Research Scholarship (Graduate)

S2AQUAcoLAB; Quelfes; Híbrido; EUR 12 000 - 13 000; Tempo integral

Vantagens oferecidas por esta oferta de emprego

Personal accident insurance

Monthly maintenance allowance

Resumo da oferta

The S2AQUAcoLAB is offering a Research Scholarship for Graduates in Olhão, Portugal. The grant supports work on the BetterFLAT project, including DNA/RNA extraction, genomic analysis, and data interpretation, with a 12-month duration beginning January 1, 2026.

Applicants must be enrolled in an advanced degree program and can develop their Master’s thesis within the project scope. Work includes weekend/holiday availability and training components; supervision is provided by project scientists,

Qualificações

• Bachelor's degree required in Marine Biology or Biology.
• Experience with processing fish samples for DNA/RNA extraction.
• Experience in genomic data analysis (DNA-Seq, SNP mapping) and transcriptomics (RNA-seq).
• Molecular biology techniques (PCRs, real-time PCR) experience.

Responsabilidades

• Support execution of experimental challenge tests.
• Support sampling from scheduled tests.
• Process biological samples for DNA/RNA extraction.
• Participate in data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
• Assist in preparing scientific reports and articles.

Formação académica

Level 6 Higher Education in Marine Biology/ Biology or equivalent

Descrição da oferta de emprego

Research Scholarship (Graduate) S2AQUAcoLAB/Bolsa/Ref_12/2025

S2AQUA - Collaborative Laboratory, Association for Sustainable and Smart Aquaculture (S2AQUAcoLAB), hereby announces that applications are now open for a Research Grant intended for holders of a bachelor's degree to carry out activities in support of the Project's research activities. “BetterFLAT - Innovative tool for genetic selection programme in sole’ (No. 18324) is supported by Algarve 2030, COMPETE 2030, Portugal 2030 and the European Union. European Funds Closer to You.

The work program for the scholarship recipient to be hired includes the following activities:

• Support in the execution of experimental challenge tests;
• Support and participation in sampling resulting from scheduled tests;
• Processing of biological samples for DNA and RNA extraction;
• Collaboration in data collection, analysis, and interpretation;
• Collaboration in the preparation of scientific reports and articles.

The position includes a training component, and candidates interested in developing their Master's thesis/internship within the scope of the project are encouraged to apply. Availability to work weekends and holidays is required, depending on the tests in progress.

1. Desired profile:

• Level 6 Higher Education (Bachelor's Degree) in Marine Biology, Biology, or equivalent;
• Experience in processing biological fish samples for DNA and RNA extraction;
• Experience in genomic data analysis (DNA-Seq, SNP mapping, etc.) and transcriptomic data analysis (RNA-seq);
• Experience in molecular biology techniques, such as PCRs and real-time PCR;
• Experience in molecular identification of bacteria isolated from marine animals;
• Experience working with fish for research purposes;
• Experience in data analysis, report preparation, and dissemination of results;
• Availability to work on holidays and weekends;

2. Other requirements:

• Be highly motivated, demonstrate autonomy, and the ability to propose new approaches;
• Ability to adapt and integrate into a team;
• Advanced level of English;
• Autonomy and proactivity.

3. Type and duration of the fellowship

A Research Grant for Graduates will be awarded.
The grant is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2026, and will last for 12 months.
The work to be carried out under this Grant is temporary in nature and will not continue beyond the completion of the project.
The grant must be carried out on an exclusive basis, in accordance with S2AQUAcoLAB's scholarship regulations ( Regulamento Bolsas de Investigação S2AQUAcoLAB ), and FCT's scholarship regulations based on Portuguese law 40/2004, of 18 August ( Estatuto do Bolseiro de Investigação Científica ) amended by Decree-Law 123/2019, of 28 August.

4. Beneficiaries (conditions required)

The scholarship is intended for holders of a bachelor's degree in Marine Biology, Biology, or equivalent.
Applicants must be enrolled in an integrated master's, master's, or doctoral program, or in a non-degree course that is part of the educational project of a higher education institution developed in association or cooperation with one or more R&D units.

6. Supervision and place where the activity will be developed

The fellowship takes place in the framework of the activities of S2AQUAcoLAB at Estação Piloto de Piscicultura de Olhão (Av. Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, s/n, 8700-194 Olhão, Portugal), under the supervision of Dr. Iris Silva, Assistant Researcher at S2AQUAcoLAB, and Cátia Marques, Scientific Coordinator at S2AQUAcoLAB.
The scholarship requires 40 hours of work per week.

7. Amount of monthly maintenance allowance

The amount of the fellowship is 1040,98€, according to the table of fellowships approved by FCT,
The fellow is entitled to the reimbursement of the voluntary social insurance (1st level), if applicable, in accordance with the conditions defined in the Statute of the Research Fellow . The fellow will receive personal accident insurance during the duration of the fellowship. The payment of the fellowship will be made on a monthly basis by S2AQUAcoLAB, through bank transfer to the account indicated by the fellow.

8. Admissibility

8.1 Requirements for applicant admissibility

Who can apply for the Research Fellowship:
A. Portuguese Citizens or citizens of Member States of the European Union;
B. Citizens of third states.
C. Reside in Portugal permanently and habitually;
D. Not have benefited from a research fellowship in companies directly financed by FCT, regardless of their duration.

8.2 Application Admissibility Requirements

It is indispensable, under penalty of non-admission of the application:

• E. Detailed and signed Curriculum Vitae of the candidate;
• F. A motivation letter (maximum one-page, double space, letter Arial, size 12) where the reason for the application is clearly and briefly stated, as well as the academic and professional background, such as academic training, supplementary training and other information considered relevant for the evaluation of the CV;
• G. Copy of the ID card or passport;
• H. Permanent residence certificate, permanent residence permit, or long-term resident status, if applicable;
• I. Documents proving the conditions required for the respective type of fellowship, in particular certificates of qualifications indicating the degree and final classification, all recognised by a Portuguese university if diplomas were obtained abroad;
• J. Copy of evidence related to professional experience and training, including letters of recommendation, proof of courses or traineeships, if applicable;
• K. Document proving enrollment in a master's degree program, or in a non-degree course that is part of an educational project at a higher education institution developed in association or cooperation with one or more R&D units;
• L. Updated document proving professional status, indicating the nature of the employment relationship and duties, which may be replaced by a sworn statement if the candidate does not engage in any professional activity or provide any services, if applicable;
• M. Declaration of the candidate, under commitment of honour, that they meet the requirements of admission for this fellowship – a template is available in( Declaração sob compromisso de honra - BI ).

Failure to submit the documentation referred to in h), i), j), k), and l) within fifteen days of the date of notification of the results will result in the scholarship not being awarded.

9. Composition of the jury

The jury of this fellowship was appointed by the Board of Directors of S2AQUAcoLAB and is composed by the following members:
Presidente: Iris Silva, Reseracher do S2AQUAcoLAB;
1º Vogal Efetivo: Cátia Marques, Scientific Coordinator do S2AQUAcoLAB;
2º Vogal Efetivo: Pedro Pousão Ferreira, President of the Board do S2AQUAcoLAB;
1º Vogal Suplente: Florbela Soares, Reseracher do S2AQUAcoLAB;
2º Vogal Suplente: Silvia Gregório, Reseracher do S2AQUAcoLAB;

10. Selection methods and criteria

Eligible Applications will be scored from zero (0 minimum rating) to twenty (20 maximum rating).
Admission criteria: all candidates who meet the requirements of this notice.
Evaluation method: applications will be evaluated through a curricular evaluation (CA) (100%) of the applicant. An interview will only be conducted if the jury deems it necessary or in case of a tie.

10.1 Curricular evaluation (CA)

The curricular evaluation (CA) will be expressed from 0 to 20 which corresponds to the score obtained with the following formula:
CA = 0.35 × A + 0.65 × B
where:

• A - Assesses the candidate's academic merit based on their undergraduate grade point average (0-20 points);
• B – Evaluates previous experience in the performance of the required functions, in accordance with:
• 1) Experience in processing biological samples from fish for DNA and RNA extraction (0-5 points);
• 2) Experience in genomic data analysis (DNA-Seq, SNP mapping, etc.) and transcriptomics (RNA-seq) (0-5 points);
• 3) Experience in molecular biology techniques, such as PCRs and real-time PCR (0-3 points)
• 4) Experience in molecular identification of bacteria isolated from marine animals (0-3 points);
• 5) Experience working with fish for research purposes (0-2 points);
• 6) Experience in data analysis, report preparation, and dissemination of results (0-2 points).

10.2 Interview

The candidates will be ranked based on the curricular evaluation. An interview will be held if the jury deems it necessary, or in case of a tie.
The interview will be conducted in person or by videoconference, where the final score will correspond to the sum of the following criteria:

• Knowledge of the areas covered by the project;
• Verbal expression and fluency;
• Adaptability and integration to work as a team;
• Motivation;
• Autonomy.

These criteria will be classified from zero to twenty, with the total of the interview resulting from the sum of the criteria to be divided by five (0 to 20 points).

10.3 Final Classification

The candidates final classification will be decided by a majority of the jury.
All candidates that applied for the fellowship will be ranked according to the classification awarded by the jury, based on the CA.
If the interview (I) is necessary, the final classification (FC) will be obtained through the weighted sum of the curriculum evaluation (CA) - with a weight of 40% - and the interview (I) - with a weight of 60%.

The jury will hold the necessary meetings to obtain a final decision, documenting the procedures in minutes, as well as all the elements deemed relevant to reach the final decision. If there are no applications of merit, the jury may decide not to award this scholarship.
The Jury reserves the right to decide not to award the fellowship if it considers that none of the candidates has the appropriate profile, experience, and/or skills to carry out the work plan.

11. Reporting the results

The results of the evaluation are published at the location indicated in the opening notice and by email within 90 working days after the application submission deadline.
Candidates have a period of 10 working days after the disclosure of the results to present any objections, in the pre-hearing of interested parties and in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Administrative Procedure.
The final decision shall be taken no later than 60 working days after the conclusion of the prior hearing of interested parties.
The provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall not apply where the draft decision leads to the granting of a fellowship to all applicants, in which case the draft shall be equivalent to the final decision.

12. Approval

After the conclusion of the hearing process of interested parties, the jury´s decision will be taken to the Board of Directors of S2AQUAcoLAB for approval.

13. Other information

After the selection of the candidate, the following documents/information will be requested for the purpose of hiring:

• Copy of the civil, tax, and social security identification number (if applicable);
• Document disclosing the country of residence, residence permit, or other legally equivalent document (if applicable) which should be valid at the starting date of the fellowship;
• Documents proving that the applicant meets the conditions required for the respective type of fellowship, including proof of registration;

• Analysis of the report and compliance with the work plan.

Fellowship report

At the end of each fellowship period (if applicable) the fellow must submit a report following the template available in the Fellow´s Final Report .

The Board of Directors reserves the right, by change of circumstances at the date of this announcement, to cancel this call without any recruitment.

Applicants with disabilities will have preference in a situation of equal classification, and such preference prevails over any legal preferences. Applicants must declare, under commitment of honour, their disability degree, type of disability and means of communication/expression to be used during the selection period.

S2AQUAcoLAB's non-discrimination and equal opportunities policy

No candidate may be privileged, benefited, impaired or deprived of any right or exempt from any claim as to descent, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, economic situation, origin, social status, genetic inheritance, disability, chronic disease, nationality, ethnicity, territory of origin, language, religion, politics, ideology or trade union affiliation.

14. Applicable legislation and regulations

Research Fellow Statute, approved by Law No. 40/2004, of August 18, as amended by Decree-Law No. 202/2012, of August 27, by Law No. 12/2013, of January 29, by Decree-Law No. 89/2013, of July 9, by Decree-Law No. 233/2012, of October 29, and by Decree-Law No. 123/2019, of August 28.
Regulation on Research Grants of the FCT, I. P., approved by Regulation No. 950/2019, of November 29, 2019, published in the Official Gazette, Series II, Part C, of December 16, 2019, with the amendments introduced by Regulation No. 643/2021, of June 30, 2021, published in the Official Gazette, Series II, Part C, of July 14, 2021.
Administrative Procedure Code, approved by Decree-Law No. 4/2015, of January 7, in the wording currently in force. Regulation on Research Grants from S2AQUA – Collaborative Laboratory, Association for Sustainable and Smart Aquaculture, approved in official letter FCT/109/06/01/2023/S by the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P.
S2AQUA - Collaborative Laboratory, Association for Sustainable and Smart Aquaculture’s Regulation of Research Fellowships, approved in the document FCT/109/06/01/2023/S by FCT, I.P.

This notice was approved by the jury members on December 9 th, 2025.