A competition is open for the attribution of 1 Research Grant in the framework of the project "FEEDMI – MELHORIAS NA RESISTÊNCIA A DOENÇAS, STRESS E SUSTENTABILIDADE AMBIENTAL EM SISTEMAS DE AQUACULTURA ATRAVÉS DE FERRAMENTAS NUTRICIONAIS E DE MODULAÇÃO DAS COMUNIDADES MICROBIANAS" with the reference 39948, supported by Portugal and the European Union through FEDER/ERDF, CRESC Algarve 2020 and NORTE 2020, in the framework of Portugal 2020, according to the following conditions:

 

1. Scientific area: Biology

 

2. Admission requirements

i) The candidates must hold a degree in Biology (with classification equal or higher than 15 values (in 20)) and a Master degree in Biodiversity, Genetics and Evolution (with classification equal or higher than 18 values (in 20));

ii) Experience in biological treatments of aquaculture effluents;

iii) Experience in microbiological and chemical analysis of aquaculture effluents;

iv) Experience in isolation and preservation of microorganisms;

v) Experience in analyzing data generated form NGS tools using bioinformatics pipelines and downstream analysis for prokaryotes;

vi) Experience in scientific writing;

vii) Experience in working in research projects;

viii) Experience in the development of hands-on activities and on the use of social media for project dissemination.

 

3. Work plan:

The candidate will be involved in research activities in order to study the water quality of recirculating aquaculture systems in terms of physico-chemical and microbial parameters as well as to characterize RAS system and fish microbiomes.  Manipulative experiments to optimize and increase the efficiency of RAS biofilter will be also an important activity of this project. Inorganic nutrient analysis as well as next generation sequence (NGS) technology based on 16S rRNA-gene sequencing analysis will be used as major methodological tools. The work will also involve statistical analysis of the results and the use of bioinformatic pipelines. Discussion of the obtained results, production of respective reports and dissemination activities are also included.

                                      

4. Legislation and official rules:

Law nº. 40/2004, 18th August (Research Fellowship and Studentship Regulation) and amended by Law No. 202/2012, 27th August; Regulations for Studentships and Fellowships of the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. and CIIMAR Grants Regulation.

 

5. Work place:

The work will be carried out at CIIMAR, ECOBIOTEC Group, under the scientific supervision of PhD Ana Paula Mucha and PhD Catarina Magalhães.

 

6. Duration of the grant:

Duration of twelve (12) months, starting September 2019, under the regime of exclusive dedication, eventually renewable according to legal terms.

 

7. Monthly maintenance stipend:

The monthly maintenance allowance is €989,70 (nine hundred and eighty nine Euros and seventy cents– Tax Free), in agreement with the monthly maintenance stipend table of the grants directly attributed by FCT, I.P. within the country (https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/valores.phtml.en).

 

8. Selection methods:

The first ranking of candidates will be performed after a CV evaluation based on:

• Academic grades plus scientific area: 50%;
• Experience in the research field: 50%.

If necessary an interview will be done to the three top candidates, after which a final ranking will be performed based on:

• CV evaluation: 50%;
• Interview:  50%.

                               

The jury reserves the right to not assign the research grant if none of the candidates meets all requirements and match the desired profile.

 

9. Composition of the jury selection:

President of the jury: PhD Ana Paula Mucha

Vogal: PhD Catarina Magalhães

Vogal: PhD Benjamin Costas

 

10. Form of Advertising/notification of results:

The final results of the evaluation will be published through a list sorting the candidates according to their attributed mark, on the CIIMAR website and by e-mail; in case of disagreement, the candidates have a 10-working day term to contest the decision, if he/she so wishes, as provided for in the Código do Procedimento Administrativo in a preliminary hearing setting.

The jury reserves the right to not assign the research grant if none of the candidates meets all requirements and match the desired profile.

Based on the final list, a reserve list will be established, which will be used for the eventual attribution of new research grants under this project.

 

11.  Deadline for application and presentation of applications:

The competition is open from 6^th of August until 20^th of August 2019.  The applications must be formalized, compulsorily, by sending the following documents:

• detailed Curriculum vitae in English or Portuguese including e-mail address and phone number, and mentioning clearly the academic grades and the relevant research experience;
• copy of the eligibility certificates
• motivation letter
• indication of the reference of the competition (as indicated in this announcement)

The applications must be sent by e-mail to: mgalvao@ciimar.up.pt . The applications that do not include all the elements previously indicated will not be considered.