PRR Project

Summary

RATIONALE FOR THE NEED TO HIRE THIS CHAIRAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the foremost global public health threats, having been directly responsible for 1.27 million global deaths in 2019 and an estimated indirect contribution to 4.95 million deaths. The global alarm is evident; in 2019, the WHO declared AMR among the top 10 global public health threats, while in July 2022, the European Comission and the Member States, identified AMR as one of the top three priority health threats. AMR’s spread does not recognize country borders, affecting all regions across all income levels. Projections indicate that, by 2050, there will be more deaths by drug-resistant bacterial infections than by cancer, potentially imposing a staggering cost of up to USD 100 trillion on the world economy. AMR jeopardizes many gains in modern medicine, considering the high incidence in surgical procedures and medical device utilization. Central to AMR’s challenge is bacterial biofilm formation. When growing in the biofilm phenotype, bacteria´s preferred mode of growth, they exhibit increased tolerance to antibiotics, promoting recalcitrance and persistence and, thus, complicating treatment. Moreover, during the years of co-evolution, bacteria within biofilms have developed strategies to overcome the host immune response, complicating the clearance of the bacteria and the resolution of infection. Despite several advances in developing alternative therapeutic strategies, antibiotics remain the primary form of treatment. However, considering the lack of effectiveness of current antibiotics, it is expected that the infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria will continue to escalate significantly. In response to this urgent global issue, CEB proposes 4 research positions that address distinct strategies to tackle the complexity of AMR. In this scientific profile, CEB aims to invest in a position focused on fundamental research to deepen our knowledge regarding the mechanisms used by bacteria to evade antibiotics and other antimicrobial therapeutics, as well as the host immune system response.SCIENTIFIC PROFILE REQUIREDThe ideal candidate should have a PhD in molecular biology, biomedical engineering or biotechnology, with a background in bacterial physiology, molecular and cellular biology, as well as in bacteria-host cell interaction. A strong proven track record, demonstrating high quality research in this field, will be highly valued. Experience in doctoral supervision, management of research projects, and participation in outreach events will also be valued.TASKS TO BE ASSIGNED TO THE PROSPECTIVE RESEARCHERThe candidate to be recruited will be required to conduct original research focused on the identification of the regulatory networks behind key pathogens associated with increased antimicrobial resistance/tolerance and biofilm formation, aiming to provide solutions for the AMR worldwide issue. It is expected a solid contribution to the body of knowledge in this field, as assessed through scientific publications and/or patents.The selected candidate will also be required to be actively involved in grant proposal development, by participating in large R&D projects submission and also to secure his/her research projects, as principal investigator. As such, project management will be a pivotal duty of this Chair.Recruiting undergraduate students will also be pivotal for the successful development of this Chair. As such, formal supervision duties for both MSc and PhD students will be required.The selected candidate will also be encouraged to establish and develop new collaborative networks with both national and international researchers, that can complement the ongoing efforts related to AMR. In line with this duty, it is expected that the Chair will participate in international events.The chosen candidate will also be required to participate in CEB outreach events and will be given the liberty to propose and organize novel outreach events. Furthermore, the candidate will also be stimulated to participate in the governance of CEB, as an active member of its scientific council, and will be encouraged to engage in specialized governing committees.