1 Research Fellowship (Master)

Offer Description

A tender is open for the attribution of 1 Research Fellowship for Master within the scope of the R&D project “MUC4Health - “Mucin glycodomains as innovative and alternative immunomodulatory strategies”, Operação Nº 17044 - Código de operação Fundos LISBOA2030-FEDER-00833700, funded by Lisbon Regional Programme, in the ERDF component, and by the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. through national funds (PIDDAC), under the following conditions:

Work Plan: Work plan objectives: A) Recombinant expression of mucins in E. coli and HEK293/CHO cells; B) Chemoenzymatic synthesis of MUC glycodomains with glycans of defined structure, density, and size; C) Mapping the interactions between the different domains and the lectins MGL and Siglecs.

Methodology: For Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) studies, isotopically labeled versions of the glycodomains will be produced. Mucin glycodomains will be prepared with different patterns and densities of O glycans (e.g., Tn, T, and STn). The glycodomains will be characterized by NMR and mass spectrometry.

Expected Results: A) Expression protocol for glycodomains in HEK293/CHO cells for NMR studies; B) Library of glycodomains with diversity in sequence, size, and antigen density; C) Characterization of interactions with immune system lectins (MGL and Siglecs).

Workplace: The work will be carried out at Department of Chemistry of the Faculty of Science and Technology of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa under the scientific guidance of Professor Filipa Marcelo, with NOVA.id.FCT - Association for Innovation and Development of FCT being the contracting entity.

Fellowship duration: The fellowship will last for will last for 9 months, starting in October 2026. The scholarship contract may eventually be renewed within the term of the project.

Application deadline and form of application submission: The call is open from the 10/09/2026 to 23/09/2026.

• Documentation to be provided at the time of application: Applications must be formalized by sending the following documents:
• i) Detailed Curriculum Vitae;
• ii) Documents proving the academic degrees obtained and their classification* (in the application phase may be replaced by a declaration of honour as stated in point no. 2).
• iii) Declaration of honour attesting to the commitment to enroll in a PhD or in a non-degree course, if the scholarship is selected and accepts the award of the same and other supporting documents considered relevant for the evaluation of the experience.
• Note 1: For academic degrees awarded by foreign higher education institutions, it is mandatory to present proof of recognition of the academic degree and the conversion of the final classification to the Portuguese grading scale (process regulated by Decree-Law no. 341/2007 of October 12), or alternatively, to obtain equivalence/recognition of the academic degrees (process regulated by DecreeLaw no. 283/83 of June 21).
• Form of submission of applications: Applications must be sent by email to: filipa.marcelo@fct.unl.pt, indicating in the subject " BI - Operação n.º 17044, LISBOA2030-FEDER-00833700" and with the reference of the notice.
• Documentation to be provided upon contracting: Proof of academic degrees or their equivalence when they have been awarded by foreign higher education institutions; proof of enrollment in a PhD or in a non-degree course.

Applicable legislation and regulations: Law No. 40/2004, of August 18, amended and republished by Decree-Law No. 202/2012 of August 27 (Statute of the Scientific Research Fellow) and amended by Decree-Law No. 233/2012 of October 29, by Law No. 12 /2013 of 29 January, by Decree-Law No. 89/2013, of 9 July and Decree-Law No. 123/2019, of 28 August; Regulation of Research Grants of NOVA.id.FCT – Association for Innovation and Development of FCT; Regulation of Research Grants of the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, I.P. in force (https://former.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/docs/RegulamentoBolsasFCT2019DR.pdf

Where to apply

E-mail: filipa.marcelo@fct.unl.pt

Requirements

• Research Field: Chemistry » Biochemistry
• Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Mandatory requirements: Candidates must:

• be enrolled in a PhD or in a non-degree course;
• have a master's degree in the area of Biochemistry;
• not exceed, with the conclusion of this scholarship contract, the maximum duration of one year, when the scholarship has been awarded to a student enrolled in a non-degree course;
• not exceed, with the conclusion of this scholarship contract, the maximum duration of four years, when the scholarship has been awarded to a PhD student;
• be informed that the scholarship aims to consolidate their scientific training through the development of of research work. (BI);
• submit the documents proving this situation, at the latest, until the contracting phase of the purse, which may be replaced by a declaration of honour, which is attached.

Languages: ENGLISH

Level: Good

Additional Information

Benefits

Monthly maintenance allowance amount: The amount of the fellowship corresponds to € 1.359,64 having as reference the table of values of the fellowship awarded directly by FCT, I.P. in Portugal, with payment made monthly by bank transfer.

Eligibility criteria

Selection criteria: The selection methods to be used and the respective weighting will be as follows:

A. Curriculum evaluation in particular Master degree classification - 40%;

B. Experience in research, particularly in the recombinant expression and purification of mucins in different cell types for interaction studies by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. Experience in the acquisition and processing of 1H,15N-HSQC, STD-NMR, and NOESY/ROESY spectra - 40%.

C. Interview - 20%

All applications will be assessed on a scale of 0 to 20.

Final grade=40%×A+40%×B+20%xC

Only candidates who obtain a score equal to or higher than 15 points in the combined evaluation of criteria A and B will be invited for an interview.

Candidates who do not achieve the minimum score of 15 points, as determined by the selection panel in accordance with the evaluation criteria, will not be considered for recruitment.

Selection process

Composition of the Selection Jury:

• President: Professor Doutora Filipa Marcelo
• Effective members: Professora Doutora Helena Coelho e Professora Doutora Angelina Palma
• Substitute members: Professor Doutor Aldino Viegas e Professora Doutora Paula Videira

Form of advertising/notification of results: The evaluation results proposed by the jury will be notified, up to 90 days after the deadline for the submission of applications, by email, of the results proposed by the jury, with access to the minutes and the final ranking list.

After notification, candidates will have 10 working days to comment on the draft decision (prior hearing of interested parties, under the terms of the Code of Administrative Procedure). The final decision will be taken after the expiry of the prior hearing period, again notified to all candidates by e-mail. Of this final decision the candidates can file a complaint within 15 working days (to the e-mail address used for the notification), or a hierarchical appeal, within 30 working days, addressed to NOVA.ID.FCT's Board through the address coord1@novaidfct.pt.

Additional comments

Drafts: The drafts of: i) fellowship contract, ii) final report to be presented by the fellowship holder, iii) final report to be presented by the scientific advisor, and; iv) declaration on honor, can all be found on NOVA.id.FCT website.

Website for additional job details: https://www.novaidfct.pt/content/NOVAID.B530.EDI.0.pdf

Work Location(s)

• Number of offers available: 1
• Company/Institute: NOVA.ID.FCT
• Country: Portugal
• State/Province: Setubal
• City: Caparica
• Postal Code: 2829-516
• Street: NOVA.id.FCT, FCT-NOVA, campus Caparica

Contact

• State/Province: Setubal
• City: Caparica
• Website: http://www.novaidfct.pt/
• Street: Campus de Caparica
• Postal Code: 2829-516 Caparica
• E-Mail: coord1@novaidfct.pt