1 (one) Research Fellowship (BI) for PhD student or MSc enrolled in a non-degree course 

1 Research Fellowship(s) (BI) is(are) open at the FCiências.ID – Associação para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento de Ciências, for the project/R&D institution “Mechanism of action of ARHGEF10, a conserved gene linked to neurodevelopmental disorders”, “2022.03859.PTDC”, “DOI: https://doi.org/10.54499/2022.03859.PTDC”, funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. through national funds under the Programme All Scientific Domains 2022, under the following conditions:

1. Scientific Area: Natural Sciences – Biological Sciences – Developmental Biology
    
2. Admission requirements:  1) Complete documentation formatted as described below and submitted within the deadline. 2) BSc degree and MSc degree in Biology or related areas. 3) At least 1 year of experience in Drosophila genetics, neuroscience, behavioural monitoring, and aging research. 4) At least 6 months experience in mammalian cell culture.
    
3. Additional optional skills and qualifications: Experience in immunofluorescence, cell biology, stem cell and organoid biology.
    
4. Contracting requirements: Presentation of the academic qualifications and/or diplomas. Enrolment in  a PhD program, or in or a non-degree course developed in association or cooperation between a High Education Institution and one or multiple research units, namely, in Scientific Research Methods and Techniques at Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon. 
    
5. Work plan: The fellow will participate in the development of behavioural, cellular, molecular biology, genetics, cell culture, confocal microscopy techniques and data analysis for the study of the molecular physiology of development in Drosophila and in models of human stem cell differentiation in vitro, as well as providing support to the research team, with the preparation of solutions, support for the preparation of experimental protocols, and optimization of samples for analysis.
    
6. Legislation framework: Research Fellowship Holder Statute, in accordance with Law 40/2004, of 18 August, in its current version and the FCT Regulation for Research Studentships and Fellowships, in its current version  (Reg. 950/2019 published in DR on 16th  December: https://dre.pt/application/file/a/127230968,  or at the FCT website: https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/regulamento.phtml.pt), and FCiências.ID Fellowship Regulation, as approved on 12th May 2020 (available at Regulamento de Bolsas de Investigação Científica da FCiências.ID).
    
7. Place of work: The work will be developed at the Integrative Biomedicine group at the cE3c, Department of Animal Biology of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon under the scientific supervision of Professor Alisson Gontijo.
    
8. Fellowship duration: This position is initially opened for 6 months due to start in February 2025. The fellowship contract may be potentially renewed for 6 months, in accordance with the provisions of Regulation of Research Fellowships from the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. 
    
9. Monthly allowance: The fellowship amounts to € 1259,64, according to table values of the fellowships awarded directly by the FCT, IP. The fellowship holder will have a personal accident insurance and can ensure the right to social security through adherence to the voluntary social insurance scheme, if not covered by any other social protection scheme, pursuant to Código dos Regimes Contributivos do Sistema Previdencial de Segurança Social.
   The fellowship will be paid monthly by bank transfer. 
    
10. Evaluation and selection process: Candidates will be assessed by the submitted documents (CV, certificates, and motivation letter) weighted according to the following factor: 
    a) Overall assessment of the CV: 5%;
    b) Motivation letter, written in English: 10%;
    c) Final BSc Degree Grade: 5%;
    d) Final MSc Degree Grade: 10%;
    e) Experience in microscopy and immunohistochemistry techniques (confocal and fluorescence): 10%;
    f) Experience with cell culture: 10%;
    g) Experience with stem cells or organoids: 5%;
    h) Experience with Neuroscience: 10%;
    i) Experience in Locomotor Behavior: 15%
    j) Experience in Aging: 10%;
    k) Experience in Drosophila genetics: 10%.
    If considered necessary by the jury, an interview will be carried out with the 3 (three) best candidates. If there is an interview, the sum of the classification obtained in the evaluation criteria a) to k) will correspond to 70% of the final classification and the interview will correspond to 30%.
    Applicants whose application is scored with a final classification of less than 70 points are not eligible for granting a fellowship.
     
11. Selection Committee: President of the jury: Prof. Dr. Alisson M. Gontijo, PhD. Effective members: Prof. Dr. Fabiana Heredia and Dr. Juliane Menezes. Alternate members: Prof. Dr. Susana Lopes and Prof. Dra. Ana Rita Carlos.
     
12. Publication/notification of results: All the candidates will be notified by e-mail, sent by the call holder, with the selection meeting minutes enclosed.
     
13. Deadlines: This call for applications is open from 24/01/2025 to 07/02/2025 .
     
14. Application: Applications should be sent via e-mail to amgontijo@ciencias.ulisboa.pt, by attaching the following documents:
    a) Curriculum vitae;
    b) Certificates of completion of previous degree Note 1, 2;
    b) Motivation letter in English, clearly addressing eligibility criteria, and any other additional criteria.
     
15. Processing of personal data: FCiências.ID – Associação para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento de Ciências, as the controller under the General Data Protection Regulation, collects and processes the personal data requested in the context indicated in paragraph 14., under the legitimate interests in ensuring the award of the research fellowship to candidates with the indicated profile.
    The personal data will be kept for the period necessary for the execution of the purposes for which they are intended, being ensured the processing and protection in an appropriate and diligent way, the confidentiality and integrity of these data, through appropriate technical and organizational measures.
    Personal data may be transmitted to third parties, namely the entity funding the research project, solely for the purposes specifically established. In this sense, whenever the transfer of personal data to countries outside the European Union and/or international organizations is necessary, compliance with the applicable legal provisions is ensured.
    You have the right to request access, rectification, elimination, limitation of processing, the right to object and also data portability (if technically feasible), through the e-mail address: dpo@fciencias-id.pt. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the National Data Protection Commission. 
    For more information, we recommend consulting the Internal Rules of Data Protection of FCiências.ID - Association for Research and Development of Sciences at https://fciencias-id.pt/.

16. Time limits for the appeal procedure: In case of negative decision, the candidates have 10 business days, after the date of announcement of the results of the candidates’ evaluation, to pronounce their disagreement in accordance with the Código do Procedimento Administrativo. Appeals against the final decision may be submitted to the Administration Board of FCiências.ID (fciencias.id@fciencias-id.pt) within 15 business days after the notification date.

Note 1: The documents that prove the entitlement of the academic qualifications and diplomas can be dismissed during the application period and replaced by a declaration on their honour from the applicant (Minuta PT, Minute EN). Their delivery is mandatory for the fellowship contractualization.

Note 2: Please note that - higher education degrees and diplomas awarded by foreign higher education institutions  need to be recognized by a Portuguese higher education institution, pursuant to the Decree-Law nr. 66/2018 (August 16) and the Ministerial Order nr. 33/2019 (January 25). The presentation of the recognition certificate is mandatory for contract signature. More information can be obtained at: https://www.dges.gov.pt/en/pagina/degree-and-diploma-recognition.