PRR Project

Summary

Job descriptionThe Assistant Researcher will be responsible for:i) carrying out research activities in tropical medicine regularly, as well as all other research and development activities in other scientific and technical areas within the mission of the Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine of the NOVA University of Lisbon (IHMT/NOVA) and its RD&I Centre for Global Health and Tropical Diseases,ii) collaborating with research and development programs in the field of tropical medicine to be submitted for funding, and in their translation and implementation into funded projects and publications,iii) assisting with the submission and implementation of research and development projects in the disciplinary areas of IHMT/NOVA, with a focus on Tropical Medicine, Tropical Health, and Traveler Medicine,iv) developing training activities and supervising clinical and biomedical research carried out by fellows, research trainees, and research assistants,v) participating in the training and capacity-building programs of the Institution, in the Portuguese Community in the field of tropical medicine and clinics,vi) offering teaching within the limits established by law and assigned by the Scientific Council of IHMT/NOVA. Scientific ProfileThe general requirements for applying for this profile are as follows:a) Hold a doctorate in medical, biomedical, or biological sciences and have a relevant scientific curriculum in the field.The specific requirements are:a) Documented research experience in the areas of tropical medicine, with emphasis on infectious and parasitic diseases, and travelers’ health.b) A degree in medicine or medical sciences validated in Portugal, is highly desirable.c) Documented medical and biomedical experience in tropical medicine in Portuguese-speaking countries, with a focus on infectious and parasitic diseases, and/or in travelers’ health. RationaleThe Assistant Researcher to be hired by IHMT/NOVA is expected to integrate the clinical epidemiology research program within the Clinical Tropical Medicine (CTM) group of GHTM at IHMT/NOVA. Created in 2018 as one of the 4 research groups of GHTM, CTM has the overall goal of performing translational and implementation research on malaria and neglected tropical diseases, travelers’ health, and migrant health in Portugal, the EU, African countries, and Brazil.Founded in 1902 as the School of Tropical Medicine, IHMT/NOVA has since been at the forefront of clinical and epidemiologic research on tropical diseases in Portugal. IHMT/NOVA’s research and capacity-building activities have traditionally focused on Portuguese-speaking African countries (Portuguese acronym, PALOPs; Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cabo Verde, and São Tomé and Príncipe) and a vast network of research partnerships with institutions from the PALOPs has been built over the past decades. IHMT/NOVA has more recently leveraged its research partnerships and networking within Latin America and established strong and productive links and formal research and collaboration agreements with major local academic institutions such as the Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz) and the University of São Paulo in Brazil.Since 2015 IHMT/NOVA has hosted the Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM) research center, whose mission is to generate knowledge on GHTP, develop tools, and strengthen health systems through excellence in research, training, and systems implementation. Research on Tropical medicine focuses on studying both infectious and non-infectious diseases prevalent in tropical regions, aiming at understanding their unique factors and improving outcomes, as well as the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and control of malaria and other febrile illnesses in the tropics. Child and reproductive health of vulnerable populations, including migrants and residents in the least developed countries, and the prevention and clinical management of travel-associated health conditions is also one of the main focus of this profile, totally aligned with the objectives and mission of the GHTM Research Group for Clinical Tropical Medicine (CTM) in particular and co-related with the other two research groups - Pathogen Resistance, Infection and Molecular Epidemiology (PRIME) and Vector-Borne Diseases (VBD). This Assistant Researcher in Tropical Medicine with expertise on infectious and parasitic diseases and travelers’ health, aligns with the institution´s strategic goals in advancing research and education, staying at the forefront of scientific discovery, and making meaningful contributions to the field of Tropical Medicine and Global Health. The emphasis on travelers’ health addresses the growing demand for advancements in healthcare and therapeutic applications for travelers and migrants and the successful candidate will contribute to the institution´s reputation for excellence in research and education while fostering collaborations with healthcare institutions and hospital partners.