SmartAge - European Training Network Early-Stage Researcher / PhD position (ESR project 8)

Girona Biomedical Research Institute Dr. Josep Trueta (IDIBGI), Spain (head of project: Prof. Dr. José Manuel Fernández-Real), offers a PhD position for an Early-Stage Researcher (ESR) for the project: Impact of the gut microbiome on cognitive function in middle-aged subjects. Effects of weight loss. The position is part of the EU-funded Innovative Training Network SmartAge (“Gut-brain-axis: Targets for improvement of cognition in the elderly”) with full-time employment for a duration of 33 months, starting in September 2021.

Objective of the project: To analyse the impact of age on gut-microbiome, brain microstructure and cognition, we will evaluate 200 subjects at both gender aged >65-80 years from the general population. Longitudinal data and biological sample collection have been completed in April 2018 – as a subgroup - within the Horizon 2020 SHARE project - www.share-project.org/ . Different domains of cognition will be explored: attention, memory and executive function (Stroop test, California verbal learning test, Trail Making test A and B) in association with metabolic variables and MRI scans including diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Gut barrier function and inflammatory brain markers (ZO-1, LBP, progranulin) will be analysed on plasma samples by ELISA. Blood samples will be collected to measure various markers of microbial translocation/gut barrier function (bacterial endotoxins, CD14, LBP, ZO-1 and I-FABP), inflammation (progranulin, CRP, Tnfá, IL-6, IL-1á, IL-1â) and to process for metabolomics (e.g. SCFA). All these variables were evaluated at baseline and one year thereafter. Exploiting data from a previous large-scale trial is a great advantage and will support us in examining the hypotheses presented here. The effects of weight loss will be additional evaluated with the same parameters before and 1 year after bariatric surgery in 40 subjects aged >65 years, in an obese control group where dietetic counselling is provided and in non-obese subjects. Weight loss is expected to impact on cognitive improvement, the gut-microbiome, barrier function and inflammaging even at older age.

The PhD student will join a research group with extensive experience in the study of the pathophysiology of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and their complications. The main traditional lines of research are focused on innate immune system, inflammatory pathways, and metabolic diseases. Furthermore, the group has done significant work evaluating the biology of human adipose tissue and the role of the microbiome on the cognitive profiles of individuals with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Currently, the group is elucidating the complex interplay among the gut microbiome, the metabolome (including microbial-host co-metabolites), brain microstructure, and cognitive performance (memory, inhibitory control, etc.), and its modulation by obesity.

Requirements: We expect a Master´s degree (accrediting between 60 and 120 ECTS credits at the official university master's degree level or equivalent) in Health and/or Life Sciences (Systems Biology, Bioinformatics, Psychology, Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Biomedicine, Biology) or Medicine. Furthermore, the applicant should be able to perform team-oriented as well as independent work.

Desirable methodological skills include: excellent background in systems biology, neuroscience, and metabolism, as well as experience in analysing large omics datasets and neuroimaging data. This will include the use of a variety of R, Phyton, MATLAB, SPM, and FSL statistical packages (machine learning algorithms, microbiome compositional data analysis, pattern recognition methods, brain structural and connectivity analyses, etc.) to extract relevant biological information from individual omics datasets (metabolomics, transcriptomics, and metagenomics) as well as from magnetic resonance imaging data, and their integration.

Very good language skills in English are required. Given that the candidate will interact with local patients, fluency in Spanish will be also considered.

Please note the eligibility criteria for researchers: Candidates must be in the first four years of his/her research career, not have a doctoral degree, and not have resided in Spain for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date.

Selection process: Interested candidates please send a motivation letter, a CV including publications (if available), copies of university degrees and courses (including obtained grades), and the names and e-mail addresses of two scientists who can provide references (all summarized in one pdf) to [email protected] and[email protected] .

Closing date for receipt of applications is Tuesday 10 August 2021

For more information concerning the research project please contact Prof. Dr. José Manuel Fernández-Real (email: [email protected] ).

For information on moving to Spain, please see http://www.euraxess.es