Call for Research Grant Assignment - 1230860

Universidade De Coimbra; Portugal; On-site; EUR 13,000 - 17,000; Full time

Job summary

A Universidade de Coimbra está a anunciar uma bolsa de investigação em regime temporário na Divisão de Projetos e Atividades (Bolsas). O acompanhamento científico fica a cargo de Ana Luísa Colaço Cardoso e envolve atividades de neurociência experimental, organoides cerebrais e cultura de células de roedores.

A bolsa tem duração inicial de 6 meses, com possibilidade de renovação, e remuneração mensal de 1.359,64 euros, condicionada por normas nacionais e de financiamento.

Qualifications

• Mestre em área científica relacionada com Biologia Celular/Genética Laboratorial Neural/ Biologia ou áreas afins, matriculado em programa doutoral.
• Mestre em áreas relacionadas matriculado em curso não conferente de grau.
• O curso não conferente de grau deve estar relacionado com a atividade da bolsa.
• Elegível para atribuição de bolsa se cumprir os requisitos de nacionalidade e situação legal em Portugal.

Responsibilities

• Standardização de protocolos e gestão de dados.
• Suporte à implementação/ documentação de SOPs para experimentação com roedores e organoides cerebrais.
• Colaboração na organização de dados experimentais e rastreabilidade dos resultados.
• Contribuição para preparação de relatórios técnicos e científicos.
• Participação em reuniões científicas e atividades de formação.

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 8 Oct 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon) Country Portugal Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 24 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 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: IT137-26-416

I - Legal admission requirements

• Master’s degree holders, in the scientific area of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Clinical Laboratorial Genetics, Neurobiology, Biochemistry, Biology or related fields, enrolled in a doctoral program
• Master’s degree holders, in the scientific area of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Clinical Laboratorial Genetics, Neurobiology, Biochemistry, Biology or related fields, enrolled 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.
• 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.IV - Eligible for grant assignment if meeting the requirements

• Portuguese nationals or nationals of other EU Member States
• Nationals of third countries
• Stateless persons
• 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

III - Scientific supervision/coordination of the grant

Ana Luísa Colaço Cardoso

IV - Work Plan / Goals to be achieved

Standardization of protocols and data management

Support for the implementation and documentation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for experimentation with rodents and brain organoids, as well as for the organization of experimental workflows and preparation of laboratory materials. Collaboration in the management and organization of experimental data, contributing to structured data management practices and traceability of results.

Support for experimentation

Collaboration in experimental activities involving the processing of rodent and brain organoid samples, including support for the execution of microglia isolation protocols, immunohistochemistry, in vitro and in vivo compound administration, collection of biological samples, and systematic recording of experimental data, in compliance with applicable ethical and regulatory standards.

Development and analysis of brain organoids and mouse cell cultures

Support for activities related to the culture, maintenance, and characterization of brain organoids and mouse cell cultures, including preparation of samples for cellular or molecular analyses and organization of associated experimental data.

Communication and dissemination activities

Contribution to the preparation of technical and scientific reports associated with project activities, as well as support for the production of materials to disseminate and promote project results, including content for digital platforms and documentation intended for academic or industrial partners.

Integration into scientific activities and training

Participation in scientific meetings, seminars, and training activities within the research group, contributing to the development of skills in experimental neuroscience, animal models, and organoid-based technologies.

V - Initial grant duration

6 meses

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.

See above.

VI.IV - Funding

The grant(s) assigned under this call will be funded by Foundation for Science and Technology through national funds and by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Programa Temático Inovação e Transição Digital (COMPETE 2030), Portugal 2030 and the European Union | Operation No. 15538, operation code in the Funds Desk COMPETE2030-FEDER-00657500.

VI.V - Information and publicity about the funding

In all R&D activities directly or indirectly financed by the grant, namely, in all communications, publications and scientific creations, as well as theses, carried out with the support provided for in the grant, the financial support of the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), through the Programa Temático Inovação e Transição Digital (COMPETE 2030) of Portugal 2030, must be explicitly mentioned.

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 (40%)
• Criterion 2 – Specific knowledge related to the work plan (40%)
• Criterion 3 - Adequacy of the candidate’s profile to the work plan to be developed (20%)

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 * (40%) + criterion 2 * (40%) + criterion 3 * (20%) = X

- 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: Ana Luísa Colaço Cardoso
• Effective Members: João Miguel Peça Lima Novo Silvestre; Joana Ribeiro Guedes
• Alternate Members: Emanuel Ferreira Fernandes; Diana Bela da Luz Sequeira

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 - 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.