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EDUCATION => Scholarships => Topic started by: MyInfoStride on Feb 02, 2010, 07:28 PM

Title: PhD Scholarship in Development of Bacterial Bio-Sensors for Food Processing
Post by: MyInfoStride on Feb 02, 2010, 07:28 PM
In the Marie Curie Initial Training Networks, LeanGreenFood, the Laboratory of General and Agricultural Biotechnology of the Agricultural University of Athens seeks a PhD student to develop whole cellbacterial biosensors for food processing. The aim of the LeanGreenFood projectis to reduce the chemical treatment in the production of the food and food ingredients by utilizing enzymatic catalysis in the process. The specific objectives of the present PhD study is  to develop biosensors for food processing with various transducers: bioluminescence, fluorescence and ice nucleation. Biosensors are used in the foodprocessing industry to monitor the progress and products of enzymatic processing of substrates. They can measure either accumulation of specific enzymatic degradation products or reduction of the initial substrate. Severaltypes of biosensors have been developed, based on biomolecules such as enzymes, antibodies, cell membrane receptor proteins, organelles, or entire cells. Microorganismsare an excellent base for development of biosensors. They offer ability todetect a wide range of chemical substances, they are amenable to geneticmodification and several can operate at broad pH and temperature ranges. Inspite of their potential, the use of microbial biosensors in monitoring thequality and efficiency of food processing protocols has been limited.

Qualifications: The successfulcandidate must have a Master's Degree with a background in microbiology andmolecular biology. An additional background in food chemistry will beappreciated.

Due to EU requirements, the candidate cannot have the Greek nationality. Furthermore, candidates that have been in Greece for more than 12 months duringthe past 3 years cannot be appointed for this PhD position.

Approval and Enrolment: The scholarships for the PhD degree are subjectto academic approval, and the candidates will be enrolled in one of the degreeprograms of AUA.

Salary and appointment terms: We offer a full-time position for a period ofone year with possibility of extension to three years. The salary, in line withthe EU regulations concerning the Marie Curie Initial Training Networks is € 2590/month.

How to Apply:
To apply please send :
1) a letter ofmotivation describing (i) why you are interested in this position and (ii) whatyou can offer to the project ,
2) a CV including list of publications, ifavailable,
3) The marks (or level of degree, with details) obtained in the B.Sc. and/or M.Sc. degree. The average marks of the B.Sc. and M.Sc. need to besupplied in percentage or in ETCS points
4) references. The application shouldcontain all 4 elements listed above.

Please specify where you noticed theannouncement. Please attach your application including diploma and otherrelevant documents no later than 28 February 2010 to dgeorga@aua.gr

All interested candidates irrespective of age,gender, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.
For further information please contact:
Assistant Professor Dimitri Georgakopoulos
email: dgeorga@aua.gr
Phone: +30 2105294248

Source: PhD Scholarship in Development of Bacterial Bio-Sensors for Food Processing (http://www.aua.gr/index.php?item=212)