Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier

Application for a MSc student Fellowship

within the BLUE BIOECONOMY INNOVATION PACT

PRR Algae, Sub-Project 6-Agriculture

Applications are invited for a Master Student Fellowship in the scope of the PRR BLUE BIOECONOMY INNOVATION PACT, WP5 - Algae, Sub-Project Agriculture, Ref. RE-C05-i01.01, to develop the project entitled:

Biostimulation effects of algae extracts in stress mitigation of rice and tomato crops, funded by Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência - Agendas/Alianças mobilizadoras para a reindustrialização.

Scientific Area: Biology, Agricultural Sciences or similar (Agricultural Products)

Academic degree requisite: be registered in a Master degree in Biology, Agronomy, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or a related topic.

Other requisites:

- Motivation for the research topic;

- Basic understanding of plant sciences and/or physiology and/or biochemistry;

- Interest in combining fundamental with applied science;

- Facility in integrating a dynamic and collaborative research team;

- Fluency in Portuguese and English;

- Being enrolled in a MSc course, in accordance with the Article 6th of “Regulamento de Bolsas de Investigação da Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. from FCT”, law in force.

Working Plan:

The recruited candidate will join the current team and ongoing assays and be involved in the assessment of how different micro- and macroalgae extracts impact the development of rice and tomato plants. The main goal is to identify the best candidates in terms of biostimulation effect.

The extracts with best impact on plant development will be further tested for putative effect on stress mitigation (such as drought or salinity stresses).

The studies will be performed at plant vegetative and reproductive stages, and involve the collection, analyses and interpretation of a number of morpho-physiological and stress parameters, including  soil quality data.

Collaborations with InnovPlantProtect Collaborative Lab and COTArroz (Centro Operativo e Tecnológico do Arroz) are envisaged.

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://former.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/docs/RegulamentoBolsasFCT2019DR.pdf).

Working Place: The work will be carried out at the Plant Functional Genomics / GPlantS Lab, at ITQB NOVA, under the supervision of Dr. Ana Paula Santos and Prof. Margarida Oliveira.

Duration of the fellowship: The fellowship will have the duration of 6 months with possible extension, and is expected to start in October 2024, on a full-time basis, according to Fellowship Regulations of Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P.

Stipend amount: 990.98 €, 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/2024/02/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM_atu…) and payment will be made, monthly, through bank transfer.

Selection procedure: The evaluation procedures will be based on the analysis of the candidates´ CV and if needed an interview for the selected candidates may take place. In this case, the curriculum evaluation and the interview will have a weight of 80% and 20% each.

Jury composition: Professor Margarida Oliveira (president), Doctor Ana Paula Santos and Doctor Juan Ignacio Vílchez. As substitute member Doctor Tiago Lourenço.

Application documents: The application should be formalized in a cover letter indicating the corresponding fellowship reference together with the following documents: detailed Curriculum Vitae, degree certificate. All documents should be preferably 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 the 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 website of the Portuguese Directorate General for Higher Education: https://www.dges.gov.pt/en.

Notification of candidates: All the candidates will be informed of the final 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 June 18 to July 1, 2024.

Applications should be sent to:

Professor Margarida Oliveira

Email: mmolive@itqb.unl.pt

Ref. 040/BI/2024

ITQB NOVA

OEIRAS