PUBLIC NOTICE FOR THE AWARD OF RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS

Title: Research Fellowships for Masters Enrolled in a Non-Academic Degree Course – 2 vacancies

Reference: ICVS_BI_2023_030(2)

A call for applications is now open for the attribution of 2 (two) Research Fellowships for Masters Enrolled in a Non-Academic Degree Course, within the scope of the R&D project “Health from Portugal (HfPT)”, with the reference PRR n.º 41 - HfPT, funded by the Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation, I.P. (IAPMEI), through the Incentive System “Agendas for Business Innovation”, subject to the following conditions:

Scientific Area: Health Sciences

Candidate’s Category: Masters enrolled in a non-academic degree course integrated in the educational project of the institution (UMinho), developed in association or cooperation with one or more R&D units.

Requirements for the granting of the fellowship:

·       Candidates may apply without prior registration in a non-academic degree course integrated in the educational project of the institution (UMinho). The requirement for registration in a non-academic degree course integrated in the educational project of the institution (UMinho) must be verified on the date of contracting the fellowship.

·       For the purpose of contracting the fellowship, the selected candidate must present a valid proof of registration in a non-academic degree course integrated in the educational project of the institution (UMinho), issued by the respective academic services of the Higher Education Institution, with the indication of the current academic year or its duration (beginning and end).

Candidate’s Profile:

a)     Mandatory requirement:

- Master's degree in the areas of Health Sciences, Molecular Genetics or in related scientific areas;

b)     Not benefiting from a non-conferring degree research fellowship for an accumulated period of 2 years, consecutive or interpolated;

c)     Requirements in the contractualization phase:

- Presentation of the registration in a non-academic degree course integrated in the educational project of the institution (UMinho), developed in association or cooperation with one or more R&D units;

- Presentation of proof of the academic qualifications* completed until the deadline for the applications, including evidence resulting from academic degree recognition processes.

d)     Preferential factors:

- Experience in: i) transgenic animal models and cellular models of neurodegenerative and/or neurodevelopmental disorders; ii) molecular biology techniques; and iii) animal behaviour;

- Presentation of FELASA european certification for working with laboratory animals.

*The documents proving the ownership of the academic degrees and diplomas, or their respective recognition, when awarded by foreign higher education institutions, may be waived during the application phase, as long as they are replaced by a declaration of honour of the candidate, certifying the ownership of the academic degrees held (at the deadline for the applications) and the final classification of the academic degrees held. The documents proving the ownership of the academic degrees and diplomas, or their respective recognition, must be delivered in the fellowship contracting phase. The aforementioned declaration of honour of the candidate must attest to facts that occurred on a date prior to the application. In situations of discrepancy between the information contained in the declaration and the documentation delivered for the purpose of contracting the fellowship, only the information contained in the documentation delivered for the purpose of contracting the fellowship will be considered. If it is verified that the documents proving the ownership of the academic degrees and diplomas, or their respective recognition under the terms of the Decree-Law n.º 66/2018, of august 16th, do not correspond to the classifications attributed in the evaluation of the academic path and that it may, consequently, change the ranking of the candidate, the contracting of the fellowship will not be carried out.

Candidate’s eligibility: Candidates must meet the eligibility conditions set out in article 9 of the Regulation of Research Grants (2019) from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), I.P.

Work plan and objectives to be achieved: aims to develop and consolidate the scientific training of the fellowship holder, through involvement in research work.

The project in which the research fellowships are part of focuses on the detection of AD biomarkers in blood samples.

 In this context, the work plans include the execution of the following R&D activities:

- Collection and analysis of exosomes from cell lines and animal models subjected to chronic stress or dexamethasone or from transgenic animal models of AD;

- Analysis of exosomes collected from AD patients;

- Molecular characterization of exosomes and other plasma components relevant for the disease that can be used has biomarkers.

The following are identified as result indicators:

1- Execution of the tasks indicated above with quality and in safe conditions;

2- Detection of less than 10% of failures in the execution of the indicated tasks.

Applicable legislation and regulations: Statute of the Research Fellow, approved by the Law no. 40/2004, of August 18th, in its current version, published by Decree-Law no. 123/2019, of August 28th; Regulation of Scientific Research Grants of the University of Minho, published in “Diário da República”, 2nd serie, no. 119, through dispatch no. 6524/2020, of June 22nd, rectified through the rectification statement no. 447/2021, of June 22nd; and the Regulation of Research Grants, no. 950/2019, of December 16th, from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT I.P.) - in force.

Host/contracting entity and scientific supervision: The work plans will be developed at the Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), from the School of Medicine (EM) of the University of Minho, located at the Gualtar Campus, in Braga, under the scientific supervision of Doctor Joana Margarida Gonçalves Mota Silva.

Fellowships duration: The fellowships will have an estimated duration of 9 months, starting predictably in March 2024. The fellowships may eventually be renewed, after a positive evaluation, not exceeding, with the renewal in question, the maximum period of duration for the type of fellowship in question, namely 1 (one) year (Research fellowship for master enrolled in a non-academic degree course. NOTE: Research fellowships awarded to graduates or masters who are enrolled in non-academic degree courses cannot exceed, with the conclusion of the fellowship contract in question and the possible renewals, an accumulated period of 2 years in this type of fellowship, consecutive or interpolated).

Amount of the Monthly Maintenance Allowance: The amount of the monthly maintenance allowance corresponds to 1.199,64€/month, according to the table of values regarding the fellowships in the country from FCT I.P. (Annex I – Table of monthly maintenance allowances of the Regulation of Research Grants from FCT I.P.), the Annex II of the Regulation of Scientific Research Grants of the University of Minho, published in Diário da República, 2nd serie, n.º 119, dispatch n.º 6524/2020, of 22-06-2020, rectified through the rectification statement n.º 447/2021, of 22-06-2021, and remaining applicable regulations.

Payment is made until the 23rd of each month, through bank transfer to the Bank Identification Number of the fellowship holders indicated in the respective contracting process.

Other benefits: Reimbursement of the Voluntary Social Insurance, corresponding to the 1st Echelon of the contributory base (for fellowships with a duration equal to or greater than 6 months), and Personal Accident Insurance.

Exclusivity regime: The performance of functions as a research fellow is carried out on an exclusive basis, under the terms set out in article 5 of the Statute of the Research Fellow and applicable regulations of research grants.

Composition of the Selection Jury:

President:

– Doctor Joana Margarida Gonçalves Mota Silva, PhD Researcher of initial level of the Life and Health Sciences Research Institute from the School of Medicine of the University of Minho.

Effective Members:

– Doctor Nuno Jorge Carvalho Sousa, Full Professor of the School of Medicine of the University of Minho;

– Doctor Carina Isabel Soares Cunha, PhD Researcher of initial level of the Life and Health Sciences Research Institute from the School of Medicine of the University of Minho.

Substitute Members:

– Doctor Bárbara Guimarães Salazar Coimbra, PhD Researcher of initial level of the Life and Health Sciences Research Institute from the School of Medicine of the University of Minho;

– Doctor Ana João Gomes Rodrigues, Assistant Researcher of the Life and Health Sciences Research Institute from the School of Medicine of the University of Minho.

In case of impediment of the President of the jury, he will be substituted by the first effective member, being appointed a substitute member to replace the first effective member.

In case of impediment of one of the effective members, a substitute member will be appointed to replace the effective member.

Evaluation and selection criteria and procedures: The evaluation of the applications will focus on the Merit of the Candidate, in which the following evaluation criteria will apply, valued on a scale of 0 to 5 values:

Merit of the Candidate - MC (100%):

AP - Academic Path (which reflects the classifications of the academic degrees), with a weight of 50%:

AP1 – Final classification in the bachelor's degree, with a weight of 15%;

AP2 – Final classification in the master's degree, with a weight of 35%;

AP3 – Bachelor's degree training area, with a weight of 25%;

AP4 – Master’s degree training area, with a weight of 25%.

PC - Personal Curriculum (which reflects the scientific and professional path/curriculum), with a weight of 40%:

PC1 – Knowledge in cellular and animal models of neurodegenerative diseases, with a weight of 50%;

PC2 – Experience in the project area, with a weight of 30%;

PC3 – Publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals, in the project area or in related areas, with a weight of 10%;

PC4 – Presentations at international conferences, in the project area or in related areas, with a weight of 10%.

ML - Motivation Letter, with a weight of 10%.

The classification in the Merit of the Candidate will be obtained by applying the following formula:

MC=(AP×0,5)+(PC×0,4)+(ML×0,1)

in which AP = (AP1×0,15) + (AP2×0,35) + (AP3×0,25) + (AP4×0,25), and

in which PC = (PC1×0,5) + (PC2×0,3) + (PC3×0,1) + (PC4×0,1).

Reference table for the definition of the score to be applied to the criterion AP - Academic Path

Bachelor's degree + Master's degree (pre or post-Bologna)

Integrated Master (300-360 credits)

Bachelor's degree - 180 credits

 (pre or post-Bologna)

Master's degree (90-120 credits)

(pre or post-Bologna)

Classification

Score A1

Classification

Score A1

Classification

Score A1

≥ 18

5

≥ 17

3,5

≥ 17

3

17

4,5

16

3

16

2,5

16

4

15

2,5

15

2

15

3,5

14

2

14

1,5

14

3

< 14

1,5

< 14

1

< 14

2,5

The Final Classification (FC) of the candidate corresponds to the classification obtained in the Merit of the Candidate (MC), with a weight of 100% (MC = 100%).

The fellowships will be awarded to the candidates ranked in the 1st and in the 2nd position, by order of the final ranking, and their respective applications will have to be evaluated with a minimum final classification of 3,5 values, considering the evaluation method adopted in the competition, namely the Merit of the Candidate method (MC).

Note: Candidates with degrees obtained abroad must present a proof of the recognition of their qualifications in Portugal and the conversion of the final classification of the academic degrees held to the Portuguese classification scale or, alternatively, candidates must present a declaration of honour, attesting to the ownership of the academic degrees held and their final classification.

Fellowship contracts with candidates with certificates/diplomas issued by foreign institutions will only be concluded upon presentation of proof of recognition of the academic degrees and of the conversion of the final classification to the Portuguese classification scale, under the terms of the applicable legislation.

The recognition of foreign academic degrees and diplomas, as well as the conversion of the final classification to the Portuguese classification scale, can be requested at any public higher education institution, or at the Direção-Geral do Ensino Superior (DGES, just for the case of automatic recognition). Regarding this matter, it is suggested the consultation of the DGES portal, through the following address: http://www.dges.gov.pt.

Announcement of the results: The project of the evaluation results, substantiated on a selection jury minute, will be sent to the candidates by email, in accordance with article 13 of the Regulation of Scientific Research Grants of the University of Minho (in force).

Candidates have a period of 10 (ten) working days to pronounce regarding the project of the evaluation results, if they so wish, in a prior hearing for the interested parties, under the terms of article 121.º and 122.º of the Code of the Administrative Procedure (Decree-Law no. 4/2015, of January 7th).

Complaint and appeal procedures: The final results of the evaluation will be publicized through an ordered list, posted in a visible and public place of the Host Unit, as well as through an email message sent to all candidates, attaching, for this purpose, the minutes with the deliberations of the jury.

The selected candidates must express in writing their intention to accept the fellowships. In case of non-acceptance by any of the candidates, the respective fellowship will be awarded to the candidate ranked in the following position, by order of the final ranking.

A complaint may be lodged against the final decision, within a period of 15 working days, addressed to the President of the Jury. Interested parties may also submit an optional hierarchical appeal, addressed to the Pro-Rector for Research and Projects, Professor Sandra Paiva.

Deadline for applications and form of presentation of the applications: The call for applications is open from December 26th, 2023 till January 9th, 2024.

Applications must be formalized, obligatorily, by sending an application letter accompanied by the following documents (preferably in PDF format):

- Curriculum vitae (preferably: https://cienciavitae.pt/);

- Qualifications Certificates indicating the final classification obtained in each academic degree held and, if possible, the classifications obtained in the curricular units, or a declaration of honour of the candidate, attesting to the ownership of the academic degrees held (at the deadline for the applications) and the final classification of the academic degrees held;

- Motivation Letter;

- Declaration of honour of the candidate in relation to the application requirements, issued as defined in the attached model, attesting that the candidate meets the necessary conditions for the type of fellowship in question, in accordance with the application requirements (namely the requirements of paragraph b) and c) of the point “Candidate’s Profile”);

- Other documents considered relevant to the evaluation process.

Applications must be sent by email to the address icvs.rh@med.uminho.pt, indicating the competition reference ICVS_BI_2023_030(2) in the Subject. Applications sent by other means or sent in breach of the application deadline stipulated in this Public Notice will not be admitted.

The lack of presentation of any of the aforementioned application documents, determines the exclusion of the respective application.

Fellowships contractualization: The granting of the fellowships takes place through the signing of a contract between the University of Minho and the fellowship holders, in accordance with the contract minute (Annex IV of the Regulation of Scientific Research Grants of the University of Minho, published in “Diário da República”, 2nd serie, no. 119, through dispatch no. 6524/2020, of June 22nd, rectified through the rectification statement no. 447/2021, of June 22nd), and in accordance with point 2.4 of the FCT document: “Rules for Granting and Management of Grants within the scope of R&D projects, including infrastructure projects, the multi-annual financing program for R&D units and other FCT financing instruments (Version 2021)”.

The contract can only be concluded after receipt of all required documentation depending on the type of fellowship in question, which must occur within a maximum period of 6 months (including proof of the ownership of the academic degrees or diplomas held, or of its recognition in Portugal, and proof of the registration in a non-academic degree course).

After receiving all the documentation, the contracting entity has a period of 60 working days to conclude the fellowship contract. In case of the fellowship contracts under the Regulation of Scientific Research Grants of the University of Minho, the deadline for the conclusion of the fellowship contract is of 15 working days, pursuant to paragraph 2 of article 15 of the aforementioned Regulation. Once received by the fellowship holder, he/she must return the contract duly signed within 15 working days.

Fellowship contracts can only begin after due authorization by the contracting entity.

Expiration and cancellation of fellowship contracts: Without prejudice to the other causes provided for in the applicable fellowship regulations (FCT and UMinho) and in the Statute of the Research Fellow, the fellowships cease with the conclusion of the contracted Work Plans, as well as with the end of the period for which the fellowships were granted or renewed.

At the end of the fellowships, the fellowship holders are obliged to present a Final Report on the work carried out, in accordance with the objectives to be achieved by the fellowship holders and the evaluation criteria/result indicators defined with the scientific supervisor, within 30 days after the fellowships expiration.

The Final Report must be prepared in accordance with Annex I of the Regulation of Scientific Research Grants of the University of Minho, published in “Diário da República”, 2nd serie, no. 119, through dispatch no. 6524/2020, of June 22nd, rectified through the rectification statement no. 447/2021, of June 22nd.

ANNEX I

Declaration of Honour

__________________________________ (name), applicant to the research fellowship vacancy under the R&D project (title and reference), published in the Euraxess portal, with the reference ____________, declare on my honour that:

a)     Did not benefit from a non-conferring degree research fellowship for an accumulated period of 2 years, consecutive or interpolated;

b)     In the contractualization phase of the fellowship, I will present proof of:

i.   Registration in a non-academic degree course integrated in the educational project of the institution (UMinho), developed in association or cooperation with one or more R&D units;

ii.  Academic qualifications completed until the deadline for the applications, including evidence resulting from academic degree recognition processes.

As this is true, this declaration will be dated and signed by me.

(Place), (date).

__________________________

(full name)