A competition is open for the attribution of 1 Superior Technical work contract in the framework of the project SponGES – Deep-Sea Sponge Grounds of the North Atlantic: an ecosystem-based approach towards their conservation and sustainable exploitation (EC Grant agreement no. 679849), within the R&D Institution CIIMAR (Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research), supported by the European Union Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020), according to the following conditions:

 

1. Scientific area: Biological sciences

 

2. Admission requirements:

i) hold a bachelor or master degree in biology, ecology (or similar discipline) with a minimum grade of 14, and advanced competences in molecular ecology;

ii) have demonstrated experience in molecular genomics, namely in preparation of genomic/metagenomic libraries and sequencing with NGS platforms (e.g. Illumina, PacBio, Oxford Nanopore);

iii) bioinformatic skills for genomic and population genomic analyses;

iv) competence in lab management including health and safety procedures.

 

If the degree has been awarded by a foreign institution, it must be recognized under the terms of the Decree-Law no. 66/2018, of 16 August, until the contract is signed.

 

Conditions of preference:

Experience in participation in projects related to conservation genomics of native populations is highly advantageous.

 

3. Workplan:

The candidate will be responsible for the molecular work being developed under “WP2 – Biodiversity”, namely generating mitochondrial and ribosomal DNA barcodes of marine sponges (Porifera); and “WP3 – Biogeographic patterns and connectivity”, with application of NGS technologies for sequencing of mitochondrial genomes and SNPs in target species. The candidate will also be supporting the analysis of the results and the writing of deliverable reports, as well as scientific papers.

 

4. Legislation and official rules:

Article 140, n. 2, h) and Article 148, n. 5, of the Labor Code (Law 7/2009, of 12 February and respective updates);

 

5. Work place:

The work will be carried out at the Deep-Sea Biodiversity and Conservation research team (lab 2.09) at CIIMAR headquarters located in Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixo?es, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, Matosinhos (Portugal), under the scientific supervision of Dr. Joana R. Xavier.

 

6. Contract duration:

The contract is for three (3) months, with foreseen starting in August 2020, eventually renewable according to the end of the project and the legal terms.

 

7. Monthly salary:

The net monthly salary will be 1.201,48€ (one thousand, two hundred and one euros and forty-eight cents) paid by bank transfer.

 

8. Selection methods: A global assessment of the candidates will be carried out by evaluation of scientific and curricular achievements and supporting documents. The evaluation will take into account:

 

1. academic performance (global appreciation taking into account the University – level degrees, their appropriateness to the position as well as the performance of the candidate in each of such degrees), ranked from 0 to 10 with a relative weight of 30%;

 

2. the experience in the field of study (publications, research activities in molecular ecology, lab experience in genomics/population genomics, bioinformatic skills, lab management skills), ranked from 0 to 10 and with a relative weight of 60%.

 

3. a global appreciation of the motivation of the candidate and interest in the field of research, taking into account the motivation letter, and any other element in the CV or transcripts that can help in this regard, ranked from 0 to 10 and with a relative weight of 10%.

 

The candidate with the highest score will be offered the position, provided that such score is above seven (7) values. In the case of a tie between the scores of the top candidates, and provided that such scores are higher than 7 values, an interview will be performed to these candidates to allow for the selection of a single candidate. The selection will be based on the vote of each member of the jury regarding the most adequate candidate for the position, and, in the case of a tie in the vote, the vote of the president of the jury will prevail.

The jury reserves the right to not assign the position depending on the quality of the applications.

 

9. Composition of the jury:

 

President of the jury: Dr. Joana R Xavier

Vogal: Dr. Elsa Froufe

Vogal: Dr. Catarina Magalhães

 

10. Form of advertising/notification of the 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 in which 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 grant depending on the quality of the applications.

 

11. Deadline for application and presentation of applications:

The competition is open from 14 to 27 July 2020.The applications must be formalized, compulsorily, by sending the following documents:

-detailed Curriculum vitae including contact details

-copy of the eligibility certificates

-motivation letter outlining past research activities and their relevance to the position

-any other documents that the candidates may recognize as relevant.

 

The applications must be send by e-mail to: jxavier@ciimar.up.pt (president of the jury) and mgalvao@ciimar.up.pt with SPONGES-TI-2020-025 in the subject line. The applications that do not include all the elements previously indicated will not be considered.