PRR Project

Summary

The candidate will be integrated into GRAQ that belongs to the LAQV Research Unit, a unit of REQUIMTE. GRAQ carries out all its activity at ISEP, which constitutes a hub of LAQV. The position includes the Chair established between LAQV and ISEP.GRAQ develops its activity in three main areas: environment, food safety, and health. It is a strong group in Analytical Chemistry, particularly in the development of methodologies ranging from sample preparation to detection techniques. In particular, the development of electrochemical (bio)sensors is a domain of national and international recognition by the scientific community. Therefore, it is intended that the candidate develops all his research activity in the development of analytical methodologies, electrochemical biosensors, and in particular amperometric or voltammetric genosensors for the diagnosis of genetic variations that influence the response to psychotropic drugs associated with diseases of the central nervous system (depression, schizophrenia, epilepsy, and non-metabolic delirium). Because the existing diagnostic methods are invasive, expensive, and time consuming, there is a need to develop analytical tools that allow patients to be prescribed the most correct therapy effectively and quickly. In this aspect, it is necessary to have strong knowledge in the construction of electrochemical genosensors, skills that the candidate must demonstrate.The candidate must also be able to acquire funding by submitting research projects to competitive funding programs and calls, either as a principal researcher or as a team member. It is expected that the candidate will initiate a network of national and international contacts, with academic and non-academic institutions (e.g. Collaborative Laboratories (CoLAB), State Laboratories and Hospitals (e.g., INSA, IPO, CHUP-Santo António, Hospital Magalhães Lemos,...) and companies) and will contribute to increasing the number of existing collaborations in GRAQ. In terms of internationalization, it will be important for the candidate to expand GRAQ’s network, establishing partnerships with renowned research groups whose activity falls within the field of electrochemistry, in particular in the construction of (bio)sensors and health applications (psychological and psychiatric illnesses). Teamwork will be valued, while encouraging autonomy.GRAQ is inserted in an educational institution, so it has duties towards the training of students. Therefore, the researcher must propose themes for master and doctoral projects and be responsible for their guidance/supervision.Another important dimension is the dissemination of Science and of the institutions involved in this contract through participation in actions such as those already underway at GRAQ (Open Days, Introductory Course on Scientific Research, Ciência Viva,…) or organizing new events, aimed at ISEP’s students, external students, professionals, and the general public.Regarding management activities, the candidate may become part of ISEP’s management structure and must assume management responsibilities in GRAQ, and be a participating member of the community, with respect for ethical and moral values.The evaluation of the candidate´s merit will focus on the scientific curriculum in its different dimensions and on an activity plan that the candidate intends to develop during the next six years as a Researcher. In the activity plan, the candidate must frame the intended future research, contextualizing the state of the art and the research strategies to adopt.The approval on absolute merit of candidates depends on the possession of an overall scientific curriculum that the jury considers to have scientific merit, research capacity and quality of the activities carried out, compatible with the scientific area for which the position is open and appropriate to the respective Research category. The candidate must also have experience in mentoring/supervising students.To assess absolute merit, the candidate´s career must meet the following qualitative and quantitative requirements:a) PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Analytical Chemistry specialization, in particular in the development of amperometric and voltammetric genosensors;b) Research member of at least 10 research projects or Principal Investigator of 2 projects, approved and funded in competitive calls;c) At least 65 research articles in Clarivate Web of Science-indexed journals;d) Experience in supervising students, in particular of at least 4 PhD students.Once approved on absolute merit, the evaluation of the candidates will focus on their CV in accordance with the criteria to be established in the Competition Notice and also on the Activity Plan presented by the candidate.