PRR Project

Summary

Job descriptionWe are seeking a motivated and skilled Assistant Researcher in the field of Neurosciences with a specific focus on neurodegenerative diseases and mitochondria to join to UCIBIO Mitochondria and Neurobiology Lab located at University of Porto–Faculty of Pharmacy (FFUP). The prospective employee will investigate the role of mitochondria in the aging process and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as developing new disease models and therapeutic strategies to alleviate mitochondrial dysfunction.Briefly, the prospective employee will have the following responsibilities:Write funding applications aimed at securing funding to investigate new therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative and mitochondrial diseases.Stay current with the latest knowledge and techniques in Neurosciences and mitochondrial physiology.Develop new disease models and techniques to study mitochondrial function and neurodegeneration.Plan, conduct experiments (e.g., in vitro and in vivo assays, microscopy, molecular biology) and analyze data in order to:Investigate mitochondrial dysfunction in the aging process and neurodegenerative diseases.Test the impact of modulating mitochondrial dynamics on mitochondria remodeling in aging and in neurodegeneration.Identify new therapeutic targets to attenuate mitochondrial dysfunction and neurodegeneration.Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to study mitochondria role on aging/ neurodegeneration.Disseminate new research findings through high-impact publications and scientific presentations.Participate in the training of young researchers by supervising undergraduate, master, and PhD students.Organize and participate in outreach activities and scientific meetings.Maintain records and participate in the laboratory management. Scientific profile:The ideal candidate should possess the following qualifications and attributes:PhD degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences or in a related field.Extensive background in Neurosciences and Mitochondria, evidenced by robust publications in these fields.Successful history of securing competitive funding as a principal investigator.Proven ability to design and implement experiments involving molecular biology and microscopy, as demonstrated by first-author publications utilizing these methodologies.Experience working with both cell culture systems and in vivo models, including proficiency in handling rodent and zebrafish models.Sound knowledge and practical experience in imaging and data analysis, including in statistical analysis.Scientific autonomy, with the ability to drive research projects, as evidenced by publications as corresponding author.Proven ability to work within interdisciplinary research teams.Strong oral communication abilities, promoting dissemination of research findings through presentations in seminars or conferences.Capacity to mentor and supervise students and other young researchers, as well as experience in teaching activities.Ability to organize scientific events.Self-motivated and proactive in promoting a collaborative and supportive work environment. RationaleThe UCIBIO mission is divided into 4 thematic lines, and the prospective employee will conduct investigations addressing 2 of them: “Biological and Biomolecular Interactions” and “Diagnostics, Drug Discovery and Development”, which aim to understand the biomolecular mechanisms crucial for cellular pathophysiology and to find innovative therapies for currently incurable diseases, respectively. The prospective employee will address mechanistically and therapeutically the involvement of mitochondria in major societal concerns: aging and neurodegenerative disorders.According to the World Health Organization, life expectancy increased by more than 6 years between 2000 and 2019, and this trend is expected to continue due to improved living conditions, raising concerns about aging-related diseases and the associated economic costs. During aging, there is a progressive accumulation of mutations in the mitochondrial DNA and a decline in mitochondrial activity, disturbing cell functioning. However, several important questions need to be answered to mechanistically clarify the connection between aging/aging-related diseases and mitochondrial homeostasis, thereby identifying strategies to target mitochondrial dysfunction. Namely, how mutations affect mitochondrial DNA structure/organization and how this impacts the aging; also, how aging affects signaling between mitochondria and other cellular compartments, and how can we promote mitochondrial health (PMID: 37118378).Regarding FFUP, it aims to combine teaching with excellence in scientific research oriented towards the needs of society, as this proposal aims to do. Moreover, research performed by the prospective employee will contribute to the advance of “Pharmacology and Pharmacy” and “Biochemistry and Molecular Biology”, which are some of main research areas of interest of FFUP.