2 Post-Doctoral Fellowship (BPD - Bolsa de Pós-Doutoramento)

2 Postdoctoral positions in Gene Therapy in Rare Neurodegenerative Disorders

Our laboratory aims to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the onset, development, and progression of rare uncurable neurodegenerative disorders and to develop advanced disease-modifying therapies. Particularly based on Gene Therapy using viral vectors, ultimately to improve the lives of patients suffering from these disorders.

The successful candidates will work on developing therapeutic strategies for Cockayne syndrome B (https://curecsb.com/). We will use an array of state-of-the-art gene therapy tools applied to cellular and animal models of disease. The Algarve Biomedical Research Institute (ABC-RI) is a recently created center that harbors several internationally renowned research groups dedicated to the study of mechanisms of disease for translational applications and provides access to a wide variety of core facilities (https://abcri.pt/).

The candidates should be highly motivated and self-driven and must hold (or be close to completion) a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences/Neuroscience or a related field. The ideal candidates should have a high interest and background in Biomedical Research. Candidates with prior experience in rodent models and molecular biology are particularly encouraged to apply. Fluency in English (written and spoken) and the ability to work in an international environment is required.

The postdoctoral positions is for two years, with the possibility of extending and is expected to start at the earliest possible date.

Applications written should include (1) a cover letter explaining your motivations to this position and previous work, (2) a CV with a list of publications, and (3) contact details for two references (in one PDF document) should be sent to Professor Clévio Nóbrega by e-mail (CureCSB@abcmedicalg.pt).

This call will remain open until the candidates are selected, with no specific deadline for application submissions. Therefore, earlier applications are highly encouraged. We expect to close the call the latest by 29^th September, 2023.

Further reading:

Koppenol, R., A. Conceição, I. T. Afonso, R. Afonso-Reis, R. G. Costa, S. Tomé, D. Teixeira, J. P. da Silva, J. M. Côdesso, D. V. C. Brito, L. Mendonça, A. Marcelo, L. Pereira de Almeida, C. A. Matos and C. Nóbrega (2022). "The stress granule protein G3BP1 alleviates spinocerebellar ataxia-associated deficits." Brain.

Marcelo, A., I. T. Afonso, R. Afonso-Reis, D. V. C. Brito, R. G. Costa, A. Rosa, J. Alves-Cruzeiro, B. Ferreira, C. Henriques, R. J. Nobre, C. A. Matos, L. P. de Almeida and C. Nóbrega (2021). "Autophagy in Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2, a dysregulated pathway, and a target for therapy." Cell Death Dis12(12): 1117.

Nóbrega, C., L. Mendonça, A. Marcelo, A. Lamazière, S. Tomé, G. Despres, C. A. Matos, F. Mechmet, D. Langui, W. den Dunnen, L. P. de Almeida, N. Cartier and S. Alves (2019). "Restoring brain cholesterol turnover improves autophagy and has therapeutic potential in mouse models of spinocerebellar ataxia." Acta Neuropathol138(5): 837-858.