ONE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP_project “SmartLipoGel” (reference: 2022.02495.PTDC)L 963030

20 Feb 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Universidade de Coimbra

Department

Divisão de Projetos e Atividades (Bolsas)

Research Field

Other

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Portugal

Application Deadline

6 Mar 2024 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

35

Offer Starting Date

22 Feb 2024

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Reference Number

IT137-24-88

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

No

Offer Description

University of Coimbra opens a call for one research fellowship, in the framework of the
project “SmartLipoGel” (reference:2022.02495.PTDC), financed by Fundação para a
Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P./MCTES através de fundos nacionais (PIDDAC), in the following
conditions:
Scientific area: Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering or Biomedical Engineering..
Skills/Qualifications/Admission requirements: Have a Master´s in Chemical Engineering,
Materials Engineering or Biomedical Engineering – enrolled in a PhD course in Chemical
Engineering, Materials Engineering or Biomedical Engineering or in a Non-Degree Course of
the University of Coimbra.
The candidate should ideally have the following background: knowledge in chemical synthesis;
laboratory knowledge with standard chemistry and physico-chemical techniques to
characterize compounds and materials; good data-management skills and data interpretation;
fluence in English (spoken and written); good organizational and teamwork skills
.
“Courses not conferring an academic degree” must be related to the research fellowship’s
activity type. “Courses not conferring an academic degree” are the courses referred to in
paragraph e) of number 3 of article 4 of Decree-Law no. 74/2006, of 24 March, in the current
wording, provided that they are developed in association or cooperation between the higher
education institution and one or more R&D units, in accordance with the provisions of
paragraph e) of article 3 of the Regulation for Research Fellowships of the Foundation for
Science and Technology (FCT).
Although the recipients must be enrolled in a cycle of studies leading to the attribution of an
academic degree or in a course not conferring an academic degree, at the time of application
it is not necessary for the candidate to have made such an enrollment, and proof of enrollment
must be presented until the fellowship is contractualized. Candidates are only required to meet
the requirements to enroll in the training offer. If there are candidates already enrolled
(including attending a course), they compete on an equal footing with those who are not
enrolled.
Article 6.5 of the Research Grants Regulations only allows the award of scholarships to bachelor's and master's degree holders enrolled in non-degree study cycles
who have not academic degree that have not exceeded two years in different scholarship
contracts.
Work plan/ Objectives: The present work aims to the development of polysaccharide-based
injectable hydrogel containing heat-responsive liposomes (LipoGel) to aid in tissue
regeneration, in particular for the pro-angiogenic therapeutics which has shown to improve
cell growth and consequently improve tissue repair. This system will allow to passively release
one therapeutic agent loaded within the gel and to induce the release of a second therapeutic
agent encapsulated in the stimuli-responsive liposomes via a hyperthermic stimulus.
The main objectives of this research plan are:
1) To develop a polysaccharides-based injectable hydrogel containing heat-responsive
liposome (LipoGel), with the following steps: a) preparation of the injectable gels b)
preparation of thermosensitive polymer-liposome complexes (PLCs) c) loading both gel and
PLCs with therapeutic agents: e.g., hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and deferroxamine (DFO)
2) To characterize the gels, PLCs and LipoGel chemical, physical and mechanically to ensure
the desired properties of materials
3) To evaluate/optimize the release profile: study of the drug release kinetics from the
hydrogel and study/optimization of the temperature stimulus for the release of the drug
incorporated in the liposomes
4) To ensure that the selected hydrogels are non-toxic and present good biocompatibility, i.e.,
if they are good candidates for in vivo studies.
This work will lead to new biomaterials for tissue repair with improved performance, specific
control and less secondary effects compared to the existing ones..
Regime: The attribution of the fellowship does not generate or entitle a relation of a legallabour
nature, and the fellowship is undertaken in an exclusive dedication regime. The
fellowship holder is awarded the Fellowship Statute of the UC, in its current wording, according
to the Research Fellowship Holder Statute , and according to the Regulation for Research
Fellowships of the Foundation for Science and Technology, both in their current wording.
Location: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology at the
University of Coimbra.
Duration: Six (6) months or until the project ends on 31/08/2024.
Renewal: Eventually renewable, subject to compliance with article 15 of the Foundation for
Science and Technology's Research Grant Regulations and the end date of the research

Scientific orientation: Doutora Patrícia de Jesus Pinto Alves.
Financial conditions: The amount of the fellowship is € 1259,64 corresponding to the
monthly compensation stipulated in the FCT table
(https://www.fct.pt/en/financiamento/programas-de-financiamento/bolsas/ ), plus social
security (Seguro Social Voluntário, first level contributions) and personal accidents insurance.
The payment will be made by bank transfer. This amount will not be increased during the
entire period of the fellowship duration.
Selection methods: Curriculum evaluation (100%).
Selection criteria: The curricular assessment will be graded according to the following
criteria:
A) Absolute merit of the curriculum vitae - (50%);
B) Adequacy of the candidate’s profile to the work plan to be developed - (20%);
C) Specific knowledge related to the work plan - (10%);
D) knowledge of foreign languages, particularly English - (10%);
E) Motivation letter - (10%);.
Jury responsible for selection: Patrícia de Jesus Pinto Alves (President of the Jury); Maria
Benilde Faria de Oliveira e Costa (1st Jury); Paula Cristina Nunes Ferreira ( 1st Alternative
Jury);Alexandrina Maria Ferreira Santos Pinto Mendes (2nd Jury)); Marcos João Mota Leite
Machado Mariz (2nd Alternative Jury)..
Formalization of application: Applications must be formalized by sending:
(a) Motivation Letter;
(b) Curriculum Vitae;
(c) Certificate of Qualifications;
(d) Proof of enrolment – Course not conferring an academic degree (optional);
(e) Certificate of recognition academic degrees obtained abroad.
The following declaration, which must be completed using the appropriate form on the

apply.uc.pt platform:.
.
Declaration on the honor of the candidate(s) with the indication of the fellowship(s) of the
typology to which the contest was held and the respective duration(s).
Applicants with academic degrees obtained abroad will be required to present a Certificate of
Recognition in accordance with applicable law. This document is mandatory only in the
contractualization phase.
Applications submission: Applications must be submitted via https://apply.uc.pt/IT137-24 -
88..
Submission of applications: Between 22/02/2024 and 06/03/2024.
Submission deadline date: 06/03/2024.
Additional information: The evaluation results will be announced within 90 working days
after the end of the applications submission deadline, by notifying the applicants via email.
After the announcement of the results, candidates are considered automatically notified to, if
they wish to do so, comment on the results on a preliminary hearing period within 10 days
after that date. After this, the selected candidates will have to declare in writing their
acceptance. Unless a justification worthy of consideration is presented, if the declaration is not
submitted within the referred period, it is considered that the candidate waivers the fellowship.
In case of resignation or withdrawal of the selected candidate, the next candidate with the
highest evaluation score will be notified immediately.
Once the selection process is completed, the fellowship contract will be drawn up in accordance
with the draft contract provided by the FCT.
After the contracted period, the fellowship holder and supervisor must prepare the final report
in accordance with the respective assessment criteria that were established.
Pursuant to subparagraph 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 each and
every kind 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.
Selection reserve list: Up to 6 months before the end of the project, provided that the
maximum duration of the scholarship is not exceeded.

Requirements
Additional Information

Website for additional job details

https://apply.uc.pt/IT137-24-88

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Universidade de Coimbra

Country

Portugal

City

Coimbra

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://apply.uc.pt/IT137-24-88

Contact

City

Coimbra

Website

https://www.uc.pt/administracao/dpa

Street

Rua Larga

E-Mail

[email protected]

Phone

+351915423095

STATUS: EXPIRED