3 Postdoctoral positions - Vagnoni Lab IT057-24-13903

17 Apr 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Universidade de Coimbra

Department

SGRH - DRGC

Research Field

Other

Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)

Country

Portugal

Application Deadline

17 May 2024 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

35

Offer Starting Date

17 Apr 2024

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

H2020

Reference Number

IT057-24-13903

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Job description

The Vagnoni Lab explores the complexity of neuronal biology, focusing on understanding how intracellular trafficking influences neuronal function, and its role in healthy aging and neurodegeneration.

The post holders will develop research activities within the scope of Fly Coimbra Lab (FlyCab), a newly developed facility at the Multidisciplinary Institute of Ageing at the University of Coimbra. The work to be carried out will initially aim to interrogate the Drosophila genome using genome engineering in a quest to find new geroprotectors and, throughout the project, may be combined with in vivo and in vitro approaches using Drosophila melanogaster and mammalian cell culture models. The research activities will employ several research techniques, including Drosophila genetics, advanced microscopy, Drosophila and mammalian cell culture, biochemistry, molecular biology, optogenetics and behavioural assays.

 

For selected recent publications see:

• Sleigh et al., 2023. Age-specific and compartment-dependent changes in mitochondrial homeostasis and cytoplasmic viscosity in mouse peripheral neurons. bioRxiv.
• Mattedi et al., 2023. Optogenetic cleavage of the Miro GTPase reveals the direct consequences of real-time loss of function in Drosophila. PloS Biology.
• Mattedi et al., 2019. Temporal control of axonal transport: the extreme case of organismal ageing. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience.
• Mórotz et al., 2019. Kinesin light chain-1 serine-460 phosphorylation is altered in Alzheimer's disease and regulates axonal transport and processing of the amyloid precursor protein. Acta Neuropathol Commun.
• Vagnoni et al., 2018. A cAMP/PKA/Kinesin-1 Axis Promotes the Axonal Transport of Mitochondria in Ageing Drosophila neurons. Current Biology.
• Vagnoni et al., 2016. A simple method for imaging axonal transport in ageing neurons using the adult Drosophila wing. Nature Protocols.

 

 

PUBLIC NOTICE
I publicly announce that, by my order of March 18, an international tender to fill 3 for the position of assistant researcher,
is hereby open for 20 days following the publication of the present notice at Diário da República [Official Journal of the
Portuguese Republic]. The stated positions will be held under a public service employment contract of specified duration
at the Multidisciplinary Institute of Ageing - Portugal Research Center of the University of Coimbra.
This international tender shall be conducted pursuant to paragraph 1 of Article 57 of the Lei Geral do Trabalho em Funções
Públicas [Public Employment Act], to the Decree nr. 57/2016, in its latest version, to the Regulatory Decree nr. 11-
A/2017, of December 29th, and the Regulamento de recrutamento, contratação, prestação de serviço e avaliação de
doutorados contratados a termo, na Universidade de Coimbra [Regulation on the Recruitment, Hiring, Service Provision
and Assessment of Fixed-term PhD Employees at the University of Coimbra], hereinafter referred to as RRCPADCT, as
well as further applicable legislation, for the scientific areas of Life Sciences and Health Sciences, subareas of Biology,
Biochemistry, and Biomedical Sciences, at the University of Coimbra.
Project funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No
857524.
I. Reference, Place of Work and Monthly Wage
I.1 Public tender reference: IT057-24-13903
I.2. Place of Work: Multidisciplinary Institute of Ageing – Portugal Research Center of the University of Coimbra
I.3. Job description: development of research activities within the scope of Fly Coimbra Lab (FlyCab), in the cell biology
of neuronal ageing area, with a particular focus on intracellular trafficking mechanisms underpinning ageing and
neurodegeneration. The work to be carried out will initially aim to interrogate the Drosophila genome using CRISPR/Cas9
in a quest to find new geroprotectors, and throughout the project, may be combined in vivo and in vitro approaches using
Drosophila melanogaster and mammalian cell culture models. The research activities will allow to employ several research
techniques, including Drosophila genetics, advanced microscopy, Drosophila and mammalian cell culture, biochemistry,
molecular biology, optogenetics and behavioural assays.
Candidates must have experience working with Drosophila and proven knowledge in the field of neurobiology and cell
biology, being also valued experience with live cell microscopy. Candidates must have leadership skills and proficiency in
the written and spoken English language.
I.4. Gross monthly wage 3.427,59€, euros, corresponding at level 53 and 54 of the single remuneration table, approved
by Ordinance nr. 1553-C/2008, of December 31st, in its current version.
I.5. Maximum duration: three years, renewable for periods of one year, up to a maximum of six years.
II. Admission Requirements
II.1. Applicants shall be at least 18 years of age or older; not be inhibited to holding a job in the public sector, nor
forbidden to perform the intended position; applicants shall also be in good health and possess the psychological profile
required for the job and shall meet the compulsory vaccination requirements, in accordance with Article 17 of Law nr.
35/2014, of June 20th, in its latest version.
II.2. At the time of application, applicants shall hold a Ph.D. in the above-mentioned scientific area(s) or in a correlated
one, in which case the applicant’s scientific background shall demonstrate the ability to thoroughly develop work in the
main field(s) of the tender.
III. Application
III.1. Submission: Applicants must access and register on the electronic platform apply.uc.pt, to submit their application,
selecting the procedure to which they intend to apply.
The documents inserted in the application are exclusively in digital portable document format (pdf), with the exception of
the documents mentioned in points III.2.3. to III.2.5., which may be delivered in other digital formats.
Regarding the documents mentioned in point III.2.4., as an alternative to delivering a copy, the CV can also indicate the
unique digital identifier of the publications, which must be of the handle type (e.g. DOI) or URN (e.g. ISBN).
The application submission is carried out by completing the sections available on the Apply UC electronic platform, under
“My application”.
When formalizing the application, if a classified document is submitted that reveals commercial or industrial secrets, or
secrets relating to literary, artistic or scientific property, the applicant must select this option, available on the platform
for each document entered, under penalty of the work in question being freely accessed by any of the other applicants,
in consultation process.
III.2 Documents to be delivered:
III.2.1. Curriculum Vitae, duly dated and signed, for the last five years (or the extended period to which the decision of
the jury refers, if requested by the candidate, on grounds of suspension of scientific activity for socially protected reasons,
namely parental leave, prolonged serious illness, and other situations of unavailability for legally protected work, in which
case the candidate must indicate the period of assessment desired and attach a document proving the grounds invoked).
The Curriculum Vitae must contain a preamble, if it exists, containing the history of all contractual relations of the
candidate during the last five years (or the extended period to which he/she is entitled) and respective periods, identifying
the category detained, the nature of the bond and the respective scientific area and explaining, precisely, the employment
bond detained and the institution where he/she performs functions on the date of application. It must also include a
substantiated synopsis showing that the candidate has a specialty appropriate to the scientific area or areas for which the
competition is open.
The candidate must also organize his/her Curriculum Vitae in such a way as to respond separately to each one of the
criteria listed in point IV.2. and respective subpoints, as well as, under penalty of exclusion, identify and substantiate,
from among the works he/she produces, which 3 to 6 he/she considers to be his/her most significant contributions in the
perspective of each evaluation criterion, explained in point IV.2.
III.2.2. Copy of qualification certificates. Opponents selected for the position(s) to be filled who hold a foreign doctoral
degree must present the recognition or registration (as applicable) of their degree at the time of contract signing, in
accordance with Decree-Law No. 66/2018, dated August 16th, under penalty of exclusion. If the recognition is requested
at the University of Coimbra, it will cover the costs of the recognition or registry for the candidate(s) who will be hired,
and the candidate(s) are exempt from paying the fee until the final ranking. You can find more information at the following
link: https://www.uc.pt/academicos/graus/reconhecimentos .
III.2.3. Autonomous copy (one PDF file per paper) of the 3 to 6 papers that the candidate considers best represent
his/her most significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the area or areas for which the tender is open.
III.2.4. Copy of all other papers mentioned in the Curriculum Vitae (or indication in the CV of the unique digital identifier
of the publications, which must be of the handle type (e.g. DOI) or URN (e.g. ISBN)).
III.2.5. Any other elements that the candidate considers relevant.
III.3. All application documents indicated in item III.2. shall be submitted in English, with the exception of those
indicated in III.2.4. and III.2.5. that may be submitted in another language, if there is no Portuguese or English version
of them. Whenever the originals of the documents referred to in III.2.3. are produced in a different language, a
translation document into English shall be delivered.
III.4. Applications that are not duly instructed or do not fulfil the formal criteria for admission to the competition, under
the terms defined in the legislation in force and in this notice, will not be admitted. The submission of any required
documentation outside the stipulated deadline also determines the non-admission to the contest.
III.5. Applicants who are non-native speakers of either Portuguese or English must be proficient at level C1 of the
Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) in, at least, one of those languages.
III.6. The present tender ceases with the occupation of the positions or, when the positions cannot be totally occupied,
due to the inexistence or insufficiency of candidates to continue the contest.
IV. Selection methods and criteria
IV.1. Selection Methods: Assessment of scientific background and CV [ABC (90%)] and Interview [I (10%)].
IV.2. In the assessment of the candidate’s background and CV, scientific performance and outreach and management
activities are considered, in accordance with the criteria mentioned below.
IV.2.1. Scientific performance of the candidate in the research area(s) for which the tender is open, in the last five years
or the extended period requested, if accepted by the committee, with a weight of 80%, based on the following parameters:
IV.2.1.1. Scientific, technological, cultural or artistic production: Relevance, quality and national and international
recognition of the scientific, technological, cultural or artistic production, with particular focus on the works/papers
selected as their most significant contributions to the development of the field;
IV.2.1.2. Applied research: Activities of applied or practice-based research, their impact and national and international
recognition, with particular focus on the works/papers indicated as having the greatest impact;
IV.2.2. Outreach and management activities in the last five years in the area(s) for which this tender is open, with a
weight of 20%, based on the following parameters:
IV.2.2.1. Outreach activities: Outreach and dissemination of knowledge activities carried out in the context of the
promotion of culture and scientific practices;
IV.2.2.2. Management activities: Management of science, technology and innovation programs, observation and
monitoring of the scientific and technological system or the higher education system, in Portugal or other countries, and
also the coordination and participation in scientific projects.
IV.3. The assessment of the candidate’s background and CV is based on the criteria and parameters defined in IV.2, and
is duly justified and graded on a scale of 0 to 20 points (calculated to the hundredths) by the selection committee.
IV.4. The evaluation of the interview is made according to the criteria and weightings defined in IV.2., being duly
substantiated and expressed by the jury on a scale of 0 to 20 values, with valuation up to hundredths, and aims exclusively
at clarifying aspects related to the results of the candidates' research. The interview is public and may be attended by all
interested parties.
IV.5. All the candidates complying with the application requirements are subject to the background and CV assessment,
which shall be conducted under the criteria and evaluation parameters defined in IV.2. and IV.3.. However, only the first
6 (six) candidates with the best scores in the ranking resulting from the assessment of the background and CV will be
called for the interview.
IV.6. Candidates who obtain a score under 9.5 points in one of the selection methods will be excluded from the tender
procedure, pursuant to paragraphs 3 and 4 of Article 13 of RRCPADCT, and the next method, if it exists, is not applied.
Candidates who fail to appear, who desist or who, although approved, were not included in the lots used, will also be
excluded from the tender.
IV.7. The final score (FS) is expressed in a scale of 0 to 20 points, calculated to the hundredths, based on the following
formula:
FS = (ABC x 90%) + (I x 10%)
V. Selection Process
V.1. First meeting:
V.1.1. The Selection Committee decides, first, on the admission and exclusion of applications. In case of non-fulfilment
or partial fulfilment of any of the requirements defined in section III. above, the Committee decides whether this
insufficiency prevents accepting the application, or if having no relevant impact on the evaluation process, the application
may nevertheless be accepted.
V.1.2. After deciding on the admission and exclusion of candidates, the Committee begins the procedures relating to the
phased application of the selection methods. First, it assesses the scientific background and CV of all the admitted
candidates. The merit of the candidates will only be assessed based on their previous experience in the scientific area(s)
for which the tender is open, according to the selection criteria and evaluation parameters described in this public notice.
The candidates’ merit and experience in other areas shall not therefore be taken into consideration by the Committee.
The ranking of the candidates in the ABC method is based on the scores given to each candidate.
V.1.3. Candidates both excluded and admitted to the interview shall be notified by Public Notice, under the terms
mentioned below in section VI.
V.2. Second meeting:
V.2.1. The Selection Committee conducts the interview with the admitted candidates, which shall have the maximum
duration of one hour, although the Chairman of the Committee may decide to extend it further for a period of 30 minutes.
The Committee shall only consider the merit of the candidates based on their experience in the scientific area(s) for which
the tender is open. The interview is conducted by the Chairman of the Committee, although other committee members
may also interact with the candidate. This interview shall be held in Portuguese, unless the candidate or any members of
the Committee are not proficient in that language. In this case, it may be conducted in English, upon decision of the
Chairman.
V.2.2. Candidates who fail to attend the interview at the set time and place shall be excluded from the tender procedure.
Similarly, candidates failing to attend a duly scheduled teleconference call shall also be deemed excluded.
V.2.3. After conducting and scoring the interviews, the Committee calculates the final score and ranks the candidates
approved in both methods by applying the formula defined above in IV.7.
V.2.4. The notification of the draft’s final decision to the candidates, which contains the list with the proposed ordering
of the successful candidates as well as the list of the excluded candidates, is made according to the terms of point VI. of
this notice.
V.3. Candidates can, if they so wish, appeal the decision of the Committee, in due respect for their right to a fair hearing,
pursuant to Article 121 of the Código do Procedimento Administrativo [CPA - Code of Administrative Proceedings]. The
period to submit an appeal begins on the day the public notice with the Selection Committee’s deliberation is published,
pursuant to paragraph 8 of Article 113 of the CPA.
V.4. Third meeting:
V.4.1. If any of the candidates exercises their right to be heard, the Selection Committee shall hold a third meeting in
order to analyze the request, and the candidates will be notified of its deliberations, under the terms of section VI herein.
V.4.2. If the Selection Committee finds the candidates’ allegations well founded, it shall proceed according to its
deliberations, thereby notifying the candidates under the terms of VI.3 herein.
V.4.3. If the Selection Committee finds such allegations unfounded, following the candidates’ notification under the terms
of VI.3 herein, the procedure shall then be submitted to the Rector for approval.
V.5. All the candidates will be notified regarding the approval decision under the terms of section VI. herein. The
administrative records of the tender may be consulted by the candidates, through prior scheduling, requested by sending
an e-mail to the Human Resources Management Service e-mail address: [email protected] .
VI. Tender timetable and notification of candidates
VI.1. The tender timetable will be available on the Apply UC electronic platform until the deadline for submission of
applications. The candidates are notified by public notice of the following acts, the dates of which must be included in the
competition calendar: the list of admitted and excluded candidates; the date, place and identification of the selected
candidates for the interview, as well as, among them, the identification of the candidates to whom the President of the
Jury has granted the interview by teleconference; the draft final decision of the competition; the decisions regarding
eventual allegations of the candidates and, the final result of the competition, after homologation. It is mandatory that
the tender timetable include the dates of publication of Public Notices.
VI.2. If any of the terms established in the timetable of the tender procedure cannot be met, an updated timetable will
be published on that same date on the University of Coimbra website, replacing the previous one. If the interview cannot
be conducted on the appointed date, the new date will be announced in a public notice confirming that it is to be held and
containing the list of admitted and excluded candidates.
VI.3. Notifications by public notice as provided for in point VI.1. shall be made by publication in the Apply UC electronic
platform, pursuant to paragraph d) of no. 1 of article 112 of the CPA and article 51 of the RRCPADCT, and shall produce
their effects pursuant to article 113 of the CPA.
VI.4. The entire tender records may be consulted by candidates, upon previous appointment, requested via e-mail sent
to the Human Resources Management Service e-mail address: [email protected] .
VII – Selection Committee:
Chairman:
Manuel Silva Santos, Full Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra
Committee members:
Alessio Vagnoni, Principal Investigator at the Multidisciplinary Institute of Ageing – Portugal, University of Coimbra;
Hugo Agostinho Machado Fernandes, Principal Investigator at the Multidisciplinary Institute of Ageing – Portugal,
University of Coimbra;
Teresa Maria Fonseca Oliveira Gonçalves, Associate Professor with Aggregation, Faculty of Medicine, University of
Coimbra;
Alternate committee members:
Ana Luísa Monteiro de Carvalho, Associate Professor, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology
University of Coimbra;
Joana Isabel Simões Ferreira, Assistant Researcher, Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra;
Lino da Silva Ferreira, Coordinating Researcher, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra;
In the event of absences or impediments of the Chairman, he/she shall be replaced by the Committee member indicated
first, which, in the same case of impediment, will be replaced by the Committee member indicated next and so on.
Page 8 of 8
IT057 | Im1298en_12
This Public Notice will be published in Portuguese in Diário da República, 2nd Series, and on the website Bolsa de Emprego
Público (Governmental Public Employment Portal), as well as in both Portuguese and English in the Apply UC computer
platform and in the EURAXESS Portugal Portal, at https://www.euraxess.pt/ .
Pursuant to paragraph h) of Article 9 of the Portuguese Constitution, the University of Coimbra, as employer, actively
promotes a policy of equal opportunities between men and women in access to employment and professional development,
and acts to prevent all forms of discrimination.
Therefore, no one can be privileged, benefited, harmed or deprived of any right or immune from any duty on account of,
in particular, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender, marital status, family, economic situation, education, origin or
social condition, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic or racial origin,
territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological beliefs and trade union membership.
In accordance with Decree-Law nr. 29/2001, of 3 February, candidates with disabilities take precedence over others when
they obtained the same classification, and this prevails over any other eligible preference.
The University of Coimbra clarifies that, in reference to paragraph 5 of Article 6 of Decree-Law nr. 57/2016, of August
29th, it makes no commitment to considering that it has a strategic interest in opening tenders for tenure-track research
or teaching positions.
Paço das Escolas,
The Rector, Amílcar Falcão

 

 

 

 

 

Requirements

Research Field

Other

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Phd in the scientific areas of Life Sciences and Health Sciences, subareas of Biology, Biochemistry, and Biomedical Sciences, at the University of Coimbra.
 

Specific Requirements

Key experience and competencies

Candidates must have experience working with Drosophila and proven knowledge in the field of neurobiology and/or cell biology. Experience with live cell microscopy and/or genome engineering would be advantageous but not essential.

Candidates must have leadership skills and proficiency in the written and spoken English language.

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Research Field

Other

Additional Information
Benefits

Gross monthly wage 3.427,59€, euros, corresponding at level 53 and 54 of the single remuneration table, approved
by Ordinance nr. 1553-C/2008, of December 31st, in its current version.

Eligibility criteria

Key experience and competencies

Candidates must have experience working with Drosophila and proven knowledge in the field of neurobiology and/or cell biology. Experience with live cell microscopy and/or genome engineering would be advantageous but not essential.

Candidates must have leadership skills and proficiency in the written and spoken English language.

 

Selection process

How to apply

If you are interested in applying for these roles, please apply via https://apply.uc.pt/ .

• The job reference is IT057-24-13903.
• All necessary documents and evaluation process are detailed in the full job description (Edital).
• The closing date for applications is 17  May 2024 at 23:59
• The application must be submitted in English.
• Offers of employment to candidates who hold a foreign doctoral degree are subject to recognition or registration (as applicable) of their degree at the time of contract signing. More information: https://www.uc.pt/en/academicos/graus/reconhecimentos
• Informal enquiries can be made to [email protected]
•  

Additional comments

About the Multidisciplinary Institute of Ageing

The University of Coimbra (UC), established in 1290, stands as a global beacon of higher education and scientific excellence. The Multidisciplinary Institute of Ageing (www.uc.pt/mia ) is the first Centre of Excellence devoted to the molecular and biological basis of ageing in Southern Europe.

Our aim is to bridge the gap between fundamental research and its translation into human intervention, with a mission to improve the health and wellbeing of the ageing population. Comprising a growing number of talented and diverse research groups, MIA fosters innovation in an optimal environment, with relocation to a state-of-the-art, purpose-built facility equipped with cutting-edge technology taking place in early 2025. Our culture encourages multidisciplinary collaboration, complemented by a robust commitment to advanced teaching and public engagement.

MIA is being formed through a Horizon 2020 Teaming partnership with the University of Newcastle, the University Medical Center Groningen, our tech transfer specialists Instituto Pedro Nunes, and the Regional Authority. This collaborative effort reflects our dedication to advancing research, knowledge exchange, and international outlook in ageing-related studies.

 

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

3

Company/Institute

University of Coimbra

Country

Portugal

State/Province

Coimbra

City

Coimbra

Postal Code

3000-548

Street

Azinhaga da Santa Comba

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://app.apply.uc.pt/procedure/IT057-24-13903

Contact

State/Province

Coimbra

City

Coimbra

Website

https://www.uc.pt/drh/servico/sgrh

Street

Azinhaga da Santa Comba

Postal Code

3000-548

STATUS: EXPIRED