PRR Project

Summary

Job descriptionThe senior scientist will integrate a multidisciplinary team that focuses on accelerating the path of drug discovery and validation, following a target approach and utilizing cutting-edge techniques in functional genomics, proteomics, and DNA-based biosensors, to identify and characterize novel targets. The focus of the position will be specifically on the anti-biofouling field, developing and implementing innovative research strategies and technologies in vitro, and in vivo , using adults and early life stages of marine hard-fouling macroorganisms and their adhesive proteins, including barnacles. The toxicological and ecotoxicological study of the compounds discovered, and of the laboratory practices undertaken, will also be under the responsibility of the hired scientist. Since at CIIMAR we are committed to making our laboratories more sustainable, the researcher will have the responsibility of adapting the laboratory techniques, to alternative ones that use less energy, produce less waste, and use less environmentally deleterious solvents and compounds, in general. ??????? Scientific profilePhD in Biological Sciences, or related degree, with a minimum of 15 years of relevant research work experience.Ten or more years of drug discovery and toxicology experience in a biotechnology or toxicology laboratory is strongly preferred.Extensive experience in applying in vivo and in vitro assays for high-throughput screens of compound libraries.Experience with the use of molecular sensors, namely aptasensors and transactivation vectors, in bioassays to guide drug discovery.Expertise in molecular biology, and advanced genomic and proteomic techniques applied to adhesive marine organisms.Experience with green chemistry techniques and demonstrated concern with the implementation of more sustainable laboratory practices.Experience in writing applications to obtain funding, with approved projects and funding raised.Experience as Principal Investigator in projects.Demonstrated track record of scientific publications as principal investigator, and an h index >20.Demonstrated patented work.Experience in supervising students and younger post-doctoral researchers.Excellent written and oral communication skills. RationaleCIIMAR is a leading research and advanced training institution of the University of Porto, working at the frontier of Ocean Knowledge and Innovation. Fostering sustainable sea resources exploration, CIIMAR uses knowledge-based approaches to promote the natural capital and the sustained management of marine resources through monitoring of ecosystems’ health, optimization of aquaculture, and biotechnological exploitation of the resources for environmental and human health applications. Bridging knowledge and industry, CIIMAR provides innovative solutions and products responding to current economic and societal challenges, including new drugs and marine products for industrial and medicinal needs, water quality, sustainable fisheries, preparedness for and mitigation of oil spills and other emergent contaminants, environmental monitoring and risk assessment, preservation of ecosystems services, ocean and coastal management and Ocean Literacy.Among these challenges, the Blue Biotechnology research line, whose topics include the investigation of the richness of Ocean resources for the discovery and characterization of new bioactive compounds with ecological, pharmaceutical, or other industrial applications. The study of emerging toxins, the development of biosensors for early detection systems, and the development of bioremediation and phytoremediation tools for ecosystem recovery are other main goals of this research line.The hiring of an experienced senior researcher, with a permanent contract, to perform biofouling / anti-biofouling research, mastering molecular biology techniques to produce DNA-biosensors to use on environmental biotechnology, study adhesive proteins, aquatic toxins, and perform drug discovery, will contribute to the consolidation of the Blue Biotechnology research line.