Research Scholarship hiring_Intech+_BI

Universidade Católica Portuguesa - Porto; Portugal; Presencial; EUR 10 000 - 20 000; Tempo integral

Resumo da oferta

A leading Portuguese university is offering a research scholarship in Biotechnology. The role focuses on developing innovative technological solutions for insect-derived food products, requiring a Master's in Food Science. Preferred candidates will have substantial research experience in functional foods, with a duration of 29 months starting from November 1, 2025.

Qualificações

• Candidates must be enrolled or commit to enrolling in a PhD program in Biotechnology.
• Candidates must demonstrate knowledge in food science and technology.
• Research experience in functional foods is preferred.

Responsabilidades

• Develop innovative technological solutions for maximizing insect fractions as a protein source.
• Characterize the physico-chemical and bioactivity of T. molitor oil.
• Assist in methodological development, experimental work, and data analysis.

Conhecimentos

Knowledge in Food Science and Technology

Research experience in functional foods

Formação académica

Master's degree in Food Science or related field

Descrição da oferta de emprego

Offer Description

CALL FOR APPLICATION FOR A RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP

Scientific area: Biotechnology

Admission requirements:

General requirements:

Candidates for the Research grant must, at the date of application, be enrolled, or present a commitment to enroll in a study cycle conferring an ( PhD) degree inBiotechnology or related areas. Candidates for the Research Grant, after being selected, must enroll in the doctoral program in Biotechnology at the Escola Superior de Biotecnologia to initiate the grant agreement. This enrollment should align with the theme and work plan of the grant to be carried out under the above-mentioned project. Accordingly, the doctoral program must be undertaken at the Escola Superior de Biotecnologia by the team designated to implement the work plan.

Candidates must have a master degree in Food science, or a related field.

Specific requirements:

Candidates must also have knowledge/research experience in the following areas:

Food Science and Technology

Preferred Factors:

Will be considered preferred factors:

Previous research experience in the field of functional foods and development of new food ingredients

Work Plan:

The work aims to develop innovative technological solutions for the valorization of insect fractions, with a particular focus on Tenebrio molitor, to maximize their potential as an alternative source of protein and other high-value ingredients for functional insect-based food products. The research will involve the development and optimization of integrated processing and extraction methods to obtain oil insect-derived fractions with enhanced nutritional and sensory properties.

The activities will include comprehensive physico-chemical and bioactivity characterization of T. molitor oil. Physico-chemical analyses will comprise techniques such as gas chromatography flame ionization detector, differential scanning calorimetry and lipid peroxidation assays. The bioactivity profile will be assessed through antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory assays, as well as cytotoxic profile. Finally, the oil insect fraction will be applied in the development of novel food prototypes. The scholarship holder will play a key role in supporting methodological development, experimental work, data analysis and the dissemination of project outcomes.

The work will be developed at the CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Portugal, in Porto, under the scientific supervision of Prof. Doctor Manuela Pintado.

Duration of the scholarship:

The scholarship, which is expected to begin on November 1, 2025, will have a duration of 29 months on an exclusive basis.

The selection methods to be used will be the following: i) curriculum evaluation (40%); ii) previous experience (60%). If necessary, the 3 best positioned candidates may be interviewed, and in this situation, the weighting will be curricular evaluation (35%).; ii) previous experience (50%) and selection interview (15%).

Only candidates with a final classification equal to or greater than 75points, on a scale of 0 to 100, will be selected for this position.

Applications that do not meet the admission requirements, delivered on time and incomplete applications will be considered ineligible.

Composition of the Selection Jury: President of the Jury: Prof. Doctor Manuela Pintado, Effective Members: Doctor Sandra Borges and Doctor Maria Emilia Brassesco. Substitute Jury: Doctor Ana Amaro.

Form of advertising/notification of results:The jury deliberates in accordance with the selection criteria adopted and disclosed. The jury meetings minutes will contain a summary of the meeting content. After completing the application of the selection criteria, the jury proceeds with the elaboration of the ordered list, with the ranking of the approved candidates. The ranking list of eligible candidates will be published on the premises of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, in Porto, located at Rua de Diogo Botelho, 1327, 4169-005 Porto - Portugal, with each candidate being notified of his/her position on the list ranking of candidates via email. Ineligible applicants will be notified by email, with details of the missing eligibility elements.

Complaint and appeal procedures: Candidates have a period of ten working days, after the disclosure referred to in the previous number, to give their opinion at a prior hearing.

Deadline for acceptance of the scholarship:Within ten working days following notification of the grant award, the selected candidate must confirm in writing his/her availability to start the scholarship on the proposed date. Failing to do so or not having availability, the candidate placed in the next position will be called.

Application deadline and form of submission:

Candidates submit their application from September 19, 2025. until October 3, 2025. (until 5 pm, Lisbon time).

It will be necessary to submit the following documents:

• Cover letter, identifying the title and reference of the project, describe the motivation and professional objectives of the candidate.
• Detailed Curriculum Vitae (should contain all the elements to assess the admission requirements, including language knowledge and research experience).
• Copy of the certificate(s) of qualifications conferring academic degree in the terms requested in the notice, which contain the final classifications.
• Registration of recognition of the academic degree awarded by a foreign higher education institution, preferably with the registration of the conversion of the respective final classification to the Portuguese classification scale to guarantee eligibility in this call for application [1] .
• Proof of registration or letter with the commitment to register/enroll in a degree-awarding study cycle under the terms already described in this notice [2] .

Only applications received during the opening period of the above-mentioned call shall be considered. Candidates who incorrectly formalize their application or who do not prove the requirements of this call are excluded. False statements made by applicants will be punished under the law.

Privacy Policy:

Universidade Católica Portuguesa is the controller responsible for the processing of Personal Data in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 – General Regulation on Data Protection.

The personal data processed in the scope of this tender procedure is processed within the framework of said tender procedure only and will be processed by Universidade Católica Portuguesa with the purpose of verifying the fulfilment, by the candidates, of the assumptions established in the applicable legislation for their contracting. Opposition to the processing of data by the candidates will make it impossible to accept the application and, therefore, to analyse and evaluate it.

The personal data of the Data Subject, if it be indispensable for the fulfilment of the obligations of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, may be conveyed to third parties, namely to the Financing Entities identified in this announcement.

The data retention period shall correspond to the legally defined period of five years.

The Data Subject is entitled to oppose to the collection and processing of data, has the right to verification, the right to rectification, the right to deletion, and the right to restriction of processing of the data collected. However, the exercise of such rights may be excluded when the personal data is used to protect public interest, namely in the detection and prevention of crimes or when subject to professional rules of confidentiality.

The Data Subject has the right of access and portability of the data.

For purposes of exercising the respective rights, contact the University through the e-mail address [e-mail] or by using the address found at the end of this announcement, through the means set out in "Contacts for clarification".

Non-discrimination and equal access policy:

Universidade Católica Portuguesa actively 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, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, family and economic conditions, instruction, social origin or condition, genetic heritage, reduced working capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological convictions, and union membership.

If you have any questions about this position, please contact:

[1] If the required academic degree has been conferred by a foreign higher education institution, it must comply with the Portuguese legislation on the recognition of foreign degrees, regulated by DL no. 66/2018 of 16 August.

[2] The contracting of the research scholarship requires the candidate to provide enrollment in the degree-awarding course required in this notice. If the document is not presented within a maximum period of 30 days (in a row), counting from the date of communication of the selection to the candidate, the Jury Panel will have the power to disqualify the application due to failure to present the registration within the aforementioned period.