Job/Fellowship Reference: HR23-01077
Main research field: Biological Sciences
Sub research field: Computational Biology, Biochemistry, Biology, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics
Job summary: The Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, opens a call for a research fellowship (BI) in the context of the project “Potassium channel dysfunction in models of neurodevelopmental disorders”, LCF/PR/HP20/52300003, funded by Iniciativa Ibérica de Investigaçao e Inovaçao Biomédica, i4b, under the Scientific and Technological Cooperation Agreements between Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) and Fundação “la Caixa”, with the following characteristics:
Number of fellowships: 1
Admission requirements: Holders of a master’s degree in Biological Sciences: Computational Biology, Biochemistry, Biology, Bioinformatics, or related fields. Candidates must be enrolled in a non-graduating training course relevant to the planned R&D activities.
“Non-graduating training courses” are courses that do not confer an academic degree, as defined in paragraph e) of number 3 of article 4 of Decree-Law no. 74/2006, of 24 March, in the current wording, provided that they are developed in association or cooperation between the higher education institution and one or more R&D units, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph e) of article 3 of the Regulation for Research Fellowships of the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P.
Although the recipients are required to be enrolled in a non-graduating training course, at the time of application it is not necessary for the candidate to have already made such an enrolment, though proof of enrolment must be presented by the time the fellowship is contractualized. Candidates are only required to meet the requirements to enrol in the training offer. Candidates already enrolled (or attending) a course compete on an equal footing with those who not yet enrolled.
Work plan/ Objectives: The work to be developed will focus on studying N channel modulation by stargazin and its dysfunction in animal models with human mutations in stargazin-encoding genes as well as on the search for interesting compounds to disrupt this interaction.
Location: CNC, Universidade de Coimbra, Edifício FMUC, Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra
Duration: 6 months
Renewal: Renewable
Scientific Orientation: Doctor Irina Moreira.
Financial conditions: The amount of the fellowship is € 1,199.64, corresponding to the monthly compensation stipulated in the FCT table https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM_2023.pdf) plus social security (Seguro Social Voluntário, first-level contributions) and personal accident insurance. The payment will be made by bank transfer. This amount will not be increased during the entire period of the grant duration.
Regime: The attribution of the fellowship does not generate or entitle a relation of a legal-labour nature, and the fellowship is undertaken in an exclusive dedication regime. The fellow is granted with the Fellow Statute according to the Statute of the Scientific Research Fellow, and to the Regulation of Research Grants of the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., both in their current wording.
Jury responsible for selection: Chairman of the Jury: Irina Moreira (Ph.D.). Jury members: Ana Luísa Carvalho (Ph.D.) and Rita Melo (Ph.D.).
Selection Method(s): Curricular evaluation (AC).
The formula to evaluate the curricular evaluation (AC), on a 0-100 scale, will be:
AC= 0.70*CV+0.30*AP
In which CV = 0.60*A + 0.10*B + 0.30*C e AP = 0.60*D + 0.40*E
Selection criteria:
In the Curricular evaluation (AC), in a 0-100 scale, the following criteria will be assessed
(i) merit and adequacy of candidate curriculum vitae (CV) - 70%;
(ii) suitability of the candidate's profile to the tasks to develop (AP) - 30%
In the CV criteria, the following parameters will be considered:
A) Master's grade (60%)
1. Under 19 – 50
2. Over or equal to 19 – 100
B) Participation in scientific meetings (10%)
1. 0 meetings – 0
2. Between 1 and 4 meetings – 50
3. Over 5 meetings - 100
C) Scientific publications in journals or book chapters (both as first author or co-authorship) (30%)
1. 0 papers – 0
2. Between 1 and 3 papers – 75
3. Over 4 papers – 100
In the AP criteria, the following parameters will be considered:
D) Deep learning (60%)
E) Protein and drug characterization (40%)
with each of D and E sub-criteria valued as:
1. No experience – 0
2. Reasonable experience – 50
3. Adequate experience – 70
4. Proficient experience – 100
Formalization of application: Applications must be formalized by sending the following elements: Motivation Letter and detailed CV with the academic profile (including publications list); master’s degree certificate; (copy of) proof of enrolment in a Non-graduating training course relevant to carrying out the planned R&D activities (mandatory only in the contratualization phase); other documents the candidate deems relevant for the application; and a Declaration, under honour commitment, of the candidate’s previous fellowship(s) of the same typology (BI) herein announced and the respective duration(s).
Applicants with academic degrees obtained abroad will be required to present a Certificate of Recognition in accordance with applicable law. This document is mandatory only in the contractualization phase.
Application submission: Applications must be submitted online in digital format via the platform https://cnc.uc.pt/en/job-opportunities, by selecting the relevant announcement and uploading in the appropriate fields all the necessary documents in pdf (portable document format).
Period for submission of applications: 10 working days, counting from the first day after the publication date of this call.
Additional information: The Selection Jury has the right to not select any candidate if they consider no applicant is suitable for the desired R&D vacancy.
The evaluation results will be announced within 90 days after the end of the applications submission deadline, by notifying the applicants via email. After the announcement of the results, candidates are considered automatically notified to, if they wish to do so, comment on the results on a preliminary hearing period within 10 days after that date. The selected candidates will have to declare in writing their acceptance and indicate their intended date to start the grant. Unless a justification worthy of consideration is presented, if the declaration is not submitted within the referred period, it is considered that the candidate waives the grant.
Once the selection process is completed, the fellowship contract will be drawn up in accordance with the draft contract provided by the FCT.
After the contracted period, the fellowship holder and supervisor must prepare the final report in accordance with the then established assessment criteria.
Non-discrimination and equal access policy: CNC actively promotes a non-discrimination and equal access policy, whereby no candidate may be privileged, benefited, harmed or deprived of any right or immune from any duty on account of, in particular, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family situation, economic situation, education, origin or social condition, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, illness chronicle, nationality, ethnic origin or race, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological convictions and union membership.
Candidates who incorrectly formalize their application or who do not prove to possess the requirements of this fellowship are excluded from admission. In case of doubt, the jury has the power to require any candidate to present additional documentation to attest their statements.
False statements made by candidates will be punished under the law.
The list of admitted and excluded candidates as well as the final ranking list are advertised at the respective Institute, and the candidates will be notified by email with receipt of delivery of the notification.
Prior Hearing and Final Decision Deadline: After publication of the results, candidates have 10 working days to comment/rebut. In the following 2 working days, counting from the deadline for submitting complaints, the final decisions of the jury are given, to be published on CNC website. Within a period not exceeding 90 days, counting from the deadline for submission of applications, the final decisions of the jury are given.
This competition is exclusively intended to fill the indicated vacancy and may be terminated until the approval of the final ranking list of candidates and lapsed with the respective occupation of the job on offer.
Under the terms of Decree-Law nº 29/2001, of February 3rd, the disabled candidate has preference in equal classification, which prevails over any other legal preference. Candidates must declare in the application form, under honour commitment, the respective degree of incapacity, the type of disability and the means of communication/expression to be used in the selection process, under the terms of the aforementioned diploma.
Pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and the free movement of such data (RGPD) and Law no. 58/2019 of 8 August, the person responsible for processing the personal data of the candidates collected, within the scope of this tender procedure, is the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC). The CNC guarantees that personal data collected in physical or digital support, whatever their nature, are treated responsibly, only for the purpose of recruitment, through appropriate policies and measures in order to prevent access and misuse or possible intrusions, minimizing risks and contributing to their safety. CNC does not provide or allow access to personal data by third parties, except for the purpose of complying with duly justified legal obligations. The personal data collected will be kept for a maximum of 6 months, counting from the end of the legal period of conservation foreseen for the procedure. At any time, the interested party can contact the CNC through the email dpo_cnc@cnc.uc.pt to request information on the processing of personal data or to exercise the legally established rights.
PUBLICATION DATE: 17/03/2023
Funding: