Assistant professor

The candidate should have a foreigner status and PhD degree in biology, preferably with the specialty biochemistry. The candidate is expected to have extensive experience in polysaccharide extraction methods from plant materials as well as the ability to determine polysaccharides. The applicant should also have experience in molecular biology techniques such as PCR, Western Blot, fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry (apoptosis, cell cycle studies). Experience working with cell cultures is also important, particularly with cell lines representing breast cancer.

His/her scientific achievements should be documented by the authorship of papers closely related to the profile of the announced research/teaching position. Capability of leading independent research activity is a necessary.

The research activity will involve extraction of PS from selected plant material: including Abelmoschus esculentus (okra), Ocimum sanctum (consecrated basil), Zingiber officinale (ginger), Lycium barbarum (goya), Ginseng (ginseng), Zizyphus Jujuba (common jujube), Astragalus lentiginosus (astragalus), and Ginkgo biloba (ginkgo biloba), however other plants also will be considered. The next step will involve a comprehensive study of their anti-cancer potential using cell lines representing different types of cancer. These studies will include determination of the mode of cell death, effects on senescence, cell cycle progression, activation of signaling pathways relevant to tumorigenesis and metastasis (at the protein and transcript levels), and adhesion and metastasis capacity.

The applicant should have a very good background in biochemistry, especially in the knowledge of plant metabolism. Capability of writing scientific papers and research proposals is also a necessary condition for successful application.