A call for applications is open for a Post-Doctoral Research Grant (BIPD) within the scope of the project “ViTex - Integrated Valorization of Wine Waste for Agricultural Sustainability”, funded by “COMPETE2030-FEDER 01385400, under SIID – Business R&D – Co-promotion Operations (MPr 2023-7)”, under the following conditions:

1. Scientific Area:

Food Science and Technology

2. Admission Requirements:

1) PhD in Agri-food Science and Technology: 

the PhD cannot have been awarded more than 3 years prior to the date of submission of the application; 

The candidate cannot exceed a cumulative period of 3 years in this type of fellowship (post-doctoral), considering the period of the contract in question, including possible renewals.

2) Experience in the use of green and sustainable technologies for extraction processes of bioactive molecules;

3) Proficiency in chemical and biochemical characterization of extracts of plant or natural origin, including detailed analysis of bioactive compounds, separation techniques (chromatography), structural elucidation (mass spectrometry) and evaluation of stability and biological activity;

4) Experience in the formulation and development of bioactive products;

5) Previous experience in multidisciplinary collaboration in scientific and social projects, including the dissemination and communication of technical and scientific results;

6) Proficiency in English (written and oral communication) will also be valued.

Candidates who do not meet all the requirements mentioned in points 1) to 6) will be excluded.

3. Work Plan:

1) Development of an extraction process based on green technologies, sustainable, easily scalable and economically viable from pruning waste;

2) Chemical, bioactive and stability characterization of extracts obtained from pruning waste;

3) Development of extracts and/or formulations based on mixtures of extracts with increased fungistatic/fungicidal activity.

4. Objectives:

The main objectives of this project will be: 

1) optimization of extraction of bioactive molecules, 

2) chemical and bioactive characterization; 

3) development of antimicrobial formulations.

5. Applicable legislation and regulations:

Statute of the Scientific Research Fellow, approved by Law No. 40/2004, of August 18, in its current wording; FCT, I.P. Research Grant Regulations,

in force (https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/docs/RegulamentoBolsasFCT2019.pdf);

Regulation No. 522/2020, published in the Official Gazette, 2nd series, No. 113, of June 12 – Research Grant Regulations of the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança.

6. Workplace and scientific supervision:

The work will be carried out in the Associated Laboratory for Sustainability and Technology in Mountain Regions of the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, under the scientific supervision of Sandrina Heleno and Lillian Barros.

7. Grant Duration:

The grant will have an initial duration of 12 months, with a projected start date of April 1, 2026 (with the possibility of renewal up to a maximum of 36 months, including the initial period).

8. Monthly Maintenance Allowance:

The grant amount corresponds to 1,851.00 €, according to the table of grant values ​​awarded by FCT, I.P. in the country.

Grant recipients will benefit from personal accident insurance and, if they are not covered by any social protection scheme, they may ensure the exercise of their right to social security by joining a voluntary social security scheme, under the terms provided for in the Code of Contribution Regimes of the Social Security System. The grant amount will be paid monthly by bank transfer.

9. Selection Methods and their respective weighting:

The selection methods to be used will be as follows:

a) Curriculum evaluation and its suitability for the work in question (40%);

b) Knowledge/experience in the optimization and chemical characterization of bioactive molecules (30%);

c) Knowledge/experience in the development of formulations with bioactive potential (30%).

The two best candidates, according to these criteria, may be called for an in-person interview and their ranking will be weighted in item a) with a weighting of 40%. The jury may not grant the grant if the candidates' ranking is less than 9.5 points.

10. Composition of the Selection Jury:

The jury is composed of Sandrina Heleno (president), Ângela Fernandes (member) and Lillian Barros (member).

11. Method of publication/notification of results:

The communications and final results of the evaluation will be published through the IPB application submission portal or, if necessary, by email notification.

12. Application period:

The competition is open from 13/03/2026 to 26/03/2026.

13. Method of submitting applications:

Applications can be submitted through the IPB application submission portal (http://concursos.ipb.pt), including the following documents:

a) Curriculum Vitae;

b) Academic qualifications certificate;

c) Letter of motivation

Documents proving the holding of academic degrees or diplomas, or enrollment in an academic degree or diploma, may be waived during the application phase, being replaced by a declaration of honor from the candidate, with verification of this condition being mandatory during the contracting phase of the grant.

Academic degrees obtained in foreign countries need recognition by a Portuguese Institution in accordance with Decree-Law No. 66/2018, of August 16, and Ordinance No. 33/2019, of January 25. Presentation of the recognition is mandatory for signing the contract.

14. Deadlines and procedures for complaints and appeals:

If the decision to be made is unfavorable to the granting of the requested grant, candidates have a period of 10 working days, after the date of publication of the evaluation results, to express their opinion, if they wish, in a prior hearing, under the terms provided for in the Administrative Procedure Code.

An appeal against the final decision may be made to the President of the IPB within 15 working days after the respective notification.