It is open a call for one research Scholarship, within the project “User‐friendly model to simulate single and multi‐component biomacromolecule adsorption onto ion‐exchange and hydrophobic interaction supports ” (PTDC/EBB‐BIO/113576/2009), financed by national funds through the FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) and co‐funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through COMPETE – operational program Competitiveness factors (POFC).
Scientific area: Biotechnology
Admission requirements: Applications are invited from enthusiastic researchers with a Master degree in Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Biomedical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry or related areas. The ideal candidate for the position should have expertise in preparative chromatography, flow microcalorimetry, protein and recombinant DNA technologies. Very good or excellent knowledge of spoken and written English is required.
Work plan: Preparative chromatography has to be developed as a technique in its own right and not as the empirical extrapolation of analytical chromatography. However, this maturity will be only reached when it is possible to model and predict its operation for any range of product concentrations and especially in mass overloaded conditions, as under such operating conditions its best productivity will be achieved. Considering the team expertise area, the addressed problem will be analyzed for ion exchange chromatography (IEC) and hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC). Equilibrium behavior under overloaded conditions is poorly understood for IEC, HIC and all other modes of chromatography. Some modeling efforts have been attempted by different groups but none were satisfactory. However, good results have been obtained, by some elements of our team, with the modified colloidal model applied to anion exchange adsorption. Therefore, the overall goal of this research is to extend the application of this model to HI adsorbents and other type of IE systems, and based on the obtained results the prediction of multicomponent biomolecule isotherms. It is also our intention to apply the modeling results to a biomolecule for therapeutic applications. The knowledge gained in this effort will also lead to an improved understanding of the adsorptive mechanisms for biomolecules on different types of adsorbents. Flow microcalorimetry will be extensively used to study the non‐ideal interactions under overloaded conditions, as previous studies have underscore the importance of calorimetry as a means to investigate surface phenomena.
The specific goals for the project will be the:
1 – Characterization of modeling parameters in IEC.
2 – Prediction of single component biomolecule isotherms on ion exchange adsorbents.
3 – Simulation of multicomponent isotherms on ion‐exchange adsorbents.
4 – Application and validation of the developed model in the determination of the adsorption isotherms of a biomolecule for therapeutic applications, namely plasmid DNA.
Applicable laws and regulations: law nº. 40/2004 of 18 August 1998 (national status of scientific research fellows); Regulation of advanced training and qualification of human resources in 2010 of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology;
Place of work: The work will be developed at the Health Sciences Research Centre (CICS‐UBI) of University of Beira Interior, in Covilhã, Portugal under the scientific supervision of Prof. Ana Cristina Mendes Dias Cabral.
Scholarship length: The scholarship will have the duration of 6 months, beginning in August 2012. The scholarship contract may be renewed for additional periods up to the project end.
Value of monthly maintenance allowance: € 980,00, according to the table of fellowships values awarded directly by the FCT, I.P. (
http://alfa.fct.mctes.pt/apoios/bolsas/valores). Payments will be made monthly by bank transfer.
Selection Methods: The selection methods to be used will be curricular evaluation (40%), research experience in the project area (40%) and spoken and written English skills (20%).
Selection method:
Final calculation formula (CF): CF = 0,4 x CE + 0,4 X RE 0,2 X E
Curricular evaluation (CE) – Bachelor and Master ECTS grades (40/100 points).
Research experience (RE) ‐ Preparative chromatography, flow microcalorimetry, protein and recombinant DNA technologies, adsorption isotherms (10 points per item, 40/100 points).
English skills (E) – Spoken and written English skills (20 /100 points).
Composition of the selection jury: Applications will be evaluated by a jury composed by Prof. Cristina Dias‐Cabral (President), Prof. Fani Sousa and Prof. Francisco Cascalheira (vowels), and Prof. Manuel Magrinho and Prof. Fernanda Domingues (as substitutes).
Results publicizing/notification form: The evaluation final results will be advertised through an ordered list by final classification, available for consultation on the CICS website and locally at Health Sciences Faculty. The approved candidate will be notified by email.
Application deadline and presentation of applications: The call is open from 1st July until 20th July 2012.
Applications must be formalized by sending an application letter accompanied by the following documents: complete Curriculum Vitae, certificates including bachelor and master transcript of records, letter of motivation, two letters of recommendation and other documents deemed relevant by the applicant.
Applications, indicating BI PTDC/EBB‐BIO/113576/2009 Call, should be sent by e‐mail to Cristina Dias‐Cabral, E‐mail:
ccabral@ubi.pt; OR by mail to the following address:
Universidade da Beira Interior ‐ Centro de investigação em Ciências da Saúde‐CICS
Att. Prof.ª Doutora Cristina Dias‐Cabral
Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde
Av. Infante D. Henrique
6200‐506 Covilhã, Portugal