TWO RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS (MASTER’S DEGREE)

aquaculture and its transfer to the aquaculture sector and society” (ref: 0420_WELFAQUA_5_E), under the INTERREG VI-A Spain-Portugal Cooperation Programme (POCTEP) 2021-2027, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

1. Admission requirements

The two research fellowships are intended for candidates holding a Master’s degree or an Integrated Master’s degree in Marine Biology or related scientific fields.

2. General admission requirements

Candidates must hold a master’s degree or an Integrated Master’s degree in Marine Biology or a related scientific field. At the time of recruitment, candidates must be enrolled in a doctoral programme or in a non-degree course integrated within the educational project of a higher education Institution, developed in association or cooperation with one or more R&D units.

3. Work plan

The two selected fellows will carry out the following activities:

1. Support the maintenance, handling and monitoring of marine fish used in experimental aquaculture trials;
2. Assist in the preparation and monitoring of experimental trials in the fields of fish nutrition and animal welfare;
3. Support biological sampling and the collection and organisation of experimental data and animal welfare indicators;
4. Process and analyse experimental data;
5. Conduct scientific literature reviews and support the preparation of technical reports, presentations and scientific publications;
6. Assist in organising activities, events and dissemination initiatives within the scope of the project;
7. Be available to carry out experimental activities on weekends and public holidays, when necessary.

4. Duration and Renewal

Each of the two fellowships is expected to start on November, 2026 and will have an initial duration of 12 months. Each fellowship may be renewed, where legally permissible and subject to compliance with the applicable requirements, under the terms of Article 15 of the Regulation for Scientific Research Fellowships of IPMA, I.P., on an exclusive dedication basis. Under no circumstances may either fellowship extend beyond the project’s expected completion date of 31/12/2028. The work to be carried out under each fellowship is temporary in nature and will not continue beyond the conclusion of the project.

5. Supervision and workplace

Both fellowships will be carried out within the scope of the activities of the Department of the Sea and Marine Resources at the EPPO/IPMA – Aquaculture Research Station, located at Av. do Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, s/n, 8700-194 Olhão, Portugal, under the scientific supervision of Dr. Ana Catarina Matias, Assistant Researcher at IPMA, I.P. The location where each fellow’s activities are carried out may be subject to change, in according to the requirements of the defined work plan.

6. Monthly maintenance allowance

The monthly maintenance allowance for each of the two fellowships is €1.359,64, in accordance with the values established in the FCT, I.P. Research Fellowship Allowance Table (https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM-2026.pdf). Each fellow is also entitled to reimbursement of contributions to the Voluntary Social Security Scheme (1st tier), where applicable, under the terms established in the Statute of the Research Fellow. Each fellow will benefit from personal accident insurance during the fellowship period. Payments for each fellowship will be made monthly by bank transfer to the account designated by the respective fellow, processed by the administrative services of IPMA, I.P.

7. Composition of the selection committee

The selection committee, appointed by order of the Board of Directors of IPMA, I.P., is composed of the following members:

• Chair: Ana Catarina Matias - Assistant Researcher - IPMA, I.P.;
• 1st Full Member: Florbela Soares - Principal Researcher - IPMA, I.P.;
• 2nd Full Member: Pedro Pousão – Principal Researcher with Habilitation - IPMA, I.P.;
• 1st Alternate Member: Marisa Barata – Senior Technician - IPMA, I.P.;
• 2nd Alternate Member: Sara Castanho – Senior Technician - IPMA, I.P.;

8. Selection methods and criteria

8.1. All candidates who meet the requirements set out in Sections 1 and 11 of this call notice will be admitted to the selection process.

8.2. Candidates will be evaluated through Curricular Assessment (CA) and, where applicable, an interview (I). An interview will only be conducted in the event of a tie in the Curricular Assessment that prevents the identification of the two candidates to be selected for the fellowships.

8.3. The CA will be scored on a scale from 0 to 20 points and calculated according to the following formula: CA = 0.3*A + 0.7*B where:

A – Assesses the academic merit of the candidate, based on the average grades obtained in the bachelor’s and master’s degrees;

B – Assesses previous experience relevant to the activities to be performed, according to the following criteria:

• a) Experience in marine aquaculture (0-4 points);
• b) Participation in research and development projects in the field of aquaculture (0-4 points);
• c) Experience in the handling, maintenance and monitoring of marine fish in aquaculture systems (0-5 points);
• d) Experience in providing technical and scientific support to research projects, including the organisation of activities, events and dissemination initiatives (0-3 points);
• e) Experience in processing and analysing experimental data and conducting scientific literature searches (0-4 points).

8.4 Based on the CA results, candidates will be ranked in descending order. In the event of a tie in the Curricular Assessment that prevents the identification of the two highest-ranked candidates for the award of the fellowships, the tied candidates will be invited to an interview (I). The interview may take place in person or via electronic means and will be assessed according to the following criteria:

• a) Motivation;
• b) Autonomy;
• c) Adaptability;
• d) Verbal expression and fluency.

Each criterion will be scored on a scale from 0 to 20 points. The final interview score will be the arithmetic mean of the scores assigned to the four criteria.

8.5. The final classification of each candidate will be determined by a simple majority of the members of the selection committee.

8.6. All admitted candidates will be ranked in descending order of their Final Classification (FC), as determined by the selection committee. The FC will be calculated as follows:

• If an interview is conducted: FC = CA*0.4 + I*0.6;
• If no interview is conducted: FC = CA.

The two Research Fellowships will be awarded to the two highest-ranked candidates, provided that they meet all the admission requirements and other conditions established in this call notice.

8.7. The selection committee will hold the meetings necessary to reach a final decision, documenting in the minutes the procedures followed, and all elements considered relevant to support the decision. If no applications of sufficient merit are received; the selection committee may decide not to award one or both fellowships.

9. Notification of results

At the end of the evaluation process, candidates will be notified, via the email address provided in their application, of the ranked list of results within 5 working days. This will be followed by the hearing of the interested parties, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Code. If the approved final ranking list includes more successful candidates than the two fellowships available, a reserve selection list, corresponding to the approved final ranking list, will be established. This list may be used in the event of withdrawal by either or both selected candidates, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Code, and will remain valid throughout the project’s eligibility period.

10. Final decision and approval

Following the conclusion of the hearing of interested parties and its review by the selection committee, the final decision of the committee will be submitted for approval by the Board of Directors of IPMA, I.P.

11. Application submission

11.1. Applications for the two Research Fellowships must be submitted by email to candidaturas.bolsas@ipma.pt within the deadline indicated in section 11.4, by completing the application form available at: https://www.ipma.pt/export/sites/ipma/bin/docs/organizacionais/IPMA-FORMULARIO-CANDIDATURA-CC-v1.0.pdf.

The completed form must be accompanied by the following documents:

• a) Copy of an identification document;
• b) Copy of permanent residency certificate, permanent residence permit or proof of long-term resident status, if applicable;
• c) Supporting documents proving that the candidate meets the eligibility requirements for the type of fellowship applied for, namely a copy of the diplomas certifying the academic degree(s), recognized by a Portuguese university if obtained abroad;
• d) Updated, detailed, and signed curriculum vitae;
• e) Copies of supporting documents for professional experience and training, including recommendation letters and certificates of completed courses or internships;
• f) An updated document confirming the candidate’s professional status, indicating the nature of the employment relationship and the functions performed. If the candidate is not engaged in any professional activity or provision of services, this document may be replaced by a declaration on honour;
• g) Proof of enrollment in a doctoral program or in a non-degree course integrated within the educational project of a higher education institution, developed in association or cooperation with one or more R&D units;
• h) A declaration on honor stating that the candidate meets the admission requirements for this call for Research Fellowships, available at: https://www.ipma.pt/export/sites/ipma/bin/docs/organizacionais/Declaracao-Compromisso-Honra-IPMA-BI-Estudante-Doutoramento.pdf.

The call reference IPMA-2026-026-BI must be indicated in the subject line of the application email.

11.2. If it is not possible to obtain the certificates mentioned in items c) and g) before the application deadline, the candidate must replace them with self-declarations containing the corresponding information. These declarations must be submitted electronically and, if the candidate is awarded one of the fellowships, the official certificates must be submitted to IPMA, I.P., before the fellowship agreement is signed.

11.3 Failure to submit the documents referred to in items b), e) and f) within one month from the notification of results will result in the non-award of the respective fellowship.

11.4. The application submission period will run from 29th October, 2026 to 11th November, 2026 (10 working days).

12. Applicable legislation and regulations

• Statute of the Research Fellow, approved by Law No. 40/2004 of August 18, as amended by Decree-Law No. 202/2012 of August 27, Law No. 12/2013 of January 29, Decree-Law No. 89/2013 of July 9, Decree-Law No. 233/2012 of October 29, Decree-Law No. 123/2019 of August 28, and Decree-Law No. 65/2024, of October 1;
• FCT, I.P. Research Fellowship Regulation, approved by Regulation No. 950/2019 of November 29, published in the Diário da República, Series II, Part C, on December 16, 2019, as amended by Regulation No. 643/2021 of June 30, 2021, published in the Diário da República, Series II, Part C, on July 14, 2021, and further amended and republished by Notice (extract) No. 412/2026/2, published in the Diário da República, Series II, on January 7, 2026;
• Administrative Procedure Code (A.P.C.), approved by Decree-Law No. 4/2015 of January 7, in its current version;
• Regulation for Scientific Research Fellowships of IPMA, IP, published in the Diário da República, Series II, Part C, No. 154, of August 10, 2020.

Note: In case of divergence between the public notice in Portuguese and the notice in English, the notice in Portuguese will prevail (published at https://www.ipma.pt/pt/recrutamento/bolsas/).

The Chair of the selection committee,
Ana Catarina Matias

Where to apply

E-mail: candidaturas.bolsas@ipma.pt

Requirements

Research Field: Biological sciences » Other

Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Admission requirements

The two research fellowships are intended for candidates holding a Master’s degree or an Integrated Master’s degree in Marine Biology or related scientific fields.

Specific Requirements

General admission requirements

Candidates must hold a master’s degree or an Integrated Master’s degree in Marine Biology or a related scientific field. At the time of recruitment, candidates must be enrolled in a doctoral programme or in a non-degree course integrated within the educational project of a higher education Institution, developed in association or cooperation with one or more R&D units.

Research Field: Biological sciences » Other

Internal Application form(s) needed

• IPMA-FORMULARIO-CANDIDATURA-CC-v1.0[1].pdf (English, 792.29 KB - PDF)
• Declaracao-Compromisso-Honra-IPMA-BI-Estudante-Doutoramento[1].pdf (English, 107.04 KB - PDF)
• IPMA-2026-026-BI_ENG.pdf (English, 889.8 KB - PDF)

Additional Information

Benefits

https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM-2026.pdf

Additional comments

Note: In case of divergence between the public notice in Portuguese and the notice in English, the notice in Portuguese will prevail (published at https://www.ipma.pt/pt/recrutamento/bolsas/).

Website for additional job details: https://www.ipma.pt/pt/recrutamento/bolsas/

Work Location(s)

• Number of offers available: 2
• Company/Institute: Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera, I.P.
• Country: Portugal
• City: Olhão
• Postal Code: 8700-194
• Street: Avenida Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, S/n

Contact

• City: Lisboa
• Website: https://www.ipma.pt/pt/index.html; https://www.ipma.pt/pt/recrutamento/bolsas/
• Street: Rua C do Aeroporto
• Postal Code: 1749-077
• E-Mail: candidaturas.bolsas@ipma.pt