002/BIPD/2024 - Post Doctoral Fellowship

Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier
Application for a Post-Doctoral Fellowship
within Project 2022.02027.PTDC

Applications for a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in the project’s scope entitled “Biocat4Suschem: Broadening the spectrum of biocatalysts, bioprocesses, and bio-products in industrial biotechnology” with Ref. 2022.02027.PTDC, funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia I.P./MCTES - OE).

Scientific Area: Biochemistry / Structural Biology

Academic degree: Recent Ph.D (less than 3 years) in Biochemistry, Structural Biology, Biophysics or related areas.

Other requisites:
- Strong research background in biochemistry with a focus on enzymology.
- Interested in bridging experimental and computational enzyme engineering;
- Motivation to receive training in computational tools such as molecular docking/molecular dynamics simulations;
- Demonstrated track record of peer reviewed scientific publications;
- Must be self-motivated, and passionate, with good oral and writing skills, initiative, responsibility, and team spirit.

Working Plan:
Biocat4Suschem, a collaboration between ITQB and Zymvol Biomodeling, SP, focuses on the engineering of bacterial enzymes, including, laccases, peroxidases and carbohydrate oxidases efficiency for 1) set up of efficient enzymatic bioprocesses target at components of lignocellulose, 2) production of new bio-based products with interesting biological properties, and to, 3) advance the knowledge of how protein function and structure relates and how enzymes evolve for new properties, critical knowledge for designing new protein for biotechnological applications. This endeavor involves a combination of laboratory-based enzyme engineering and cutting-edge computational methods. The selected candidate will receive comprehensive training in both experimental and computational protein engineering techniques.

Applicable Law and Regulations: Status of Scientific Research Fellow, approved by Law number 40/2004, of August 18th, changed and republished by Ordinance 202/2012 of August 27th and changed by Ordinance 233/2012 of October 29th and by Law 12/2013 of January 29th and by Ordinance 89/2013 of July 9th and by the Ordinance 123/2019 of August 28th.
Regulations for Research Fellowships from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., in force (https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/docs/RegulamentoBolsasFCT2019.pdf).

Working Place: The work will be done in the Microbial & Enzyme Technology Lab at ITQB NOVA, headed by Dr. Lígia Martins.

Duration of the fellowship: The fellowship will have a period of 3 months (eventually renewed up to 24 months) and is expected to start in March 2024, on a full-time basis, according to Fellowship Regulations of Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, I.P.

Stipend amount: 1741,00 €, according to the table of values of grants awarded directly by the FCT, I.P. in the Country (https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM_202…) and payment will be made, monthly, through bank transfer.

Selection procedure: Applications will be evaluated according to the analysis of the documents presented - Curriculum (60%), motivation letter (10%), references (10%), and interview, if considered necessary by the jury, of the selected candidates (20%). The results will be presented on a scale from 0 to 100.

Juri composition: President: Professor Doutora Lígia O. Martins. Effective members: Dr. Vânia Brissos and Dr. Patrícia Borges. Substitute member: Dr. Paulo Durão.

Application documents:
i) Full Curriculum Vitae,
ii) A motivation letter detailing previous work experiences related to the project;
iii) Degree certificate*,
iv) Contacts information or recommendation letters of two referees.

All documents should preferably be sent by email in a single pdf file.

*If the degree has been conferred by a non-Portuguese higher education institution, the selected candidate must obtain the certificate of degree recognition issued by the Portuguese Directorate General for Higher Education or by a Portuguese Public Higher Education Institution until the signature of the contract. Regarding this issue, please consult the Portuguese Directorate General for Higher Education website: https://www.dges.gov.pt/en.

Notification of candidates: All the candidates will be informed of the result by e-mail.

Deadlines and procedures for complaints and appeals: If the result is not favorable, the candidates have a period of 10 working days after the disclosure of the results, to comment, if desired, in a prior hearing of interested parties, in the terms provided for in the Code of Administrative Procedure.

Application period: From January 8 to February 29, 2024.

Applications should be sent to:
Professor Lígia Martins
Email: lmartins@itqb.unl.pt
Ref. 002/BIPD/2024
ITQB NOVA
OEIRAS