PRR Project

Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Assistant Researcher to contribute to research activities within the Food and Nutrition Line of the Research Centre (CBQF), specifically within the Food Microbiology group. This group focuses on food safety and quality, including the adaptation, survival, and virulence of microorganisms to stresses imposed by the food supply chain, microbial ecology studies, biological control strategies, and the impact of microbial metabolites. As a member of this team, the Assistant Researcher will be involved in developing and executing innovative research projects and will take a leading role in the development of antimicrobial strategies - biological control – aiming to reduce the use of conventional preservatives or chemical synthesis in foods, in alignment with the European Commission´s Farm to Fork Strategy to promote sustainable food production in the transition to environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable food systems.It is expected that the Assistant Researcher will foster the development of this strategic research area in the Food Microbiology group, taking advantage of groundbreaking advances in the understanding of microbiomes and the potential for biological control innovations in the food system resulting from microbiome data, as well as significant advances in sequencing, genomics, and other “-omics” technologies. The potential that biological control innovation has in terms of addressing challenges and opportunities within the food system, including the use of microbiome-based tools and solutions to improve the microbial quality and safety of perishable foods to address food waste, will be explored, as microbiome research has thus far not been able to realize this. This dual benefit of microbiome-based solutions - improving food safety and extending shelf-life while reducing reliance on synthetic chemical preservatives - contributes to the broader objective of the Food and Nutrition research line to promote sustainable and healthy food systems in line with the goals of the 2030 Agenda, and to the CBQF´s mission to develop and disseminate knowledge and innovations with a significant impact on human health, well-being and the economy.The Assistant Researcher will also take a lead role in applying for competitive grants or research funding, develop links with relevant stakeholders for collaborative research, write scientific papers/presentations for scientific and professional meetings, assist in communicating research findings, and train and supervise young researchers.Profile:Doctoral degree in Biotechnology, Microbiology, Food Science, or related areas.Minimum of 5 years of relevant working experience in the field of food microbiology.Experience in handling pathogenic microorganisms.Supervision of PhD and master students.Participation in national and international research projects, including projects in collaboration with food companies.Relevant track record of scientific publications (H-index not lower than 20).Participation in science communication activities for different target groups.Recognition of scientific merit by international entities.Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams, including partners from the industry.