054/BI/2022 - Fellowship for Masters

Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier – ITQB NOVA
Application for a Master Fellowship
within PTDC/BIA-MIC/2422/2020

Applications are invited for a Master Fellowship in the scope of the project entitled “Investigating the mechanisms underpinning the interaction between autonomous immunity and intracellular S. aureus cell division and persistence.” with the Ref. PTDC/BIA-MIC/2422/2020, funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia I.P./MCTES, through national funding (PIDDAC).

Scientific Area: Biological Sciences, Biology

Academic degree: Masters in Cell Biology or equivalent.

Other requisites:
- Master in Cell Biology or equivalent
- Extensive experience (over 5 years) in S. aureus cell biology.
- Extensive experience (over 5 years) in S. aureus microscopy approaches.
- Extensive experience (over 5 years) in Super-Resolution microscopy.
- Being enrolled in a PhD, or in a non-academic degree course, in accordance with number 2 of the Article 6th of “do Regulamento de Bolsas de Investigação da Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P.”, law in force.

Working Plan: Characterization of the effect of antimicrobial molecules on S. aureus evasion from autonomous immunity. Currently, chemotherapy strategies rely to great extent in the use of antimicrobial molecules that target the bacterial cell surface biosynthesis, bacterial cell division or proteins involved in these processes, as these are usually unique to bacterial cells (e.g. PGN). We have evidence that host cell autonomous immunity mechanisms are intimately related with bacterial cell division. Consequently, halted, or slower cell division (via antibiotic chemotherapy or slow-growing persistence phenotypes) may protect bacteria from autonomous immunity recognition. To explore this hypothesis, we will test a panel of antimicrobial molecules to determine how these affect intracellular infection using a combination of bacterial/mammalian cell biology and super-resolution microscopy approaches. The selected candidate will be highly experienced in S. aureus cell biology and super-resolution imaging and will be provided with specific training in mammalian cell biology and infection assays.

Applicable Law and Regulations: Status of Scientific Research Fellow, approved by Law number 40/2004, of August 18th, changed and republished by Ordinance 202/2012 of August 27th and changed by Ordinance 233/2012 of October 29th and by Law 12/2013 of January 29th and by Ordinance 89/2013 of July 9th and by the Ordinance 123/2019 of August 28th;
Regulations for Research Fellowships from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., in force (https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/docs/RegulamentoBolsasFCT2019.pdf ).

Working Place: The work will be carried out in the IMIB at ITQB NOVA, under supervision of Pedro Matos Pereira.

Duration of the fellowship: The fellowship will have the duration of 4 months, eventually renewable (6 months), expected to start in October 2022, on a full-time basis, according to Fellowship Regulations of Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, I.P.

Stipend amount: 1 144,64€ (“Bolsa de Mestre”), according to the table of values of grants awarded directly by the FCT, I.P. in the Country (https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/docs/Tabela_de_Valores_SMM_2022.pdf ) and payment will be made, monthly, through bank transfer.

Selection procedure: The evaluation procedures will be based on the analysis of the candidates´ CV and if needed an interview for the selected candidates may take place. In this case, the curriculum evaluation and the interview will have a weight of 50% each.

Juri composition: President: Doctor Pedro Pereira; effective members: Doctor Ana Pina and Doctor Sarela Santamaria; Substitute member: Doctor Mónica Serrano.

Application documents: The application should be formalized in a cover letter indicating the corresponding fellowship reference together with the following documents: detailed Curriculum Vitae, degree certificate. All documents should be preferably sent by email in a single pdf file. If the degree has been conferred by a non-Portuguese higher education institution, the selected candidate must obtain the certificate of the degree recognition, issued by the Portuguese Directorate General for Higher Education or by a Portuguese Public Higher Education Institution, until the signature of the contract. Regarding this issue, please consult the website of the Portuguese Directorate General for Higher Education: https://www.dges.gov.pt/en .

Notification of candidates: All the candidates will be informed of the final result by e-mail.

Deadlines and procedures for complaints and appeals: If the result is not favorable, the candidates have a period of 10 working days, after the disclosure of the results, to comment, if desired, in a prior hearing of interested parties, in the terms provided for in the Code of Administrative Procedure.

Application period: 14 to 28 of September, 2022.

Applications should be sent to:
Doctor Pedro Matos pereira
Email: [email protected]
Ref. 054/BI/2022
ITQB NOVA
OEIRAS