Research Grant (Ref. BI/CESAM BioPlasMar/2023)

A call is open for the award of 1 (one) Research Grant (RG) in the scope of the R&D project BioPlasMar - Plastic removal and valorization of marine resources through new product development (PTDC/CTA-AMB/0934/2021), funded by the Portuguese national funding agency for science, research and technology (FCT), in CESAM – Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, under the following conditions;

1. Scientific Area: Chemistry, Biochemistry and related areas.

2. Funding: BioPlasMar R&D project (PTDC/CTA-AMB/0934/2021), FCT/MCTES, through National Funds.

3. Admission Requirements: Students with a degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biotechnology or related subjects, presently enrolled in Master’s Program/Degree, ideally with experience in extraction, quantification and characterization of microplastics and/or experience in the field of microbiology, including antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Proof of enrolment must be made available until the contract is awarded, and the candidate may attach a declaration of honor to confirm that they meet the requirements for enrolment in a Master’s Degree/Program. 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 of Decree-Law no. 66/2018, of August 16th, 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 no. 2 of article 4 of Decree-Law no. 60/2018, of August 3rd, and any formalities established therein must be fulfilled by the date of the hiring act.

4. Eligibility: Applicants are eligible if they comply with paragraph a) of no.1 of article 2, of the Research Fellow Statute in the wording given by Decree-Law no. 123/2019, of August 28th, and also the provisions of article 9 of the Scientific Research Grant Regulations of the University of Aveiro

5. Work Plan: The successful applicant will be responsible for carrying out several tasks related with the project, namely: extraction, quantification and characterization of microplastics from biological samples; supporting the execution of tasks associated to ecotoxicity assessment and/or antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Additionally, the fellow will be involved in writing technical reports and publishing and/or presenting the project outcomes in scientific meetings and/or scientific journals.

6. Applicable legislation and regulations: Research Fellow Statute, as amended by Decree-Law No. 123/2019, of August 28th; Scientific Research Grant Regulation of the University of Aveiro, Regulation No. 292/2020, published in Diário da República No. 61, Series II, of March 26th; Decree-Law No. 66/2018, of August 16th (Legal regime of recognition of academic degrees and diplomas of higher education awarded by foreign higher education institutions).

7. Workplace: The work will be carried out at CESAM e Department of Chemistry of the University of Aveiro, under the Scientific Supervision of the Projects PI, Dr. João Pinto da Costa.

8. Duration of the Grant: The grant’s duration will be 12 months, starting in February of 2023. Under no circumstances shall it exceed the limits defined in nos. 5 and 6 of article 9, of Regulation no. 292/2020, of February 28th, published in Diário da República, no. 61, Series II, of March 26th (Scientific Research Grant Regulation of the University of Aveiro).

9. Monthly allowance: The amount of the grant corresponds to €875,98, according to the table of values of monthly maintenance allowances, set out in Appendix III of the Scientific Research Grant Regulation of the University of Aveiro, subject to any updates that may occur and are applicable. The fellow may also be reimbursed for the amount corresponding to the Voluntary Social Security, in case of their adherence to this plan.

10. Selection method: Selection will be based on the candidate’s merit, as follows:: (i) final grade of the degree (20%); (ii) expertise in sampling/quantification of microplastics (20%); (iii) experience in the characterization of microplastics (e.g., FTIR/Raman spectroscopies; electron microscopy) (20%); (iv) expertise in microbiological assays (e.g., antimicrobial susceptibility testing)  (10%); (v) data analysis (10%); (vi) publications/scientific dissemination (20%). If necessary, an interview will be performed with the best classified candidates, with the notification for such interview to occur no later than 48h before the date and time of the interview, to be carried out remotely, using adequate electronic means.

11. Composition of the Selection Jury:

          Dr. João Pinto da Costa (President of the Jury)

          Dr. Teresa Rocha-Santos (permanent member)

          Dr. Ana Luísa Patrício Silva (permanent member)

          Professor Dr. Armando C. Duarte (alternate member)

          Professor Dr. Rita Ferreira (alternate member)

12. Deadline for applications and how to submit applications: The call is open from December 19^st of 2022 to January 4^th of 2023, and only applications submitted within the deadline will be admitted.

Applications must be formalized by sending a letter of application accompanied by the following documents:

- Motivation letter (including email address);

- Curriculum vitae;

- Copy of the Certificate of Qualifications (referencing the Degree’s final grade);

- Any other supporting documents deemed relevant by the applicant.

Applications should be sent by e-mail to jpintocosta@ua.pt, (in the field “Subject” include: CESAM-BI-BIOPLASMAR). Candidates should make sure that a delivery/Reading receipt is requested, attesting for the successful submission of their application.

13. Form of publication/notification of results: The results of the evaluation shall be made public no later than 30 working days after the closing date for submission of applications and shall be notified to the applicants. The candidates are informed, in a prior hearing, under the terms established in the Code of Administrative Procedure, of the probable meaning of the final decision, and may, within 10 working days of this notification, express their opinion on this decision. The final results may be appealed to the Rector, to be submitted within 10 working days from the respective notification.

14. Tender duration: The final ranking list of candidates will be valid until January 31^st, 2023 for the purpose of constituting a reserve list for selection.