Organisation / Company: UNIVERSITY OF ZARAGOZA Department: Analytical Chemistry Laboratory Research Group: Analytical Research Group (GUIA) Hosting related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
No We are looking for candidates with expertise in nanomaterials, packaging materials (recycled/biodegradable), packaging design (adhesives, coatings, barrier properties, etc.)
that want to do their MSCA PF with our research group on the food safety of emergent packaging materials and/or the development of active food packaging.
The University of Zaragoza (UNIZAR) (https://www.unizar.es/) is a leader university in promoting research, development, and innovation in the Region of Aragón (Spain).
This University includes over 30,000 students, 1,700 in PhD Programmes, and 2,000 in Master Studies, with 1,500 faculty and staff members.
UNIZAR provides the hosted researcher with excellent arrangements, as Aragón's EURAXESS network centre is located at this university.
UNIZAR also has a European Projects Office and Patent Office that will manage this IF and guarantee its success.
The Analytical Research Group (GUIA) (HOSTING GROUP) (https://i3a.unizar.es/es/grupos-de-investigacion/guia) from the Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A) (https://i3a.unizar.es/en) at UNIZAR has more than 30 years of research on the food safety of packaging materials, both from chemical and biological points of view.
Since then, more than 200 research projects have been carried out, including 7 European Projects.
The research of the GUIA Group is well known and recognized at both national and international levels.
This group currently includes 19 members: 6 staff researchers, 5 senior researchers, 4 PhD students, 3 technical experts, and 1 technician.
Main lines of research include: Identification and quantification of non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) coming from food packaging.
Food contact materials risk assessment with the performance of migration (global and specific) tests according to Commission Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 and analysis of food packaging components (additives, adhesives, inks, among others).
Development and validation of analytical methods based on chromatography and mass spectrometry in different areas such as packaging, environment, food, cosmetics, or biological fluids and food-packaging interactions.
Development of antioxidant food packaging and the in situ testing of the materials developed.
Development of scavengers/absorbers for use in fruit packaging.
Development of antimicrobial (antibacterial or antifungal) food packaging solutions and their proof-of-concept.
Use of nanomaterials or nanomolecules (cyclodextrins, monomers, polymers, and cellulose nanofibrils) for the development of active packaging or controlled-release systems.
The facilities of the GUIA group include a laboratory for sample treatment, two well-equipped analytical chemistry laboratories, and a biosafety II level Microbiology lab.
The Analytical Chemistry Labs are equipped with: 3 gas chromatographs with mass spectrometry detection (GC-MS); 1 GC with high resolution mass spectrometry detection (APGC-MS-QTOF); 1 gas chromatograph with olfactometry and MS detection (GC-O-MS); 1 gas chromatograph with flame ionization detection (GC-FID); 4 autosamplers for liquid, head-space, and SPME injection; 4 ultra-high resolution Liquid chromatographs (UPLC); 2 high resolution liquid chromatographs (HPLC); 7 detectors coupled to the liquid chromatography (2 triple quadrupole mass spectrometers (QqQ), 1 Quadrupole-Time of flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometer, 1 Q-TOF-Ion mobility mass spectrometer (Q-TOF-IM), 1 dual absorbance, 1 Photo-diode array, 1 scanning fluorescence); 1 Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS).
The Food Microbiology Lab is located at the Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A) building.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this lab is categorized as a biosafety level II Microbiology lab.
This lab is equipped with an autoclave, a -80 ºC freezer, and 1 level II biosafety cabinet.
Several ovens and refrigerators, centrifuges, as well as an orbital incubator, a state-of-the-art real-time PCR, a Headspace Gas Analyser OXYBABY, a multiwell plate reader, and an optical microscope are also available in this lab.
Additionally, this lab also has an atmosphere generator Anoxomat 3.0 capable of generating both anaerobic and microaerophilic atmospheres, as well as a PM100 planetary ball mill with 50 and 500 mL jars of zirconium oxide that can be used for mechanochemical green synthesis of nanomaterials.
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