Post-doc Fellowship – Microbiology and Molecular Biology

iBET; Oeiras; On-site; EUR 24,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

iBET in Portugal invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Microbiology and Molecular Biology within the project “ACB I – Animal Cells + Bacteria / Volume I”, funded by internal funds. The work focuses on molecular engineering and functional characterisation of bacterial strains, including design and construction of genetic systems and evaluation of growth and performance.

The appointment is for 6 months, with possible renewal until project end. Starting date is 1 August 2026.

Qualifications

• PhD in Biology, Microbiology, Biotechnology, or related fields.
• Solid knowledge of bacterial growth, sterile handling, and physiology.
• Molecular cloning, plasmid design, and E. coli transformation.
• PCR/qPCR and sequencing (short and/or long reads) with bioinformatic analysis.
• Experience with data analysis and dissemination of results.
• Good written and spoken English.

Responsibilities

• Design and construct genetic systems for engineered bacterial strains.
• Generate and validate engineered strains and assess growth, stability, and function.
• Analyze data and contribute to scientific reporting and dissemination.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary team and interact with project partners.

Skills

Microbiology fundamentals

Molecular biology

Genetic engineering

Data analysis

Scientific writing

English communication

Education

PhD in Biology, Microbiology, Biotechnology, or related areas

Tools

Geneious

ImageJ/Fiji

GraphPad Prism

R language

Job description

Post-doc Fellowship – Microbiology and Molecular Biology

iBET,has an open position for a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in the field of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, available within the project “ACB I – Animal Cells + Bacteria / Volume I”, funded by internal funds.

• Academic degree: PhD in Biology, Microbiology, Biotechnology, or related areas, obtained within the last 3 years.
• Solid knowledge in conventional microbiology: In-depth understanding of bacterial growth, sterile handling of bacterial cultures, experimental control of bacterial physiology, and practical experience with different bacterial systems.
• Advanced proficiency in molecular biology and bacterial genetic engineering: Proven experience in molecular cloning, plasmid design and construction, transformation of Escherichia coli, verification of engineered strains, and optimisation of cloning or strain-engineering strategies.
• Experience in molecular and analytical characterisation of bacteria: Practical experience in PCR/qPCR-based methods and in sequencing-based approaches using short and/or long reads, including bioinformatic analysis applied to bacterial characterisation, engineered strain verification, or transcriptomic responses.
• Experience in protein expression, reporter systems, or functional validation of bacterial products will be valued.
• Experience in applied, translational, or interdisciplinary microbiology projects, including interaction with industrial partners, health-related applications, complex biological systems, or multidisciplinary teams, will be valued.
• Demonstrated scientific productivity compatible with career stage, including peer-reviewed publications, conference communications, and contributions to scientific reporting and dissemination, will be valued.
• Experience with software for sequence analysis, image analysis, statistical analysis, and data visualisation, including Geneious, ImageJ/Fiji, GraphPad Prism, and R, will be valued.
• Evidence of scientific autonomy and collaborative spirit: Ability to independently plan and execute experiments, critically analyse data, contribute to the writing and execution of scientific projects, and collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary research environment.
• Good written and spoken English.

The work will focus on the molecular engineering and functional characterisation of bacterial strains within the scope of the ACB I project. Activities will include the design and construction of genetic systems, the generation and validation of engineered strains, and the assessment of bacterial growth, stability, and functional performance using microbiological and molecular biology approaches. The selected candidate will also contribute to data analysis, scientific reporting, and interaction with the project team.

The fellowship will have a duration of 6 months, eventually renewed until the end of project, without prejudice of the maximum limits foreseen by law. The expected starting date is 1 of August of 2026.

Does this sound like the right challenge for you?