2019

2019 Summer Science @ ITQB NOVA included:

• Experimental work: 20h in a laboratory of participants choice, under the supervision of a senior researcher
• Flash presentations: by the participants of Summer Science @ITQB NOVA, on the project, they have developed during experimental work
• Master Opportunities @ ITQB NOVA with the Master coordinators:

- Biochemistry for Health - Pedro Matias

- Biotechnology for Sustainability - Margarida Oliveira

- Medical Microbiology - Maria Miragaia

- Science Communication - Ana Sanchez & António Granado

- StartUp Research - Miguel Santos

- Management and Policy in Science and Technology - Filipe Silva

• Workshop entitled "Beyond technical skills: career development and science communication” with:

- Ana Sanchez

- Madalena Martins

- Renata Ramalho

- Zach Hensel

2019 Detailed Programme: 

 2019 Participating Laboratories:

Biology

1 - Bacterial Cell Biology

In the Bacterial Cell Biology laboratory we use the Gram positive pathogen Staphylococcus aureus to study the mechanisms of cell division and of antibiotic resistance to cell wall targeting antibiotics.

Responsible investigator: Mariana Pinho [Trish Reed]

2 - Cell Signaling in Drosophila

We use Drosophila as a model system to study the molecular and cellular signaling mechanisms involved in the degeneration of the photoreceptors, the cells that sense light in the visual system.  

Responsible investigator: Pedro Domingos [Gonçalo Poças]

3 - Control of Gene Expression

Our studies focus on the control of gene expression. We have studied RNA degradation and characterized enzymes that mediate decay. Other interests are stress and microbial growth. This work has many applications in Biotechnology and Health.

Responsible investigator: Cecília Arraiano [Alexandra Peregrina/Ines Silva]

4 - Single Molecule Microbiology

In the Single Molecule Microbiology lab, we use high-resolution fluorescence microscopy techniques to detect and track individual DNA, RNA and protein molecules in living cells in order to study gene regulation and other problems in molecular cell biology.

Responsible investigator: Zach Hensel

5 - Proteomics of non-model Organisms

Biodiversity includes an immensity of species handling recognized unique biological processes that deserve to be thoroughly investigated, also aiming at defining new potential biomimetic targets. Proteomics integrated with other omics approaches and supported by de novo peptide sequencing and proteogenomics, is being used as a high-throughput strategy to fulfill this goal.

Responsible investigator: Ana Coelho

Biological Chemistry

6 - Bacterial Energy Metabolism

The Bacterial Energy Metabolism group investigates the metabolic pathways for energy production in anaerobic microorganisms that are relevant to health and the environment, and explores their biotechnological applications.

Responsible investigator: Inês Pereira [Mónica Martins Neves]

7 - Genomics and Stress

The genomics and stress laboratory works in the mechanisms involved in homeostasis control when yeast cells are exposed to different environmental cues. The function of Yap transcription factors in stress response is investigated.  

Responsible investigator: Claudina Pousada [Carolina Cordeiro/Catarina Pimentel]

8 - Multiscale Modeling

The Multiscale Modeling Lab employs computational molecular simulation models at different resolution scales to tackle a wide range of biological questions.

Responsible investigator: Manuel N. Melo [Luís Araújo]

9 - Protein Modelling

The Protein Modelling Laboratory works on molecular modelling of proteins using physical methods. The areas of work range from basic research in modelling methodologies to applications with biotechnological and biomedical interest. 

Responsible investigator: Cláudio Soares [Bárbara Abreu]

10 - Industry and Medicine Applied Crystallography

Many proteins in nature have either industrial and/or medicinal applications. Knowledge of their three-dimensional structure is essential to understanding their function at the atomic level, and can be used to control or improve their functional activity by the production of small molecules to act as substrates or ligands with specific purposes (e.g., drugs to fight disease) or by engineering selected mutants with enhanced biological activity. Our research program is dedicated to doing just that: determining the 3D structure of selected proteins, and using that knowledge, in combination with other studies (biochemical, spectroscopic, etc.) to understand how these molecules work.

Responsible investigator: Pedro Matias

11 - Inorganic Biochemistry and NMR

The Inorganic Biochemistry and NMR Laboratory is devoted to the structural and functional characterization of redox proteins that participate in the anaerobic bioenergetic metabolism of microorganisms, using biophysical methods.

Responsible investigator: Ricardo Louro [Anaisa Coelho]

12 - DNA protection and Oxidative Stress Resistance

The main goal of my research is to understand the cellular function of the systems that I am studying, through a multidisciplinary approach, using different and complementary techniques and expertises: biochemical, kinetics, biophysical, spectroscopic and structural characterization at high and low resolution.

Responsible investigator: Célia V. Romão

Chemistry

13 - Bioorganic Chemistry

Bioorganic Chemistry is the interface of organic chemistry and biology. Our research uses the principles and techniques of organic chemistry in attempting to solve problems of relevance to biology. We can design synthetic derivatives of natural products, that improve on nature.

Responsible investigator: Rita Ventura

14 - Organometallic Catalysis

Our research topics are organometallic chemistry and catalysis as key activities for health and sustainable development.

Responsible investigator: Beatriz Royo [Oscar Rojas]

Plant Sciences

15 - Genomics of Plant Stress

At GPlantS lab we study the effect of environmental factors on the regulation of gene expression and plant development, with special focus on salt, drought and temperature stresses, using a number of different genomics approaches.

Responsible investigator: Margarida Oliveira

16 - Plant Cell Biology

The Plant Cell Biology Laboratory works on several aspects of the biology of the plant cell, including the functional organization of the cell nucleus and protein processing within the plant secretory pathway.

Responsible investigator: Rita Abranches [André Folgado]

17 - Plant Gene Regulation

In the Plant Gene Regulation Laboratory we use model and crop plants to study gene regulatory mechanisms underlying plant growth and plant responses to adverse environmental conditions.

Responsible investigator: Nelson Saibo [André Cordeiro]