The profound impact of infectious diseases on society, notably underscored during the COVID-19 pandemic, accentuates the imperative for in-depth research to comprehend the intricate dynamics of infectious agents. This includes understanding their modes of transmission, the factors within hosts that influence disease outcomes, and the identification of effective intervention strategies. The urgency of this research has been particularly evident during the pandemic, highlighting the pivotal role of scientific investigation in addressing global health challenges.
The Infectious Diseases Research Program at CIC bioGUNE stands as a vanguard in scientific exploration, pioneering an initiative committed to unraveling the complex and dynamic molecular foundations of infectious diseases.
Read more The profound impact of infectious diseases on society, notably underscored during the COVID-19 pandemic, accentuates the imperative for in-depth research to comprehend the intricate dynamics of infectious agents. This includes understanding their modes of transmission, the factors within hosts that influence disease outcomes, and the identification of effective intervention strategies. The urgency of this research has been particularly evident during the pandemic, highlighting the pivotal role of scientific investigation in addressing global health challenges.
The Infectious Diseases Research Program at CIC bioGUNE stands as a vanguard in scientific exploration, pioneering an initiative committed to unraveling the complex and dynamic molecular foundations of infectious diseases.
Cancer, a complex group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell growth, poses a formidable challenge worldwide. Its impact on society is profound, affecting millions of lives and presenting a substantial burden on healthcare systems. The need for comprehensive research to unravel the intricacies of cancer biology and develop advanced strategies for diagnosis and treatment has never been more crucial.
The Cancer Research Program at CIC bioGUNE is a multidimensional exploration focused on unraveling the complexities of cancer, specifically targeting Prostate, Breast, Colorectal, and Liver cancers.
Read More This program encompasses several crucial research areas:
• Molecular Basis of Cancer Progression: Investigating the molecular signatures and signaling pathways that drive the progression of Prostate, Breast, Colorectal, and Liver cancers. Our goal is to identify potential targets for precision medicine and advance the development of tailored therapeutic interventions.
• Precision Medicine in Cancer Treatment: Applying precision medicine approaches to develop targeted therapies for different cancer types. This includes deciphering the genetic and molecular variations that contribute to cancer heterogeneity and tailoring treatments accordingly.
• Biomarker Discovery for Diagnostic Advancements: Identifying and validating biomarkers that enhance cancer diagnostics and prognostics. Through advanced molecular profiling and bioinformatics analyses, we aim to contribute to the development of reliable biomarkers for various cancer types.
Rare diseases, often referred to as orphan diseases, encompass a broad spectrum of disorders that collectively affect a relatively small number of individuals within a population. These diseases are characterized by their low prevalence, typically afflicting fewer than 1 in 2,000 people. Despite their individual rarity, the cumulative impact of rare diseases is substantial, with estimates suggesting that there are thousands of distinct rare diseases, collectively affecting millions of people worldwide.
Many rare diseases are chronic, debilitating, and life-threatening, often manifesting early in life. Due to their complex and often unpredictable nature, these diseases can lead to significant physical, emotional, and financial burdens on patients and their caregivers. Moreover, the lack of effective treatments exacerbates the challenges faced by individuals living with rare diseases.
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The importance of research dedicated to rare diseases lies in its potential to unravel the underlying molecular mechanisms, genetic factors, and cellular processes driving these conditions. Investigating genetic mutations associated with rare diseases provides crucial insights into the fundamental aspects of human biology and the consequences of genetic abnormalities. Understanding the molecular basis of disease progression is essential for developing targeted therapies that can alter the course of the disease, improving the quality of life for affected individuals.
The impact of rare diseases research extends beyond the laboratory, directly influencing clinical practice, healthcare policies, and societal perceptions. By identifying potential therapeutic targets, researchers contribute to the development of novel treatment approaches and pave the way for precision medicine tailored to the unique genetic and molecular profiles of individuals with rare diseases. Additionally, advancements in rare diseases research contribute to the broader understanding of biological processes, benefiting the entire field of medicine.
The Rare Diseases Research Program at CIC bioGUNE plays a pivotal role in addressing the challenges posed by rare diseases. By exploring the intricate molecular pathways, genetic factors, and cellular mechanisms associated with rare diseases, the program contributes not only to scientific knowledge but also to the development of innovative diagnostic methods and targeted therapeutic strategies. The societal impact of this research is substantial, offering hope and improved outcomes for individuals grappling with rare diseases and their families.
The mission of the Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies (AIAS) is to advance the highest quality research at Aarhus University (AU) by attracting talented, highly qualified fellows worldwide and within all disciplines. Fellows are provided ideal opportunities to further develop their research in short to long fellowship periods by ensuring fellows’ participation in various kinds of collaboration and exchange with researchers, research groups and advanced students at AU and abroad. The primary criterion for selection of fellows is excellence and not research topic. Therefore, fellows represent a broad scope of academic disciplines and are hereby contributing to the multidisciplinary setting of the Institute. Fellows are encouraged to engage with each other and with local researchers. We strive for diversity in all ways, and host fellows and researchers from all disciplines and nationalities.
Harnessing knowledge of plant biology for crop improvement, infectious diseases; RNA/nucleic acids in health and disease; correlative approaches to connect dynamics and structure of living systems; cancer biology; and brain disorders.
The Centre for Science Studies at Aarhus University is a leading institution dedicated to pioneering research in several key domains of science studies, encompassing philosophy of science, history of science and technology, and science communication. Our comprehensive approach in these areas reflects our commitment to deepening the understanding of science and its societal impacts.
In the realm of philosophy of science, our work is at the forefront of exploring fundamental questions and debates. Our focus includes a critical examination of realism versus anti-realism, delving into how these philosophical standpoints influence our understanding of scientific truth. Additionally, we are investigating the role of theoretical virtues in the process of theory choice, offering insights into how scientific theories are selected and validated. A significant portion of our research is also dedicated to the social epistemology of science, with a particular emphasis on issues related to scientific authorship, collaboration, and the dynamics of scientific publication.
Read More Our history of science and technology research delves into the transformative scientific and technological advancements of the 20th century. We are exploring the environmental impacts and implications of these developments, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of their role in shaping the modern world. Furthermore, our research extends to examining the historical significance of popular science, investigating how it has influenced public perception and engagement with scientific knowledge.
In the field of science communication, our research is breaking new ground in several key areas. We are analyzing the evolving landscape of science journalism and the representation of science in the media, addressing how these mediums shape public understanding and discourse. Our research also encompasses the innovative intersections of art and science, examining how these collaborations can enhance public engagement with scientific concepts. A critical aspect of our work in science communication is understanding public trust and mistrust in scientific expertise, a topic that has become increasingly relevant in contemporary society.
Through our rigorous and interdisciplinary research, the Centre for Science Studies at Aarhus University is not only contributing to academic discourse but also addressing vital questions about the role and perception of science in our world today.
The Group of Lasers and Plasmas (GoLP) at Técnico explores the behavior of matter at the most extreme conditions in the Universe, from black holes and neutron stars to the focii of the most intense lasers or particle accelerators on Earth. In a unique combination of theory, experiments and numerical simulations, the three modern pillars of the scientific method, the group has a longstanding commitment with research in frontier questions in its field, grounded on a culture of entrepreneurship, creativity, and international collaboration, seeking and promoting outstanding scientific quality of its members, and has repeatedly proven its commitment to the scientific and technological development of Portugal and Europe. The Group’s aim is to be recognized as one of the best research groups in our field through the reputation of our researchers, the quality of our students, and the successes of our alumni.
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In its vision, GoLP assumes a leading role in its scientific fields, constitutes a central hub for new ideas and approaches, exciting discoveries and developments; is a magnet for outstanding students, post-docs and researchers; provides an exciting research environment similar to the best; sustains its scientific breakthroughs through a unique interplay between theory, simulation and experiments.
The group addresses theory and simulations of the highly nonlinear and complex phenomena associated with plasmas in extreme conditions, resorting to the fastest supercomputers in the World, and experimental and technological exploration of the next generation of intense radiation sources driven by ultra intense lasers, with experiments on lasers at IST and worldwide. The research questions are closely connected with the Nobel Prizes in Physics of 2018 and 2023. At GoLP there are two ERC grant recipients (Luís Oliveira e Silva, ERC advanced grants in 2010 and 2016, and Frederico Fiúza, ERC consolidator grant in 2022), as well as one recipient of European Innovation Council program in 2021 (Marta Fajardo).
For this project, it is expected that the Journalist in Residence will be strongly immersed in the theory and simulation efforts, hosted by Luís Oliveira e Silva, although he/she will have complete freedom to get to know in depth all scientists in the whole group, depending on the project that will be developed. The connection with the theory and simulation team will provide access to unique media resources resulting from the simulation work and also to collaborators worldwide e.g. UCLA, Oxford, and CERN.
We are a public university, founded on 6 August 1868 as Scuola Superiore di Commercio. We have reached a high national and international standing with the quality of our research and teaching, which reaches across countries and disciplines. Our university community includes over 23.000 students and 1.400 faculty and staff from all over the world. The main campus is in a large Gothic palace in the heart of Venice, overlooking the Grand Canal, and other venues are spread across the historic centre of Venice, plus Mestre and Treviso.
We contribute to scientific progress through excellent research that addresses global challenges and has an impact across disciplines. We promote frontier research with the active application of the hard sciences and digital sciences to the centuries-old tradition rooted in the social sciences, humanities, and economics. We are among the top institutions in Europe for the number of Marie Curie fellowships funded by the EU, and first in Italy for European Research Council (ERC) funding. For the quality of their scientific projects, four departments have been acknowledged by MIUR (Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research) as “Departments of Excellence”.
The Biocultural Diversity Lab focuses on the Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK), a set of knowledge related to the environment, shared within communities in a specific place. The Biocultural Diversity Lab research has a specific focus on ethnobotany and ethnobiology. The Biocultural Diversity Lab was born during the implementation of the ERC project ‘Divided Generations’ (ERC-StG-2016 DiGe), which carried out research on the medicinal and food uses of plants among different ethnic groups in Eastern and Northern Europe divided during creation or following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, examining the impact of sources, medicine, education, and laws governing their use.
The focal points of the permanent activities of the Biocultural Diversity Lab are the evolution of knowledge based on the relationships between humans and the environment, both today and in past centuries, through various qualitative and quantitative methods. The application of the results of the research of the Biocultural Diversity Lab is education, the development of local products, participatory conservation strategies, and policy suggestions.
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We invite the candidates to participate in our three main research projects that will be covered in 2024:
a) DiGe has clearly demonstrated the devastating effect of Russian occupation on the LEK of the studied traditional societies/minor ethnic groups. We detected erosion, homogenization and standardization of the knowledge within state borders and cross-border differences in knowledge transmission. We will continue studying the medicinal plant use in the researched area, looking for common patterns and the effects of literature and the official Soviet medical system on local ethnomedicine.
b) The research on the people-nature relations in migration concentrates on the historical Italian migrants to Brazil, exploring the specific plant species that were brought, adapted, or learnt from the local environments, the techniques used for cultivation, and the cultural and social factors that influenced these practices. The ultimate goal of the research is to identify best practices for bicultural conservation considering the local identities and to inform policy and decision-making in this area.
c) Fishery practices of Laguna di Venezia in Italy and Laguna di Bay in the Philippines are studied from the perspective of the local fishers, involving them as experts in identifying the drivers of changes (both climate and anthropogenic) and searching for sustainable and community-friendly solutions.