Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier
Application for a Master Fellowship within the 
scope of the ONRG project GRANT13679981

Applications are invited for a Master Fellowship in the scope of the scope of the project entitled “Connecting the dots on the transition between hyphal and mycelial-cord fungal morphotypes”, reference no. GRANT13679981, financed by the Office of Naval Research Global.

Academic Qualifications: Master in Biotechnology or related areas; final grade must be equal to or greater than 16 values

General admission requirements: 
1)    Master in Biochemistry or related areas;
2)    At least 3 peer-reviewed scientific publications in the field of fungal biology, and in total more than ten peer-reviewed papers;
3)    Basic expertise in confocal/fluorescent microscopy 
4)    Experience in the molecular biology techniques namely the CRISPR-Cas technology;
5)    Expertise in Bioinformatics analysis techniques, namely in transcriptomics;
6)    At least 12 months of experience working abroad;
7)    Participation in science-related activities and dissemination of knowledge, and supervision of students; 
8)    Motivation and proactivity, ability to solve problems in a multidisciplinary environment;
9)    Immediate availability;
10)    Being enrolled in a PhD, or in a non-academic degree course, in accordance with the Article 6th of “Regulamento de Bolsas de Investigação da Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. from FCT”, law in force.

Working Plan: The work plan is part of a project that aims to decode the formation of mycelial cords structures, namely the genetic machinery controlling directionality and OFF/ON machinery genetic machinery. The fellow will provide technical support to the team, namely in the development of microscopy-based methods to visualise the process of cord formation, exploring fluorescent and FISH microscopic techniques. The fellow will receive training in the advance life imaging microscopy.

Applicable Law and Regulations: Status of Scientific Research Fellow, approved by Law number 40/2004, of August 18th, changed and republished by Ordinance 202/2012 of August 27th and changed by Ordinance 233/2012 of October 29th and by Law 12/2013 of January 29th and by Ordinance 89/2013 of July 9th and by the Ordinance 123/2019 of August 28th; 
Regulations for Research Fellowships from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., in force (https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/2s/2019/12/241000000/0009100105.pdf).

Working Place: The work will be carried out in the Applied and Environmental Mycology group at ITQB NOVA, under the supervision of Professor Cristina Silva Pereira.

Duration of the fellowship: The fellowship will have the duration of 6 months, eventually renewable, expected to start in May 2025, on a full-time basis, according to according to Fellowship Regulations of Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, I.P.

Stipend amount: The amount of the grant corresponds to 1 309,64 €, according to the table of values of grants awarded directly by the FCT, I.P. in the Country (www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Tabela_valores_SMM_2025.pdf) and payment will be made, monthly, through bank transfer.

Selection procedure: The evaluation procedures the following: curricular evaluation and eventual interview, which, if carried out, will have a valuation of 50%.

Jury:
- Professor Doctor Cristina Silva Pereira, ITQB NOVA (President)
- Doctor Carlos Moreira, ITQB NOVA (Vogal member)
- Doctor Nádia Ribeiro, ITQB NOVA (Vogal member)
- Dcutor Tiago Martins, ITQB NOVA (Substitute member)

Application documents: Applications must be formalized, mandatorily, by sending the following documents: Letter of motivation, detailed Curriculum Vitae, Copy of qualification certificate and contact details of two references. All documents should be sent by email in a single pdf file. If the degree has been conferred by a non-Portuguese higher education institution, the selected candidate must obtain the certificate of the degree recognition, issued by the Portuguese Directorate General for Higher Education or by a Portuguese Public Higher Education Institution, until the signature of the contract. Regarding this issue, please consult the website of the Portuguese Directorate General for Higher Education: https://www.dges.gov.pt/en.

Notification of candidates: All the candidates will be informed of the final result by e-mail.

Deadlines and procedures for complaints and appeals: If the result is not favourable, the candidates have a period of 10 working days, after the disclosure of the results, to comment, if desired, in a prior hearing of interested parties, in the terms provided for in the Code of Administrative Procedure.

Application period: 17 April to 5 May 2025.

Applications should be sent to:
Doctor Nádia Ribeiro (nadia.ribeiro@itqb.unl.pt)
Ref. 031/BI/2025 
ITQB NOVA
OEIRAS