1 (one) Research Fellowship (BI) for a Master Student

1 Research Fellowship(s) (BI) is(are) open at the FCiências.ID – Associação para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento de Ciências, for the project “Cytotoxicity analysis and transfection of lipid nanoparticle formulations”, financed by 100% funded by national private entities (HOVIONE), under the following conditions:

1. Scientific Area: Biochemistry and Cellular Biology
    
2. Admission requirements: BSc degree in Biology or related areas, with work experience in the context of research laboratories in the area of Cell and Molecular Biology for more than one year. Experience in human cell culture with a minimum of 40 hours of supervised training and more than 6 months of independent use. Experience in isolation of primary human cells, staining and analysis by flow cytometry. Experience in laboratory management and organization. Proficiency in spoken and written English, at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
    
3. Additional optional skills and qualifications: Rigor, organization and ability to work within a team. Experience in technical support for laboratory research activities. Experience in the following techniques: culture of immortalized adherent and myeloid cell lines and primary cells; isolation of lymphocytes from blood; activation of lymphocytes in vitro. Transfection of cells by chemical and electroporation methods. Histological staining and immunofluorescence. Cell sorting. Training in flow cytometry data analysis, with preference for the FCS Express software. Experience working in an international environment.
    
4. Contracting requirements: Presentation of the academic qualifications and/or diplomas. Enrolment in  Master.
    
5. Work plan: Periodic performance of contamination detection tests in cell line cultures; Culture of adherent and myeloid immortalized cell lines and primary cells; Isolation of lymphocytes from blood and in vitro lymphocyte activation. Cell transfection by chemical methods and electroporation; Histological and immunofluorescence staining; Cell sorting. Support in the organisation and maintenance of the cell culture infrastructure, as well as the laboratory equipment essential to the project.
    
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 RNA Systems Biology Laboratory, of BioISI – Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisboa under the scientific supervision of Professor Dr. Margarida Gama Carvalho.
    
8. Fellowship duration: This position is initially opened for 6 months due to start in February 2025. The fellowship contract may be potentially renewed for until the end of the project, in accordance with the provisions of Regulation of Research Fellowships from the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P and FCiências.ID Fellowship Regulation. 
    
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 a) CV evaluation (70%), b) motivation letter (20%), c) recommendation letter (10%). The jury may choose to conduct an interview with the top 2 (two) classified candidates (total of criteria a) to c), aimed at obtaining clarifications, additional information and/or explanation of elements presented. In this case, the sum of the evaluations obtained in criteria a) to c) will correspond to 70% of the final classification and the interview to 30%.
    Applicants whose application is scored with a final classification of less than 80 points are not eligible for granting a fellowship.
     
11. Selection Committee: President of the jury – Margarida Gama-Carvalho, 1º effective member – Francisco Pinto 2º effective member – Carlos Farinha; 1º Alternate member – Hugo Botelho; 2º Alternate member – Bárbara Henriques.
     
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 20/01/2025 to 29/01/2025 .
     
14. Application: Applications should be sent via e-mail to mhcarvalho@fc.ul.pt, by attaching the following documents: 
    a) Curriculum vitae;
    b) Certificate of completion of previous degree Note 1, 2; 
    c) Letter of motivation;
    d) Letter of recommendation from a previous supervisor/employer with specific reference to the
    candidate's qualities in laboratory research activities in the area; 
    e) Certificate of English Level (except English native speaker).
     
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.