Open positions

The Molecular Ecology Group at IRSA Verbania | Open positions

manylakes2 Microbes are the most diverse and abundant organisms on Earth. Their role is fundamental for a number of important ecosystem functions, including carbon degradation, nutrient cycling and trace gas flux. Thanks to their peculiar features like high reproductive rates, large population densities, and adaptability to environmental stressors, they are ideal model organisms to study and implement the general ecological theory, and thus to understand nature.

At the MEG in Verbania we study a number of different topics related to the role of microbes mainly in waters, but also in other environments. We carry out researches in the field (in Europe, Patagonia, Mexico, Antarctica, Azores, Tahiti, China, Black Sea, and Himalaya Mountains), but we also work on epidemiological studies on humans and animals, and we develop experimental model systems in our labs. A number of national and international cooperations are active within the MEG ans other institutes in order to promote mobility of students and scientists and perform shared researches.

The MEG's main goal is to merge common knowledge and activities within the different groups of the CNR dealing with microbial ecology, in order to develop in a "diffuse" lab all over Italy.

Open positions (PhDs, Postdocs)

We have 1 open position

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1 post-graduate position open at the MEG (CNR-IRSA) Verbania:
Deadline for application: early May, 2024 (the exact date will be published soon)

Length of the contract: 12 months

Starting date: late spring 2024

Project title: PNRR - Analysis of the pathobiome and of bacterial community composition in coastal Adriatic waters

Call description: The project aims to assess the impact of stresses of anthropogenic origin on the fate of allochthonous bacteria of clinical interest (potential pathogens, antibiotic resistant bacteria) in coastal Adriatic waters, in the context of global warming. The approach to the study requires sampling, lab based work (DNA extraction, PCR amplification, RT-PCR quantification of antibiotic resistance genes and of other specific markers), genomic and metagenomic analyses of the bacterial communities. Part of the work will be performed at the CNR-IRBIM in Ancona, partner of the project.

Supervisors: Gianluca Corno (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), Andrea Di Cesare (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

A summary of documents that needs to be provided is listed below:
- a CV in PDF format.
Important #1: The CV has to be signed!
Important #2: The CV should list all elements useful for the evaluation (NOT a Narrative/Descriptive CV). Please include specific dates/duration for each of your experience.
- A valid ID (e.g., passport)

Selection procedure: Selected candidates (based on the evaluation of the CV) will be invited for an interview, either in-person or online.

Recently closed positions (PhDs, Postdocs)

2 post-doc positions open at the MEG (CNR-IRSA) Verbania:
Deadline for application: March 29th, 2024

Length of the contract: 20 months (with the possibility of extension) – 2 positions available

Project title: BIODIVERSA+ FUNACTION - Aquatic fungal biodiversity: developing knowledge and strategies to inform conservation priorities and measures

Project webpage: https://funaction.eu/

Call description (unfortunately in Italian, I translated key info for applying below) here

Referent: Laura Garzoli This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Criteria for selection: Bachelor's and/or MD in one of the following sectors (Natural Sciences, Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Geological Sciences, Forestry Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Computer Science, Mathematics, Environmental and Territorial Engineering, Computer Engineering, Biotechnology) and a Ph.D. title (with a minimum three-year duration); experience in the field specified in Article 1 and 3 of the scholarship, declared according to the procedures outlined in Article 4. We are looking for candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas: microfungal taxonomy, microbiology, characterization of fungal molecules and enzymes, data analyses (amplicon and shotgun sequencing). Candidates should be proficient in the English language; for foreign candidates, basic knowledge of the Italian language is appreciated.

Application procedure: Italian applicants should send the documents by means of certificate mail (PEC) at the mail address indicated in the call. Foreign applicants should send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Subject of the email must contain “IRSA AdR 09-2024 VB”
Read carefully all the instruction and compile the format (“ALLEGATO A”) available in the call document.
A summary of documents that needs to be provided is listed below:
- a CV in PDF format.
Important #1: The CV has to be signed!
Important #2: The CV should list all elements useful for the evaluation (NOT a Narrative/Descriptive CV). Please include specific dates for each of your experience.
- A valid ID (e.g., passport)
- Annex A, B, and C, which are found at the link of the call

Unfortunately, Annex A–C are in Italian. If you don’t understand, you can try with ChatGPT or Google translator or ask me :-)

Selection procedure: Selected candidates (based on the evaluation of the CV) will be invited for an interview, either in-person or online.

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Post-doc positions open at the MEG (CNR-IRSA) Verbania:
Deadline for application: March 22th, 2024

Length of the contract: 20 months (with the possibility of extension)

Project title: DarCo – The vertical dimension of conservation: A cost-effective plan to incorporate subterranean ecosystems in post-2020 biodiversity and climate change agendas

Project webpage: http://www.meg.irsa.cnr.it/index.php/component/content/article?id=105

Call description (unfortunately in Italian, translated key info for applying below) here

Referent: Stefano Mammola This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Criteria for selection: Bachelor's and/or MD in one of the following sectors (Natural Sciences, Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Geological Sciences, Forestry Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Computer Science, Mathematics, Environmental and Territorial Engineering, Computer Engineering, Biotechnology) and a Ph.D. title (with a minimum three-year duration); experience in the field specified in Article 1 of the scholarship, declared according to the procedures outlined in Article 4. We are looking for candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas: ecological modeling; spatial analysis in G.I.S.; programming in R; research activities in subterranean environments; research on cave invertebrates and vertebrates (e.g., sampling, identification, application of biotic indices related to the entire community or individual taxa). Candidates should be proficient in the English language; for foreign candidates, basic knowledge of the Italian language is appreciated.

Application procedure: Italian applicants should send the documents by means of certificate mail (PEC) at the mail address indicated in the call. Foreign applicants should send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Subject of the email must contain “IRSA AdR 08-2024 VB”
Read carefully all the instruction and compile the format (“ALLEGATO A”) available in the call document.
A summary of documents that needs to be provided is listed below:
- a CV in PDF format.
Important #1: The CV has to be signed!
Important #2: The CV should list all elements useful for the evaluation (NOT a Narrative/Descriptive CV). Please include specific dates for each of your experience.
- A valid ID (e.g., passport)
- Annex A, B, and C, which are found at the link of the call

Unfortunately, Annex A–C are in Italian. If you don’t understand, you can try with ChatGPT or Google translator or ask me :-)

Selection procedure: Selected candidates (based on the evaluation of the CV) will be invited for an interview, either in-person or online.

Running Master Projects in Microbial Ecology and in Water Microbiology

We usually follow 4-8 national and international Master Students at the same time. Right now there are no specific open projects, but if you are interested in performing your Master at the MEG, please contact us (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Our institute is located in Verbania, which is in Italy close to the Swiss border. Our group communicates in English, Italian, Spanish, and German (but to work here it is enough if you can speak a good English). We are flexible considering Master starting dates. We require 9-12 months in the lab to ensure a master at the highest quality standard. There is the possibility to be hosted in our student house (shared kitchen and bathroom). Moreover, you can stay affiliated with your home university since we are a research institute.

If you are interested in working with us, if you would like to apply for a Master or PhD thesis, or if you are simply interested in a short stay in Verbania to visit our labs please write us at the address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.