CALL FOR RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP - Reference: BIOT-FM-21 - L768532

CALL FOR RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP

University of Coimbra opens a call for one research fellowship, in the framework of the project Evaluation of neuroprotective therapeutic strategies for the treatment of animal models of neurodegenerative retinal diseases, (reference: BIOT-FM-21 – L768532), financed by own revenues, in the following conditions:

Scientific area: Basic Medicine, Biological Sciences, Animal and Veterinary Sciences .

Skills/Qualifications/Admission requirements: .

Bachelor`s degree (licenciatura) in areas related with Life Sciences, Health Sciences, Veterinary Sciences, Biotechnology, or similar areas, enrolled in a master course in the areas of Biomedicine, Life Sciences, Biological Sciences or in a course not conferring an academic degree related with the area of the fellowship.

Candidates must have the ability to handle laboratory animals (rats and mice).

“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 aragraph 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 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P.

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.

Work plan/ Objectives:

Development of R&D activities under the project “Evaluation of neuroprotective therapeutic strategies for the treatment of animal models of retinal diseases”. The Fellow will receive technical and scientific complementary training in various fields such as animal welfare, housing conditions for laboratory animals, biosafety rules, and experimental procedures related to the project to be developed.

The main activities to be performed by the Scholarship Holder will be:

1. R&D activities related to animal welfare;

2. Management of stocks of consumables, spaces for animal testing, inventories and databases;

3. Administration of drugs in animals (rats and mice);

4. Evaluation of the effectiveness of drugs in protecting retinal cells and maintaining visual function in animal models (rats and mice) of retinal diseases;

5. Preparation of specimens for histological evaluation of the retina.

Regime: The attribution of the fellowship does not generate or entitle a relation of a legal-labour 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 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., both in their current wording.

Location: Animal Facility of the Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR) of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Coimbra.

Duration: 12 months.

Renewal: Eventually renewable.

Scientific orientation: Ana Raquel Sarabando Santiago.

Financial conditions: The amount of the fellowship is € 835,98 corresponding to the monthly compensation stipulated in the FCT table (https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/valores.phtml.en ), 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 (50%) and Interview (50%).

Selection criteria:

The following criteria will be considered from the curriculum evaluation (AC):

- Evaluation of the absolute merit of the Curriculum Vitae (CV)

- Knowledge in the scope of the tasks to be performed, namely maintenance and treatment of laboratory animals (EPT)

Curriculum Assessment results from the following formula:

AC = (CV x 60%) + (EPT x 40%)

For the evaluation of the CV, the following criteria will be taken into account:

1. Academic qualifications, considering the graduation grade (80%)

2. Training in Laboratory Animal Science (Function B or C) or Certification for handling laboratory animals issued by the General Directorate of Food and Veterinary Medicine (20%)

For the assessment of knowledge for the development of tasks (EPT) the following criteria will be taken into account:

1. Participation in training actions, especially in the area for which the competition is open: animal experimentation, animal welfare, among others (60%)

2. Other relevant knowledge to the desired profile within the scope of the activities to be developed, including participation in research and development projects that include animal experimentation (40%)

In the Interview, the following parameters will be considered:

- Ability to prepare and organize the tasks to be performed (ORG)

- Knowledge in the area for which the competition is open (CON)

- Availability, commitment and responsibility for the functions to be performed (DIS)

- Motivation and interest of the candidate (MOT)

The classification of the interview (E) will be translated into the application of the following formula:

E = (ORG x 40%) + (CON x 40%) + (DIS x 10%) + (MOT x 10%)

The final classification (CF) is obtained through the formula:

CF = 50% x AC + 50% x E

.

Jury responsible for selection:

Ana Raquel Sarabando Santiago

António Francisco Rosa Gomes Ambrósio

Henrique Manuel Paixão dos Santos Girão

Ana Paula da Silva Martins

Raquel Sofia Freitas Boia.

Formalization of application: Applications are obligatorily formalized by sending the following elements: letter of motivation indicating a contact for reference, curriculum vitae, copy of certificate of qualifications, enrollment or expression of intention to enroll in a master's degree course in the areas of Biomedicine, Sciences of Life, Biological Sciences, Biotechnology or in a course not conferring an academic degree related with the area of the fellowship.

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 sent by email to the following address: [email protected] with an indication of the scholarship reference in the subject.

Submission of applications: Between 08/11/2021 and 19/11/2021.

Submission deadline date: 19/11/2021.

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.

Selection reserve list: 2 months