Transcript of Records

The relevant university shall issue the documents. Documents issued in Italian or English, are accepted. If the documents are written in other languages, please upload both the original version AND the official translation in Italian or English and attach the merged document.

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Additional Information

Benefits and Training

• Each DC will be employed on a 36-month full-time contract and will undertake secondments at other UNLIMITED beneficiaries and/or associated partners, in accordance with the MSCA DN mobility requirements and the training objectives. The program will provide an attractive salary in line with MSCA regulations ( ). All DCs will benefit from a rich program of local and network-wide training activities covering scientific, technical, transferable, and entrepreneurial skills.

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must be Doctoral Candidates, i.e., at the date of recruitment, not already in possession of a doctoral degree. A Master’s degree (or University Diploma) in a field relevant to the position (e.g. Medicine, Pharmacy, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Biology ) is required.

Selection process

In case the number of applications exceeds the number of available positions, shortlisted candidates will first be selected based on the fit of their curriculum vita and research interests with the chosen research project(s). These shortlisted candidates will then be invited for an interview, which will take place during a dedicated on-site recruitment event on 22-24/04/2026 (or online). For candidates who are unable to travel due to logistical or other valid reasons, a hybrid interview option will be made available. Final positions will be offered following approval by the UNLIMITED Recruitment Committee. Any application costs cannot be reimbursed.

Applicants who apply for more than one individual research topic are requested to indicate their order of preference (e.g. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choice) in their motivation letter.

The hosting institution is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation.

Additional comments

The University of Milan (La Statale) is a leading public research university known for its multidisciplinary academic offer and strong international profile. Its mission is to advance knowledge through high-quality research and education while promoting accessibility, inclusivity, and social responsibility. As the only Italian member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU) , it supports excellence, innovation, and open scientific collaboration. The University is committed to sustainability, public engagement, and the dissemination of knowledge through its “Third Mission”.

Within this framework, the Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences (DiSFeB) conducts cutting-edge research on molecular and cellular mechanisms, therapeutic targets, biomarkers, and the pharmacological and toxicological properties of bioactive substances. It hosts a multidisciplinary PhD program and fosters collaborations with clinical, academic, and industrial partners, contributing to advancements in pharmacology, translational research, and public health.

#J-18808-Ljbffr