PRR Project

Summary

The prospective employee will assume the functions of Assistant Researcher at UTAD, performing the following tasks: 1) Conduct research: this task emphasizes the core responsibility of a senior researcher to plan, lead and conduct independent and collaborative research within the specified food biotechnology subarea aligned with the CQ-VR strategy and the “Food Chemistry and Biochemistry” major research line, namely in the development of novel foods, detoxifying technologies, and processes aimed at enhancing safety, nutritional value and quality of foods for a better biopsychosocial management of disorders such as food allergies, intolerances, and auto-immune diseases (e.g. celiac disease); 2) Dissemination of results: ensure, in compliance with their contractual arrangements, that the results of their research are disseminated and exploited through reputable peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations, transferred into other research settings (e.g. patents) or, if appropriate, commercialized, primarily ensuring that the broader scientific community is aware of and can benefit from the research outcomes; 3) National and international collaborations: maintain and establish new national and international interdisciplinary collaborations, promoting a collaborative research environment to address complex research questions and access to other facilities and equipment; 4) Secure funding: developing and submitting grant proposals to secure funding for research initiatives, and engaging with relevant stakeholders, such as pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food and health companies; 5) Mentorship and teaching: the researcher must participate in the supervising of students of different degrees, and teach classes in preferred subjects within the researcher´s area of research or related omics areas, completely aligned with the university´s strategy of knowledge dissemination and academic training.The selected candidate must have a scientific profile showing significant experience that ensures the execution of the tasks described above, presenting: 1) Scientific and professional curriculum well-suited for the intended position. Preference will be given to candidates serving as Assistant Researchers in the relevant scientific area at the time of the position call, and with international experience, such as scientific residencies abroad; 2) A strong record of research achievements (h-index without self-citation > 10), including publications in reputable journals with over 50% in the 1st quartile (>25 in total), directly related to the scientific areas and tasks designated for the position, and with a relevant role in the publication of these results (> 50% as first or corresponding author), patents, conference proceedings and presentations; 3) Success in secure funding through international competitive programs (e.g. FCT’s individual CEEC) and participating in research projects related to the area; 4) Demonstrated expertise in chemo-enzymatic food modifications, chemical characterization and omics technologies, namely mass spectrometry, chromatography, and electrophoresis; 5) Proficiency in rheological analysis employing both imitative and fundamental approaches; 6) Other requirements - teaching and mentoring of students, and outreach (organization of workshops and international congresses), will be valued. Quality, relevance, and impact of main works, alongside traits of motivation, work capacity, and initiative are essential.Food-related immune disorders, spanning allergies, intolerances, and autoimmune conditions, present a global public health challenge with multifaceted impacts, including economic and on quality of life. This position creates an opportunity to explore innovative preventive and therapeutic strategies across a broad spectrum of immune-based disorders. The focus includes addressing nutritional adequacy within dietary restrictions through the development of novel foods and therapies and aims to advance the state-of-the-art in the specified scientific area. This is a key area for UTAD, situated in a region known for significant food sources, including potential allergens such as nuts. Internationally, UTAD´s Food Science and Technology is among its top three areas, according to shanghairanking.com. There is no career researcher (permanent position) with this profile at the institution, and the candidate´s scientific profile complements and enhances the institution´s research agenda. On the other hand, this profile is clearly aligned with one of the most important lines of research at CQ-VR (Food chemistry and Biochemistry), demonstrating collaborative potential and the capacity to develop current and innovative research, providing new technical capabilities particularly in the field of omics technologies, namely proteomics. Also, the profile is aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda´s goal of promoting good health and well-being, by developing new solutions for the food-related immune-based disorders.