Research Grant (Ref. BI-2/CESAM/NANOCEAN/2026)

University of Aveiro; Portugal; On-site; EUR 13,000 - 16,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Aveiro, via CESAM, invites applications for a 12-month Research Grant under the NANOCEAN project to develop enzymatic biosensors for marine toxins and to synthesize and characterize hydrogels and cryogels from natural polysaccharides as solid supports for biosensors.

The monthly maintenance allowance is €1309.64, with potential Voluntary Social Security reimbursement. Selection is based on academic qualifications (80%) and project experience (20%).

Qualifications

• Enrolled in a doctoral program at the University of Aveiro.
• MSc degree in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Biotechnology or related areas.
• Proof of enrolment available until contract award.

Responsibilities

• Develop enzymes biosensors for rapid detection of marine toxins.
• Synthesize and characterize hydrogels and cryogels based on natural polysaccharides as solid supports for biosensors.

Education

Master of Science enrolled in doctoral program

MSc degree in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Biotechnology and related areas

Job description

Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies

Organisation/Company University of Aveiro Department Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies Research Field Chemistry » Biochemistry Chemistry Technology » Biotechnology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Master Positions Application Deadline 15 Dec 2026 - 17:00 (UTC) Country Portugal Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time 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

A tender is hereby opened for the award of 1 (one) Research Grant (RG)under project “ NANOCEAN - Nano optical sensors for rapid detection of marine toxins ”, ref. n.º 16994 , of CESAM, under the following conditions:

1. Scientific Area : Biochemistry, Chemistry, Biotechnology and related areas

2. Financing Source: Operational Programs COMPETE 2023 and Lisboa 2030, in its FEDER/FNR component, and the Foundation for Science and Technology, in its State Budget component (OE).

3. Admission Requirements:

3.1. Master of Science enrolled in doctoral program at the University of Aveiro.

3.2. MSc degree in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Biotechnology and related areas.

The proof of enrolment must be made available until the contract is awarded, and the candidate may attach a declaration of honor to confirm that they meet the requirements for enrolment in a course that does not confer an academic degree.

If the qualification has been conferred by a foreign higher education institution it must be recognized by a Portuguese higher education institution, under the terms of the provisions of article 25 of Decree-Law no. 66/2018, of August 16th, which approves the legal regime of recognition of academic degrees and diplomas of Higher Education, attributed by foreign higher education institutions, and of paragraph e) of no. 2 of article 4 of Decree-Law no. 60/2018, of August 3rd, and any formalities established therein must be fulfilled by the date of the hiring act.

4. Eligibility: Applicants are eligible if they comply with paragraph no.1 of article 2, of the Research Fellow Statute in the wording given by Decree-Law no. 123/2019, of August 28th, and also with paragraphs no.1 and 2 of article 6 of the Scientific Research Grant Regulations of the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) .

5. Work plan: The work to be carried out during the fellowship aims to develop tasks foreseen in the NANOCEAN project, namely, the development of enzymatic biosensors for the rapid detection of marine toxins, and the synthesis and characterization of hydrogels and cryogels based on natural polysaccharides as solid supports for biosensors.

6. Applicable legislation and regulations: Research Fellow Statute, as amended by Decree-Law No. 123/2019, of August 28th; Regulation No. 950/2019 of November 29th, published in Diário da República No. 241, Series II, of December 16th (Scientific Research Grant Regulations of the FCT); Decree-Law No. 66/2018, of August 16th (Legal regime of recognition of academic degrees and diplomas of higher education awarded by foreign higher education institutions).

7. Workplace: The work will be carried out at the CESAM/Chemistry Department of the University of Aveiro, under the scientific supervision of Doctor Alisa Rudnitskaya.

8. Duration of the grant(s): The grant duration will be 12 months, starting on the 1st of January 2027, up to the maximum limit of approved funding. Under no circumstances shall it exceed the limits defined in paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of article 6, of Regulation no. 950/2019, of November 29th, published in Diário da República, no. 241, Series II, of December 16th (Scientific Research Grant Regulation of the FCT).

9. Amount of monthly maintenance allowance: The amount of the grant corresponds to €1309.64, according to the table of values of monthly maintenance allowances, set out in Appendix I of Regulation no. 950/2019, subject to any updates that may occur and are applicable according to paragraph 2 of article 18 of Regulation no. 950/2019, of November 29th, published in Diário da República, no. 241, Series II, of December 16th (Scientific Research Grant Regulation of the FCT).The fellow may also be reimbursed for the amount corresponding to the Voluntary Social Security, in case of adherence to this plan.

10. Selection methods: The candidates’ ranking will be done through curriculum evaluation. The curricular evaluation will be carried out according to the following criteria and weighting: I) academic qualification and respective classification (80%); II) applied experience in the project area (20%). If the jury deems it necessary, it may choose to carry out a selection interview with the three candidates best classified in the curricular evaluation phase and who simultaneously obtain a minimum classification of 14 points on a scale of 0-20 points. In this case, the final assessment will be based on the following weights: 70% for the curricular assessment and 30% for the interview. The jury reserves the right to exclude candidates who do not reach the minimum final grade of 14 points in the curricular evaluation on a scale of 0-20 points. If, in the event that none of the candidates possesses the appropriate profile for the tasks to be carried out and for their successful performance, the selection panel reserves the right not to award the scholarship to any of the candidates in the competition.

11. Composition of the Selection Jury:

Dr. Alisa Rudnitskaya (President of the Jury)

12. Deadline for applications and how to submit applications: The call is open from 4 of November to 15 of December, 2026,and only applications submitted within the deadline will be admitted.

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies Country Portugal State/Province Aveiro Geofield