Overview
The researcher will work on the structural features that determine the ability of chemicals to activate cellular detoxification pathways mediated by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). INIA (Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology, Madrid).
Program Description
INIA is an autonomous Public Research Organization (OPI) belonging to the Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN) in Spain. The INIA is responsible for the management and coordination of agrifood R&D programs at the national level, as well as of the execution of its own research programs, within the National R&D programs at the national R&D&i Plan or others. At the INIA, the activity of the Department of Environment focuses, among others areas, on Ecotoxicology and Environmental/Ecological Risk Assessment of potentially polluting activities. One important part of the work of the Department consists in the scientific support to the activities of different ministries (Ministry for Environmental and Marine and Rural Affairs). In the Department of Environment, the group EDTC (Endocrine Disruption and Toxicity of Contaminants) is interested in the particular mechanisms by which some toxics cause specific toxicity. The main tools used by the group are based on in vitro culture of some fish cells and cell lines. The knowledge obtained in the laboratory is applied to the detection of contaminants in the field and to the environmental risk assessment of chemicals.
Job description:
Although it has been assumed that AhR activators share some structural features (they show planar, polycyclic, polyaromatic molecules) in the last years it has been observed that AhR can be activated by a number of chemicals with different structural properties probably through alternative mechanisms than direct ligand-binding. The main objective of this work will be to establish the molecular structural features that determine the ability of chemicals to activate the receptor. For that, the induction of AhR by selected compounds will be studied in cell lines originated from different taxonomic groups, although most of them will be piscine cell lines. The induction of AhR will be evidenced by measuring the expression of dependent genes at the transcriptional level by means of real time PCR. The protein products and related enzyme activities will be also measured. Insights in the mechanism of activation of the AhR will be obtained by co-exposure of the cells with different AhR activators and inhibitors or by using subcellular fractions (S9) to observe metabolism. The molecular structural features of chemicals will be studied by means of ab initio computational calculations and the values of the different descriptors will be related with the results obtained in vitro using different approaches, from simple mathematical models to even neural networks.
Research Field
Biological sciences - Biology
Job Requirements:
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate, with capabilities to work independently but in an interdisciplinary and international environment. Education in Biology, Biochemistry or related fields will be necessary and knowledge of Molecular Biology techniques desirable. Exchange with other laboratories is foreseen, so that the candidate should be willing to pass part of his/her time outside of INIA.
Applicants are expected to have a university degree (MSc), ideally a PhD and must be in the first five years of their career in research.
Applicants must be proficient in spoken and written English.
Conditions of Employment:
Employment conditions (salary, living expenses, travel expenses, etc.) are in accordance with the current Spanish regulation for public contracts and the requirement set forward by the Marie Curie programme. Duration of the contract: The successful applicant will be appointed for one year.
As this position is within a Marie Curie Initial Training Network, the following specific conditions with regard to the eligibility of candidates apply:
The researcher shall not be a national of a State in which the beneficiary's research team appointing him/her is located. In the case of a researcher holding more than one nationality, he/she will be able to be hosted by a beneficiary located in the country of his/her nationality in which (s)he has not resided during the previous 5 years.
At the time of appointment, the researcher may not have resided or carried out his/her main activity in Spain for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to his/her appointment. Short stays such as holidays are not taken into account.
Additional information about this position can be obtained from:
Dr. José M. Navas
Research Scientist
Phone: +34-91 347 41 55 +34-91 347 41 55
E-mail: jmnavas@inia.es
Application Deadline
31/12/2010
How to apply: You can apply for this PhD position by sending your application electronically through the following web page http://www.eco-itn.eu/ -> Open positions -> Experienced Researcher
INIA (Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology), Madrid
Dr. José M. NavasResearch Laboratory- MadridSPAINphone +34-91 347 41 55email jmnavas@inia.esPlease apply via web page http://www.eco-itn.eu/ -> Open positions -> Experienced Researcher
Please kindly mention Scholarization.blogspot.com when applying for this position
The researcher will work on the structural features that determine the ability of chemicals to activate cellular detoxification pathways mediated by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). INIA (Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology, Madrid).
Program Description
INIA is an autonomous Public Research Organization (OPI) belonging to the Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN) in Spain. The INIA is responsible for the management and coordination of agrifood R&D programs at the national level, as well as of the execution of its own research programs, within the National R&D programs at the national R&D&i Plan or others. At the INIA, the activity of the Department of Environment focuses, among others areas, on Ecotoxicology and Environmental/Ecological Risk Assessment of potentially polluting activities. One important part of the work of the Department consists in the scientific support to the activities of different ministries (Ministry for Environmental and Marine and Rural Affairs). In the Department of Environment, the group EDTC (Endocrine Disruption and Toxicity of Contaminants) is interested in the particular mechanisms by which some toxics cause specific toxicity. The main tools used by the group are based on in vitro culture of some fish cells and cell lines. The knowledge obtained in the laboratory is applied to the detection of contaminants in the field and to the environmental risk assessment of chemicals.
Job description:
Although it has been assumed that AhR activators share some structural features (they show planar, polycyclic, polyaromatic molecules) in the last years it has been observed that AhR can be activated by a number of chemicals with different structural properties probably through alternative mechanisms than direct ligand-binding. The main objective of this work will be to establish the molecular structural features that determine the ability of chemicals to activate the receptor. For that, the induction of AhR by selected compounds will be studied in cell lines originated from different taxonomic groups, although most of them will be piscine cell lines. The induction of AhR will be evidenced by measuring the expression of dependent genes at the transcriptional level by means of real time PCR. The protein products and related enzyme activities will be also measured. Insights in the mechanism of activation of the AhR will be obtained by co-exposure of the cells with different AhR activators and inhibitors or by using subcellular fractions (S9) to observe metabolism. The molecular structural features of chemicals will be studied by means of ab initio computational calculations and the values of the different descriptors will be related with the results obtained in vitro using different approaches, from simple mathematical models to even neural networks.
Research Field
Biological sciences - Biology
Job Requirements:
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate, with capabilities to work independently but in an interdisciplinary and international environment. Education in Biology, Biochemistry or related fields will be necessary and knowledge of Molecular Biology techniques desirable. Exchange with other laboratories is foreseen, so that the candidate should be willing to pass part of his/her time outside of INIA.
Applicants are expected to have a university degree (MSc), ideally a PhD and must be in the first five years of their career in research.
Applicants must be proficient in spoken and written English.
Conditions of Employment:
Employment conditions (salary, living expenses, travel expenses, etc.) are in accordance with the current Spanish regulation for public contracts and the requirement set forward by the Marie Curie programme. Duration of the contract: The successful applicant will be appointed for one year.
As this position is within a Marie Curie Initial Training Network, the following specific conditions with regard to the eligibility of candidates apply:
The researcher shall not be a national of a State in which the beneficiary's research team appointing him/her is located. In the case of a researcher holding more than one nationality, he/she will be able to be hosted by a beneficiary located in the country of his/her nationality in which (s)he has not resided during the previous 5 years.
At the time of appointment, the researcher may not have resided or carried out his/her main activity in Spain for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to his/her appointment. Short stays such as holidays are not taken into account.
Additional information about this position can be obtained from:
Dr. José M. Navas
Research Scientist
Phone: +34-91 347 41 55 +34-91 347 41 55
E-mail: jmnavas@inia.es
Application Deadline
31/12/2010
How to apply: You can apply for this PhD position by sending your application electronically through the following web page http://www.eco-itn.eu/ -> Open positions -> Experienced Researcher
INIA (Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology), Madrid
Dr. José M. NavasResearch Laboratory- MadridSPAINphone +34-91 347 41 55email jmnavas@inia.esPlease apply via web page http://www.eco-itn.eu/ -> Open positions -> Experienced Researcher
Please kindly mention Scholarization.blogspot.com when applying for this position
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