ANNOUNCEMENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL CALL FOR THE SELECTION OF A RESEARCH TECHNICIAN 

Internal code:Technician/FCT/i3S/1706/2026 

A call is opened for the position of a Research Technician, for an unfixed term work contract, to carry out technical duties within the project “Tripartite synapses in neurodevelopmental disorders” with reference 2023.17564.ICDT, funded by national funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. 

Scientific Area: Neurosciences (cell biology of synaptic transmission).

1. Project summary and work plan 

Astrocytes are the major non-neuronal cell type in the mammalian brain and are known to interact with neurons and control synaptic transmission – a concept known as the ‘tripartite synapse’. Recent work from our lab (Batiuk et al., Nat Commun, 2020; Bayraktar et al., Nat Neurosci, 2020) suggests that excitatory and inhibitory tripartite synapse formation and function are differentially regulated. Understanding differences in synapse assembly and function are crucial to our understanding of information flow in the CNS and the causes of human diseases associated with hyperexcitability, such as epilepsy, schizophrenia and fragile X.

We are looking to recruit a technician to provide high level support to our team studying inhibitory synapse formation and function. Work will be conducted at i3s, one of Portugal’s top science institutes, in the Synapse Biology group headed by Dr. Matthew Holt.

2. Jury

Chairman: Dr. Matthew Holt; Other Members: Dr. Simone Bessa, Dr. Olga Sin. Substitutes: Dr. Diogo Castro.

3. Workplace

i3S - Rua de Alfredo Allen, 208 Porto, research group Synapse Biology

4. Professional category and monthly remuneration 

Research Technician, €1.862,56, subject to taxes and other mandatory deductions.

5. Requirements for admission 

Mandatory:

1. Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology or Neuroscience;
2. Motivation letter in English;
3. Names and contact details for two professional reference contacts;
4. Routine molecular biology (cloning of simple constructs);
5. Experience in tissue culture (cell lines or primary cells);
6. Experience with immunohistochemistry (and microscopy) or immunoblotting (Western Blotting);
7. Be familiar with organization and management of day-to-day lab activities;
8. Proficiency in written and spoken English.

Preferencial:

1. Previous work with mice.

6. Evaluation of the applications and publication of the results

Weight of the different curricular valuation criteria 

1. Detailed CV (70%):
   1. Scientific background and experience in relevant lab techniques (40%);
   2. Previous work experience in research projects (20%);
   3. Relevant professional publications (including oral and poster presentations) (10%).
2. Motivation letter in English, describing interest and motivation for the area of research advertised (10%).
3. Interview - facultative (20%).

If needed, the evaluation panel may invite the most highly ranked candidates (up to 3) for an interview. The final classification system for candidates is expressed on a scale from 0 to 100. Candidates who are not interviewed will have a maximum classification limit of 80%.

Candidates are excluded from admission to this call if they do not fill out their application correctly or do not meet the obligatory admission requirements. If in doubt, the jury may ask any candidate additional documents in support of their statements. 

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

The jury will take minutes of their meetings, which may be consulted by candidates upon request. 

The jury deliberates by means of a justified vote according to the evaluation criteria, with no abstentions allowed, and draws up a list of excluded and admitted candidates, ranked by the respective classification after the curricular evaluation. Candidates will be notified of the results by email.

After publication of the ranking list, if their wish to do so, the candidates have 10 working days to submit comments. 

In the 90 days following the deadline for submission of applications, the institute Director, who is also responsible for the final decision of hiring, will ratify the decision of the jury. 

This call is intended exclusively to fill the indicated position on offer and may be canceled before the final ranking list of candidates is ratified by the Director. Accordingly, the position will no longer be available. 

7. Submission of applications 

Applications must include all the documents proving that they fulfill the admission requirements, namely:

1. Copy of PhD certificate or diploma;
2. Detailed Curriculum Vitae (including a detailed list of laboratory techniques with which the applicant is familiar);
3. Motivation letter in English;
4. Names and contact details for two professional reference contacts.

The submission of applications is digital, in pdf format, from June-17 to July-01, in the following link:

https://dozer.i3s.up.pt/applicationmanagement/#/addapplications/a67ddf29281b842f84967e53fe9aa93c

8. Start and duration of the contract 

The anticipated start date of the contract is August 1st, 2026, and is subject to budget availability. The expected duration of the contract will be 12 months, eventually extendable. 

9. Non-discrimination and equal access policy

i3S actively promotes a policy of non-discrimination and equal access. No applicant shall be privileged, benefited, prejudiced, or deprived of any right or exempted from any duty on the basis of ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, family situation, economic situation, education, origin or social condition, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological beliefs, or trade union membership. 

Within the framework of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, i3S adopts the Open, Transparent and Merit-based (OTM-R) principles for the recruitment of researchers, with the aim of conducting fair and transparent recruitment processes, bringing equal opportunities to all candidates.

10. Applicants with disabilities 

Under the terms of Decree-Law 29/2001, of February 3, the candidate with a disability is given preference in equal ranking, which takes precedence over any other legal preference. Candidates must declare under oath their degree of disability, the type of disability and the means of communication/expression to be used in the selection process, under the terms of the aforementioned decree.