A call is open for the award of one (1) Research Grant (BI), intended for a student enrolled in a Master’s programme, for the development of research and development (R&D) activities within the scope of the project “ATLANTIDA II – NORTH ATLANTIC COASTAL OBSERVATORY IN PORTUGAL” (Ref. NORTE2030-FEDER-01799200), co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), under the Northern Regional Programme 2021–2027 (NORTE2030) and Portugal 2030. The work will be carried out at the Department of Microscopy of the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS/UP), under the following conditions:

1. Research area/s: Biological Sciences

2. Admission requirements:

All individuals of legal age who meet the following requirements, as evidenced by supporting documentation, are eligible to apply for this scholarship: 

a)  Holders of a bachelor’s degree in Biology, Aquatic Sciences, or related fields1;

b) Be a student enrolled in a Master’s programme in Biology, Aquatic Sciences or a related field – a requirement to be duly verified upon appointment2.

[1]

3. Preferred requirements:

1. Bachelor's degree with an average mark of 14 or above;
2. Relevant laboratory experience in microscopy and molecular biology techniques;
3. Scientific and technological output, including oral presentations and poster presentations;
4. Participation in scientific events;
5. Proficiency in using Microsoft Office and conducting research in scientific databases;
6. Good verbal and written fluency in Portuguese and English;
7. Good teamwork and interpersonal skills.

4. Work Plan: 

4.1. The main tasks to be carried out under the scholarship will be: 

a) Support for biological sampling campaigns, including the collection of aquatic organisms (e.g. fish and invertebrates) for parasitological analysis in coastal ecosystems.

b) Laboratory processing of samples, including parasitological examination, isolation and preservation of parasites, and support for their morphological and molecular identification.

c) Application of molecular methodologies, including DNA extraction and PCR, for the detection and characterisation of aquatic parasites, using traditional approaches and environmental DNA (eDNA).

d) Organisation, processing and analysis of the parasitological data obtained, as well as archiving of samples;

e) Support for the scientific dissemination of the results of the project’s parasitological component. 

4.2. Where the academic degree is awarded during the term of the grant agreement, the grant may continue provided that the activities set out in the work plan have not been completed and in accordance with the specific terms set out in the call for applications and in the agreement, pursuant to Article 10(6) of the Regulation.

5. Applicable Legislation and Regulations: 

The call for applications and the respective award of the studentship are governed by the provisions of the University of Porto's Research Studentship Regulations - approved by Regulation no. 184/2021, published in Diário da República, 2.ª Série, n. 43, 03rd March, hereinafter referred to as the Regulation no. 43, of 03rd March; the legal framework for the recognition of academic degrees and higher education diplomas awarded by foreign higher education institutions; the Code of Administrative Procedure (CPA), approved by Decree-Law no. 4/2015, of 7th January; the Research Fellow Statute (EBI), approved by Law no. 40/2004, of 18th August, in the current wording published by Decree-Law no. 123/2019, of 28th August and; other applicable rules.

6. Workplace: 

The work plan will be developed at the Cell Biology Laboratory of the Department of Microscopy at the Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto (ICBAS/UP), and at other locations necessary for its implementation, under the scientific supervision of Dr Sónia Raquel Oliveira Rocha, Assistant Professor at the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS/UP).

7. Duration: 

The BI will last for six months on a full-time basis and may be renewed, subject to a positive assessment, up to the end of the work plan’s implementation period or the funding period; under no circumstances may it exceed two years, in accordance with Article 10(3) of the Regulation.

8. Monthly maintenance allowance amount: 

8.1. The monthly maintenance allowance for the studentship is 1040,98€, according to Annex I of the Research Grant Regulations of the University of Porto, updated by Rector's Order No. GR11/02/2025, of February 19, which changes the value of research grants of the University of Porto for the current year. Research Studentship Regulation) and Annex I of the University of Porto Research Studentship Regulation.

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

8.3. The studentship holder can join the Voluntary Social Insurance Scheme (valid for a studentship contract of six months or more), which is optional (not compulsory) and the reimbursement corresponds to the 1st step of the contribution base.

9. Métodos de seleção: 

9.1. The selection methods are as follows: curriculum assessment (CA) with a weighting of 70% and, optionally, supplemented by an interview (INT) with a weighting of 30%, which will only take place if the Selection Panel considers that the CA does not allow for the candidates’ actual skills to be clarified as intended, or to determine which candidate is best suited to the post and the duties to be performed. If an interview is held, it will be conducted with the three candidates with the highest scores in the CV assessment.

9.2. Each member of the Selection Panel assesses the selection methods on a scale of 0 to 20 points.

9.3. The criteria and weighting factors for the CV assessment (CA) are as follows:

a)   Final degree mark (1 to 10 points; 10–11 marks: 1 point; 12–13 marks: 3 points; 14–15 marks: 5 points; 16–17 marks: 7 points; 18–19 marks: 9 points; and 20 marks: 10 points);

b) Previous laboratory experience, preferably in microscopy and molecular biology techniques, evidenced by an internship or laboratory project, authorship of scientific articles, presentation of papers at conferences, amongst other indicators of scientific and technological output (0 to 7 points);

c)   Additional skills, availability, interest and motivation regarding the research area covered by the application, as expressed in the motivation letter (0 to 3 points).

9.4. Candidates who have received a score of 5 points or less will be excluded at the AC stage. 

9.5. The following are the criteria and weighting factors for the interview (ENT), should one be conducted:

a)   Motivation and interest in the research area to which the application relates (0 to 7 points);

b)   Relevant laboratory experience (0 to 5 points);

c)   Communication and expression skills (0 to 5 points);

d)   Teamwork, interpersonal skills, autonomy and organisation (0 to 3 points).

9.6. Applicants may request authorisation from the Chair of the Selection Panel for their interview to be conducted via videoconference, providing justification for doing so.

9.7. Failure to attend the interview stage of the selection process is deemed to constitute withdrawal from the competition, and will be excluded from the competition.

9.8. The Final Mark (FM) will be calculated using the following formula: FM = (0.7*AC) + (0.3*ENT).

9.9. Candidates who have received a mark of 5 points or less in the FM will be excluded from the competition. 

9.10. This competition is intended exclusively to fill the vacancy indicated; should no candidate demonstrate that they possess the profile required to carry out the work plan described above within the scope of this project, the Selection Panel reserves the right not to award the position.

10. Selection Panel: 

President: Dr. Sónia Raquel Oliveira Rocha, Assistant Professor, ICBAS.

1.st member: Dr. Graça Maria Figueiredo Casal, Associate Professor, CESPU;

2.º vogal efetivo: Dr. Alexandre Manuel da Silva Lobo da Cunha, Full Professor, ICBAS;

1st alternate member: Dr. Pedro Nuno Simões Rodrigues, Full Professor, ICBAS;

2nd alternate member: Dr. Mónica da Silva Sá, Researcher, i3S -Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde;

11. Forma de apresentação e prazo:

11.1.  Applications must be submitted by 23h59, 1st April 2026 (local hour – Lisboa).

11.2. Applications must be formalised through the online submission system, available at the APPLY webpage: https://app.apply.up.pt , Ref.ª BOLS-ICBAS-26-1.

11.3. The application must be supported by documents proving compliance with the conditions set out in this Notice, namely: 

                 a)    Curriculum vitae;

b)    Letter of motivation, stating availability to commence the work plan;

c)    Copy of the certificate(s) for the required qualifications and recognition of the degree if obtained from a foreign higher education institution (Any candidate who is selected and holds a foreign academic degree must, upon signing the contract, submit the relevant recognition or registration, as applicable, in accordance with the provisions of Decree-Law No. 66/2018 of 16 August, failing which they will be excluded from the procedure);

d)       Proof of enrolment in a master’s programme at a higher education institution or a declaration of honour certifying that they meet the enrolment conditions and that they will submit proof of enrolment by the time of appointment;

e)    A letter of recommendation.

f)    Declaration of eligibility (attached).

11.4. Applicants may also submit any other documents they consider relevant to the assessment of their merits.

11.5. Failure to meet the deadline for submitting the application, or the failure to submit or the late submission of the documents referred to in points (a) to (f) of paragraph 11.3, will result in the application being rejected. 

11.6. For the purposes of assessing applications, no documents accessible via links will be considered, with the exception of those referring to publications with a DOI.

11.7. The documents mentioned in point 11.3 should preferably be submitted in a non-editable format.

11.8. The Jury may, whenever it deems it necessary, ask applicants to submit additional documents relating to the facts mentioned in the curriculum vitae submitted, setting a deadline for this, in the following terms:

1. the documentation referred to is not intended for the presentation of elements not mentioned in the curriculum vitae, nor for the addition of missing documents required by this Notice;
2. all applicants are informed that additional documentation has been requested.

12. Falsas declarações:

As falsas declarações prestadas pelas pessoas candidatas serão punidas nos termos da lei.

12. False declarations:

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

13. Notification of results:

13.1. Candidates will be notified within this recruitment process to the email address used to register on the Apply U.Porto platform. 

13.2. Under the provisions of Article 121 and following of the CPA, once notified, candidates have 10 working days to respond through the respective platform.

14. Reserve list:

A reserve list will be created based on the final ranking list, which may be used in the event of withdrawal by the candidate ranked in first place. The highest authority of the ICBAS reserves the right to invite the next candidate on the list, and so on, until the position is filled. The use of this reserve list may occur within a maximum period of 12 months from the date of approval of the final ranking list.

15. Policy of non-discrimination and equal access:

The University of Porto actively promotes a policy of non-discrimination and equal access, so that no applicant may be privileged, benefited, disadvantaged or deprived of any right or exempted from any duty on the grounds of ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family situation, economic situation, education, social origin or condition, genetic heritage, reduced working capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological convictions and trade union membership.

STATEMENT

For the purposes of complying with the provisions of Article 9 of the University of Porto Research Studentship Regulation, I hereby declare that:

€ I haven't signed any research studentship/s contract/s to date under the EBI;

€ To date, I have signed the following research studentship/s contract/s under the EBI:

Type of studentship

Start Date

End Date

Contracting Authority

I also declare that I meet the eligibility conditions for this studentship, as required under the terms of the aforementioned regulation.

I hereby declare and sign this statement.

Date ____/_____/_____ 

Signature __________________________________

[1] If the qualification has been awarded by a foreign higher education institution, it must be recognised by a Portuguese higher education institution, under the terms 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 set out therein must be fulfilled by the date of recruitment.

2Proof of enrolment must be submitted by the date of recruitment and applicants may attach a sworn statement attesting that they meet the enrolment conditions for the purposes of their application.