GIMM is recruiting a Researcher, Ref. GIMM/CT/39-2026

Fundação GIMM; Portugal; On-site; EUR 12,000 - 14,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Meal allowance

Holidays and Christmas allowances

Job summary

The GIMM – Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine in Portugal is seeking a Master-level researcher for the Biomembranes & Nanomedicine Laboratory. You will work under the project BIODyes to optimize microbial cultures, extract secondary metabolites, and characterize pigments, contributing to sustainable biopigment development.

This full-time, fixed-term role starts January 2027 and offers a gross monthly salary of 1,170.00€ plus a daily meal allowance.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in microbiology, biology, biochemistry, biophysics, or related areas.
• Optimization and development of genetically modified microbial cultures (e.g., bacteria, yeast).
• Knowledge of microorganism metabolism and extraction of secondary metabolites from microbial cultures.
• Fluent spoken and written English.
• Willingness to interact with colleagues, team members, and collaborators.
• Knowledge of industrial application and/or production and application of dyes in the Textile Industry.
• Strong foundation in key molecular biology and analytical techniques.
• Knowledge of omics approaches.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within the research group.

Responsibilities

• Optimization and development of genetically modified microbial cultures.
• Production and extraction of secondary metabolites from microbial cultures.
• Phenotypic characterization of microbial cultures.
• Scale up the laboratory microbial production process to industrial scale.
• Determination of the antimicrobial activity of isolated pigments.

Skills

Microbial culture optimization

Metabolism knowledge

Secondary metabolite extraction

Fluent English

Team collaboration

Independent work

Willingness to learn

Education

Master’s degree in Microbiology, Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, or related areas

Job description

Organisation/Company Fundação GIMM Research Field Other Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Master Positions Application Deadline 17 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon) Country Portugal Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 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

The GIMM – Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine is a pioneering Portuguese private research foundation with an ambitious vision for fundamental scientific exploration and its profound impact on global health and well-being. Founded in 2023, GIMM is the result of the merge of two leading research institutes: Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes (iMM) and Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC) and dedicates to unraveling the fundamental mysteries of life and aims to be at the forefront of transdisciplinary research.

What GIMM seeks: At this moment, GIMM is hiring a Master-level researcher to join the Biomembranes & Nanomedicine Laboratory, coordinated by Nuno C. Santos, under the research project “BIODyes: Desenvolvimento de biopigmentos para tingimento e estampagem sustentáveis”, funded by COMPETE2030-FEDER-01480900, to execute the following activities under the supervision of the project coordinator:

• Optimization and development of genetically modified microbial cultures (bacteria and yeast);
• Production and extraction of secondary metabolites from microbial cultures ;
• Phenotypic characterization of microbial cultures ;
• Scale up the laboratory microbial production process to industrial scale ;
• Determination of the antimicrobial activity of isolated pigments.

Requirements

Research Field Other Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Mandatory Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Microbiology, Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, or related areas.
• Optimization and development of genetically modified microbial cultures (e.g., bacteria, yeast);
• Knowledge of microorganism metabolism and extraction of secondary metabolites from microbial cultures;
• Fluent spoken and written English;
• Willingness to interact with colleagues, team members, and collaborators;

Enthusiasm for learning and developing new procedures.

• Knowledge of industrial application and / or production and application of dyes in the Textile Industry ;
• Strong foundation in key molecular biology and analytical techniques;
• Knowledge of omics approaches;
• The successful applicant will be expected to work independently and collaboratively within the research group, thus, any prior experience of working independently is highly desirable.

The international experience of the candidates, although not a determining criterion for selection, will be valued.

Additional Information

What GIMM offers: GIMM offers outstanding working conditions, including a full-time and unfixed-term employment contract predicted to start in January 2027 for the necessary period to execute the work plan. Gross monthly salary of 1170.00€ in accordance with the project budget and internal regulations, as well as Holidays and Christmas allowances subject to the current mandatory taxes, accordingly to Portuguese Labor Law. A meal allowance will also be paid in the amount of 10.20€ per working day.

Eligibility criteria

Selection process

Evaluation Criteria: Applications will be evaluated by Nuno C. Santos (President of the Jury), Filomena Carvalho and Sónia Gonçalves (all PhD’s), in accordance with the following method:

• 1st Phase: Curricular evaluation (80%) and Motivation Letter (10%);
• 2nd Phase: Interview (10%). Only the candidates who score at least 75% in 1st Phase, will be selected for Interview.

Results:Both admitted and excluded candidates list and final classification list shall be communicated to all admitted candidates through email.

Preliminary Hearing and Final Decision Deadline:After notification, all candidates have 10 working days to respond. Panel’s final decisions are pronounced within a period of 90 days, from application deadline.

The present call is exclusively aimed at filling the indicated vacancy and may be terminated until the homologation of the final candidates' ranking list and expires with the respective occupation of the position on offer.

Additional comments

Non-discrimination and equal access policy : GIMM promotes a non-discrimination and equal access policy, wherefore no candidate can be privileged, benefited, impaired or deprived of any rights whatsoever, or be exempt of any duties based on their ancestry, age, sex, sexual preference, marital status, family and economic conditions, instruction, origin or social conditions, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, origin territory, language, religion, political or ideological convictions and union membership.

International environment and experience: Diversity is a fundamental aspect of the essence of GIMM, where researchers and non-researchers of different nationalities, backgrounds and areas of study work together, promoting the exchange of experiences and interactions, contributing to the personal and professional development of each person and to the existence of an international, inclusive and stimulating environment.

Pursuant to Decree-Law nr 29/2001 of 3rd February, disabled candidates shall be preferred in a situation of equal classification, and said preference supersedes any legal preferences. Candidates must declare, on their honour, their respective disability degree, type of disability and communication / expression means to be used during selection period on their application form, under the regulations above.