Open Call for a Research Fellowship Predictability in Evolution - Project A6

The Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC) is welcoming applications to a Bachelor’s degree (BI) with a Research Fellowship, under the Project Internacional Colaborative Research Center (CRC) 1310 programme of the University of Cologne according to the following conditions:

1. Duration The fellowship duration according to the IGC Research Fellowship Regulation approved by FCT is 6 months, with the possibility of renewal up to a maximum limit of 2 years.  The fellowship contract is expected to start by January 2024, under the exclusiveness regime as required by Research Fellowship Regulation of Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, IP (FCT).

2. Subject of Activities: The technician will be working on the DFG funded project "Predictability in Evolution" which explores long-term evolution of microbiomes in the intestine. The main goal is to characterise genetically and phenotypically the evolutionary processes that occur in a period of several month.

Scientific Areas: Biological Sciences.

3. Scientific Guidance: The selected candidate will join the Evolutionary Biology Laboratory (https://gulbenkian.pt/ciencia/research-groups/igordo/) headed by Dra. Isabel Gordo.

4. Academic Profile and Admission Requirements: The candidate should have a bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Mathematics or Statistics. We are seeking applicants with experience in bioinformatics or statistics. The applicant should be able to engage with several aspects of a multi-disciplinary project and collaborate closely with other team members. Proficiency in English is required.

According to article 3, point 2 of IGC Research Fellowship Regulation, the selected candidate must be enrolled in a master's or non-academic degree course integrated in the educational project of a higher education institution.

If the qualification has been conferred by a foreign higher education institution it must be recognized by a Portuguese higher education institution, under the terms of the provisions of article 25.º of Decree-Law n.º 66/2018, of August 16th (https://www.dges.gov.pt/en/pagina/degree-and-diploma-recognition), which approves the legal regime of recognition of academic degrees and diplomas of Higher Education, attributed by foreign higher education institutions, and of paragraph e) of n.º 2 of article 4.º of Decree-Law n.º 60/2018, of August 3rd, and any formalities established therein must be fulfilled by the date of the hiring act. The jury reserves the right to invite the candidate ranked immediately after to the position in question when the first ranked candidate is not recognized with the academic degree after the aforementioned formalities have been fulfilled.

5. For Portuguese taxpayers: All candidates that where/are currently taxpayers in Portugal are required to present evidence of the fulfillment of their individual obligations towards the Portuguese Tax Authority and Social Security. Failure to comply with this requirement will be considered as a criteria for exclusion from the recruitment process.

6. Applicable legislation and Regulation: All candidates must comply with the IGC Research Fellowship Regulation; Research Fellowship Statutesamended by Decree nº 123/2019of August 28th; FCT Legislation and Regulations for Fellowshipsand the  Decree-Law n.º 66/2018, of August 16th (Legal regime for recognition of academic degrees and diplomas of higher education awarded by foreign higher education institutions)

7. Subsidy Month Stipend: 1.025,00 €/month according to the table of monthly maintenance allowance amounts set out in Annex I of IGC Research Fellowship Regulation. The payment will be made by bank transfer. The selected candidate will be reimbursed for the amount corresponding to the Voluntary Social Security contribution.

8. Deadline for applications and how to submit applications: Interested candidates should send their applications to igcpositions@igc.gulbenkian.pt in a single PDF file, named “Applicant name__BSc Research Fellowship_Predictability in Evolution”,  containing: Motivation Letter (2 page max); Curriculum Vitae (2 pages max), two contacts for reference letters and proof of degree.

9. Methods of Selection and Evaluation: The selection procedure shall be as follows: Curriculum (40%), motivation letter (20%) and contact information for 2 references (20%). If considered necessary by the jury, the interview of the selected applicants will represent (20%) of the final evaluation.

10. Jury Selection: Chairman: Dr. Isabel Gordo, Other members: Dr. Marta Lourenço, Dr. Elsa Seixas, Substitute: Dr. Karina Xavier.

11. Form of Advertising / Notification of results: The assessment results will be sent to all candidates by email. After being notified of the panel's decision, applicants shall have 10 working days to issue an opinion.  

12. Application Period: From 11/12/2023 until 27/12/2023.

13. Non-discrimination and equal access policy: The Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation actively promotes a non-discrimination and equal access policy, wherefore no candidate can be privileged, benefitted, impaired or deprived of any rights whatsoever, or be exempt  of any duties based on ancestry, age, sex, sexual preference, marital status, family and economic conditions, education, origin or social conditions, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, origin territory, language, religion, political or ideological convictions and union membership.