A competition is open for the attribution of a Research Scholarship for BSc holders (BI-Lic) in the framework of the project “CY-SENSORS – Biosensor and biomimetic recognition element based devices for detection and separation of cyanobacteria metabolites with ecotoxicological and therapeutical applications” (PTDC/BTA-GES/32359/2017), financed by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and national funds (COMPETE2020) through Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT)(POCI-01-0145-FEDER-032359) , according to the following conditions:

1. Scientific area: Biological Sciences
2. Admission requirements: The candidates are required to hold a BSc degree in a subject related to Biological Sciences. All nationalities are welcome to apply (subject to visa restrictions). Applicants should be proficient in English. No knowledge of Portuguese is required.

Candidates must have proven experience in molecular biology and cells culture fundamental techniques.

In addition, candidates shall have good academic credentials, willingness for team work and be highly motivated to participate in the development and execution of molecular assays using live cells for detection of cyanobacteria metabolites with therapeutical applications.

3. Work Plan: The selected candidates will join the team of CY-SENSORS project to participate in cells culture routines, perform screening assays with cells, involving transactivation assays using nuclear receptors, and perform in silico studies of molecular interaction (docking analysis).
4. Selection methods: Candidates will initially be screened and ranked (from 0 to 10 points) according to their Curriculum vitae evaluation (CV; 90%) and motivation for the job (M; 10%).

            Final evaluation = 0,9 CV + 0,1 M

The candidates’ CV score (CV) is the sum of the evaluation for the Academic Qualification (AQ) and the Professional Experience (PE), in accordance with the formula:

CV = 0,3 AQ + 0,7 PE

1. 1. Academic qualification (AQ) will have a relative weight of 30% and the will take into account the University degree and marks of the candidate, and their appropriateness to the position.

0. 2. Professional experience (PE) relative weight will be 70%, and evaluation will consider the proven experience in:
1. molecular biology,
2. mammalian cell culture,
3. vector cell transfection,
4. conduction of nuclear receptor transactivation assays in cells,
5. gene cloning and
6. bioinformatics modelling of receptor—ligand interaction (docking).

Motivation (M) to undertake the project tasks will be evaluated based on the motivation letter, scored from 0 to 10 points and given a relative weight of 10%.

Upon ranking and selection of candidates, the jury will decide which candidate is best suited to the position, using an interview if justified, i.e. if the scoring difference between the first candidate and the others is less than the relative weight given to the interview (10% of final score – CV + M). In that case, the top candidate and those at a distance of less than 1 point to the top candidate will be invited to the interview.

The position may not be awarded if the expected candidate quality is not met;

5. Legislation and official rules: Law nº. 40/2004, 18th August (Research Fellowship and Studentship Regulation) amended and republished by Decree-Law nº 202/2012, 27th August; Regulations for Studentships and Fellowships of the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. — 2015 and CIIMAR Grants Regulation.
6. Work place: The selected candidate will be working under the supervision of Doctor Isabel Cunha and Doctor Inês Páscoa, at the Blue Biotechnology and Ecotoxicology research group at CIIMAR (University of Porto). The laboratory is located at CIIMAR’s headquarters, in the modern Cruise Ship Terminal of the Leixões Harbour, in Matosinhos. The selected candidate will work in a multidisciplinary environment strongly connected to the blue biotechnology and will have access to state-of-the-art analytical instrumentation and modern laboratory facilities.
7. Duration of the grant: The position has the duration of 10 months, under the regime of exclusive dedication, expected to start in November 2019, not renewable, and in no case extendable beyond 25^th of July 2021.
8. Monthly maintenance stipend: The monthly maintenance allowance is 752.38€ (seven hundred and fifty two Euros and thirty eight cents), 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.pt). Payment will be made by bank transfer on a monthly basis. The successful candidate will also be entitled to the reimbursement of Social Security payments (“Seguro Social Voluntário”) and work insurance.
9. Composition of the jury:

President of the jury: Isabel Cunha, PhD

Vogal: Inês Páscoa, PhD

Vogal: Raquel Ruivo, PhD

Substitute members of the jury:

Marco Aurélio Correia Preto

Luís Filipe Costa de Castro

10. Form of Advertising/notification of the results: The final results of the first step 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. After the interviews, the final results of the shortlisted applicants will be published on the CIIMAR website and communicated by e-mail. The jury reserves the right to not assign the grants depending on the quality of the applications.
11.  Deadline for application and presentation of applications: The competition is open from 23-10-2019 to 06-11-2019. The applications must be formalized, compulsorily, by sending the following documents:
    1. copy of the academic certificates;
    2. e-mail and telephone contacts;
    3. short CV (maximum two pages) where past experience can be accessed;
    4. short motivation letter (one page) explaining the motivation to undertake the position and how past research activities can be of relevance to the current project;
    5. e-mail and telephone contacts of two persons that can give professional references of the candidate. It can be a teacher, a supervisor, an employer, etc..

The application documents and any specific informal inquiries should be addressed to Doctor Isabel Cunha (isabel.cunha@ciimar.up.pt) with CC to mgalvao@ciimar.up.pt with CY-Sensors-BI Scholarship in the subject line. The applications that do not include all the elements previously indicated will not be considered.