006/BI/2022 - Fellowship for Masters

Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier – ITQB NOVA
Applications for a Research Fellowship for Masters
within the project EXPL/BIA-BQM/0473/2021

ITQB NOVA opens a call for one research grant for Master, within the scope of the project entitled “Unravel structure-function relationships for enhanced biocatalysts”, Ref. EXPL/BIA-BQM/0473/2021 funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia/MCTES (PIDDAC).

Scientific Area: Biological Sciences

Academic degree: Bachelor and Master in the areas of Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Biological Sciences and similar, with a final score equal or higher than 16.

Other requisites: Proficiency in English, written and spoken and strong motivation to pursue post-graduation studies at the doctoral level. Preference will be given to candidates with an interest or experience in enzymology, protein crystallography or protein molecular modeling methodologies. Being enrolled in a non-academic degree course, in accordance with number 2 of the Article 6th of “Regulamento da Formação Avançada e Qualificação de Recursos Humanos da FCT”, law in force.

Working Plan: Structural studies using X-ray crystallography and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations to investigate enzymes that have potential for biotechnological applications, namely in the conversion of plant biomass into value-added bio-products and bio-materials. Structural information is essential for the characterization of variants obtained by protein engineering tools and that present enhanced stability and specificity for the substrates of interest. The generated results represent knowledge beyond the state of the art, and will be very helpful for future design of new enzymes to be applied in Industrial Biotechnology field.

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 developed in the Microbial Enzyme Technology and in Macromolecular Crystallography Unit at ITQB NOVA under the supervision of Doctor Patrícia Borges and Professor Lígia O. Martins. Short stays are also planned at ZYMVOL (Barcelona, Spain), a company at the forefront of emerging computational tools for enzyme engineering, under the supervision of Doctor Laura Masgrau.

Duration of the fellowship: The fellowship will have the duration of six months, eventually renewable, and expected to start in March 2022, on a full-time basis, accordingly the Fellowship Regulations of Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, I.P.

Stipend amount: € 1.104,64 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_Valores_SMM_LOE_2021.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 an eventual interview for the selected candidates. The CV evaluation and the interview will have a weight of 50 % each.

Juri composition: Doctor Patrícia Borges, Professor Lígia O. Martins and Doctor Vânia Brissos. Substitute: Doctor Carlos Frazão.

Application documents: The application should be formalized through a 1) motivation letter, 2) detailed Curriculum vitae, 3) Degree certificates, 4) One or two reference letters. 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: January 14 to February 6, 2022.

Applications should be sent to:
Doctor Patrícia Borges
e-mail: [email protected]
Anúncio Ref. 006/BI/2022
ITQB NOVA