Job ID: 123231

Postdoctoral Research Position in Gut-Microbiota-Brain axis and Applied Microbiology

Position: Post-doctoral Position

Deadline: 31 July 2025

Employment Start Date: 1 October 2025

City: Pavia

Country: Italy

Institution: University of Pavia

Department: Department of Drug Sciences

Description:

The GUT–BRAIN Axis Research in Pharmacology and Toxicology (GBA-PharmaTox) Lab, directed by Prof. Adriano Lama, is seeking a postdoctoral research fellow to join the PROPLA project, funded by the Italian Science Fund (FIS 2) – a prestigious and competitive nationalprogram, comparable to the European ERC Grants.

The GBA-PharmaTox Lab is a growing research unit within the Department of Drug Sciences at the University of Pavia, with the ambition of establishing an international reputation through high-impact scientific output. The lab was founded with FIS 2 funding and aims to develop interdisciplinary research along the gut-brain axis, integrating pharmacology, neuroscience, toxicology, and microbiology. The project focuses on studying the effects of nanoplastics along the gut-brain axis, with particular attention to changes in the composition and function of the murine gut microbiota and the evaluation of targeted probiotic or pharmacological interventions.

Candidate Profile

We are looking for a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher with strong expertise in applied microbiology, bacterial culture techniques, murine gut microbiota analysis (e.g., 16S rRNA sequencing, qPCR, metagenomics), and a strong interest in gut microbiology in a preclinical context. The researcher will be involved in experimental activities aimed at characterizing nanoplastic-induced dysbiosis and testing probiotic or pharmacological strategies.

Main Tasks

• Preparation and administration of probiotic formulations

• Collection and analysis of murine biological samples (intestinal tissues)

• Microbiota analysis (16S rRNA sequencing, qPCR, bioinformatic analysis)

• Management and analysis of complex NGS datasets

• Collaboration with behavioral and biochemical units

• Supervision and mentoring of students (undergraduate, PhD)

Requirements

• PhD in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Biomedical Sciences or related fields

• Documented experience in microbiological techniques and microbiota analysis

• Experience in NGS data analysis and interpretation.

• Availability and motivation to work with animal models

• Basic knowledge in pharmacology or toxicology is a plus

• Good communication skills and team-working attitude

Offer

• A stimulating research environment at the University of Pavia

• Access to advanced platforms for microbiological, molecular, and preclinical analysis

• Involvement in a competitive, interdisciplinary, and well-funded project (FIS 2 – PROPLA)

• Contract duration, role, and salary will be determined based on the candidate’s experience, according to the regulations of the University of Pavia

• Expected starting date: October 2025

Application Procedure

Please send a single PDF file to adriano.lama@unina.it by July 31, 2025, with the subject line “Application Postdoc – PROPLA”, including:

• Curriculum vitae with publication list

• Motivation letter detailing experience in microbiology/microbiota

• Contact information of two academic referees

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.