BI/Aquacultura/2026

Universidade da Madeira; Portugal; On-site; EUR 14,000 - 17,000; Full time

Job summary

Universidade da Madeira invites applications for a Research Grant in Marine Biology, focusing on limpets and restocking strategies. The grant supports 12 months with potential renewal up to 48 months, under URI/MARE guidance. The monthly maintenance is aligned with FCT values.

The selection emphasizes coursework, research output, doctoral alignment, and experience in mollusk culture and experimental design, with a strong statistical analysis component.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Marine Biology or related field.
• Enrolled in a doctoral program in Biological Sciences.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate methodologies to promote juvenile limpet recruitment and test translocation to restocking areas.
• Review current knowledge and develop protocols for collection, handling and transport of limpets.
• Develop and test artificial substrates with/without calcareous algae to promote juvenile fixation.
• Improve culture conditions for juvenile limpets (environmental, nutritional, design/management).
• Develop methodologies for translocating limpets in artificial substrates to restocking areas.

Skills

Limpet culture experience

Statistical software (SPSS & R)

Education

Master's in Marine Biology or related fields

Enrolled in a doctoral program in Biological Sciences

Tools

SPSS

R

Job description

Organisation/Company Universidade da Madeira Research Field Other Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 17 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (Atlantic/Madeira) Country Portugal Type of Contract Not Applicable Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 3 Nov 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

A call for applications is open for one (1) Research Grant within the framework of the collaboration protocol between the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P./MECI and the University of Madeira, under the following conditions.

I. Scientific Area: Biological Sciences.

II. Admission Requirements:

a) General Requirements:

• The candidate must have a master's degree in Marine Biology or related fields;
• Be enrolled in a doctoral program in the area of Biological Sciences and related fields;

b) Preferred Requirements:

• Experience in the laboratory culture of limpets and calcareous coralline algae;
• Experience using statistical software in experimental assays with marine invertebrates (e.g., SPSS and R);

III. Work Plan:

Evaluation of methodologies to promote the recruitment/production of juvenile limpets and test the translocation of individuals to coastal restocking areas.

The overall objective is to establish and optimize the conditions for the settlement of juvenile limpets Patella spp. Wild or aquaculture production limpets, using appropriate substrates, to test the effectiveness of their placement in coastal restocking areas that are overexploited and depleted of this living resource. The work program is divided into 5 sections, the first being a review of the current state of knowledge, followed by 4 sections that could involve monitoring and animal experimentation, with specific objectives:

1. Development and validation of protocols for the collection, handling, and transport of live wild and aquaculture production limpets;
2. Evaluation and testing of different artificial substrates, in the presence and absence of calcareous coralline algae, to promote the fixation of wild juveniles and juveniles produced in hatcheries;
3. Study to improve the culture conditions of juvenile limpets, namely environmental, nutritional, and design/management of the culture system that allows for the sustainable maintenance of individuals and ensures their well-being, prior to restocking programs.
4. Develop and validate methodologies for translocating limpets in artificial substrates to selected restocking areas.

IV. Applicable Legislation and Regulations:

Research Grant Holder Statute in its current version, University of Madeira Research Grant Regulations, and FCT, IP Research Grant Regulations in their current version.

V. Workplace:

The work will be carried out at the research unit Centre for Marine and Environmental Sciences, Madeira Regional Research Unit (URI) (MARE - Madeira), affiliated with the University of Madeira, and at the University of Madeira, Faculty of Life Sciences, under the scientific guidance of Dr. Carlos Alberto Pestana Andrade.

VI. Grant Duration(s):

The grant will have an initial duration of 12 (twelve) months. The grant may be renewed for a maximum of 48 months.

VII. Monthly Maintenance Allowance:

The grant amount corresponds to €1359.64, according to the table of values for grants awarded directly by FCT, I.P. in Portugal.

VIII. Funding:

The scholarship is granted under the collaboration protocol between the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P./MECI and the University of Madeira, funded by the FCT with funds from the State Budget and, when eligible, with funds from the PDQI.

IX. Selection Methods:

A. Curriculum Evaluation, AC

• Final average grade of 17 (85%) or higher in the master's degree - 20%
• Production of scientific articles and reports on limpet cultivation trials - 15%
• Alignment of the doctoral thesis topic with the scholarship topic and requirements - 15%

B. Work Experience, ET

• Previous experience in cultivation and production trials of limpets and calcareous coralline algae, especially with species occurring in Macaronesia - 25%
• Evidence of knowledge in the design, assembly and management of experimental cultivation circuits for mollusks - 15%
• Knowledge and mastery of statistics relevant to the management and analysis of data from the scholarship work program - 10%

C. Final Evaluation *= AC (50%) + ET (50%) = 100.00%.

*If 2 or more candidates have obtained the same final evaluation and are ranked 1st, an interview will be conducted (evaluation 0-100%), as an additional selection method for granting the Research Scholarship.

X. Composition of the Selection Jury:

• Chairman: Dr. Carlos Alberto Pestana Andrade
• Member: Prof. Dr. Manfred Josef Kaufmann
• Member: Dr. Ana Dinis
• Alternate Member: Dr. João Canning-Clode

XI. Method of publication/notification of results:

The admission lists, as well as the results of each selection method and final ranking lists, will be published on the website of the Human Resources Unit – Scholarship Holder Center of the University of Madeira, http://urh.uma.pt/ , and the candidate will be notified by email.