is a joint Doctoral Network supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) of Horizon Europe, that will recruit and train 10 PhD students in the fields of biophotonics, micromanipulation, machine learning and in vitro diagnostics.   

Using these technologies, they will characterize cells and bioparticles, screening large cellular populations. The ultimate goal is to initiate the development of diagnostics tools, that could be adopted in clinical settings on a large scale. 

 The project brings together research groups, SMEs and large companies in Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Greece, Switzerland, with complementary know-how in high-resolution microscopy, high-precision microfluidics, biotechnologies, and deep-learning, that will facilitate the development of data-driven cells and bioparticle screening. 

 We are looking for 10 candidates with background (Master level) in one of the following fields: physics, engineering, computer science, biotechnology, biomedicine. The consortium includes academic and industrial partners and dedicated training tracks will be identified for each of the 10 candidates, in order to develop their cross disciplinary skills and international networking. 

The participants will take part of an international and transdisciplinary network, in top research centers and industries in Europe, equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, and will benefit of highly competitive salaries.  

The goal of the project is to boost their career in optical engineering, material sciences and micromanufacturing, computer sciences and biotechnologies.  

The PhD students will work together on imaging flow cytometry, an imaging technology that combines the subcellular resolution of optical microscopy with the high-content-screening capability of flow cytometry. 

Several projects will be carried out by the PhD students with the goal to reduce the cost and complexity of imaging flow cytometry, empower it with novel contrast mechanisms, build high-resolution automatic microscopes at the diffraction limit and beyond; develop real-time data processing tools able to detect and recognize the samples, circumventing the need for manual annotation.