FCUP | One Research Grant – Master’s Degree - CAMP&Valor (B2)

Unist; Porto; Hybrid; EUR 14,000 - 17,000; Full time

Job summary

A Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto procura um bolseiro de mestrado para apoiar atividades no âmbito do projeto CAMP&VALOR. A atividade envolve biochar, avaliação fisiológica de culturas e análises microbiológicas com metabarcoding, com supervisão de um pesquisador doutorado.

A bolsa corresponde a 1359,64€ mensais e o contrato tem duração inicial de 12 meses, com possibilidade de renovação até 30/04/2028, conforme regulamentos aplicáveis.

Qualifications

• Requisitos de admissão: possuir mestrado em Biologia, Bioquímica, Agronomia ou Microbiologia; estar inscrito num PhD em Biologia, Ciências Agrárias, Bioquímica ou área relacionada ou em curso que não confere grau académico.
• Durante a candidatura, não é obrigatório estar já matriculado; comprovativo de matrícula deve ser apresentado até a contratação.
• Preferência para candidatos com fisiologia de plantas, abordagens moleculares e metabarcoding.

Responsibilities

• Apoiar a produção de biochar via pirólise a partir de resíduos agroindustriais.
• Aplicar biochar para melhorar produção vegetal e resistência ao stress (ex.: alface, tomate).
• Avaliar fisiologicamente o desempenho e a qualidade das culturas (IRGA, HPLC).
• Realizar avaliação microbiológica do solo, raiz e parte aérea via metabarcoding.
• Analisar dados, elaborar relatório de bolsa e apoiar comunicações.

Skills

Plant physiology

Molecular approaches

Metabarcoding

Education

Master degree in Biology/Biochemistry/Agronomy/Microbiology

Job description

Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto

Organisation/Company Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto Research Field Biological sciences › Other Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Master Positions Application Deadline 29 Oct 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon) Country Portugal Type of Contract Not Applicable Job Status Not Applicable Offer Starting Date 1 Dec 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number CAMP&Valor Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Call open for applications for 1 research grant (Master’s Degree), enrolled in PhD degree or courses that do not confer academic degree , within the framework of project CAMP&VALOR (B2) with the reference COMPETE2030-FEDER-01418000 , financed by European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) through the Operational Program—Innovation and Digital Transition Program , under the following conditions:

Scientific Area: Biology, Biochemistry, Agronomy

Admission requirements:

• To have a Master’s degree in Biology, Biochemistry, Agronomy or Microbiology ;
• To be enrolled in PhD in Biology, Agrarian Sciences, Biochemistry or related area or courses that do not confer academic degree .

Although the recipients must be enrolled in a cycle of studies leading to the attribution of an academic degree or in a course not conferring an academic degree, at the time of application it is not necessary for the candidate to have made such an enrollment, and proof of enrollment must be presented until thefellowship is contractualised. Candidates are only required to meet the requirements to enroll in the training offer. If there are candidates already enrolled (including attending a course), they compete on an equal footing with those who are not enrolled.

Note: In the case of masters who are enrolled in courses that do not confer academic degree, the research grant can only be awarded to those who do not exceed, with the signing of the research grant contract in question, including possible renewals, an accumulated period of two years in this type of grant, consecutive or interpolated.

Preferences Requirements: Preference for candidates with knowledge and competencies on: 1) Plant physiology; 2) Molecular approaches;3) Metabarcoding.

Hiring Requirements: If the qualification has been granted by a foreign higher education institution, it will have to be recognized by a Portuguese higher education institution, pursuant to article 25 of Decree-Law No. 66/2018, of 16 August, which approves the regime legal recognition of academic degrees and diplomas in Higher Education, arising from foreign higher education institutions, and paragraph e) of paragraph 2 of article 4 of Decree-Law No. 60/2018, of August 3, all of which the formalities must be fulfilled there until the contracting act.

Activity Outline: 1) Support the biochar production through pyrolysis process from waste agro-industrial material; 2) Application of biochar to enhance plant production and stress resilience (e.g., lettuce, tomato); 3) Physiological evaluation of the crop performance and quality (e.g., IRGA, HPLC); 4) Microbial assessment of the soil, root and plant’s aerial part through Metabarcoding approach for the biochar application and stress conditions. 5) Data analysis, fellowship report, and support communication activities;

Legislation and regulations: Law no. 40/2004, updated by Decree-Law no. 123/2019, of28August (Statute of Scientific Research Grant Holder);Regulation no. 950/2019 of 16December (Regulation of Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology), in itscurrentwording;Research Studentship Regulation of the University of Porto — approved by Regulation 582/2026, published in Diário da República, 2nd Series, no. 96,of 19 May and Decree-Law no.66/2018 of 16 August (Legal Regime of Recognition of academic degrees and diplomas ofHigherEducation awardedby Foreign Higher Education Institutions).

Work place: The work will be developed in the Department of Biology , Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP), under the guidance of PhD Researcher Nuno André Mariz da Ponte (REQUIMTE).

Grant duration:Initial duration of 12 months months, with beginning on 01/12/2026 , eventually renewable up, but not exceeding the end date of the project. (30/04/2028)

Maintenance allowance amount: The grant stipend amounts to1359,64€ according to the table of values of the grants awarded directly by FCT, I.P. in the Country ( https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/valores ). The payment will be made by bank transfer.

Voluntary Social Insurance:As long as the grant lasts 6 months or more, and in compliance with the provisions of the current version of the Grant Holder Statute, the grant holder will be entitled to have FCUP support the costs resulting from the contributions that fall into the first of the tax brackets. The grant holder will be responsible for contributions beyond the first tax bracket, should the grant holder opt for a higher coverage.

Personal Accident Insurance:During the grant period, the grant holder will be covered by a personal accident insurance policy.

Selection procedure:The selection methods to be used are as follows:

X: Academic Curriculum, up to 100 points (7 5 %) - knowledge and demonstrated experience working with plant physiology ( 45 %) + Demonstrated knowledge on microbiome analysis ( 30 %):

Y: Motivation letter, up to 100 points ( 25 %);

The candidate classification (CF) will be obtained using the following formula:

CF=AC=X*75% +Y*25%

An Interview will be held with the3 best-ranked candidates. It will have a weight of 10% and CF will be translated into the following formula:

CF=AC*90%+E*10%

The candidate who has a foreign academic degree or diploma whose final classification is expressed on a different classification scale from the Portuguese one or does not have a classification, for evaluation purposes, must present a document proving the recognition of the foreign degree or diploma and the conversion of the classification for the Portuguese classification scale until the closing date of applications for the competition.

If the documents attesting the degree submitted by the candidates do not present the final classification of the degree required in this notice with the respective grade converted to the Portuguese classification scale, the jury will consider, for evaluation purposes, that the candidate has the minimum classification (10 points) of a maximum of 20 points) required to obtain a degree in Portugal.

Candidates whose application has been assessed with a final classification less than70 points are not eligible to sign the contract of the fellowship.

• 2.º member ‘Emil Eduardovich Gimranov, Researcher, specialist in microbial analysis, Faculty of Science of the University of Porto;’

Advertisement of final decision: The final results of the evaluation will be published through a list ordered by final classification, sent to candidates by email. It is further informed that, pursuant to the provisions of articles 121 et seq. of the Code of Administrative Procedure, it has a legal period of 10 working days from the day immediately following the notification, to make a decision, if it so wishes. A complaint may be filed against this decision within 15 working days or, alternatively, an appeal may be filed within 30 working days, addressed to the Director of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, pursuant to article 191 et seq. of the Code of Administrative Procedure.The host entity may use the final ranking list to replace the selected grantee in case he/she gives up the position, up to one year.

Commitment

In compliance with paragraph h) of Article 9 of the Constitution, the University of Porto, as an employer, actively promotes a policy of equal opportunities between men and women in access to employment and professional advancement, scrupulously avoiding any form of discrimination. In this spirit, terms such as “candidate,” “author,” or “teacher,” among others that refer to the people who apply for this recruitment tender are used as gender neutral.

In addition, no candidate may be privileged, benefited, impaired or deprived of any right or exempt from any duty on grounds of ancestry, age, sexual orientation, marital status, family situation, economic situation, education, origin or social status, genetic heritage, reduced working capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological convictions and trade union membership.

The call is open from 16/10/2026 to 29/10/2026 .

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto Country Portugal Geofield