Description of Hosting Institution (UJA – Spain)

Jaén University (UJA) was created in 1993 and is in the Top 50 of the world’s best young universities according to THE (Times Higher Education). This ranking analyzes aspects such as teaching, research work, the university’s international outreach, or integration into industry. Besides, the UJA has received the distinction of Campus of International Excellence in the fields of Agrifood (CEIA3) and Climate Change (CamBio), plus it also leads the Andalusian CEI project on historical heritage PatrimoniUN10.

Jaén University has five faculties (Social and Legal Sciences; Humanities and Education Sciences; Health Sciences; Experimental Sciences and Social Work) and two higher polytechnic schools for engineering (Linares and Jaén). In turn, these centers are organized into 35 departments. It also has three Postgraduate educational centers (Doctorate School, Advanced Study Center in Modern Languages and Postgraduate Study Center).

In regards to its research, there are several specialized centers at Jaén University (https://www.ujaen.es/servicios/ofipi/uja-ri-expertise). Besides, the full picture of the over 100 UJA groups covers the following research fields of expertise: Agrifood (AGR); Biology (BIO); Health (CTS); Social Sciences, Business, Law (SEJ); Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics (FQM); Humanities (HUM); Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (RNM); Information and Communications Technology (TIC); and Engineering Production Technology (TEP).

As far this hosting offer is concerned, ANTONIO MOLINA DÍAZ would be willing to host post-doctoral researchers that are eventually funded through the MSCA-IF 2021 call for applications to be part of the following UJA research team: https://www.ujaen.es/servicios/ofipi/uja-ri-expertise/fqm-323-analytical-chemistry-jaen-university

Project description

The 'Analytical Chemistry Research Group' (FQM-323) is an outstanding research group within University of Jaen. The group comprises a enthusiastic team of professionals with extensive expertise and state-of-the-art facilities in Analytical Chemistry, Mass Spectrometry and Food Chemistry research. One of the main research interests of the Analytical Chemistry research group is the development of analytical methods based on hyphenated techniques (GC-MS and LC-MS) for application in various fields such as environmental and food industry. Moreover, the group also deals with the development of ionization methods for direct analysis by mass spectrometry at ambient conditions based on dielectric barrier discharge (DBDI) principle. We are currently involved in a H2020 project entitled TImPANI (WIDESPREAD H2020) running from November 2018 to November 2021, which is undertaken in cooperation with University of Cyprus and Leibniz Institute for Analytical Sciences (ISAS, Dortmund). Besides, the research group receives regular funding from domestic institutions. The Group also issues research contracts with industry (food and pharmaceutical sectors). Among other equipment, the research group has full-access to state-of-the art mass spectrometry facility which comprises several mass spectrometers including the following systems: a nanoHPLC-Q-Exactive-MS system (Thermo), 1 CE and HPLC-QTOF-MS/MS system (Agilent 6530), one HPLC-QQQ-MS/MS (Thermo TSQ Quantiva) one HPLC-TOFMS (Agilent 6220 TOF and), one LC-MS/MS ion trap (Thermo LTQ) and a GC-QQQ-MS/MS (Varian 320 MS). In addition, the research laboratory is equipped with different prototypes of ionization sources such as plasma-based probes for direct MS measurements, and also with commercially available sources such as APCI and nanospray. In addition, the facilities also include different laboratories with appropriate apparatus for sample treatment. Regarding the project description as far as prospective MSCA-IF candidates are concerned, please find below a summary: Despite the outstanding potential of liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC-MS) for trace organic contaminant analysis in food and environment, yet presents some drawbacks affecting its performance. Amongst these limitations we can highlight: Problems associated with compound detection and sensitivity due to matrix effects and signal suppression Chromatographic issues when dealing with species with different polarity and/or physical properties limiting their retention in reversed-phase liquid chromatography Limitations of LC-MS for the detection of nonpolar species or those which are non amenable by electrospray (LC-MS). The aim of the research project is to provide novel approaches in order to increase the performance of LC-MS with a special emphasis on its application to the determination of pesticides and other contaminants in food. The approaches proposed are: The use of nanoflow liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry (nanoHPLC-HRMS) The use of parallel chromatographic systems (HILIC/RPLC-HRMS) enabling the simultaneous separation of different species which completely different polarities and/or hydrophobicity The evaluation of novel DBDI ionization sources with liquid chromatography (LC-DBDI-MS) to expand the array of species that can be analyzed in a single run, including those which require gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The proposal addresses some of the challenges plotted in the current European Union Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (Horizon 2020). In particular, the effort towards better food quality and food safety, through research aiming the establishment of novel technologies and methodologies enabling a better control of the food we consume.

Pre-application procedure

Interested applicants (PhD holders) should send their CV, Motivation letter and Summary of project proposal (250 words) to the UJA potential proposal supervisor (amolina@ujaen.es) by the hosting offer deadline. Please, take into account that only candidates that meet the MSCA-IF 2021 application requirements according to the Funding & Tenders Portal (such as the so-called ‘mobility rule’) will be considered for proposal supervision.