Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier – ITQB NOVA
Application for a Bachelor Fellowship
within the Exploratory project FutCrops

Applications are invited for a Bachelor Fellowship in the scope of the project entitled “Unlocking the Physiological and Metabolic Potential of Cereal Inflorescences for a Climate-Resilient Cropping System in Portugal” with the reference 2024.17491.PEX, funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia.

Scientific Area: Agricultural Sciences and related areas.

Academic degree: Bachelor in Agronomy, Biology, Environmental Sciences, Biochemistry or related areas.

Other requisites: 
- Strong motivation for scientific research.
- Good organizational skills and ability to work independently but integrated in a group.
- Skills in plant physiology and biochemistry. 
- We will value positively any knowledge or previous experience in laboratory analyses for the quantification of plant metabolites, plant phenotyping methods or biostatistics/data mining.
- Fluency in English.
- Immediate incorporation, preferably living in the Lisbon area to facilitate the quick start of the tasks;
- Being enrolled in a master course, by the time of contract signature, in accordance with the Article 6th of “Regulamento de Bolsas de Investigação da Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. from FCT”, law in force.

Working Plan: The FutCrops project explores novel sources of genetic diversity and leverages cereal inflorescence traits to enhance stress resilience and yield stability. The project includes an interspecific field experiment with widely cultivated cereals (wheat, barley, oat, and rye), novel hybrids (tritordeum and triticale), and C4 cereals (pearl, foxtail, and proso millets, and sorghum). The MSc student will characterize metabolic profiles in leaves and inflorescences using previously collected samples from field trials conducted under contrasting growing conditions. The work plan includes sample preparation, metabolite extraction, and quantification using spectrophotometric and enzymatic assays.

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, and by the Ordinance 65/2024 of October 1st. 
Regulations for Research Fellowships from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., in force (https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/2s/2019/12/241000000/0009100105.pdf).

Working Place: The work will be carried out in the Plant Ecophysiology and Metabolism Laboratory at ITQB NOVA, under supervision of Dr. Omar Vergara Diaz.

Duration of the fellowship: The fellowship will have the duration of 10 months, non renewable, expected to start in April 2026, on a full-time basis, according to Fellowship Regulations of Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, I.P.

Stipend amount:  1040.98 €, according to the table of values of grants awarded directly by the FCT, I.P. in the Country (https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Tabela_valores_SMM_2025.p…) 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, if needed, an interview for the selected candidates may take place. In this case, the curriculum evaluation and the interview will have a weight of 80% and 20% each.

Juri composition: Doctor Omar Vergara (president), Doctor Rubén Vicente, Doctor Susana Leitão (effective members), and Doctor Ana Confraria (substitute member).

Application documents: The application should be formalized with (a) a brief cover letter indicating the corresponding fellowship reference and interest, (b) a detailed Curriculum Vitae, and (c) degree certificate (Bachelor's degree). All documents should be preferably sent by email in a single pdf file.

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: From March 13 to March 26, 2026.

Applications should be sent to:
Doctor Omar Vergara
(vergara@itqb.unl.pt)
Ref. 028/BI/2026
ITQB NOVA
OEIRAS