CALL FOR RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP

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University of Coimbra opens a call for four research fellowship, in the framework of the project “CiNTech  - Technological Hub for Innovation, Translation and Industrialization of Complex Injectable Drugs (CiNTech)” (reference: 7131), financed by PRR - Recovery and Resilience Plan and by the Next Generation EU Funds, following NOTICE N.º 02/C05-i01/2022, Component 5 – Capitalization and Business Innovation - Mobilizing Agendas for Business Innovation,in the following conditions:

Scientific area: Biology and Biochemistry.

Skills/Qualifications/Admission requirements: Master’s in Biology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, or related fields. Candidates must be enrolled in a PhD or a non-degree course, relevant for the development of the activities included in the project.

Knowledge in one of the following fields are advantageous:

Knowledge and experience with tumor models in vivo.

Knowledge and experience with molecular cloning techniques.

Knowledge in drug discovery using small molecules.

Knowledge of RNA-based therapeutics and in vitro transcription.

Knowledge with immunological assays including antigen presentation assays.

Knowledge of proteomics or immunopeptidomic approaches.

Knowledge with bioinformatics and computational approaches.

 “Courses not conferring an academic degree” must be related to the research fellowship’s activity type. “Courses not conferring an academic degree” are the courses referred to in paragraph e) of number 3 of article 4 of Decree-Law no. 74/2006, of 24 March, in the current wording, provided that they are developed in association or cooperation between the higher education institution and one or more R&D units, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph e) of article 3 of the Regulation for Research Fellowships of the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). 

According to the RBI in no. 5 of article 6, it only admits BI attributions to graduates and masters enrolled in study cycles not awarding an academic degree who have not exceeded two years to fulfill in different scholarship contracts.

Although the recipients must be enrolled in a cycle of studies leading to the attribution of an academic degree or in a course not conferring an academic degree, at the time of application it is not necessary for the candidate to have made such an enrollment, and proof of enrollment must be presented until thefellowship is contractualized. Candidates are only required to meet the requirements to enroll in the training offer. If there are candidates already enrolled (including attending a course), they compete on an equal footing with those who are not enrolled. 

Work plan/ Objectives: 

Harness the unique power of the reprogramming platform for advancing cancer immunotherapy.

Discovery of new immunotherapeutic technologies based by mRNA, peptides and small molecules.

Novel tumor immunogenic approaches and targets to induce tumor immunity that will serve as basis for a high-value translational pipeline.

During the project we will establish several syngeneic tumor models to test and characterize the impact of the discovered approaches. These will include low immunogenic models that do not respond to current immunotherapeutic strategies such and immune checkpoint inhibitors (anti-PD-1, anti-CTLA4) and immunogenic models as well as orthotopic and spontaneous genetic models. We will also greatly benefit from the expertise of the partners in producing and delivering mRNA, peptides and small molecules in vivo. The current proposal brings together a cross-disciplinary team that spans distinct fields and this synergy will result in powerful new ways to elicit anti-tumor immunity.

Regime: The attribution of the fellowship does not generate or entitle a relation of a legal-labour nature, and the fellowship is undertaken in an exclusive dedication regime. The fellowship holder is awarded the Fellowship Statute of the UC, in its current wording, according to the Research Fellowship Holder Statute , and according to the Regulation for Research Fellowships of the Foundation for Science and Technology, both in their current wording.

Location: UC-Biotech Cantanhede at the University of Coimbra.

Duration: 12 months.

Renewal: Eventually renewable.

Scientific orientation: Carlos Filipe Ribeiro Lemos Pereira and Pedro Cunha.

Financial conditions: The amount of the fellowship is € 1199,64 corresponding to the monthly compensation stipulated in the FCT table (https://www.fct.pt/en/financiamento/programas-de-financiamento/bolsas/), plus social security (Seguro Social Voluntário, first level contributions) and   personal accidents insurance. The payment will be made by bank transfer. This amount will not be increased during the entire period of the fellowship duration.

Selection methods: Curriculum assessment - 70% and Interview - 30%.

Selection criteria: The assessment of the curriculum evaluation will focus on the following parameters:

Absolute merit of the curriculum vitae – 50%

Adequacy of the candidate’s profile to the work plan to be developed - 50%

The assessment of the interview will focus on the following parameters:

Knowledge and profile appropriate to the functions to be developed - 50%

Motivation and interest - 50%.

Jury responsible for selection: Carlos Filipe Ribeiro Lemos Pereira (President); Pedro Miguel Pacheco de Jesus da Cunha (1st Effective Member); Luís António Ferreira Rocha (2nd Effective Member); Luís Oliveira (1st Alternate Member); Inês Caiado (1st Alternate Member).  .

Formalization of application: Applications must be formalized by sending:

Letter of Motivation,

Curriculum Vitae

Certificate of Qualifications

The Declaration mentioned below must be formalized in proper form in the platform apply.uc.pt.

Declaration on the honor of the candidate(s) with the indication of the fellowship(s) of the typology to which the contest was held and the respective duration(s).

Applicants with academic degrees obtained abroad will be required to present a Certificate of Recognition in accordance with applicable law. This document is mandatory only in the contractualization phase.

Applications submission: As candidaturas devem ser submetidas através da https://apply.uc.pt/IT137-24-55.

Submission of applications: Between 08/02/2024  and 22/02/2024.

Submission deadline date: 22/02/2024.

Additional information: The evaluation results will be announced within 90 working days after the end of the applications submission deadline, by notifying the applicants via email. After the announcement of the results, candidates are considered automatically notified to, if they wish to do so, comment on the results on a preliminary hearing period within 10 days after that date. After this, the selected candidates will have to declare in writing their acceptance. Unless a justification worthy of consideration is presented, if the declaration is not submitted within the referred period, it is considered that the candidate waivers the fellowship. In case of resignation or withdrawal of the selected candidate, the next candidate with the highest evaluation score will be notified immediately.

Once the selection process is completed, the fellowship contract will be drawn up in accordance with the draft contract provided by the FCT.

After the contracted period, the fellowship holder and supervisor must prepare the final report in accordance with the respective assessment criteria that were established.

Pursuant to subparagraph h) of Article 9 of the Portuguese Constitution, the University of Coimbra, as employer, actively promotes a policy of equal opportunities between men and women in access to employment and professional development, and acts to prevent each and every kind of discrimination.

Therefore, no one can be privileged, benefited, harmed or deprived of any right or immune from any duty on account of, in particular, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender, marital status, family, economic situation, education, origin or social condition, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic or racial origin, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological beliefs and trade union membership.

Selection reserve list: NA