Call for Research Grant Assignment - 1178715

Universidade de Coimbra; Portugal; On-site; EUR 14,000 - 17,000; Full time

Job summary

A Universidade de Coimbra abre uma concurso para atribuição de uma bolsa de investigação com uma posição, no âmbito do projeto ERC-PT A-Projects - AngioArchitects, intitulado Endothelial‑microglia communication as a sculptor of brain capillary network architecture. O local é FMUC/ICNAS, com supervisão científica por Vanessa Filipa Coelho Santos.

A bolsa tem duração inicial de 12 meses, com renovação possível, duração dedicada, e é financiada pelo PRR/UE.

Qualifications

• Mestrado em área científica relacionada com Neurociências, Fisiologia, Biotecnologia, Bioengenharia, Ciências Biomédicas, Biociência ou Ciências da Vida com ou sem licenciamento terminal.
• Candidatos devem cumprir os requisitos legais de admissão descritos na nota de abertura.

Responsibilities

• Incorporar-se ao projeto focado no estudo de interações imuno-vasculares durante o desenvolvimento da rede de capilares cerebrais.
• Conduzir análise proteómica de células endoteliais; usar modelos animais transgénicos com marcador celular e manipulação genética; aplicar técnicas de imagem de alta resolução para caracterizar a vasculatura cerebral em desenvolvimento.

Education

Neurociências

Fisiologia

Biotecnologia

Bioengenharia

Ciências Biomédicas

Bioquímica

Biologia

Ciências da Vida

Job description

Organisation/Company Universidade de Coimbra Department Divisão de Projetos e Atividades (Bolsas) Research Field Biological sciences Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Master Positions Application Deadline 30 Oct 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon) Country Portugal Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 19 Oct 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? European Union / Next Generation EU Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Call for Research Grant Assignment

The University of Coimbra opens a call for the assignment of a research grant, with one position(s), under the project Program ERC-PT A-Projects - AngioArchitects, title Endothelial‑microglia communication as a sculptor of brain capillary network architecture.

The call is governed by this Notice of Opening, the University of Coimbra Research Grant Regulations (RBI-UC), subsidiarily by the Research Grant Regulations of the Foundation for Science and Technology (RBI‑FCT), 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 -26-440

I - Legal admission requirements

I.I - Grant Recipients: Master’s degree holders, in the scientific area of Neurosciences, Physiology, Biotechnology, Bioengineering, Biomedical Sciences, Biochemistry, Biology, Biomedicine or Life Sciences rolled in a non-degree-granting course.

I.II - The non-degree-granting course must be related to the type of activity covered by the grant. Non-degree-granting courses are defined as those referred to in subparagraph e) of paragraph 3 of Article 4 of Decree-Law No. 74/2006, in its current wording, provided that, under subparagraph e) of Article 3 of RBI‑FCT, they are developed in association or cooperation between the higher education institution and one or more R&D units.

I.III - Ineligible candidates: Candidates enrolled in non-degree-granting courses who have already benefited from a grant contract and who, with this grant assignment, including possible renewals, exceed a total accumulated period of two consecutive or non-consecutive years in this type of grant[JB6.1].

I.IV - 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) Beneficiaries of political refugee status. When the work plan takes place, in whole or in part, in foreign institutions, only candidates who can prove permanent and habitual residence in Portugal at the start of the grant are eligible.

II - Grant location

FMUC/ICNAS

III- Scientific supervision/coordination of the grant: Vanessa Filipa Coelho Santos

IV - Work Plan / Goals to be achieved

The candidate will join a project focused on the study of immune‑vascular interactions during the development of the cerebral capillary network, funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (ERC‑PT). The project aims to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating angiogenesis in the neonatal brain, with particular emphasis on the impact of biological sex on this process. The work will involve the isolation and characterisation of endothelial cells for proteomic analysis, using transgenic animal models that enable cell‑type‑specific labelling and genetic manipulation, together with high‑resolution imaging approaches to characterise the dynamics and organisation of the developing cerebral vasculature.

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): 1359,64€
• VI.II - Other financial components of the grant: NA
• 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 first 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 Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência (PRR) financed by the European Union - NextGenerationEU, under the scope of measure C06-i06 – “Ciência Mais Capacitação”, by the PRR, under the terms of the Bidding Opening Notice (AAC) No. 13/C06-i06/2024. Program ERC-PT A-Projects - AngioArchitects, title “Endothelial‑microglia communication as a sculptor of brain capillary network architecture”.
• VI.V - Information and publicity about the funding: In all R&D activities carried out within the scope of scholarships indirectly financed by FCT, mention of financial support from FCT and the respective Financing Program must be expressed, including all communications, publications, scientific creations and theses carried out with the support of FCT, if applicable. The advertising rules are available on the website of the Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência (PRR) and the FCT, as applicable. The use of the logos of the European Union - NextGenerationEU and the PRR is expressly mandatory, following the graphic standards available on the website of the respective Program and the FCT logo available at http://www.fct.pt/logotipos/ . The dissemination of research results must comply with open access standards for data, publications and other research results.

VII – Selection Methods: Evaluation of the academic record (AR)

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

• Criterion 1 - Absolute merit of curriculum vitae
• Criterion 2 - Knowledge of experimental animal models (mouse; rat) and authorization to conduct animal experimentation
• Criterion 3 – Neurovascular Knowledge

VII.II- 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: AR: criterion 1 * (35%) + criterion 2 * (50%) + criterion 3 * (15%)= X. Final Classification (FC): AR * (100%) = X.

VII.III - 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.IV - 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.V - Tie-breaking criteria

• a) Based on the score obtained in the first method applied;
• b) Based on the score of their academic qualifications.

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

VII.VII - Jury Composition

• President: Vanessa Filipa Coelho Santos
• Effective Members: Sandra Isabel dos Santos Anjo; Cátia Filipa Lourenço Marques
• Alternate Members: Rui Davide Martins Travasso; Francisca Duarte Santos Mendes Reis

IX – Application deadline

19/10/2026 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 after 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 - Annual activity reports

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.