Call for Research Grant Assignment

The University of Coimbra opens a call for the assignment of a research grant, with one position(s), under the project COMPETE2030-FEDER-00657500, title “NutriMental-Novas estratégias baseadas na nutrição para combater os efeitos nocivos do stress precoce na saúde mental”.

The call is governed by this Notice of Opening, the University of Coimbra Research Grant Regulations (RBI-UC), subsidiarily by the Research Grant Regulations of the Foundation for Science and Technology (RBI-FCT), by the Research Fellow Statute (EBI), by the Norms for Grant Assignment and Management within R&D Projects, by the Code of Administrative Procedure (CPA), all in their current wording, and by other applicable national and community legislation.

Procedure Reference: IT137-26-416

I - Legal admission requirements
I.I - Grant Recipients:
Master’s degree holders, in the scientific area of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Clinical Laboratorial Genetics, Neurobiology, Biochemistry, Biology or related fields, enrolled in a doctoral program 
OR
Master’s degree holders, in the scientific area of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Clinical Laboratorial Genetics, Neurobiology, Biochemistry, Biology or related fields, enrolled in a non-degree-granting course.
    
I.II - The non-degree-granting course must be related to the type of activity covered by the grant. Non-degree-granting courses are defined as those referred to in subparagraph e) of paragraph 3 of Article 4 of Decree-Law No. 74/2006, in its current wording, provided that, under subparagraph e) of Article 3 of RBI-FCT, they are developed in association or cooperation between the higher education institution and one or more R&D units.
  
I.III - Ineligible candidates: 
Candidates enrolled in non-degree-granting courses who have already benefited from a grant contract and who, with this grant assignment, including possible renewals, exceed a total accumulated period of two consecutive or non-consecutive years in this type of grant.
Candidates who have already benefited from two research grant contracts with UC in the condition of being enrolled in a doctoral degree, regardless of whether each contract has reached the maximum legally permitted duration.

I.IV -  Eligible for grant assignment if meeting the requirements: 
a) Portuguese nationals or nationals of other EU Member States
b) Nationals of third countries
c) Stateless persons
d) Beneficiaries of political refugee status
When the work plan takes place, in whole or in part, in foreign institutions, only candidates who can prove permanent and habitual residence in Portugal at the start of the grant are eligible.
    
II - Grant location: Universidade de Coimbra
    
III- Scientific supervision/coordination of the grant: Ana Luísa Colaço Cardoso
    
IV - Work Plan / Goals to be achieved: 
Carrying out R&D activities within the scope of the project, namely the following:

Standardization of protocols and data management
Support for the implementation and documentation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for experimentation with rodents and brain organoids, as well as for the organization of experimental workflows and preparation of laboratory materials. Collaboration in the management and organization of experimental data, contributing to structured data management practices and traceability of results.

Support for experimentation
Collaboration in experimental activities involving the processing of rodent and brain organoid samples, including support for the execution of microglia isolation protocols, immunohistochemistry, in vitro and in vivo compound administration, collection of biological samples, and systematic recording of experimental data, in compliance with applicable ethical and regulatory standards.

Development and analysis of brain organoids and mouse cell cultures
Support for activities related to the culture, maintenance, and characterization of brain organoids and mouse cell cultures, including preparation of samples for cellular or molecular analyses and organization of associated experimental data.

Communication and dissemination activities
Contribution to the preparation of technical and scientific reports associated with project activities, as well as support for the production of materials to disseminate and promote project results, including content for digital platforms and documentation intended for academic or industrial partners.

Integration into scientific activities and training
Participation in scientific meetings, seminars, and training activities within the research group, contributing to the development of skills in experimental neuroscience, animal models, and organoid-based technologies.

    
V - Initial grant duration: 6 meses
    
V.I - Renewal Possibility: Possibily renewable 
    
VI - Funding and financial conditions of the grant
VI.I - Monthly grant amount (paid by bank transfer at the end of each month): 1359,64€
    
VI.II - Other financial components of the grant: NA
    
VI.III - In addition to the above amounts, voluntary social security (SSV) is included when the grant has a duration of six months or more, corresponding to the first level, if the candidate opts for it, as well as mandatory personal accident insurance.
    
VI.IV - Funding: The grant(s) assigned under this call will be funded by  Foundation for Science and 
Technology through national funds and by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the 
Programa Temático Inovação e Transição Digital (COMPETE 2030), Portugal 2030 and the European Union 
| Operation No. 15538, operation code in the Funds Desk COMPETE2030-FEDER-00657500.
    
VI.V - Information and publicity about the funding: In all R&D activities directly or indirectly financed 
by the grant, namely, in all communications, publications and scientific creations, as well as theses, carried out with the support provided for in the grant, the financial support of the Foundation for Science and 
Technology (FCT) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), through the Programa Temático 
Inovação e Transição Digital (COMPETE 2030) of Portugal 2030, must be explicitly mentioned.
    
VII - Selection Methods: Evaluation of the academic record (AR) 
    
VII.I - AR - In the evaluation of the academic record, the candidates' academic performance will be assessed according to the following weights and criteria:
- Criterion 1 - Absolute merit of the Curriculum Vitae (40%)
- Criterion 2 – Specific knowledge related to the work plan (40%)
- Criterion 3 – Adequacy of the candidate’s profile to the work plan to be developed (20%)

VII.II- The evaluation of the criteria and the final classification will be based on a scale from 0 to 100, with scores rounded to the nearest hundredth, applying the following formulas:
- AR: criterion 1 * (40%) + criterion 2 * (40%) + criterion 3 * (20%) = X
- Final Classification (FC): AR * (100%)= 100%
   
VII.III - All candidates who meet the admission requirements are subject to the academic record evaluation, carried out according to the criteria and weights defined in VII.I.
    
VII.IV - Candidates who score below 50 in any selection method will be excluded, and subsequent methods, if any, will not apply to them. Candidates who are duly notified but fail to attend the interview (if applicable) or withdraw at any stage will also be excluded.
    
VII.V - Tie-breaking criteria: In the event of a tie in the rankings, candidates will be ordered in descending order as follows:
a) Based on the score obtained in the first method applied;
b) Based on the score of their academic qualifications.
    
VII.VI - All provisional and final jury decisions must be justified, recorded in minutes, and published on https://apply.uc.pt/.
    
VII.VII - Jury Composition:
    
President: Ana Luísa Colaço Cardoso
Effective Members: João Miguel Peça Lima Novo Silvestre; Joana Ribeiro Guedes
Alternate Members: Emanuel Ferreira Fernandes; Diana Bela da Luz Sequeira

    
VIII- Application Submission
Candidates must access and register on the electronic platform https://apply.uc.pt/ to submit their application, selecting the procedure to which they wish to apply.
Documents uploaded for the application must be in portable document format (PDF).
Applications are submitted by completing the sections available in the electronic platform "Apply UC" under "My Application."
    
VIII.I- Mandatory documents to attach when applying:
    Curriculum Vitae, duly updated, dated, and signed; 
    Copy of academic degree certificates. 
a)    If the possession of a degree is a requirement for the grant, candidates holding a degree obtained abroad must, by the end of the application period, provide proof of recognition or evidence that it has been requested, as per Decree-Law No. 66/2018 of August 16. Failure to present degree recognition at the time of contract signing, as per the RBI-UC, will result in exclusion.
b)    If duly justified, documents proving the possession of academic degrees and diplomas, or their recognition, may be waived at the application stage and replaced by a candidate's sworn statement. However, until the grant agreement stage, the respective proofs must be submitted under penalty of exclusion.
c)    Proof of enrollment in a degree or non-degree course may be waived at the application stage and replaced by a sworn statement from the candidate. However, the required proof must be submitted by the grant agreement stage under penalty of exclusion. 
    Whenever possible, documentation proving prior grant benefits should also be attached to the application.
    
VIII.II- Other documents to attach when applying:
    Any other elements the candidate considers relevant.
    Motivation Letter
    
VIII.III - All application documents must be submitted in Portuguese and/or English. When the originals are in another language, a translation into one of these languages must be provided.
    
VIII.IV - Applications that are not properly completed or do not meet the admission criteria defined in the applicable legislation and this notice will not be accepted.
    
VIII.V - No documents required for the application may be submitted after the application deadline.
    
VIII.VI - Without prejudice to the penal provisions of the law, false statements made by candidates or grant holders regarding relevant matters for the grant award or renewal, or for the evaluation of its progress, will result in its cancellation.
     
IX – Application deadline: 24/09/2026to 08/10/2026     
    
X - Activity Regime: The grant does not create or constitute a legal-labor relationship. It is carried out under an exclusive dedication regime, and the grantee is awarded the Research Grantee Status, as stipulated in the EBI and the RBI-UC.
    
XI - Notification of Candidates: All notifications will be made through the electronic platform Apply UC, under the terms of subparagraph c) of paragraph 1 and subparagraph b) of paragraph 2 of Article 112 of the CPA and Article 22 of the RBI-UC. The notifications will take effect after being made, as provided in Article 113 of the CPA.
    
XII - Under Articles 121 and 122 of the CPA and Article 22 of the RBI-UC, candidates may, if they wish, submit comments regarding the jury's decisions within 10 business days, through the "Audiência dos Interessados" option in the platform's procedure section.
    
XIII - Candidates may also submit a complaint within 15 business days or an appeal to the UC's highest-ranking official within 30 business days, both following the respective notification, under Articles 191 and 192 of the CPA.
    
XIV - Selected candidates must declare in writing, within five business days of notification, their acceptance of the grant and confirm that they meet the requirements to accept the proposed start date of the grant contract. Unless a justifiable reason is provided, failure to provide this declaration within the stipulated time will be considered a renunciation of the grant. In case of renunciation or withdrawal by the selected candidate, the next candidate on the final classification list will be notified.
    
XV - The full competition process can be consulted by candidates, subject to prior scheduling, by sending an email to the Human Resources Management Service at: sgrh@uc.pt.
    
XVI - In compliance with subparagraph h) of Article 9 of the Constitution, the University of Coimbra, as an employer, actively promotes a policy of equal opportunities between men and women in terms of employment access and career progression, ensuring that any form of discrimination is strictly avoided. It encourages underrepresented minorities in each area to apply.
Accordingly, no one may be privileged, benefited, disadvantaged, or deprived of any right or exempted from any duty on the grounds of ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender, marital status, family status, economic situation, education, social origin or condition, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, place of origin, language, religion, political or ideological beliefs, or trade union membership.
The University of Coimbra also promotes measures to facilitate the balance between professional, family, and personal life, recognizing the efforts of its employees and fostering motivation.
    
XVII- The grantee must submit annual activity reports for each renewal and at the end of the grant contract, as stipulated in Article 7 of the RBI-UC, subject to an opinion issued by the respective supervisor(s). The report models, performance evaluation criteria, and the grant contract model are those approved under the University of Coimbra's Research Grant Regulations.