Research Technician – Natural Bioactives and Nutraceuticals Area

iBET; Oeiras; On-site; EUR 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Initial and continuous training

Competitive salary package

Health and wellbeing program

Job summary

iBET invites applications for a Research Technician to join the Natural Bioactives and Nutraceuticals Area in Lisbon. The selected candidate will support the Bean-IT project by optimizing processing of common beans and performing advanced metabolomic, volatile, phenolic, amino acid, and spectroscopic analyses to understand drivers of flavor, aroma and texture.

You will execute analytical tasks, contribute to disseminating the project outcomes, and engage in problem-solving discussions while

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in relevant fields; minimum six months of advanced analytical research experience focusing on food bioactive compounds.
• Experience in extraction of bioactive compounds from natural matrices.
• Experience with spectrophotometric and chromatographic analyses (HPLC).
• Experience analysing phenolics and antinutrients in pulses.
• Advanced analytical capabilities with data analysis and critical thinking.
• Knowledge of programming (Python) is valued.
• Good knowledge of English, spoken and written.

Responsibilities

• Perform analytical tasks within the Bean-IT project scope.
• Characterize volatile compounds in cooked samples using GC-based methods.
• Characterize phenolic compounds using HPLC methods.
• Analyze amino acid profiles and conduct spectroscopic analyses.
• Contribute to dissemination of project outcomes and maintain ethical research conduct.

Skills

Extraction of bioactives

Spectrophotometric analysis

Chromatographic analysis (HPLC)

Phenolics & antinutrients analysis

Data analysis

Programming (Python)

English proficiency

Education

Master’s degree in biotechnology, molecular biosciences, bioengineering, chemical engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, nutrition or related areas

Tools

SPME-GC-MS-Olfatometry

GCxGC-MS

NIR

FTIR-ATR

HPLC

HPLC-DAD-ED

HPLC-DAD-MS/MS

Job description

Research Technician – Natural Bioactives and Nutraceuticals Area

iBET is seeking a highly motivated Researcher Technician to join our Natural Bioactives and Nutraceuticals Area.

In the scope of the project BEAN-IT, Projetos de Investigação Científica e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico (IC&DT), LISBOA2030-FEDER-00862700, the selected candidate will support the project by characterizing common bean samples by optimizing process conditions and conducting advanced metabolomic, volatile, phenolic, amino acid, and spectroscopic analyses to understand drivers of flavor, aroma, and texture.

Tasks and Responsabilities

Bean-IT project aims to characterize different common bean samples on the metabolites relevant for taste, aroma, flavour and texture after cooking. The main tasks of the project include:

• Optimization of common beans’ processing;
• Characterization of volatile compounds in the different cooked samples using SPME-GC-MS-Olfatometry and GCxGC-MS;
• Characterization of phenolic compounds (tannins and flavonoids) using HPLC-DAD-ED and HPLC-DAD-MS/MS
• Analysis of common bean amino acid profile;
• Analysis of cooked common bean samples using NIR and FTIR-ATR

Responsabilities

• Perform the analytical tasks proposed under the scope of the project;
• Contribute to disseminate the project’s outcomes
• Participate actively in problem-solving discussions
• Contribute to a healthy work environment
• Perform the activities always with ethics and responsible research conduct

Admission Requirements

Education and Experience

• Master’s degree in biotechnology, molecular biosciences, bioengineering, chemical engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, nutrition or related areas. A minimal experience of six months in advanced analytical research, focused mostly on food bioactive compounds (e.g., phenolic compounds, carotenoids) characterization will be required.

Technical Skills

• Experience in extraction of bioactive compounds from natural matrices
• Experience with spectrophotometric, and chromatographic analyses (HPLC)
• Experience analysing phenolics and antinutrients analyses from pulses
• Advanced analytical experience with critical thinking and data analysis ability
• Skills in programming language (e.g., phyton) will be valued
• Good knowledge/Proficiency in English, spoken and written

Soft Skills

• Goal-driven profile and motivation to work on food research
• Good communication and organization skills
• Motivation to work as a team player as well as individually

What We Offer

We offer an opportunity to work in an open and collaborative environment with a highly qualified, dynamic, and project-driven team.

iBET is heavily committed to enabling scientists and training students for excellence, encouraging, and fostering collaboration and innovation.

At iBET you will meet a young and international community with low average age, very gender-balanced, of around 255 qualified professionals, including more than 100 PhDs, in addition to the student community.

We offer initial and continuous training according to the level of career development, including scientific and soft skills, and an attractive salary package in line with the best international practices.

Included in our health and wellbeing promotion program, iBET Move promotes physical and mental activity to all iBET employees.

Does this sound like the right challenge for you?