Research Topic Title:

Study of the microbiome of dairy products for potential functional / technological properties and the production of value-added products.

No. of Openings:

1

Description:

The microbiome of dairy products is a source of various microorganisms where they may contribute with their properties (technological or otherwise) to the production of products with functional properties (e.g. antimicrobial activity) or product typicality properties (e.g. aromatic and other organoleptic profile). The study concerns technological and microbiological characteristics as well as molecular characterization of the genetic background of the traits of interest.

Funding:

The PhD candidate can potentially be employed as a teaching assistant, receive, based on his excellence, an internal scholarship from the University or another source, while he can participate in funded research projects, which can secure him funding.

Required Qualifications:

Candidates for the above position must possess a Bachelor's and Master's Degree from a recognized university in one of the following fields: Food Science and Technology, Agricultural Science, Dairy Science and Technology, Food Microbiology/Biotechnology or other related discipline. Previous relevant research experience is an added advantage. In addition, candidates must have a very good command of the English language. Candidates will be interviewed for the current position. Applicants are advised to submit a letter of their interests and vision in the relevant field of microbiology and food technology showing independent thinking and ideation capacity proving their potential as leaders in research.

The Teams of Agricultural Microbiology and Biotechnology and Dairy Science and Technology are equal opportunity, motivational and inspirational teams for all applicants and their members.

Research Advisor:

Name/Surname:

Dimitris Tsaltas & Photis Papademas

Position:

Associate Professors

Email:

dimitris.tsaltas@cut.ac.cy, photis.papademas@cut.ac.cy

Research Topic Title:

Agricultural Microbiology and Biotechnology

No. of Openings:

2

Description:

The research may concern issues of Agricultural Microbiology and Biotechnology such as:

• study of microbial communities of various agri-food systems (traditional fermented foods, wine, agricultural products whose microbial diversity can play a role in their quality characteristics)
• antimicrobial resistance in agri-food and environmental ecosystems (irrigation water, groundwater, soil, fruits and vegetables, meat and animal products)
• microbes in agroecological crop management systems (role and utilization of plant symbiotic microbes)
• The candidate's special topic will be discussed at the interview where the candidate is expected to highlight his/her interests.

Funding:

Qualified candidates may be funded as teaching assistants, receive on the basis of their excellence whenever and if internal fellowships are awarded, or participate in funded research projects.

Required Qualifications:

Applicants for the above position must have a Bachelor's and Master's Degree from a recognized university in one of the following fields: Agricultural Science or Food Science and Technology or Microbiology or other related field. Emphasis in Microbiology or Biotechnology or Molecular Biology as well as relevant laboratory experience will be considered an additional qualification. In addition, candidates must have a very good command of the English language. The evaluation includes a personal interview. Applicants are encouraged to submit a letter of interest in Agricultural Microbiology and Biotechnology where they are expected to show initiative in thinking, highlighting their perspective as research leaders.

The Agricultural Microbiology and Biotechnology team employs and operates with equal opportunities to all its applicants and members.

Research Advisor:

Name/Surname:

Dimitris Tsaltas

Position:

Associate Professor

Email:

dimitris.tsaltas@cut.ac.cy

Description:

Cistus species (family Cistaceacea) are perennial, dicotyledonous flowering shrubs in white or pink depending on the species. These plants are capable of growing in difficult climatic and soil conditions and widely distributed in the Mediterranean area. Cistus plants have been traditionally used in folk medicine as infusions, extracts and as resin “Ladano” in the treatment of many diseases. Recent studies

have also highlighted the biological and pharmacological activities of Cistus plants. Phytochemical studies using chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques have shown that Cistus is a source of active bioactive compounds such phenolic acid, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids and terpenoids.  The main objectives of this study will be to (i) provide a comprehensive overview on phytochemical and pharmacological aspects for Cistus species grown in Cyprus, (ii) establish green and eco-friendly extraction methods for the recovery bioactive substances and (iii) develop innovative Cistus plants based functional foods.

Funding:

The candidate can potentially be employed as a teaching assistant, receive an internal scholarship from the University, based on his/her excellence, while he/she can participate in funded research projects which potentially can secure a scholarship.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor and Master of Science degree in Agricultural Sciences, Food Science and Technology, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences or related disciplines. Applicants must have an excellent working knowledge of the English language. Previous relevant research experience will be considered. Candidates will have to support interview for the current position.

Research Advisor:

Name/Surname:

Vlasios Goulas

Position:

Assistant Professor

Email:

vlasios.goulas@cut.ac.cy

Description:

Wheat is considered one of the most important crops in the world. It is grown on more land area than any other food crop (545 million acres in 2021), while world trade in wheat is greater than for all other crops combined. Wheat was domesticated in the fertile crescent region, and thus, holds a genetic reservoir capable of withstanding abiotic stresses compared to other non-rainfed crops. Cyprus, an eastern Mediterranean country is in the spotlight of its domestication and has a millennia tradition in wheat cultivation. Consequently, there is great interest in delineating and selecting genetic traits linked to yield and sustainability from native landraces and cultivars. The scope of the study is to employ multidisciplinary approaches (high throughput genotyping/phenotyping and -omics), to pinpoint attributes aiding the selection and delineation of the first Cypriot core wheat collection.

Funding:

Qualified applicants may be funded as teaching assistants, receive merit-based when and if internal fellowships are awarded, or participate in funded research projects.

Required Qualifications:

Candidates for the above position must have a Bachelor's and Master's Degree. At least one of the titles must be in one of the following fields: Agricultural Sciences, Biology or another related discipline. In addition, candidates must have a very good knowledge of English. Previous relevant laboratory and agronomic experience is considered an additional qualification.

Research Advisor:

Name/Surname:

Nikolaos Nikoloudakis

Position:

Assistant Professor

Email:

n.nikoloudakis@cut.ac.cy

Description:

The position refers to the post-harvest physiology and technology of fresh products with an emphasis on the preservation of vegetables and/or aromatic and medicinal plants both with a combination of physical/chemical methods but mainly with the use and evaluation of natural products/components e.g. essential oils and plant extracts.

Emphasis is placed on evaluation of antioxidant, antimicrobial and other biocidal properties of plant products, but also to enhance nutritive value of the final commodity.

More information on the studies carried out on the website http://www.cut.ac.cy/hydro-aromatic-plants

Funding:

No funding is foreseen for this position at this stage. Chosen candidate may be hired as teaching assistant, or upon his/her performance acquire internal scholarships. The candidate may be funded through external funding sources (research or services).

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor and Master of Science degree in Agricultural Sciences, Food Science/Technology or Food Chemistry or other relevant degree in the area.
• Applicants should be fluent in English. Previous relevant research experience will be considered.
• Candidates will have to support interview for the current position.

Research Advisor:

Name/Surname:

Nikolaos Tzortzakis

Position:

Associate Professor

Email:

nikolaos.tzortzakis@cut.ac.cy

Description:

The positions refer to the study of vegetables and/or aromatic and medicinal plants in intensive growth systems, e.g. Hydroponics in greenhouse crops. Emphasis is placed on endemic plants of Cyprus or plants of increased nutritional value and properties, with the aim of studying them and their response to abiotic stress. Biofortification and bioaccumulation are also research fields of our interest.

More information on the studies carried out from the group, on the website http://www.cut.ac.cy/hydro-aromatic-plants

Funding:

No funding is foreseen for the positions at this stage. Chosen candidate may be hired as teaching assistant, or upon his/her performance acquire internal scholarships. The candidate may be funded through external funding sources (research or services).

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor and Master from an accredited University in Agricultural Sciences or Biology or related disciplines. Applicants should be fluent in English. Previous relevant research experience will be considered.
• Candidates will have to support interview for the current position.

Research Advisor:

Name/Surname:

Nikolaos Tzortzakis

Position:

Associate Professor

Email:

nikolaos.tzortzakis@cut.ac.cy

Research Topic Title:

Spectroscopic and Chromatographic Study of Bioactive/Anticancer Microcomponents of Olive Oil

No. of Openings:

1 

Description:

Olive oil constitute the basis of the Mediterranean diet, and is intertwined with the history, development and culture of Cyprus. Although olive oil mostly consists of components such as triglycerides of fatty acids, it also contains notable amounts of microcomponents such as phenolic molecules which have antioxidant, chemotherapeutic and anticancer properties. Methodologies for their isolation will be developed while characterization studies will be conducted using mainly chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques.

Funding:

Currently, there is no scholarship for this position.

Partial financial support there may be offered for candidates qualified to (a) offer work as teaching assistants, (b)  to receive internal scholarships awarded by the university on the basis of their excellence, and (c)  participate in future research programs related to this field

Required Qualifications:

Candidates for the above position must hold a Bachelor's and Master's Degree from an accredited University in one of the following fields: Chemistry, Food Chemistry, Food Science or other related discipline. Previous relevant research experience will be considered. In addition, candidates must have a very good command of the English language. The evaluation may also include a personal interview of the candidates.

Candidates must provide the names of three professors from academia who can provide recommendations for the candidate when asked

Research Advisor:

Name/Surname:

Chryssoula Drouza

Position:

Associate Professor

Email:

chryssoula.drouza@cut.ac.cy