Call for Research Grant Assignment - 1228478

Universidade De Coimbra; Portugal; Presencial; EUR 14 000 - 17 000; Tempo integral

Resumo da oferta

The University of Coimbra invites applications for a research grant under the MitoLysoAGING project. The position supports investigation into mitochondria-peroxisome crosstalk and cellular lipid homeostasis, with supervision by Nuno Filipe Viegas das Neves Raimundo.

The grant is 8 months, renewable, and funded by FCT, starting 22 Sep 2026. Applicants must hold a Master’s in Biological Sciences, be enrolled in a doctoral program, and meet nationality/residency requirements.

Qualificações

• Master's degree in Biological Sciences; enrollment in a doctoral program.
• Eligible candidates include Portuguese nationals or EU/third-country nationals with residence in Portugal.
• Open to various nationalities under the grant regulations and with compliance to RBI-UC and RBI-FCT.

Responsabilidades

• Advance the ongoing research on mitochondria–peroxisome communication under mitochondrial dysfunction.
• Characterize alterations in peroxisomal metabolism and fatty-acid β-oxidation related to mitochondrial dysfunction.
• Perform cellular/molecular experiments and contribute to dissemination and publications.

Formação académica

Master's degree in Biological Sciences, enrolled in a doctoral degree programme

Descrição da oferta de emprego

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 6 Oct 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon) Country Portugal Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 22 Sep 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

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 MitoLysoAGING, title "Mitochondria-lysosome crosstalk as a driver of age-related pathology".

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: IT137-26-408

I - Legal admission requirements

I.I - Grant Recipients

Master's degree holders in the scientific field of Biological Sciences, enrolled in a doctoral degree programme.

I.II - Ineligible candidates

Candidates who have already benefited from two research grant contracts with UC in the condition of being enrolled in a doctoral degree, regardless of whether each contract has reached the maximum legally permitted duration.

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) 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

Universidade de Coimbra - Pólo 1

III- Scientific supervision/coordination of the grant

Nuno Filipe Viegas das Neves Raimundo

IV - Work Plan / Goals to be achieved

The fellowship will support the continuation of ongoing work investigating the mechanisms of mitochondria-peroxisome communication in the context of mitochondrial dysfunction. Building on our recent demonstration that respiratory chain dysfunction induces a maladaptive peroxisomal response, the project will determine how mitochondrial stress signals regulate peroxisomal biogenesis, maturation and metabolism.

The work will focus on: (i) characterizing alterations in peroxisomal metabolism and fatty-acid β-oxidation associated with mitochondrial dysfunction; (ii) investigating the contribution of mitochondria-derived vesicles and mitochondrial-to-peroxisome trafficking to peroxisomal biogenesis and functional adaptation; and (iii) determining how modulation of these pathways affects mitochondrial-peroxisomal metabolic coordination and cellular lipid homeostasis.

During the 8-month period, the fellow will perform and analyse cellular and molecular experiments using established models of mitochondrial dysfunction, integrate the resulting data with previous findings, and contribute to the preparation and presentation of the results for scientific dissemination and subsequent publication.

V - Initial grant duration

8 months

The duration of the fellowship will be adjusted according to the time required to process the application and formalize the fellowship. In any case, it cannot extend beyond the project end date: 30/06/2027.

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 the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) within the framework of the "ERC-Portugal Programme", through the FCT’s Tax Revenue budget, pursuant to the Special Support Regulations, published in the 2nd Series of the Official Gazette (Diário da República) on 8 June 2010.

VI.V - Information and publicity about the funding: In all R&D activities carried out under fellowships indirectly funded by the FCT, acknowledgement of the FCT’s financial support and the respective Funding Programme must be included, including in all communications, publications, scientific works and theses produced with the support of the FCT. The publicity and acknowledgement rules are available on the FCT website, as well as on the websites of the Operational Programmes providing the funding, where applicable. The use of the FCT logo available at http://www.fct.pt/logotipos/ is expressly mandatory and, where applicable, the logos of the European Union and the relevant Operational Programme must also be used, in accordance with the graphic guidelines available on the websites of the respective Operational Programmes. The dissemination of research results must comply with open-access requirements for data, publications and other research outputs. In dissemination activities with international impact, in addition to the FCT logo, the national emblem of the Portuguese Republic must also be displayed.

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 the Curriculum Vitae (60%)
• Criterion 2 - Specific knowledge related to the work plan (40%)

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 * (60%) + criterion 2 * (40%) = 100%

Final Classification (FC): AR * (100%) = 100%

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: In the event of a tie in the rankings, candidates will be ordered in descending order as follows:

• 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: Nuno Filipe Viegas das Neves Raimundo

Effective Members: Ana Rita Gonçalves Gaspar; Vilma Marisa Arrojado Soares Sardão Oliveira

Alternate Members: Ira Milosevic; Pedro Elói Antunes Dionísio

IX – Application deadline

22/09/2026 to 06/10/2026

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 - Candidates may 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 - Equal Opportunities Statement

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 and renewal

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.