Call for Applications FOR ONE RESEARCH GRANT UNDER THE PROJECT “CAGED – DIAGNÓSTICO DE CANCRO GÁSTRICO ASSISTIDO POR COMPUTADOR” (PTDC/EEI-EEE/5557/2020_BM)

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 “CAGED – Diagnóstico de Cancro Gástrico Assistido por Computador” (PTDC/EEI-EEE/5557/2020) funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), under the following conditions:

1. Scientific Area: Bioengineering and Health technologies

1. Admission requirements

To apply for the research grant, applicants must comply with the following requirements, for which documentary evidence must be provided:

1. Hold a BSc degree in Biology with at least 15 final average grade (out of 20 points)
2. Hold a MSc degree in Biology with at least 18 final average grade (out of 20 points)
3. Frequency of a doctoral program in the scientific area of Biology for at least two   years
4. Prior participation in at least one funded project
5. Minimum of three journal publications as first author.

Any degree awarded by a foreign higher education institution must be recognized by a Portuguese higher education institution in accordance with the provisions of article 25 of Decree-Law no.  66/2018 of August 16, which approves the legal regime for the recognition of academic degrees and higher education diplomas awarded by foreign higher education institutions and article 4 (2) (e) of Decree-Law no. 60/2018 of August 3, and any formalities established therein be fulfilled up to the date of the contracting act.

1. Work Plan: the research grantee will:

Within the scope of the CAGED project, it is planned to collect, annotate and manage a heterogeneous and large set of endoscopic examination data.

The scholarship holder will support the discussion between IPO-Porto and INESC TEC, besides carrying out the following main tasks:

1. Management and annotation of endoscopy images and videos using specialized software.
2. Support to the project team in the tasks of insertion, maintenance and query of data.

1. Applicable Legislation and Regulations:

The present Call is governed by the Research Grant Holder Statute, approved by Law no. 40/2004, dated August 18, 2004, as currently in force, and the FCT Research Grant Regulations of the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. approved by Regulation no. 950/2019, as currently in force.

1. Workplace:

The research grantee will work mainly at the Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto (FCUP) with regular visits and meetings at IPO-Porto under the scientific supervision of Professor Mário Dinis-Ribeiro, Coordinator of the PRECAM – Precancerous Lesion and Early Cancer Management – Group at IPO-Porto.

1. Duration:

The studentship will last for six months, starting as soon as possible, on an exclusive basis, with the possibility of renewal, or until the project ends.

1. Monthly maintenance allowance amount:

The monthly maintenance allowance is 1.199,64€, according to the table of stipends values awarded by the FCT, I.P, which can be consulted at: https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM_202….

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).

1. Methods of selection:

The admitted applications will be evaluated by assessing the scientific curriculum, the motivation and suitability of acquired training within the scope of the proposed work plan by assessing the following criteria:

A. Curriculum evaluation (70%)

A.1. Scientific and technological outputs (40%)

A.2. Applied or practice-based research activities (30%)

B. Motivation letter (20%)

  B.1. Ability to demonstrate the suitability of previous acquired training/skills to the project being developed (10%)

  B.2. Motivation, interest and availability for the planned activities (10%)

A selection interview (INT) will be held for the three applicants who classified best in the evaluation of the previous criteria with a weight of 10%.

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

Final classification = (40% x A.1.) + (30% x A.2.) + (10% x B.1.) + (10% x B.2.) + (10% x INT)

Based on the final ranking of applicants, a reserve list will be created for the possible hiring of new grant holders under this project or in case the first ranked applicant withdraws. If none of the applicants demonstrates that they have the profile indicated for the completion of the work plan, the jury reserves the right not to award the grant.

1. Selection Board:

Chair – Prof. Doutor Mário Dinis-Ribeiro

1^srt effective member – Prof. Doutor Miguel Coimbra

2^nd effective member – Prof. Doutor Diogo Libânio

1^srt supplementary member – Doutora Ana Carina Pereira

2^nd supplementary member – Prof. Doutora Filipa Fontes

1. Form of announcement/Disclosure of results:

The recruitment results will be announced by email to the email address indicated in the applicants’ Curricula Vitae/Motivation Letter.

Under the terms of articles 121 and subsequent of the Administrative Procedure Code (CPA in Portuguese), the applicants have the right to submit a formal claim about the results within ten working days, counting from the day immediately after the notification of the results.

The final decision shall be taken no later than 60 working days after the conclusion of the prior hearing of interested parties or the public consultation. A complaint may be lodged against the final decision within 15 working days or, alternatively, an appeal may be lodged within 30 working days, both counting from the respective notification.

Applicants who choose to file a complaint must address their appeal to the member of the FCT Board of Directors with delegated authority. Candidates who choose to file an appeal should address their appeal to the FCT Board of Directors.

1. Submission of applications and deadline:

The Call for Applications is open from 18^th of September until September 29^th 2023 (23h59, Lisbon Time).

Applications must be sent by email to candidaturas.ci-ipop@ipoporto.min-saude.pt using the reference “PTDC/EEI-EEE/5557/2020_BM” in the subject. In addition, the following documents must be attached to the email:

1. Motivation letter indicating the availability to start working.
2. Curriculum Vitae.
3. Copy of the certificate(s) of the required qualifications.
4. Proof of enrollment in the 2022/2023 academic year.
5. Up to two recommendation letters
6. Any other document that the applicants consider relevant for the assessment of their merit.

Documents must be attached directly to the application email without links to external platforms/drives. All documents should be saved in Portable Document Format (.pdf) to facilitate their reading. The files must be named with the applicant’s first and last name and must not exceed 5 MB altogether. These can be compressed in .zip format.