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

University of Aveiro; Portugal; On-site; EUR 11,000 - 13,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Voluntary Social Security

Job summary

A University of Aveiro, através do CESAM, está a abrir uma bolsa de investigação de 7 meses para estudar os efeitos de PFAS em bivalves marinhos, com supervisão de Rosa Freitas. O projeto envolve avaliação fisiológica, bioquímica e celular para identificar biomarcadores de exposição e efeito.

A seleção utiliza avaliação curricular, carta de motivação e entrevista. A duração e condições seguem a regulamentação da FCT, com possibilidade de reembolso para a Segurança Social voluntária.

Qualifications

• Graduações matriculadas em cursos que não conferem grau académico dentro do plano de estudos de uma instituição de ensino superior.

Responsibilities

• Executar o plano de trabalhos: expor diferentes bivalves a PFAS e medir respostas fisiológicas e bioquímicas.
• Coletar dados sobre metabolismo energético, defesas antioxidantes e sinalização celular.
• analisar biomarcadores de exposição e efeito para compreender a toxicidade de PFAS em ecossistemas marinhos.

Job description

Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies

Organisation/Company University of Aveiro Department Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies Research Field Biological sciences Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Bachelor Positions Application Deadline 27 Oct 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 Research Grant(s) (RG) in the scope of R&D projects UPS_STOP – Understanding PFAS to protect people and bivalves: impact, consequences and mitigation strategies / CESAM (COMPETE2030-FEDER-00824300) under the following conditions:

1. Scientific Area: Chemistry, Biochemistry, Health and Biomedical Sciences.

2. Funding Source Foundation for Science and Technology/MCTES, I.P., through national funds (PIDDAC), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the European Union, through the (indicate which Operational Program it funds) of Portugal 2030 indicate which Operational Program support the project

3. Admission Requirements:

3.1. 5. Graduates enrolled in courses that do not confer academic degree integrated in the educational project of a higher education institution.

4. Other Requirements: (NA)

5. Eligibility: Applicants are eligible if they comply with paragraph a) of no.1 of article 2, of the Research Fellow Statute as amended by Decree-Law no. 123/2019, of August 28th, as well as nos. 1 and 2 of article 6 of the Research Grant Regulations of the Foundation for Science and Technology.

6. Work plan: This project aims to assess and quantify the effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as "forever chemicals", in different species of marine bivalves, with the objective of understanding their impacts at the physiological, biochemical, and cellular levels. PFAS are a group of emerging contaminants characterized by their high environmental persistence, bioaccumulation potential, and possible adverse effects on aquatic organisms. The study will be conducted through the experimental exposure of different bivalve species to selected PFAS, allowing the assessment and comparison of their sensitivity and biological responses to these contaminants. Various parameters and biomarkers related to energy metabolism, antioxidant defenses, oxidative stress, neurotoxicity, and other cellular response mechanisms will be analyzed to identify physiological and biochemical alterations resulting from exposure. The use of different bivalve species will also enable the investigation of potential interspecific differences in susceptibility to PFAS, contributing to a better understanding of their mechanisms of toxicity and the potential ecological risks associated with their presence in aquatic ecosystems. The results will contribute to the identification of sensitive biomarkers of exposure and effect, as well as to the development of tools for environmental monitoring and ecotoxicological risk assessment, providing valuable scientific knowledge to support the protection and sustainable management of marine and coastal ecosystems.

7. Applicable legislation and regulations: Statute of Scientific Research Grant Holder, 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 (FCT, I.P. Research Grants Regulation); Decree-Law no. 66/2008, of August 16th (Legal regime for recognition of academic degrees and diplomas of higher education awarded by foreign higher education institutions).

8. Workplace: The work will be carried out at Department of Biology and CESAM of the University of Aveiro, under the scientific supervision of Professor/Doctor Rosa Freitas.

9. Duration of the grant(s): The grant duration will be 7 months, starting in january 2027 up to the maximum limit of approved funding. Under no circumstances shall it exceed the limits defined in nos. 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 (Research Grants Regulation of FCT, I.P.).

10. Amount of monthly maintenance allowance: The amount of the grant corresponds to €1.050,98 , according to the table of monthly maintenance allowance amounts set out in Annex I of Regulation no. 950/2019, subject to any updates that may be applicable, under the terms of no. 2 of article 18 of Regulation no. 950/2019, of November 29th, published in Diário da República, no. 241, Series II, of December 16th (Research Grants Regulation of FCT, I.P.). The fellow may also be reimbursed for the amount corresponding to the Voluntary Social Security, in case of adherence to this plan.

11. Selection methods: The selection methods to be used will be the following: Curricular Evaluation, Motivation Letter and Interview (conducted in person and last approximately 20 minutes) with the respective value of 80%, 10% and 10%.

12. Composition of the Selection Jury:

President: Rosa de Fátima Lopes de Freitas, Associate Professor with habilitation, Departament of Biology, University of Aveiro

Vogal 1: Bruno Nunes, Associate Researcher with habilitation, Departament of Biology, University of Aveiro

Vogal 2: Miguel Oliveira, Associate Researcher, Departament of Biology, University of Aveiro

Vogal supp 2: Catarina Marques, uxiliar Researcher, Departament of Biology, University of Aveiro.

15. Tender duration: The final ranking list of candidates will be valid until 31-12-2026 for the purpose of constituting a reserve list for selection.

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies Country Portugal State/Province Aveiro City Aveiro Postal Code 3810-193 Street Campus Universitário de Santiago Geofield