FMUP | CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR THE AWARD OF 1 (ONE) RESEARCH STUDENTSHIP | PROJECT CELLO (Ref. 2024/12, no. 176)

26 Jan 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

University of Porto

Department

Human Resources Department

Research Field

Other

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Portugal

Application Deadline

8 Feb 2024 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

35

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Reference Number

Ref. 2024/12, no. 176

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

No

Offer Description

A call is open for applications for 1 (one) research studentship for master's or integrated master's students or for graduates enrolled in courses not granting an academic degree for R&D activities, within the scope of the project 'CELLo - The sound of cells: An acoustic platform aimed at determining a biophysical cellular code for precision medicine' (Ref. 2022.05237.PTDC), funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology I.P. (FCT), ongoing at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, under the following conditions:

 

1. Scientific Areas: Biological Sciences and Medical Biotechnology.

 

2. Admission requirements:

To apply for the research studentship, applicants must comply with the following requirements, for which documentary evidence must be provided:

a) Bachelor's degree in biotechnology, bioengineering, biomedical sciences, cellular and molecular biologyand related fields[1] ;

b) Enrollment in a master's program in bioengineering, cellular and molecular biology, biomedical engineering, and/or in a course not conferring an academic degree integrated into the educational project of a higher education institution, developed in association or cooperation with one or more R&D units - this requirement must be duly proven by the date of the hiring act2;

c) Not benefiting from a non-degree-granting research scholarship for an accumulated period of 2 years, consecutive or interpolated.

[1]  If the candidate holds a degree awarded by a foreign higher education institution, it must be recognized by a Portuguese higher education institution, in accordance with the provisions of article 25 of Decree-Law no. 66/2018 of 16 August, which approves the legal regime for the recognition of academic degrees and higher education diplomas awarded by foreign higher education institutions and Article 4 (2) (e) of Decree-Law no. 60/2018 of 3 August, and any formalities established therein be fulfilled up to the date of the contracting act.

[2]  The proof of enrollment must be provided by the date of hiring, and candidates can attach a declaration under oath attesting that they meet the enrollment conditions, for application purposes.

 

3. Preference requirements:

a) Experience in laboratory work;

b) Previous experience in cell culture and cellular analysis techniques (microscopy, immunocytochemistry);

c) Experience in molecular analysis (western blot, real-time PCR);

d) Experience in handling and managing biological samples;

e) Experience in statistical data analysis.

 

4. Work plan:

4.1. The main tasks to be performed under the scholarship will include:

a) Culture and maintenance of various cell lines;

b) Separation of cells with specific characteristics using a microfluidic platform for the purpose;

c) Acquisition of images by optical microscopy, QPI (Quantitative Phase Imaging), and/or cytometry with image capture;

d) Cellular characterization through PCR analysis and immunocytochemistry.

4.2. When the academic degree or diploma is conferred during the scholarship contracts, it can continue as long as the activities outlined in the work plan are not completed, under the specifically outlined terms in the call for applications and the contract, according to Article 10, Section 6 of the Regulation.

 

5. Applicable Legislation and Regulations:

The present call is governed by the Research Studentship Holder Statute (approved by Law no. 40/2004, of 18th of August, in its current version), the University of Porto Regulations for Research Fellowships approved by the Regulation n.º 184/2021  (published in the Series II of the DR, of 3rd March), the Legal regime for recognition of academic degrees and higher education diplomas awarded by foreign higher education institutions and the Code of Administrative Procedure (CPA), approved by Decree-Law No. 4/2015, of January 7 and; The Research Fellow Statutes (EBI), approved by Law No. 40/2004, dated August 18, in its current wording published by Decree-Law No. 123/2019, dated August 28; Regulation of Research Fellowships, No. 950/2019, dated 16-12-2019, of the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), I.P., in its current wording, and other applicable norms.

 

6. Workplace:

The work will be developed at the Department of Biomedicine of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (CIM-FMUP), under the scientific supervision of Doctor Isabel Calejo (Postdoctoral Researcher) and Doctor Raphaël Canadas (Principal Investigator).

 

7. Duration:

The BI will have a duration of 06 months, on an exclusive dedication basis, possibly renewable, after a positive evaluation, up to the limit of the work plan's execution period or the funding. Under no circumstances can it exceed one year when awarded to graduates or masters enrolled in non-degree-granting study cycles or two years when awarded to students enrolled in a master's program, according to Article 10, Section 3 of the Regulation.

 

8. Monthly maintenance allowance amount:

8.1. The monthly maintenance allowance is 930.98 €, in accordance with the table of values for FCT, I.P. scholarships in the country (Annex I - Table of monthly maintenance subsidies of the Regulation for FCT I.P. Research Scholarships) and Annex I of the Regulation.

8.2. Payment will be made by FMUP via bank transfer. In addition to this allowance, the scholarship holder will be covered by personal accident insurance.

8.3. The studentship holder can join the Voluntary Social Security scheme (valid for a scholarship contract equal to or longer than six months), which is optional, and the reimbursement corresponds to the 1st tier of the contributory base.

 

9. Evaluation methods:

9.1. The selection methods are as follows: curriculum evaluation (AC) weighted at 60% and optionally supplemented by an interview (INT) weighted at 40%, which will only take place when the Jury believes that the AC does not sufficiently clarify the real candidate’s competencies or differentiate which candidate best fits the position and duties to be performed. If conducted, the interview will be held with the top 3 candidates from the AC.

9.2. Each member of the Jury evaluates the selection methods on a scale of 0 to 100 points.

9.3. The factors targeted for curriculum evaluation are:

a) Alignment of academic background with specific recruitment requirements (20%);

b) Scientific production considered most relevant by the candidate for the recruitment area (20%);

c) Experience in cell culture (20%);

d) Experience in optical microscopy – namely phase contrast and QPI (20%);

e) Knowledge and experience in biological and molecular characterization techniques (20%).

9.4. Evaluation factors for the selection interview, if conducted, will be:

a) Relevance of the academic qualification's study area (10%);

b) Academic degree classification (20%);

c) General experience/knowledge (30%);

d) Specific knowledge in the area (40%).

9.5. Candidates may request authorization from the Jury President to conduct their interview via video conference, providing reasons for this request.

9.6. Failure to respond to the interview invitation email within two working days or absence from the interview phase of the selection process will be considered withdrawal from the competition, and candidates will be excluded.

9.7. The Final Score (FS) will be obtained using the following formula: FS = (0.6 x AC) + (0.4 x INT).

9.8. This competition is exclusively for filling the indicated vacancy. In the event that no candidate demonstrates the suitable profile for the described work plan within this project, the Jury reserves the right not to assign the position.

 

10. Selection panel:

President of the Jury: Doctor Raphaël Faustino Canadas, External Responsible Investigator at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto.

Jury Members:

1st effective vowel: Doctor Helena Isabel Pinto Cardoso Teixeira Calejo, Researcher at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto;

2nd effective vowel: Doctor João Pedro Rico de Oliveira Vinagre, Affiliate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto;

Substitute vowel: Doctor Célia da Conceição Duarte Cruz, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto;

Substitute vowel: Doctor Célia da Conceição Duarte Cruz, Assistant Professor the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto.

 

11. Disclosure of the results and deadlines:

11.1. The application must be accompanied by documents verifying the conditions outlined in this Notice, namely:

a) Curriculum vitae, indicating full name and address;

b) Motivation letter indicating availability to start the workplan;

c) Copy of the required qualification certificate(s) and recognition of degree if obtained from a foreign higher education institution (this recognition can be submitted until the hiring act);

d) Proof of enrollment in a study cycle or non-degree program (to be provided by the hiring act) or a declaration on honor stating that you meet the conditions for enrolment and that you will provide proof of enrolment by the time you are hired;

e) Declaration of Eligibility (attached);

f) Proof of preference conditions (if applicable).

11.2. Applications must be formalized through the online application submission system available on the FMUP website: https://sigarra.up.pt/fmup/pt/CNT_CAND_GERAL.CONCURSOS_LIST (Ref. 2024/12, no. 176).

11.3. Candidates may also attach any other documents they deem relevant for the assessment of their merit.

11.4. Applications must be submitted by 08th February, 2024.

11.5. Failure to meet the set application deadline, the absence of submission, or submission after the deadline of the documents referred to in items a) to e) of point 11.1 results in the exclusion of the application.

11.6. The documents must be attached directly to the application message, without links to external platforms/drives. To ensure the readability of all documents, the preferred recording format is the 'Portable Document Format' (.pdf). The files should be named with the candidate's first and last name and should not exceed, altogether, 5 MB. These files can be compressed in .zip format.

11.7. The Jury may, whenever necessary, request candidates to submit additional documents concerning the facts mentioned in the presented curriculum vitae, specifying a deadline for this purpose, as follows:

a) the documentation requested is not intended to present elements not referenced in the curriculum vitae or to include missing documents required in this Notice;

b) all competitors are informed that additional documentation has been requested.

 

12. False statements:

False statements made by candidates will be punished in accordance with the law.

 

13. Disclosure of the results:

13.1. Candidates will be notified of the minute(s) regarding the evaluation phase(s) of their applications via email, sent to the address provided for this purpose, with a delivery notification receipt.

13.2. Notifications are made via email, in accordance with Articles 112, no. 1, subsection c) and 113, no. 5, of the Administrative Procedure Code (CPA).

13.3. According to the provisions of the CPA, once notified, candidates have 10 working days to provide a written statement.

 

14. Reserve list:

A reserve list will be drawn up based on the final ranking list, which may be used in case the candidate ranked first withdraws. The highest authority of the Faculty reserves the right to call the next candidate in line, and so on, until the position is filled. The use of this reserve list can occur for a maximum period of 12 months from the date of publication of this Notice.

 

15. Non-discrimination and equal access policy:

The University of Porto promotes a policy of non-discrimination and equal access, thus no applicant may be privileged, benefited, damaged or deprived of any right or exempted from any duty, due to ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, economic status, education, origin or social condition, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic disease, nationality, ethnicity or race, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological beliefs or trade union affiliation.

 
Requirements

Research Field

Other

Education Level

Bachelor Degree or equivalent

Internal Application form(s) needed
FMUP_PT_IA_Inv Clínica_vf_0.pdf
English
(285.03 KB - PDF)
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FMUP_ING_IA_Inv Clínica_vf_0.pdf
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(276.4 KB - PDF)
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Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

FMUP

Country

Portugal

State/Province

Porto

City

Porto

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://sigarra.up.pt/spup/pt/web_page.inicial

Contact

State/Province

Porto

City

Porto

Website

https://sigarra.up.pt/spup/pt/uni_geral.unidade_view?pv_unidade=345

Street

Praça Gomes Teixeira

Postal Code

4099-002

E-Mail

[email protected]

STATUS: EXPIRED