ECO provides one postdoc position, Experienced Researcher, for a period of 12 months.
For this position, the eligibility rules of the European Commission for ERs (Experienced Researchers) apply:
"Experienced researchers must, at the time of recruitment either be in possession of a doctoral degree or have at least four years of full-time equivalent research experience. This is measured from the date when they obtained the degree which formally allowed them to embark on a doctorate in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the host country.The research experience of an experienced researcher recruited for initial training (ITN) may not exceed 5 years at the time of appointment..."
Also keep in mind the European Commission's conditions of nationality and mobility of researchers, please:
"Researchers can be nationals of any country other than the country of the promises of the host organisation where they will carry out their projects. Additionally researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the country of the host for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment..."
For this reason candidates with Spanish nationality are not eligible for this position!
Structural features that determine the ability of chemicals to activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. The mechanisms of toxic action of a variety of chemicals are mediated by the interaction of these chemicals with different cellular receptors, as is the case of dioxins and dioxin-like compounds that are able to activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). One of the major problems in the risk assessment of these substances is that it is very difficult to establish their long term effects because of the cross talk among different receptors and also because the consequences of the activation of these receptors are poorly understood. Although it has been assumed that AhR activators share some structural features (planar, polyaromatic molecules), in the last years it has been observed that AhR can be activated by a number of chemicals probably through different mechanisms. In the framework of the present project, the main objective of this task will be to establish the molecular structural features that determine the ability of chemicals to activate the receptor. The induction of AhR dependent enzyme activities caused by a number of compounds will be measured in a variety of cell lines. Insights in the mechanism of activation of the AhR will be obtained by co-exposure of the cells with different inhibitors (protein kinase or AhR inhibitors, and also metabolism – i.e. cytochromes P450 – inhibitors). The structural characteristics of the molecules will be calculated computationally and machine learning techniques will be used to relate structural features with activity.
High motivation is important, knowledge of cell culture, enzyme and molecular biology techniques is advisable. Computer and programming skills are welcome.
For more details contact Dr. J.M. Navas