1 (one) Research Fellowship (BI) for a BSc enrolled in a non-degree course

1 Research Fellowship(s) (BI) is(are) open at the FCiências.ID – Associação para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento de Ciências, for the project “Generation of zebrafish models for the study of PCD (beyond ccdc40)”, financed by Funded by international entities (ETHRIS GmbH), under the following conditions:

1. Scientific Area: Biological sciences
    
2. Admission requirements: Candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree in biology. Candidates must have some preliminary expertise in the zebrafish model. Must have know-how in molecular biology. 
    
3. Additional optional skills and qualifications: some expertise in the zebrafish model and molecular biology.
    
4. Contracting requirements: Presentation of the academic qualifications and/or diplomas. Enrolment in   non-degree course developed in association or cooperation between a High Education Institution and one or multiple research units.
    
5. Work plan: We recently generated a zebrafish model for a severe PCD variant and we are testing mRNA therapy for cilia motility restoration provided by a non-commercial collaboration with Ethris GmbH. We have shown cilia motility can be rescued using mRNA-based technology with promising outcomes of proof of concept for other mutations. PCD will need personalized therapy for each class of genes encoding individual compartments of the motile cilium.  Our aim is to generate fish mutant models that mimic different PCD mutations.
   The work plan will include making new CRISPR-Cas9 mutants and evaluating the ciliary phenotypes in diverse organs such as olfactory pit, Kupffer’s vesicle and spinal cord canal. Then at a second stage it will be asked to test restoration of ciliary beating by providing mRNA therapy by both injection route and bathing route. Output metrics will include identification of cilia beat frequency and pattern. Calculation of rescued area beating and flow generated by rescued cilia.
    
6. Legislation framework: Research Fellowship Holder Statute, in accordance with Law 40/2004, of 18 August, in its current version and the FCT Regulation for Research Studentships and Fellowships, in its current version  (Reg. 950/2019 published in DR on 16th  December: https://dre.pt/application/file/a/127230968,  or at the FCT website: https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/regulamento.phtml.pt), and FCiências.ID Fellowship Regulation, as approved on 12th May 2020 (available at Regulamento de Bolsas de Investigação Científica da FCiências.ID).
    
7. Place of work: The work will be developed at the CE3C, department of animal science at Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa  under the scientific supervision of Professor Susana Santos Lopes.
    
8. Fellowship duration: This position is initially opened for 6 months due to start in November 2024. 
    
9. Monthly allowance: The fellowship amounts to € 990,98, according to table values of the FCiências.ID Fellowship Regulation. The fellowship holder will have a personal accident insurance and can ensure the right to social security through adherence to the voluntary social insurance scheme, if not covered by any other social protection scheme, pursuant to Código dos Regimes Contributivos do Sistema Previdencial de Segurança Social.
   The fellowship will be paid monthly by bank transfer.
    
10. Evaluation and selection process: Candidates will be assessed by CV 80% and motivation letter 20%.
    Applicants whose application is scored with a final classification of less than 70 points are not eligible for granting a fellowship.
     
11. Selection Committee:  President of Jury: Susana Lopes; Effective members: Alisson Gontijo and Gabriela Rodrigues; alternate members: Rita Carlos and Tiago Grilo.
     
12. Publication/notification of results: All the candidates will be notified by e-mail, sent by the call holder, with the selection meeting minutes enclosed.
     
13. Deadlines: This call for applications is open from 04/11/2024 to 12/11/2024 .
     
14. Application: Applications should be sent via e-mail to ssalopes@fc.ul.pt , by attaching the following documents: 
    a) Curriculum vitae;
    b) Certificate of completion of previous degree Note 1, 2;
    c) Motivation letter.
     
15. Processing of personal data: FCiências.ID – Associação para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento de Ciências, as the controller under the General Data Protection Regulation, collects and processes the personal data requested in the context indicated in paragraph 14., under the legitimate interests in ensuring the award of the research fellowship to candidates with the indicated profile.
    The personal data will be kept for the period necessary for the execution of the purposes for which they are intended, being ensured the processing and protection in an appropriate and diligent way, the confidentiality and integrity of these data, through appropriate technical and organizational measures.
    Personal data may be transmitted to third parties, namely the entity funding the research project, solely for the purposes specifically established. In this sense, whenever the transfer of personal data to countries outside the European Union and/or international organizations is necessary, compliance with the applicable legal provisions is ensured.
    You have the right to request access, rectification, elimination, limitation of processing, the right to object and also data portability (if technically feasible), through the e-mail address: dpo@fciencias-id.pt. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the National Data Protection Commission. 
    For more information, we recommend consulting the Internal Rules of Data Protection of FCiências.ID - Association for Research and Development of Sciences at https://fciencias-id.pt/.
     
16. Time limits for the appeal procedure: In case of negative decision, the candidates have 10 business days, after the date of announcement of the results of the candidates evaluation, to pronounce their disagreement in accordance with the Código do Procedimento Administrativo. Appeals against the final decision may be submitted to the Administration Board of FCiências.ID (fciencias.id@fciencias-id.pt) within 15 business days after the notification date.

Note 1: The documents that prove the entitlement of the academic qualifications and diplomas can be dismissed during the application period and replaced by a declaration on their honour from the applicant (Minuta PT, Minute EN). Their delivery is mandatory for the fellowship contractualization.

Note 2: Please note that - higher education degrees and diplomas awarded by foreign higher education institutions  need to be  recognized by a Portuguese higher education institution, pursuant to the Decree-Law nr. 66/2018 (August 16) and the Ministerial Order nr. 33/2019 (January 25). The presentation of the recognition certificate is mandatory for contract signature. More information can be obtained at: https://www.dges.gov.pt/en/pagina/degree-and-diploma-recognition.