Bolseiro de Investigação / Research associateship – Development of immunomodulating formulations to repolarize macrophages - (Ref.05.23.29)

Organisation/Company

INL

Department

Human Resources

Research Field

Biological sciences » Biology
Chemistry » Biochemistry

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Portugal

Application Deadline

19 Jun 2023 - 23:00 (Europe/Lisbon)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

40

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

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

No

Reference: Ref.05.23.29

Research Centre: International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory - INL

Location: Braga, Portugal

Research Field: Nanomedicine

Career Stage:  PhD student / MSc enrolled in non-academic degree courses

Open date for applications: May 29th 2023

Closing Date for applications: June 19th 2023 (23h00 Lisbon time)

The International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory – INL (http://www.inl.int ), is the first and only International Intergovernmental Organisation in the world entirely focused on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.

It was founded under an international legal framework to perform interdisciplinary research, deploy and communicate nanotechnology for the benefit of society. INL aims to be a recognised leading global nanotechnology innovation hub.

SR&TD project specifications: INL participates in the Scientific Research and Technological Development project UnTAM, co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and National Funds through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT):

(a) Name of the project: UnTAM: Unleashing the tumour associated macrophage (TAM) workforce to fight against cancer from the inside

(b)  Reference number: PTDC/QUI-OUT/3143/2021

(c)  Description:  The idea of the project is to develop a novel formulation to specifically induce the repolarization of M2 macrophages present in the tumor to M1 antitumoral macrophages. This new formulation will be not only therapeutic, but it will also have imaging capabilities.

 (d)  Scientific Area: Nanomedicine

Description of the functions and key primary responsibilities: The successful candidate will work on the tasks of the SR&TD project, and will be assigned the following working plan:

• Task 1 - Preparation of magnetic nanoparticles
• Task 2 - Preparation of targeted magnetic nanocomposites and relevant controls
• Task 3 - Full characterization of aforementioned nanostructures
• Task 4 - Assist in the in vitro validation of aforementioned systems

Supervision: The work plan will be developed at the INL within the Nanomedicine Research Group under the scientific guidance of Dr. Juan Gallo.

Eligibility conditions, required qualifications and expertise: Candidates must comply with the following requirements:

(a)   Hold an academic degree (Master degree or equivalent) in any of the following areas: Biochemistry or similar;

(b)  Be enrolled in a PhD programme or in a diploma offered by a higher education institution;

(c)   Be a Portuguese citizen, a European Union citizen, or a non-European Union Citizen residing in Portugal;

(d)  Expertise and/or knowledge in

• NP Synthesis (Magnetic, Silica, Core@Shell, Lipid-Based…)
• NP Functionalization
• Drug Delivery and Drug Delivery Vehicles (magnetoliposomes, SLNS…)
• Hands on Experience on Relaxometry, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Magnetic Hyperthermia, Squid, General Physico-Chemical Characterization Techniques, and Molecular Biology Techniques such as Transfection, PCR, Colony-PCR, Plasmid Purification…

(e)  Have a good knowledge of English/Fluency in English is required.

Supporting Documents

Candidates must enclose the following supporting documents in pdf format, failing which the application will not be considered for evaluation:

(a)            Cover letter;

(b)            Curriculum Vitae;

(c)            Official transcripts of all relevant academic degrees;

(d)            At least one recommendation letter;

(e)            Letter of enrolment in the Postgraduate course;

(f)            Copy of identification document;

(g)            For non-EU Citizens residing in Portugal, documental evidence attesting the legal right to reside in Portugal.

Concerning paragraph (c) (‘official transcripts of all relevant academic degrees’), please be aware that academic degrees or diplomas awarded by higher education institutions outside Portugal must be recognised according to the Portuguese legal framework, as this is a mandatory requirement for accessing Portuguese public funds for research, technology and innovation. The certificate of recognition must be submitted with the application by the candidate, failing which the application will not be considered eligible.

* The recognition of foreign academic degrees and diplomas can be requested at any public higher education institution, or at the Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES, only in case of automatic recognition). Regarding this matter, candidates are advised to visit the DGES portal through the following link: http://www.dges.gov.pt .

At the application stage, the supporting document(s) mentioned in paragraph (e) (‘the letter of enrolment in the Postgraduate course’) may be replaced by a Declaration of Honour (Template)  from the candidate. In this case, the application of the candidate will be provisionally accepted provided that the following conditions shall be satisfied:

Selection Criteria

Candidates will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Curriculum vitae: 50%
• Interview(s): 50%

Selection Committee

The selection of candidates will be carried out by a Selection Committee consisting of the following persons:

1)     Dr. Juan Gallo 

2)     Dr. Manuel Bañobre 

3)     Dr. Andreia Magalhaes 

4)    Renata Silva

Evaluation process

The evaluation process will follow a four-stage process:

Only full applications will be considered for evaluation. The applicant will be responsible for the data submission and validation. The application language is English.

Candidates who do not meet the eligibility requirements will not be included in the CV evaluation.

The top four ranked candidates will be shortlisted for interview, provided however that they pass the thresholds for this stage. The threshold for the curriculum vitae evaluation, is 70% of the possible score (i.e., 35). Candidates who do not pass the threshold will be excluded from the evaluation process.

Interviews will be conducted through telephone, web conference or face-to-face meetings, as may be deemed appropriate. A formal report will be issued by the selection committee recommending the selected candidate ranking candidates in order of preference.

Approval and formal offer

If your application results successful, you will be offered a contract of association.
 

How to apply

The application is made online. Please click on the 'Apply for this job' button below.

For the application to be valid, the candidate must complete all required sections of the online application form as well as submit all required documents.

What we offer

The successful Candidate will have the status of associated member of the personnel and will be awarded a contract of association with the INL.

Taking into account that the SR&TD project is co-funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (‘FCT’) and FEDER, the successful candidate shall also have the status of ´Bolseiro de Investigação` (‘B.I.’) under the applicable regulations of the FCT.

Duration of the contract

The initial duration of the contract shall be 12 months and the contract may be extended, based on the performance of the candidate and the duration of the project, within the limits of the following thresholds:

(a)  1 year, if the candidate is a holder of a Master degree (or equivalent) and is enrolled in a diploma offered by higher education institution; or

(b)  4 years, if the candidate is enrolled in a PhD programme.

In the situations referred to in paragraph (a), candidates must under no circumstances benefit from this type of public funding for a total accrued period of more than 2 years, consecutive or otherwise.

If the PhD degree or the diploma is awarded during the term of contract, the contract may continue in full force if so, and to the extent, authorised by FCT.

The expected starting date is July 2023.

Financial Benefits

An associated member of the personnel selected and hosted in the framework of SR&TD projects funded by the FCT shall be entitled to a monthly subsistence allowance of € 1.199,64. This shall be without prejudice to possible increases that may be applied in accordance with the legal framework applicable to SR&TD Projects. The amount of the scholarship can be found in the table of scholarships awarded directly by FCT, I.P. in the Country (http://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/valores ).

The INL will provide insurance cover on behalf of the associated member of the personnel against professional accidents to the extent and for the period of association with the Organisation.

Social Insurance cover of associated members of the personnel will be the responsibility of the associated member of the personnel. Despite the foregoing, in the event the associated member of the personnel joins the Portuguese Voluntary Social Insurance system under the terms laid down in the Portuguese Statute for Research Grant Holders, the Organisation will take on the costs detailed in the said Statute.

Applicable legal and regulatory framework, taking into consideration the international status of the Organisation

This vacancy is subject to the terms and conditions of the Grant Agreement between the Organisation and FCT, governing the implementation of the project, as well as the Statute of Scientific Research Fellows, (approved by Law No. 40/2004, of August 18, in the current wording published by Decree-Law No. 123/2019 of August 28), and the Regulation of Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. – in force (https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/regulamentos.phtml.pt ).

The contract of association with the selected candidate will be subject to the INL Staff Rules and regulations, as amended from time to time, including INL regulation number REG/HR/001 (concerning the selection, appointment and contractual conditions of association of bolseiros de investigação/associated members of the personnel hosted in the framework of Scientific Research and Technological Development projects from INL funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P). It shall be further supplemented by the terms and conditions of the Grant Agreement, where applicable.

Notification of results and subsequent steps

A ranking list, after final evaluation will be organized. If the first candidate refuses the offer, the Human Resources will offer the position to the candidate ranked on the second place and so on until the vacancy is filled. All notices to applicants, namely on the final decision and its justification, shall be made by e-mail to the address stated on the application form over the R&S online platform, and the results of the selection process shall also be announced to all applicants by the same means.

We highly value the interest shown by applicants wishing to become part of INL. It is important for us to maintain good communications with candidates. No matter the outcome of the application, we always send the applicant an answer. 

Candidates whose decision concerning the award of the Bolsa de Investigação/ Research Associateship is unfavourable have a period of ten (10) working days as of the day of communication of the results of the selection process mentioned above, to express their opinion according to the applicable Law, if they wish to do so.

The final decision may be subject to appeal to the Director-General within fifteen (15) working days of receiving the notification.
 

Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Principle

INL is an equal opportunities organisation, committed to providing equal career opportunities and firmly adheres to a principle of non-discrimination in respect of gender, age, nationality, racial group, or any other possible discriminatory issues.

Helpdesk

Applicants can receive support regarding applications to this position via e-mail: hr.services@inl.int .

Research Field

Chemistry » Biochemistry

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory

Country

Portugal

City

Braga

Geofield

Website

https://careers.inl.int/

City

Braga

Website

http://inl.int

Street

Av. Mestre José Veiga, S/N

Postal Code

4715-330