Job Information
Organisation/Company: NOVA.id.FCT - Associação para a Inovação de Desenvolvimento da FCT
Research Field: Engineering » Chemical engineering; Biological sciences » Biological engineering
Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)
Positions: PhD Positions
Application Deadline: 6 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon)
Country: Portugal
Type of Contract: Other — Unfixed term employment contract
Job Status: Full-time
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe
Reference Number: 101156998 - ReLEAF - #NOVAID296
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description
By decision of the Board of Directors, NOVA.id.FCT - Associação para a Inovação e Desenvolvimento da FCT (“NOVA.id.FCT”) opens an international call to hire a PhD Researcher, with the internal reference “#NOVAID296”, under a unfixed term employment contract for a PhD Researcher in the scope of the R&D Project ReLEAF funded by European Commission, under the following conditions. (ref.ª 101156998).
1. Type of contract and applicable legislation: The hiring of the PhD Researcher shall be made by means of an Unfixed Term Employment Contract entered into in accordance with the Portuguese Labour Code approved by the Law no. 7/2009 of February 12th, as amended. The contract should have a forecasted duration of 6 months, with the possibility of renewal, and should not be extended further than the project duration and its new funding contracts. The contract should begin in December 2026. The present hiring procedure is further governed inter alia by Decree-law no. 57/2016 of July 19th, as amended by the Law no. 57/2017 of August 29th and Regulatory decree no. 11-A/2017 of December 29th.
2. Main attributions and activities and exclusivity: The PhD Researcher will actively participate in the execution of the project tasks, namely in the following activities:
- Operation and optimisation of pilot-scale bioreactors for polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production.
- PHA extraction and purification.
- Physico-chemical and molecular characterisation of the produced polymers.
- Scientific supervision and training of research fellows and students involved in the project.
- Contribution to scientific publications, technical reports, deliverables and other project-related documentation.
The PhD Researcher shall fully devote the whole of his/her professional activity to NOVA.id.FCT, on an exclusive basis, unless it opts for the full-time regime, as stated in article 7.º, number 1 of Decree-Law n.º 57/2016, of August 29th, altered by Law n.º 57/2017, of July 19th.
3. Place of work: The PhD Researcher’s working place shall be at the premises of the Chemistry Department located in Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa - Campus da Caparica and he/she shall travel, in Portugal or abroad, as required by his/her attributions or as necessary for his/her activity.
4. Monthly remuneration: The PhD Researcher shall earn a monthly remuneration in the gross amount of €2408,11 by reference to the level 33 of the Single Remuneration Table, pursuant to number 2 of Article 15 of Decree-Law no. 57/2016 of August 29th, as amended by Law no. 57/2017 of July 19th, and Regulatory Decree no. 11-A / 2017, of December 29, corrected through the amendment produced by Decree-Law no. 10-B / 2020, of 20 March. The monthly remuneration will be two thirds of the abovementioned if the investigator opts for the full-time regime.
5. Admission Requirements: Applicants to this call may be national, foreign or stateless candidates holding a PhD degree in the field of Chemical and Biological Engineering, or related areas of interest to the project legally valid and/or recognized in Portugal and complying with the following specific requirements:
- Experience in the operation of bioreactors for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) using microbial cultures.
- Experience in the extraction and purification of PHA.
- Experience in the characterization of biopolymers, including chemical, physical, and molecular properties.
- Authorship or co-authorship of at least 3 scientific articles in the field of PHA production, extraction, purification, or characterization, published in international peer-reviewed scientific journals.
It will also be considered as a preferential factor:
- Proven participation in European projects in the field of PHA production using microbial cultures, including experience in the preparation of technical and scientific reports, as well as the presentation and communication of results in project meetings.
6. Evaluation of the Applications and Composition of the Jury: The jury is composed of the following members:
- Chairwoman: Professora Doutora Nídia Lourenço;
- Member: Professora Doutora Maria A. Reis;
- Member: Doutora Mariana Matos;
- Substitute Member: Doutora Joana Fradinho;
- Substitute Member: Doutor Bruno Marreiros.
7. Selection criteria: The selection of the successful candidate will be carried out through the evaluation of the scientific and curricular achievements and the selection criteria and their respective weighting shall be as follows:
- CV evaluation (45 %) - Rating from 1-20;
- Experience on the targeted research area of the current call for applications (45 %) - Rating from 1-20;
- Motivation letter (10%) - Rating from 1-20.
8. Final Decision: The final deliberation of the jury shall be homologated by the ultimate governing body of NOVA.id.FCT that is also responsible for the decision of hiring.
The list of admitted and excluded candidates and the final list of classification will be publicised on the website of NOVA.id.FCT (www.novaidfct.pt) and sent by electronic mail with receipt of delivery to all candidates.
9. Submission of Applications: Applications must be submitted between 26/10/2026 and 06/11/2026 by email, addressed to bioeng.gestao@fct.unl.pt and catia.pedro@novaidfct.pt, and containing a single PDF file with the following documents in Portuguese or English languages:
- Complete CV;
- Motivation letter;
- Doctoral Certificate. In the case of academic degrees awarded by foreign higher education institutions, and in order to ensure the application of the principle of equal treatment between candidates holding foreign and national academic degrees, recognition of those degrees and conversion of the final classification to the Portuguese grading scale are mandatory. At the application stage, this document may be replaced by a declaration on honour.
10. Non-discrimination and equal access policy: NOVA.id.FCT actively promotes a non-discrimination and equal access policy, reason for which no candidate can be benefited, prejudiced or deprived of any duty, namely age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, religion or political beliefs.
Where to apply
E-mail: bioeng.gestao@fct.unl.pt
Requirements
Research Field: Engineering » Chemical engineering — Education Level: PhD or equivalent
Research Field: Biological sciences » Biological engineering — Education Level: PhD or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications: Admission Requirements: Applicants to this call may be national, foreign or stateless candidates holding a PhD degree in the field of Chemical and Biological Engineering, or related areas of interest to the project legally valid and/or recognized in Portugal and complying with the following specific requirements:
- Experience in the operation of bioreactors for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) using microbial cultures.
- Experience in the extraction and purification of PHA.
- Experience in the characterization of biopolymers, including chemical, physical, and molecular properties.
- Authorship or co-authorship of at least 3 scientific articles in the field of PHA production, extraction, purification, or characterization, published in international peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Specific Requirements: It will also be considered as a preferential factor:
- Proven participation in European projects in the field of PHA production using microbial cultures, including experience in the preparation of technical and scientific reports, as well as the presentation and communication of results in project meetings.
Additional Information
Benefits: Monthly remuneration: The PhD Researcher shall earn a monthly remuneration in the gross amount of €2408,11 by reference to the level 33 of the Single Remuneration Table, pursuant to number 2 of Article 15 of Decree-Law no. 57/2016 of August 29th, as amended by Law no. 57/2017 of July 19th, and Regulatory Decree no. 11-A / 2017, of December 29, corrected through the amendment produced by Decree-Law no. 10-B / 2020, of 20 March. The monthly remuneration will be two thirds of the abovementioned if the investigator opts for the full-time regime.
Eligibility criteria: Admission Requirements: Applicants to this call may be national, foreign or stateless candidates holding a PhD degree in the field of Chemical and Biological Engineering, or related areas of interest to the project legally valid and/or recognized in Portugal and complying with the following specific requirements:
- Experience in the operation of bioreactors for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) using microbial cultures.
- Experience in the extraction and purification of PHA.
- Experience in the characterization of biopolymers, including chemical, physical, and molecular properties.
- Authorship or co-authorship of at least 3 scientific articles in the field of PHA production, extraction, purification, or characterization, published in international peer-reviewed scientific journals.
It will also be considered as a preferential factor:
- Proven participation in European projects in the field of PHA production using microbial cultures, including experience in the preparation of technical and scientific reports, as well as the presentation and communication of results in project meetings.
Selection process: Submission of Applications: Applications must be submitted between 26/10/2026 and 06/11/2026 by email, addressed to bioeng.gestao@fct.unl.pt and catia.pedro@novaidfct.pt, and containing a single PDF file with the following documents in Portuguese or English languages:
- Complete CV;
- Motivation letter;
- Doctoral Certificate. In the case of academic degrees awarded by foreign higher education institutions, and in order to ensure the application of the principle of equal treatment between candidates holding foreign and national academic degrees, recognition of those degrees and conversion of the final classification to the Portuguese grading scale are mandatory. At the application stage, this document may be replaced by a declaration on honour.
Evaluation of the Applications and Composition of the Jury: The jury is composed of the following members:
- Chairwoman: Professora Doutora Nídia Lourenço;
- Member: Professora Doutora Maria A. Reis;
- Member: Doutora Mariana Matos;
- Substitute Member: Doutora Joana Fradinho;
- Substitute Member: Doutor Bruno Marreiros.
Selection criteria: The selection of the successful candidate will be carried out through the evaluation of the scientific and curricular achievements and the selection criteria and their respective weighting shall be as follows:
- CV evaluation (45 %) - Rating from 1-20;
- Experience on the targeted research area of the current call for applications (45 %) - Rating from 1-20;
- Motivation letter (10%) - Rating from 1-20.
Final Decision: The final deliberation of the jury shall be homologated by the ultimate governing body of NOVA.id.FCT that is also responsible for the decision of hiring.
The list of admitted and excluded candidates and the final list of classification will be publicised on the website of NOVA.id.FCT (www.novaidfct.pt) and sent by electronic mail with receipt of delivery to all candidates.
Additional comments: Non-discrimination and equal access policy: NOVA.id.FCT actively promotes a non-discrimination and equal access policy, reason for which no candidate can be benefited, prejudiced or deprived of any duty, namely age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, religion or political beliefs.
Website for additional job details: https://www.novaidfct.pt/content/NOVAID296.EDI.0.pdf
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: Chemistry Department located in Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa - Campus da Caparica and he/she shall travel, in Portugal or abroad, as required by his/her attributions or as necessary for his/her activity.
Country: Portugal
State/Province: Caparica
City: Caparica
Contact
City: Caparica
Website: https://www.novaidfct.pt
Street: Campus de Caparica
Postal Code: 2829-516 Caparica
