Cultivation and evaluation of the nutritional potential of marine macroalgae for incorporation in pre-cooked meals

Marine macroalgae have a wide variety of compounds with different properties and benefits for human health: minerals (iodine, iron and calcium), proteins (essential amino acids), lipids (polyunsaturated fatty acids), vitamins and polysaccharides (fibers), necessary for primary human metabolism. As a way of suppressing the nutritional needs of some diets, macroalgae appear as a natural and abundant food, with an index of rapid growth and high potential as a source of food nutrition. The main challenge of this work is the cultivation and analysis of the nutritional composition of selected macroalgae for use in the food industry in the development of new pre-cooked meals. At this internship field campaigns will be carried out to collect adults and juveniles of previously selected macroalgae species and subsequent cultivation, of adults, in aquaculture tanks, and of juveniles, under laboratory conditions. The species of marine macroalgae grown under different cultivation conditions, will be analyzed for their protein, carbohydrate and lipid content to furher incorporation in pre-cooked meals with high nutritional value. This work will be developed under the scope of the project  MENU - Marine macroalgaE: alternative recipes for a daily NUtritional diet, coordinated by Dr. Ana Marta Gonçalves.

Language requirements: 
English
Specific competences required : 
Degree in Biology, Environmental Sciences and related areas.
Safety issues: 
Students should have vaccinations updated; During field campaigns and laboratory work should have a correct behavior, following the instructions given by the supervisor for a safety development of the activities.
Accommodation possibilities : 
Students may book a room or an apartment in Figueira da Foz. There is no students' residencies in Figueira da Foz. After the selection of the candidates, the student(s) with the help of the host institution may find an apartment or room to stay during the professional training. In Figueira da Foz the housing costs are about 250-350€ per month(excluding gas, eletricity, water and wi-fi).
Additional costs to be covered by the student: 
Yes
Describe the additional costs to be covered by the student: 
Accomodation, meals, transport and other costs may be covered by the student. The host institution only cover the costs related to the scientific work (lab and field campaign)
format: 
on-site