A competition is open for the attribution of one work contract for a junior researcher (level 33) within the scope of the Horizon Europe, Project Grant Agreement No. 101136739, known as “Eco-innovative technologies for improved nutrition, sustainable production and marketing of agroecological food products in Africa”, at the Research Unit - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, for the exercise of research activities in the project, according to the following conditions:

1. Scientific area: Biological Sciences, Food Sciences, Food Technologies or Veterinary Sciences

2. General admission requirements: Any national, foreign and stateless candidate(s) who a) hold(s): (a) a doctorate degree in Biological Sciences, Food Sciences, Food Technologies or Veterinary Sciences related areas; and b) have immediate availability (to be clearly mentioned in the motivation letter).

In the event the degree was awarded by a foreign higher education institution, it must comply with the provisions of Decree-Law no. 66/2018 of 16th August until the signature of the contract. The jury reserves the right to close the application in case none of the candidates meets the desired profile.

3. Specific admission requirements: Candidates should have the following skills:

1. Candidates with experience in research activities in aquaculture, quality and safety assessment, valorisation and/or processing of fishery and aquaculture products will be highly valued;
2. Proficiency in the Portuguese and English languages;
3. Be able to independently carry out the experimental design, statistically process the data and write scientific and technical papers and reports in Portuguese and English;
4. Have experience in supervising MSc and undergraduate students;
5. Be committed and motivated to work in a team and professionally oriented towards a research role.

4. Working plan: The selected candidate will join the INNOECOFOOD team, an HE Project coordinated by CIIMAR, taking on responsibilities in research, dissemination and communication. As such, the selected candidate is expected to carry out the desired role as researcher, which will include the following tasks: i) quality and safety (chemical and microbiological) qualification, as well as bioactivity of fish, prepared products and co-products, ii) development of prototypes; iii) development of processed food products, (iv) data processing, and v) analysis of results. The candidate will also be involved in several project management tasks, namely: i) maintenance of laboratory infrastructures where they will carry out activities, acquisition and management of stocks; ii) participation in project meetings, and iii) collaboration in the preparation of reports and scientific articles and other forms of communicating results, including dissemination and exploration activities.

5. Legislation and official rules: Decree-Law no. 57/2016 of 29th August, which approved the doctorate hiring regime destined to stimulate scientific and technological employment for all knowledge areas (RJEC), updated by the Law no. 57/2017 of 19th July, Labour Code approved by Law no. 7/2009 of 12th February, under its current reading and Regulatory Decree No. 11-A/2017, of 29th December.

6. Workplace. The work is part of the activities of CIIMAR's Fish Safety and Processing group, and will be carried out at the Aquaculture, Upgrading and Bioprospecting Division of the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), located at Av. Doutor Alfredo Magalhães Ramalho 6, 1495-165 Lisboa, Portugal, under the supervision of the Researcher António Marques. 

7. Duration of the contract: An uncertain term work contract will be signed starting August 2025, under the regime of exclusivity, according to legal terms (article n. 140, nº.1 and nº 3 g; and article nº 148, − Labour Code and article 6, nº 1 b) and nº 3 from Decree-Law nº 57/2016, of 29th August).

8. Monthly salary: The monthly remuneration to be attributed is that provided for in paragraph nº 1 of article 15 of the RJEC, in the wording introduced by Law nº 57/2017 from 19th July, corresponding to level of Doctorate Junior Researcher, level 33 of the single remuneration table, approved by Administrative Rule no. 1553-C/2008, 31st December, updated with DL n.º 109-A/2021, 7th December, corresponding to 2 351,53 € (two thousand three hundred and fifty one euros and fifty three cents) illiquid; food, vacancies and Christmas allowances apart.

9. Selection methods: The final classification system of the candidates will be the sum of the scores obtained in the Scientific and Curricular Career Evaluation (SCCE) and Professional Selection Interview (PSI). The SCCE will be focused on the three strands described below and the final classification will be obtained by the following formula: SCCE = 0.2 AQ + 0.5 SCE + 0.3 MCI. 

If necessary, the jury may interview the first 2 candidates to clarify aspects related to the research results, experience and motivation. This interview will be graded on a scale from 0 to 20 and will have a relative weight of 10% and the previous evaluation (SCCE) a relative weight of 90%.

9.1. Academic Qualifications (AQ)

Evaluation of the candidate’s training area: PhD in Biological Sciences, Food Sciences, Food Technologies or Veterinary Sciences involving aquatic organisms, HA = 5 points; PhD involving other organisms, HA = up to 3 values.

9.2. Scientific and Curricular Evaluation (SCE)

Assessment of the relevance, quality and timeliness of the scientific and curricular path, as well as the ability to carry out, autonomously, research work involving sampling, qualification and valorisation of fish, as well as analytical activities (sensory, physical-chemical/instrumental, biochemical, bioactivity and/or microbiological) of fishery and aquaculture products. This assessment will focus on the parameters described below and the respective classification will be obtained using the following formula: SCE = 0.5 SP+ 0.5 RA.

9.2.1. Scientific Production (SP)

The scientific production (SP) in the last five years will be evaluated, and the classification will be obtained by: SP = 0,5 SPV + 0,5 SPQ.

Quantitative evaluation (SPV): Publications as first author in ISI journals in the last five years, SPV = up to 5 values.

Qualitative evaluation (SPQ): Candidates must provide copies of up to 5 articles that they deemed most relevant, other publications of high scientific merit or patents, preferably involving sampling, qualification and valorization of fish, and analytical activities (sensory, physical-chemical/instrumental, biochemical, bioactivity and/or microbiological) of fishery and aquaculture products; SPQ = up to 5 values.

9.2.2. Research, Extension and Management Activities (RA)

The activities of applied or practice-based research, as well as knowledge extension and management, developed over the last five years, will be evaluated. Included in this parameter are: (i) supervision/co-supervision of undergraduate and masters of science students, (ii) proven participation in R&D projects, services, and technology transfer processes, and (iii) proven experience on dissemination activities, including the organisation of conferences, workshops and scientific cooperation activities, publications in indexed journals with a high impact factor and communication in a scientific and industrial environment; RA = up to 5 values.

9.3. Motivation and Capacity for Innovation (MCI)

Evaluation of the candidate's motivation and ability to innovate, based on the motivation letter describing the relevance of the scientific path to the position and personal career goals: MCI = up to 5 values.

9.4. Other information

The five-year period referred above can be extended, at the request of the candidate, when justified on grounds of suspension of scientific activity for socially protected reasons, namely for reasons of parental leave, prolonged serious illness, and other situations of unavailability for work legally protected.

The panel shall deliberate by means of roll-call vote justified under adopted and disclosed selection criteria, with no abstentions allowed. Minutes of panel meetings shall be executed and shall include a summary of all occurrences of said meeting, as well as of all votes casted by the members and respective reasoning, and shall be provided to candidates whenever required. After selection criteria application, the panel shall prepare a sorted list of approved candidates and respective classification.

The jury's final deliberation is homologated by the head of the institution who is also responsible for deciding on the hiring.

10. Composition of the jury selection: In accordance with article 13 of RJEC and according to the respective order of nomination, the competition jury has the following composition:

President: António marques 

Vogal: Maria Leonor Nunes 

Vogal: Helena Oliveira 

Vogal: Amparo Gonçalves 

Vogal: Carla Pires 

11. Deadline for application and presentation of applications: The application period starts on 27/6/2025 until 10/7/2025.

Applications cannot exceed 20 MB and must be formalised by e-mail to rh@ciimar.up.pt and must explicitly state the announcement reference in the subject: 2025_052_IJ_INNOECOFOOD. 

Application must include full name, occupation, residence and contact address, including email address and telephone number.

Applications shall include all supported documents encompassed by section 2 for tender admission, namely:

a) Copy of the eligibility certificates;

b) Curriculumvitae, detailed and structured according to section 8., including information regarding: academic qualifications, scientific and technological production, and research, extension and management activities;

c) Other documentation relevant for the evaluation of qualifications in a related scientific area;

d) Copy of up to 5 most relevant publications;

e) Motivation letter (with indication of availability); 

f) Contacts e-mail address and phone number.

All candidates who formalise their applications in an improper way or fail to prove the requirements imposed by this tender are excluded from admission. In case of doubt, the panel is entitled to request any candidate to present further documentation supporting their statements.

False statements provided by the candidates shall be punished by law.

12. Form of advertising/notification of results: The results of the evaluation will be published on the website of CIIMAR and sent by e-mail. The candidates have a 10-working day term in which to contest the decision, if they so wish, as provided for in the "Código do Procedimento Administrativo", in a preliminary hearing setting. 

The selection board reserves the right to close the competition without recruiting if none of the candidates meets the admission requirements and/or the profile sought. 

Panel’s final decisions are pronounced within a maximum period of 90 days, counting from deadline for submission of applications.

Tender is exclusively destined to fill this specify vacancy and can be terminated at any time until approval of final candidate list, expiring with the respective occupation of said vacancy. 

13. Non-discrimination and equal access policy: CIIMAR actively promotes a non-discrimination and equal access policy, wherefore no candidate can be privileged, benefited, impaired or deprived of any rights whatsoever, or be exempt of any duties based on their ancestry, age, sex, sexual preference, marital status, family and economic conditions, instruction, origin or social conditions, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, origin territory, language, religion, political or ideological convictions and union membership.

Pursuant to Decree-Law no. 29/2001 of 3rd February, disabled candidates shall be preferred in a situation of equal classification, and said preference supersedes any legal preferences. Candidates must declare, on their honour, their respective disability degree, type of disability and communication/expression means to be used during selection period on their application form, under the regulations above.