CALL FOR ONE RESEARCH GRANTS UNDER THE PROJECT “BioFaec - Novel faecal biomarkers for early detection of precancerous lesions and cancer: Improving the current model for colorectal cancer screening” (2002.09051.PTDC).

The Instituto Português de Oncologia do Porto (IPO Porto) is opening a call to award a research grant to carry out R&D activities within the scope of the project, “BioFaec - Novel faecal biomarkers for early detection of precancerous lesions and cancer: Improving the current model for colorectal cancer screening” (2002.09051.PTDC) funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT).

1. Scientific Area

Health Sciences

2. Admission requirements

Obligatory

1. MSc student in Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacy, Health Sciences and related areas.
2. Have published at least one scientific article as first author in Q1 international journal in the field of biomarkers in the context of colorectal cancer screening;

Preferential

1. Laboratory experience in several molecular biology methods, including immunohistochemistry (IHC) methods, nucleic acid extraction, protein isolation & immunoassays, RT-qPCR, and others, especially in the cancer samples context;
2. Experience in human samples handling (blood and stool) and protein and RNA extraction from stool;
3. Experience in developing translational research in the context of an oncology center and close interaction with clinical environment, namely assisting in biological samples collection (e.g. liquid biopsies), by articulating efforts with the clinical teams and interacting with patients.
4. English proficiency (oral and written);
5. Motivation to work in an interactive and collaborative environment;
6. Organized, able to prioritize and accomplish deadlines;
7. Driven to fulfil goals and reach objectives;

If the qualification has been conferred by a foreign higher education institution, it must comply with the provisions of article 25 of Decree-Law No. 66/2018, of August 16th, and any formalities established therein must be fulfilled by the date of the hiring act.

1. Applicable legislation and regulations

Law no. 40/2004, of August 18th, in the current wording (Scientific Research Fellow Statute) and Regulation of Research Grants from FCT, in force https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas /regulation.phtml.pt .

4. Workplan

The research grantee will:

1. Assist in biological samples collection, namely liquid biopsies, by articulating efforts with the clinical teams and interacting with patients.
2. Process biological samples, namely stool and FFPE tissues.
3. Implement molecular biology techniques applied to the identification and validation of fecal biomarkers, including extraction, quantification and quality assessment of nucleic acids, real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry, immunobloting, ELISA, etc.
4. Keep updated the project(s) databases and lab notebook.
5. Prepare scientific reports, communications and papers.

5.Workplace

The work will be developed mainly at the Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Porto Francisco Gentil, EPE (IPO-Porto), under the scientific guidance of Dr. Luís Lima.

6. Duration of the scholarship

The studentship will last twelve (12) months or until the end of the project, starting as soon as possible, on an exclusive basis, cannot be awarded for periods shorter than three consecutive months according to FCT's regulation of advanced training of human resources.

7. Monthly value of the grant:

The monthly maintenance allowance is 930,98€, according to the table of stipends values awarded by the FCT, I.P, which can be consulted at: https://www.fct.pt/wpcontent/uploads/2023/02/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM_2023…. The IPO-Porto will pay the monthly maintenance allowance amount by bank transfer. In addition, the grantee will be covered by a personal accident insurance (PAI).

8. Selection Methods

The admitted applications will be evaluated considering the candidates' academic or professional qualifications, professional career, relevance of the experience and training and the type of duties carried out in accordance with the profile described above.

The jury will analyze the application documents according to following criteria:

Criterion A - Curriculum evaluation, with a weight of 70%:

Sub-criterion A1 - Previous experience in accordance with the proposed work plan and the preferential requirements (50%).

Sub-criterion A2 - Publications and participation in scientific meetings (10%).

Sub-criterion A3 - Academic qualifications (10%).

Criterion B – Motivation letter, with a weight of 30%

Sub-criterion B1 -Ability to demonstrate the interest of previously acquired training and the suitability of their skills to the project to be developed (20%).

Sub-criterion B2 - Motivation and availability for the planned activities (10%).

Candidates will be ranked according to the weighted average of the classification obtained in each sub-criterion according to the following formula:

(50% x A1) + (10% x A2) + (10% x A3) + (20% x B1) + (10% x B2)

After evaluation of all admitted applications, the jury will write a meeting minute with all process of recruitment, evaluation, and selection, including an ordered list of approved candidates and the final decision of the jury. The final decision of the jury shall be validated by the Head of the Institution, who is also in charge of deciding about the hiring.

9. Jury elements

President - Dr. Luís Carlos Lima, PhD

1st effective member- Prof. Dr.Mário Dinis Ribeiro

2nd effective member- Prof. Dr. Lúcio Lara Santos

1st supplementary member - Dr. José Alexandre Ferreira, PhD

2nd supplementary member - Prof. Dr. Carlos Palmeira

10. Form of advertising/notification of results

The results of the evaluation will be announced via the email indicated by the candidates in their Curriculum Vitae/Letter of Motivation.

Candidates have a period of 10 working days, counting from the day immediately following the notification, to express their opinion, if desired, in a prior hearing with interested parties, under the terms of article 121 et seq. of the Administrative Procedure Code (CPA) .

11. Form of submission of applications and application deadline

The call is open from the 13rd of July to the 26th of July 2023 (until 23:59, local time). Applications must be formalized, obligatorily, by email send to luis.carlos.lima@ipoporto.min-saude.pt and candidaturas.ci-ipop@ipoporto.min-saude.pt and the email subject must be “Application for a research grant - BIOFAEC Project", accompanied by the following documents:

1. Motivation letter;
2. Candidate's Curriculum Vitae;
3. Certificate(s) of academic qualifications and evidence of relevant training;
4. One recommendation letter;
5. Declaration on honor that the applicant fulfills the requirement set out in article 6 of the Research Grants Regulation from FCT, IP (model below).

Proofs must be attached directly to the application, without the use of links to external platforms/drives. To guarantee the reading of all documents, the preferred recording format is the Portable Document Format (.pdf). Files must be named with the candidate's first and last name and must not exceed, as a whole, 5 MB. These can be compressed in .zip format.

For further information about the project and the work to be developed, contact Dr. Luís Lima (luis.carlos.lima@ipoporto.min-saude-pt)

Declaration on honor

I, (identification of the candidate), bearer of the Citizen's Card / Visa / Residence Card no. ____, valid until ____, declare under honor commitment to meet the conditions set forth in the n.ºs 4 and 5 of article 6.º from the Regulation of Research Grants from FCT,IP (Regulation No. 950 / 2019 of 16 December).

Porto, ___/___/_____

__________________________________

(Candidate holder's signature)