PRR Project

Summary

Scientific profile and tasks to be assigned :The Assistant Professor to be hired will be a versatile cellular and molecular biologist engaged in cutting-edge research and with a focus on Neuroscience, Metabolism, Infection, Immunology, Cardiology, Cancer or the development of Advanced Therapies (regenerative, gene-based, etc). The successful candidate must show proven ability to integrate advanced molecular techniques (e.g. genetic models, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, single cell analysis, high-throughput omics), innovative cellular models (e.g. advanced cell culture systems; human-derived cells or organoid systems, differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells), and sophisticated functional readouts (e.g. advanced imaging, biophysical methods, etc) to unravel complex biological mechanisms. The scientist to be hired must show capacity to secure funding to support research, and to promote a dynamic research line, contributing to innovative projects. International collaborations with clinicians, geneticists, bioinformaticians and other researchers with complementary expertise will be appreciated. Rationale for the need, relevance of the scientific profile in the context of the state-of-the-art and involved institutions :The overarching commitment of CIBB researchers is to i) advancing knowledge in Metabolism, Neuroscience, Infection and Ageing, ii) characterizing mechanisms of disease and identifying new therapeutic targets, and iii) developing innovative therapies based on newly identified therapeutic targets and ingenious technological approaches. The need of a Cellular and Molecular Biology position is justified by the significant advances in the last decade in i) gene editing technologies, such as the CRISPR-Cas9 technology and others, that allow gene manipulation and generation of sophisticated genetic models; ii) high-throughput omics technologies (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics), and in the development of bioinformatics tools for data analysis; iii) single cell analysis and spatial transcriptomics, which provide insight into cellular heterogeneity; iv) understanding organelle biology, with implications in aging and diseases; v) advanced methods (imaging, biophysical, others) to measure physiological outcomes; vi) stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, allowing the use of human models, including induced pluripotent stem cells, organoid culture systems, and the differentiation of stem cells into specific cell types. These advances will propel research in the biomedical field in the decade to come, justifying the investment of CIBB in a molecular and cellular biologist with this type of know-how, who can contribute to the thematic lines at CIBB.Cellular and Molecular Biology is one of the scientific areas of the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Coimbra, through its Life Sciences Department. With the appointment of an Assistant Professor in Cellular and Molecular Biology, the department will strengthen this scientific area through fostering research that is driven by the application of a combination of state-of-the art molecular approaches with advanced cellular systems and sophisticated functional readouts. The combination of these approaches represents the forefront of discovery in scientific areas that are crucial for the Faculty of Sciences and Technology, which will leverage the expertise of such a researcher not only to advance research but also to mentor and train the next generation of biochemists and biologists.