Call for Postdoctoral Research Assignment - intraSTAPH - IT137-26-410

Universidade de Coimbra; Portugal; On-site; EUR 19,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

Universidade de Coimbra invites applications for a 12‑month postdoctoral research grant under the intraSTAPH project, investigating Staphylococcus aureus intracellular lifestyle to inform antibiotic selection. The researcher will lead phenotypic profiling in macrophages, perform label-free fluorescence imaging, and drive automated image analyses.

The role includes validating results with complemented strains, testing antibiotics against intracellular bacteria, and contributing to experimental

Qualifications

• PhD in a related scientific field within the last 3 years.
• Proven research records in intracellular bacteria or related areas.

Responsibilities

• Profile intracellular lifestyle of S. aureus in macrophages using fluorescence microscopy-based assays.
• Perform automated image analysis of intracellular profiles.
• Validate intracellular profiles with complemented strains and various host cells.
• Test activity of antibiotics against intracellular S. aureus and analyze concentration–response curves.

Skills

Fluorescence microscopy

Image analysis

Antibiotics testing

Cell culture in macrophages

Education

Doctoral degree in Cell Biology, Microbiology or Biochemistry

Tools

Fluorescence microscopy

Automated image analysis

Job description

Organisation/Company Universidade de Coimbra Department Divisão de Projetos e Atividades (Bolsas) Research Field Other Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Postdoc Positions Application Deadline 30 Oct 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon) Country Portugal Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 22 Sep 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number HR25_00467 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The University of Coimbra opens a call for the assignment of a postdoctoral research grant, with 1 position(s), under the project intraSTAPH, Investigating Staphylococcus aureus Intracellular Lifestyle to Inform Antibiotic Selection.

The call is governed by this Notice of Opening, the University of Coimbra Research Grant Regulations (RBIUC), subsidiarily by the Research Grant Regulations of the Foundation for Science and Technology (RBIFCT), by the Research Fellow Statute (EBI), by the Norms for Grant Assignment and Management within R&D Projects, by the Code of Administrative Procedure (CPA), all in their current wording, and by other applicable national and community legislation.

Procedure Reference: IT137 -26 - 410

I - Legal admission requirements

I.I - Grant Recipients:

Holders of a doctoral degree in the scientif ic area of Cell Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, or in a related scientif ic f ield, obtained within the three years prior to the start date of the grant, where the research work leading to the degree was carried out at a host institution dif ferent f rom the one where the work of the current grant will be conducted.

I.II – Ineligible candidates:

• − Candidates who, with the award of the current grant, including possible renewals, exceed a cumulative period of three years in this type of grant, whether consecutive or intermittent.
• − Candidates who obtained their doctoral degree more than three years before the application submission date.
• − Candidates who have conducted the majority of the research work leading to their doctoral degree at the host institution of the current grant.

I.III - Eligible for grant assignment if meeting the requirements:

a) Portuguese nationals or nationals of other EU Member States

b) Nationals of third countries

c) Stateless persons

d) Benef iciaries of political refugee status

III- Scientific supervision/coordination of the grant:

Researcher Ana Sofia Bregieiro Eulálio

IV - Work Plan / Goals to be achieved:

The researcher will be responsible for: the phenotypic prof iling of the intracellular lifestyle of a library of S. aureus single mutants in macrophages, using f luorescence microscopybased infection assays, followed by automated image analysis; validation of the intracellular prof iles of S. aureus mutants selected from the screening, including generation of the corresponding complemented strains, complementary assays in various host cell types, and analysis of S. aureus subcellular localization; testing the activity of dif ferent antibiotics against intracellular S. aureus, including concentration-response curves, and evaluating their in vivo efficacy. The researcher will contribute to experimental planning, task execution, and data interpretation.

V - Initial grant duration

12 months

V.I - Renewal Possibility: Possibily renewable.

VI - Funding and financial conditions of the grant

• VI.I - Monthly grant amount (paid by bank transfer at the end of each month): 1901,00 EUR
• VI.II - Other financial components of the grant: N.A.
• VI.III - In addition to the above amounts, voluntary social security (SSV) is included when the grant has a duration of six months or more, corresponding to the f irst level, if the candidate opts for it, as well as mandatory personal accident insurance.
• VI.IV - Funding: The grant(s) assigned under this call will be funded by the La Caixa Foundation as part of the Health Research Programme 2025 | intraSTAPH Project, reference HR25_00467.
• VI.V - Information and publicity about the funding: Information and publicity regarding the funding awarded: In all R&D activities directly or indirectly funded by the grant – specifically, in all communications, publications and scientif ic works, as well as theses, produced with the support provided under the grant – explicit acknowledgement must be given to the financial support provided by the La Caixa Foundation through the Health Research Programme 2025. To this end, the La Caixa Foundation’s logos must be included in documents relating to these activities, in accordance with the Programme’s graphic guidelines. The dissemination of research results funded under the RBI must comply with the current open access standards for data, publications and other research outputs.

VII - Selection Methods:

Evaluation of the academic record (AR) and Interview (I)

VII.I - AR - In the evaluation of the academic record, the candidates' academic performance will be assessed according to the following weights and criteria:

• Criteria 1: Absolute merit of the curriculum vitae – 30%;
• Criteria 2: Specific knowledge related to the work plan – 20%
• Criteria 3: Publications in scientific journals and minutes – 20%
• Criteria 4: Adequacy of the candidate's profile to the work plan to be developed – 30%

VII.II- I – In the evaluation of the interview, candidates' performance will be assessed according to the following weights and criteria:

• Criteria 1: Knowledge and profile appropriate to the functions to be performed – 50%
• Criteria 2: Motivation and interest – 40%
• Criteria 3: Ability to express oneself and verbal fluency – 10%

VII.III- The evaluation of the criteria and the final classification will be based on a scale from 0 to 100,

with scores rounded to the nearest hundredth, applying the following formulas:

- Academic Record (AR): Absolute merit of the curriculum vitae * (30%) + Specific knowledge related to the work plan * (20%) + (Publications in scientif ic journals and minutes) * (20%) + Adequacy of the candidate's profile to the work plan to be developed * (30%) = X

- Interview (I) : Knowledge and profile appropriate to the functions to be performed * (50%) + Motivation and interest *(40%) + (Ability to express oneself and verbal f luency) *(10%) = X

- Final classification (FC): AR * (%) + I * (%) = X

VII.IV - All candidates who meet the admission requirements are subject to the academic record evaluation, carried out according to the criteria and weights defined in VII.I.

VII.V - Candidates who score below 50 in any selection method will be excluded, and subsequent methods, if any, will not apply to them. Candidates who are duly notified but fail to attend the interview (if applicable) or withdraw at any stage will also be excluded.

VII.VI - All candidates who score above 50 in the AR will proceed to the next method, i.e., the interview.

VII.VII - Tie-breaking criteria: In the event of a tie in the rankings, candidates will be ordered in descending order as follows:

• Based on the score obtained in the f irst method applied;
• Based on the score of their academic qualifications.

VII.VIII - All provisional and final jury decisions must be justified, recorded in minutes, and published on https://apply.uc.pt/ .

VII.IX - Jury Composition:

President: Ana Sofia Bregieiro Eulálio, Principal Investigator, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology

Effective Members:

Miguel Luís Cunha Mano, Principal Investigator, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (First effective member);

Inês Rodrigues Lopes, Invited Assistant Researcher, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (Second effective member).

IX – Application deadline:

22/09/2026 to 30/10/2026

X - Activity Regime:

The grant does not create or constitute a legal-labor relationship. It is carried out under an exclusive dedication regime, and the grantee is awarded the Research Grantee Status, as stipulated in the EBI and the RBI-UC.

XI - Notification of Candidates:

All notifications will be made through the electronic platform Apply UC, under the terms of subparagraph c) of paragraph 1 and subparagraph b) of paragraph 2 of Article 112 of the CPA and Article 22 of the RBI-UC. The notifications will take effect af ter being made, as provided in Article 113 of the CPA.

XII -

Under Articles 121 and 122 of the CPA and Article 22 of the RBI-UC, candidates may, if they wish, submit comments regarding the jury's decisions within 10 business days, through the Audiência dos Interessados option in the platform's procedure section.

XIII

Candidates may also submit a complaint within 15 business days or an appeal to the UC's highest-ranking official within 30 business days, both following the respective notification, under Articles 191 and 192 of the CPA.

XIV

Selected candidates must declare in writing, within five business days of notification, their acceptance of the grant and confirm that they meet the requirements to accept the proposed start date of the grant contract. Unless a justifiable reason is provided, failure to provide this declaration within the stipulated time will be considered a renunciation of the grant. In case of renunciation or withdrawal by the selected candidate, the next candidate on the final classification list will be notified.

XV

The full competition process can be consulted by candidates, subject to prior scheduling, by sending an email to the Human Resources Management Service at: [e-mail] .

XVI

In compliance with subparagraph h) of Article 9 of the Constitution, the University of Coimbra, as an employer, actively promotes a policy of equal opportunities between men and women in terms of employment access and career progression, ensuring that any form of discrimination is strictly avoided. It encourages underrepresented minorities in each area to apply.

Accordingly, no one may be privileged, benefited, disadvantaged, or deprived of any right or exempted from any duty on the grounds of ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender, marital status, family status, economic situation, education, social origin or condition, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, place of origin, language, religion, political or ideological beliefs, or trade union membership.

The University of Coimbra also promotes measures to facilitate the balance between professional, family, and personal life, recognizing the efforts of its employees and fostering motivation.

XVII

The grantee must submit annual activity reports for each renewal and at the end of the grant contract, as stipulated in Article 7 of the RBI-UC, subject to an opinion issued by the respective supervisor(s). The report models, performance evaluation criteria, and the grant contract model are those approved under the University of Coimbra's Research Grant Regulations.

Research Field Biological sciences » BiologyChemistry » BiochemistryOther