A competition is open for the attribution of 1 Research Grant in the framework of the project    HyPerRem - HYbrid REMediation Solutions for Mitigating PER- And Poly-Fluoroalkyl Compounds in Aquatic Environments, with the reference COMPETE2030-FEDER-00737900, supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (FCT), according to the following conditions:

1. Scientific area: Microbiology or similar areas

2. Admission requirements:

The ideal candidate should have a BSc degree in Biochemistry (or related areas), with a final grade of at least 17 (out of 20), and a MSc in Biotechnology (or related areas), with a final degree of at least 18 (out of 20). It is expected that the candidate holds some experience and proven scientific training in the areas of microbiology, molecular biology and biotechnology. Specifically, the candidate will be familiar with the cultivation and manipulation of bacteria, including the setup of scale-up cultures, the obtainment of metabolomic extracts from key bacterial strains and the development of bioassays with selected strains and extracts. The ideal candidate will also showcase a promising career trajectory, shown by his/her past experiences as a research fellow or intern in different institutions and/or his/her active participation in scientific events (e.g., conferences, courses and workshops), alongside a clear motivation to integrate an ongoing interdisciplinary and fast-pacing R&D project.

The candidate must be enrolled in PhD program or a non-academic degree course integrated in an educational project of a developed higher education institution in association or cooperation with one or more R&D units. Students who are enrolled in non-degree-granting courses may only be awarded if they do not exceed, with the signing of the grant contract in question, including possible renewals, an accumulated period of two years in that type of grant, whether consecutive or intermittent. Proof of enrolment must be submitted at the time of contracting and candidates may attach a declaration on their honour that they meet the registration conditions for the purposes of their application. These grants are intended for the performance of R&D activities by students aiming at the consolidation of their scientific training through the development of research work leading to the attainment of the respective academic degree, integrated into R&D projects.

Candidates who are finalizing their MSc degrees are welcome to apply, provided that, if selected, he/she has been awarded a MSc degree by the time of contracting.

3. Work plan: 

The selected candidate will focus his/her work on Tasks 2 and 3 of the HyPerRem project, focused, respectively, on producing and evaluating 3D-printed photocatalytic membranes for PFAS degradation embedded with antibiofilm biogenic extracts and on the design, optimization and characterization bacterial consortia with improved efficiency to biodegrade PFAS and their sub-products. Within the priorities of Task 2, the work will involve the screening for anti-biofilm potential in different actinobacterial extracts, followed by the production of the most promising bioactive extracts at different scales and the evaluation of their incorporation in different membrane matrixes. Within Task 3, the work will involve screening the bacterial strains in the group’s in-house culture collection for their biodegradation and defluorination potential, following well-established biodegradation assays, and to assemble test bacterial consortia with the most promising strains. The candidate will then run validation assays at different scales (µL to L-scale incubations) with the top-performing bacterial consortia, in close coordination with the project partners and consultants.

4. Legislation and official rules: 

Law nº. 40/2004, 18th August (Research Fellowship and Studentship Regulation) in its current version; Regulations for Studentships and Fellowships of the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. and CIIMAR Grants Regulation approved by FCT.

5. Work place:

The selected candidate will integrate the Microbial Biodegradation and Bioprospecting Research Group at CIIMAR, Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, and will work under the scientific supervision of Dr. Diogo Alexandrino and Dr. Maria de Fátima Carvalho.

6. Duration of the grant:

10 months

7.  Monthly maintenance stipend:

The monthly maintenance allowance is 

8.  Selection methods: 

Candidate selection will take into account three criteria: (1) Merit of the academic curriculum (40%); (2) Relevant experience and qualifications for the proposed research area (40%); (3) Motivation Letter (20%). The evaluation process may also include an interview with the top three candidates, intended to clarify aspects related to the career and experience, in which case the interview weighs 30% and the previous evaluation weighs 70%.

9. Composition of the jury selection:

President of the jury: Diogo A. M. Alexandrino

Vogal: Maria de Fátima Carvalho

Vogal: Mariana Girão

10.  Form of Advertising/notification of results: 

The final results of the evaluation will be published through a list sorting the candidates according to their attributed mark by e-mail; in case of disagreement, the candidates have a 10-working day term in which to contest the decision, if he/she so wishes, as provided for in the Administrative Procedure Code in a preliminary hearing setting. The jury reserves the right to not assign the grant depending on the quality of the applications.

In case of resignation or withdrawal of the selected candidate, the next candidate with the highest evaluation score will be notified immediately.

11.   Deadline for application and presentation of applications: 

The competition is open from 6/10 until 19/10/2026. The applications must be formalized, compulsorily, by sending the following documents:

- Detailed Curriculum vitae, in Portuguese or in English;

- Past research activities and its relevance to the current project explained in a motivation letter written in Portuguese or English;

- Certificates (copy) of the previous academic degrees, specifying mandatorily the final classification. Only candidates who have completed the Master degree by the end of the application period will be admitted. If they do not yet have the official degree certificate, a declaration of honour from the candidate stating that he/she has completed the qualifications required by the end of the application period, will be accepted. At the time of the respective hiring the candidate must present the official degree certificate;

- Evidence of enrolment in a non-academic degree course; 

Alternatively, the candidate may submit a declaration of honour attesting their commitment to enrol in a Doctoral Programme or in a non-degree course integrated into the educational project of a Higher Education Institution, should they be selected for the scholarship and accept the award;

- Contact e-mail address and phone number.

The applications cannot exceed 20 MB and must be sent by e-mail to: rh@ciimar.up.pt, with the reference 2026_078_BI_HyPerRem in the subject line. The applications that do not include all the elements previously indicated will not be considered.

12. Non-discrimination and equal access policy:

CIIMAR actively promotes a non-discrimination and equal access policy, wherefore no candidate can be privileged, benefited, impaired or deprived of any rights whatsoever, or be exempt of any duties based on their ancestry, age, sex, sexual preference, marital status, family and economic conditions, instruction, origin or social conditions, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, origin territory, language, religion, political or ideological convictions and union membership.

Pursuant to Decree-Law no. 29/2001 of 3 February, disabled candidates shall be preferred in a situation of equal classification, and said preference supersedes any legal preferences. Candidates must declare, on their honour, their respective disability degree, type of disability and communication/expression means to be used during selection period on their application form, under the regulations above.