PRR Project

Summary

LAQV-REQUIMTE seeks a person with clear and strong research visions, educational, administrative and  collaborative skills. who will be a potential research leader as well as a scientific leader in food chemistry, particularly, food contaminants research addressing key questions concerning their effects on human health.Key tasks include the development of an independent research line focused on application and/or methods development that assure food safety with respect to regulated and emergent chemical contaminants, understand their behavior along the gastrointestinal tract, their absorption mechanisms, and potential effects in mixtures The successful applicant will be part of the team that is responsible for planning complex cell culture experiments using in vitro digestion assays coupled to human cell-based absorption models and molecular biology techniques. An important part of the tasks is to provide training for (PhD)-students and Post Docs and the management of the facilities and equipment..  The successful applicant must be able to supervise Master and PhD students and to teach at all levels.Key responsibilities include:The principal researcher is expected to establish an independent and internationally recognized research profile in Food Contaminants research addressing key questions concerning their effects on human health.Follow developments within the subject area and the development of society in general that is important for the work at REQUIMTE.Contribute to the supervision of second- and third-cycle students.We expect the successful candidate to value and participate in the general academic work at the LAQV research group located at Faculty of Pharmacy of University of Porto .Contribute to the LAQV funding by actively pursuing national and international applications to project calls.Scientific Profile: The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications and attributes:Ph.D. in Nutrition and Food Chemistry or in a related field with five or more years of relevant post-doc experience..Research Expertise and professional skills relevant to the content of the job description and the tasks included in the employment.Proficiency in the use of high-throughput gastrointestinal models for the simulation of human digestion including static and semi-dynamic systems.Proficiency in utilizing advanced cell culture techniques for the in vitro study of intestinal absorption, including the dynamics and interactions of toxicants with the intestinal epithelium in co-culture systems by assessing biochemical markers expression and epithelial barrier integrity.An interest in new developments and standardization of physiologically relevant intestinal models of absorption in vitro.Experience in the use of molecular biology techniques (qPCR/HRMA/sequencing) to evaluate the effects of contaminants at the gene expression level.Experience in chromatography analysis (HPLC-DAD/LC-MS/GC-MS) for compounds determination in food matrices/simulated fluids.Expertise in the evaluation of toxic mixture effects (synergisms/antagonisms) from the exposure to co-occurring toxicants.Pedagogical skills relevant to the LAQV research group, namely concerning the supervision of students and the provision of advanced training.Strong publication record in reputable scientific journals, demonstrating the ability to contribute novel insights to the field.Excellent communication and collaboration skills and the ability to work effectively in a team environment.Rationale: The recruitment of an Principal Researcher in the field of Food Science with expertise in Food Contaminants studies aligns with our institution´s strategic goals in advancing research in Food Science and Technology. The emphasis in the comprehensive investigation Food Contaminants effects on human health, is justified to reinforce our team of researchers that focus on fundamental and curiosity driven research while addressing important research topics in close collaboration with the agro-food industry, regulatory entities and societal bodies. The expertise of the successful candidate will significantly contribute to ongoing research projects dealing with Food Compounds research assured by a multidisciplinary team including chemical analysis specialists (HPLC-DAD/LC-MS/GC-MS), molecular and cellular biologists, and experts in human digestion and absorption. The successful candidate will strengthen our institutional capabilities in these critical areas. The appointed Researcher will join the research unit of  Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry (LAQV) at Faculty of Pharmacy of University of Porto. The research topic is also in alignment with LAQV scientific strategy. This position reflects our commitment to staying at the forefront of scientific discovery and making meaningful and innovative contributions to the field of Food Science.