FCUP| 6 Initiation Research Fellowship - Verão com Ciência 2022 - GreenUPorto (# of pos: 6)

6 Initiation Research Fellowship

Call open for applications for six Initiation Research Fellowship, within the framework of project with the reference Verão com Ciência 2022, financed by the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P (FCT), by national funds, under the following conditions:

Scientific Area: Biology, Agronomic Sciences and related areas

Admission requirements:

• The Initiation Research Fellowships, hereinafter referred to as (BIIs), are intended to carry out initial R&D activities by students enrolled in an integrated master's degree or in a master's degree, in the scientific areas above described, aiming at the beginning of their scientific training through the integration in R&D projects to be developed in national institutions;
• Research Initiation Fellowships (BIIs) can only be awarded to those who do not exceed, with the conclusion of the scholarship contract in question, including possible renewals, an accumulated period of one year in that type of scholarship, consecutive or interpolated and cannot be awarded to those who have already benefited from research scholarships directly or indirectly financed by the FCT, awarded under the Research Scholarship Statute.

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.

Hiring Requirements: If the qualification has been granted by a foreign higher education institution, it will have to be recognized by a Portuguese higher education institution, pursuant to article 25 of Decree-Law No. 66/2018, of 16 August, which approves the regime legal recognition of academic degrees and diplomas in Higher Education, arising from foreign higher education institutions, and paragraph e) of paragraph 2 of article 4 of Decree-Law No. 60/2018, of August 3, all of which the formalities must be fulfilled there until the contracting act.

Activity Outline: The grants to be awarded are intended for the execution of 6 work plans (WP), described below:

WP1 - Characterization of the crosstalk between ER and endocytosis

The secretory pathway is the main transport route in eukaryotic cells, and involves several membranous compartments of the cell, as the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER), Golgi and Vacuole. The ER is considered the hub of the secretory pathway, as from there, newly synthesised proteins are distributed to several cellular organelles. Another fundamental transport route is endocytosis, a process that occurs at the plasma membrane and helps recycling membranes, ion channels and surface cell receptors. It has been proposed that the ER directly generate a compartment that can be identified as a recycling endosome and can also be placed in the vacuolar pathway. As so, we aim to explore the crosstalk between these two pathways and the ER. We will use wild-type and ER-defective Arabidopsis thaliana plants coupled with endosomal and ER markers, to investigate potential overlaps between the two routes. Originally advanced for in vivo staining of synaptic vesicles and later refined for following endo- and exocytosis in cells, FM styryl dyes have proven to be extremely useful in studying endocytosis and recycling processes. When applying exogenously, this dye will rapidly stain the plasma membrane and soon begins to be internalized. Once in endocytic vesicles, it may overtake numerous destinations in the cells, including early endosomes, intermediate membrane vesicles, trans-Golgi network (TGN), prevacuolar compartments (PVC)/multivesicular bodies (MVB), vacuoles and exocytic vesicles recycled to the plasma membrane. With the goal of following endocytosis in the cell, we will use the red dye FM4-64, or its green version FM2-10, to trace endosomal routes in the cells and to assess any co-localization of the markers. Observations will be done using fluorescent or confocal microscopy and movement of fluorescent molecules will be monitored in vivo. Ultimately, we expect to identify any compartment connecting the ER and the endocytic pathway.

Project: StressNet (PTDC/BIA-FBT/32013/2017)

WP2 – Conflicting soil use: risk assessment in the surrounds of the Estarreja Chemical Complex

Soil is a vital resource responsible by multiple ecosystem services, crucial for the wellbeing and sustainability of human populations. For centuries human activities have negatively affected soil functions, for example, through point/diffuse contamination. In the industrial area of Estarreja, known for its large chemical complex, the historical contamination of soils is well known, nevertheless, the real dimension of the problem is not well understood. Particularly, little is known about the potential risks to the environment and how soil functions may be affected. In this context, a battery of standard ecotoxicological tests will be carried (both on whole soil and soil elutriates) in agricultural soils from this region, to select the most sensitive ecotoxicological assays that could be used for conducting an environmental risk analysis in a broader area, to get a real perception of the industrial activity is affecting agriculture in the surrounding soil. This work will be developed at LabRisk, one of the laboratories belonging to GreenUPorto.

Project: @10 years (OHM-Estarreja/2019/Proj.1.) Labex DRIIHM & Réseau des Observatoire Hommes-Millieux – Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (ROHM-CNRS)

WP3 - Exploring fungal-host crosstalk for early and sustainable control of grey mould disease

Botrytis cinerea is a devastating fungal pathogen that causes grey mould (GM) disease in more than 500 plant species, particularly in fruits and vegetables. GM is the most destructive disease in strawberry being the main reason for fruit rejection throughout the supply chain, leading to very impactful economic losses. Current control of GM relies on excessive application of chemical fungicides, yet they are generally ineffective, expensive and have serious impacts on environmental sustainability and human health.

Despite intensive efforts, breeding for strawberry tolerance to GM has not been successful, and the mechanisms underlying tolerance to B. cinerea are still under‐investigated. Moreover, most research efforts to control GM disease have focused on understanding the fungal necrotrophic behavior in ripe strawberries. However, B. cinerea normally infects the host plant at flowering or at fruit unripe stages, remaining in a quiescent symptomless stage for considerable periods of time. Thus, there is a serious knowledge gap about the molecular mechanisms governing fungal quiescence and tolerance of unripe strawberries to GM. The main goal of this study is to contribute to the development of sustainable strategies able to reduce the GM disease, from the early phases of the supply chain, minimizing food waste and improving fruit quality. To this end, the candidate will be involved in the Task that focuses on a global expression profiling of both pathogen and host at quiescent and necrotrophic stages of the infection in unripe and ripe strawberries, respectively, through a dual RNA-seq analysis. These results will enable to gain insights into the B. cinerea-strawberry crosstalk identifying signaling and metabolic pathways, transcriptomic control, and defence responses involved in fruit susceptibility to GM. Moreover, this knowledgewill allow us to select potential novel elicitors for field application to control this disease.

Project: ‘Botrytis-XTalk’ (Ref. PTDC/ASP-PLA/4478/2021).

WP4 - Field-scaled study to evaluate the potential of eucalyptus to be used as a bioherbicide

The main objective of this project is to validate, under field conditions, the use of dry eucalyptus leaves (EucaBio_sólido) as a new pre-emergent bioherbicide. To this end, a field trial is currently underway at Campus Agrário de Vairão, to analyze the herbicide potential of EucaBio against local weed communities. Subsequently, in order to understand whether the application of EucaBio results in deleterious effects on the growth of non-target crops, maize will be cultivated and its physiological performance evaluated over time by biochemical parameters related to oxidative stress. The student will be directly involved in the monitoring of the field trial, being responsible for the maintenance of the plant material, as well as the for collection of leaf samples for biochemical analyzes to be carried out at the Plant Stress lab, at FCUP/GreenUPorto. At the end of the fellowship period, the student must have acquired laboratory and scientific skills in the area of Plant Stress Physiology, which will allow her/him, in the future, to better respond to emerging challenges in the agri-food and environmental areas.

Project: PEST(bio)CIDE - Better management practices of eucalyptus burnt stands by promoting the use of leaf biomass as biocide (PCIF/GVB/0150/2018)

WP5 - Study of the biofertilizing effect of a consortium of cyanobacteria and microalgae

The GreenRehab project aims to develop a system for the rehabilitation of burned soils through the application of primary producers, microalgae and cyanobacteria, isolated from Portuguese soils. Within the scope of this project, several microorganisms were isolated, which were individually tested as plant growth promoters and as improvers of soil properties and the species to be integrated in the consortium to be inoculated in burned soils were selected.

This WP aims to evaluate the effect of the selected consortium on plant growth, before its application in the soil, and to deepen the study of the beneficial interaction between these microorganisms and plants, evaluating their biofertilizing potential. The plants will grow in hydroponics systems, in the presence or absence of the consortium, and different physiological parameters will be evaluated in the plants, such as the content of chlorophylls, proteins, sugars and starch, photosynthesis and the activity of important enzymes for plant productivity such as glutamine synthetase and nitrate reductase. Furthermore, and since microorganisms can also increase plant defences against environmental stresses, stress indicators such as proline and H2O2 content and activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase enzymes will be measured.

Project: GreenRehab (PCIF / RPG / 0077/2017)

WP6 – The fungicide activity of Eucalyptus leaves aqueous extracts in target species affecting vines

The use of phytosanitary products allows to control the impacts of fungal diseases, such as downy mildew (Plasmopora viticola), powdery mildew (Uncinula necator) and botrytis (Botrytis cinerea), with great influence on vineyard productivity. The application of copper (Cu) in vineyards as a fungicide became popular worldwide with the discovery of Bordeaux mixture in the 1980s. However, the continuous use of Cu in the control of fungal diseases, especially in under organic production mode, has proved to be problematic, resulting in soil and water contamination, also decreasing crop productivity and with potential adverse effects on human health and the environment. In response, the European Commission limited its use to 4 kg Cu/ha/year (Regulation EU/2018/1981) in both conventional and organic farming, for which the use of Cu is the only existing phytosanitary option for diseases such as mildew, encouraging the search for alternatives In the context of solving this problem, this work aims to evaluate the antifungal potential of aqueous extracts of eucalyptus leaves on the pathogenic species of the vine P. viticola, U. necator and B. cinerea. The extracts will be tested either alone or combined with a nanosurfactant formed by nanovesicles of the surfactants sodium dodecyl sulfate/didodecyl dimethylammonium bromide (SDS/DDAB), considered to be of low toxicity to soil and plant microorganisms. This is expected to contribute to the reduction or replacement of the use of Cu in the vineyards.

Project: Coppereplace (Interreg Sudoe SOE4/P1/E1000)

Legislation and regulations: Law no. 40/2014, updated by Decree-Law no. 123/2019, of 28 August (Statute of Scientific Research Grant Holder); Regulation no. 950/2019 of 16 December (Regulation of Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology); Regulation no. 184/2021, of 3 March (Regulation of Research Grants of the University of Porto) and Decree-Law no. 66/2018 of 16 August (Legal Regime of Recognition of academic degrees and diplomas of Higher Education awarded by Foreign Higher Education Institutions).

Work place: The work plan will be developed at Campus de Vairão and Campo Alegre Pole of GreenUPorto – Sustainable Agrifood Research Centre, Faculty of Science of the University of Porto, under the supervision of: Doctor Cláudia Pereira, Professor José Pissarra and Professor Susana Pereira (WP1); Professor Ruth Pereira and Doctor Anabela Cachada (WP2), Professor Susana Carvalho and Doctor Tânia Fernandes (WP3); Professor Fernanda Fidalgo and Doctor Cristiano Soares (WP4); Professor Paula Melo (WP5) and, Professor Ruth Pereira and Doutora Anabela Cachada (WP6).

Grant duration: Initial duration of one month, with beginning on 15th of August, on an exclusive basis.

Maintenance allowance amount: The grant stipend amounts to 486,12€ according to the table of values of the grants awarded directly by FCT, I.P. in the Country (https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/valores ).

Voluntary Social Insurance: As long as the grant lasts 6 months or more, and in compliance with the provisions of the current version of the Grant Holder Statute, the grant holder will be entitled to have FCUP support the costs resulting from the contributions that fall into the first of the tax brackets. The grant holder will be responsible for contributions beyond the first tax bracket, should the grant holder opt for a higher coverage.

Personal Accident Insurance: During the grant period, the grant holder will be covered by a personal accident insurance policy.

Selection procedure: The selection methods to be used are as follows:

Curricular evaluation (CE):

• X – Graduation score
• Y – curriculum vitae scientific publications (10%), participation in scientific meetings (10%), participation in funded projects (5%) and, other valuable elements (15%)
• Z – Adequation of the experience/CV to the working plan.

The curricular evaluation (CE) will be obtained based on the following equation:

CE=X*30% +Y*40%+Z*30%

Interview (I):

If necessary, the 3 candidates with the highest scores for CE will be interviewed if their scores are not separated by more than 1 point. The interview will be classified between 0 and 20 points.

For the candidates interviewed, the final classification (FC) will be calculated by the following equation: FC=CE*90% +I*10%

The candidate who has a foreign academic degree or diploma whose final classification is expressed on a different classification scale from the Portuguese one or does not have a classification, for evaluation purposes, must present a document proving the recognition of the foreign degree or diploma and the conversion of the classification for the Portuguese classification scale until the closing date of applications for the competition. If the documents attesting the degree submitted by the candidates do not present the final classification of the degree required in this notice with the respective grade converted to the Portuguese classification scale, the jury will consider, for evaluation purposes, that the candidate has the minimum classification (10 points) of a maximum of 20 points) required to obtain a degree in Portugal.

Candidates whose application has been assessed with a final classification less than 12 points are not eligible to sign the contract of the fellowship.

Selection committee:

President – Professor Luís Cunha, Associate Professor, GreenUPorto, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto

1.º member – João Oliveira Pacheco, Researcher, GreenUPorto, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto

2.º member – Tatiana Andreani, Researcher, GreenUPorto, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto

1.º alternate member – Susana Fonseca, Assistant Professor, GreenUPorto, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto

2.º alternate member – Sirine Bouguerra, Researcher, GreenUPorto, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto

Advertisement of final decision: The final results of the evaluation will be announced, through a list ordered by final classification, sent to candidates by email. It is further informed that under the provisions of articles 121 et seq. of the Code of Administrative Procedure, it has a legal period of 10 working days from the day immediately following the notification, to pronounce itself, if it so wishes, unless under the terms of no. 5 of article 12 of Regulation no. 950/2019 of December 16, or pursuant to subparagraphs a) and c) of article 124 of the CPA, prior hearing and complaint is not waived, given that the contracting will have to be carried out until September 1st.

The host entity may use the final ranking list to replace the selected grantee in case he/she gives up the position, up to one year.

Deadline for applications and form of presentation of the applications

The deadline for submitting applications will be 5 days from the date of publication of the Research Grant Announcement, considering the exceptional nature of the support to be granted and the short duration of the scholarships, under the terms indicated by the FCT.

Applications must be formalized, through the web page of Infociências of this opening (https://info.fc.up.pt/fcup/pedidos/users/novo.php?f_id=1291&formulario=371 ) accompanied by the following documents: Motivation letter, detailed Curriculum Vitae, declaration of eligibility (in attached) and other relevant documents, in a single file in zip format. In the motivation letter, candidates must indicate, in order of preference, 3 WP to which they apply.

Recommendation letters should be send by email, for [email protected] with CC [email protected] , indicating on the subject: Candidatura a Bolsa de Iniciação de Investigação Projeto Verão com Ciência 2022 – GreenUPorto

Supporting documents for the contract: At the time of signing the contract, the grant holder must provide the following documents:

• Biographic form;
• Photocopy of Passport and/or residency permit (if applicable);
• Photocopy of Portuguese IBAN/NIB;
• Foreign academic degree recognition (if applicable);
• Proof of enrolment in a Master Course in the scientific areas above described;
• Exclusivity declaration;
• Ciência ID and ORCID ID.

Commitment: In compliance with paragraph h) of Article 9 of the Constitution, the University of Porto, as an employer, actively promotes a policy of equal opportunities between men and women in access to employment and professional advancement, scrupulously avoiding any form of discrimination. In this spirit, terms such as “candidate,” “author,” or “teacher,” among others that refer to the people who apply for this recruitment tender are used as gender neutral. In addition, no candidate may be privileged, benefited, impaired or deprived of any right or exempt from any duty on grounds of ancestry, age, sexual orientation, marital status, family situation, economic situation, education, origin or social status, genetic heritage, reduced working capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological convictions and trade union membership.

The call is open from 25/07/2022 to 29/07/2022.