CALL FOR RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP | CiNTech | 856262

University of Coimbra opens a call for six research fellowship, in the framework of the  project “7131 - CiNTech  - Technological Hub for Innovation, Translation and Industrialization of Complex Injectable Drugs (CiNTech),”, 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/Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Cellular Reprogramming.

Skills/Qualifications/Admission requirements: Masters in Biology/Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Cellular Reprogramming or related areas enrolled in a doctorate or non-degree course, relevant to the development of activities included in this project.

Knowledge in the following areas is advantageous:

- Knowledge with in vivo tumor models;

- Knowledge of molecular cloning techniques;

- Discovery and development of new drugs - knowledge in small differences;

- Knowledge of proven RNA therapies and experience in vitro therapy.

- Knowledge of immunological assays, including antibody presentation assays;

- Knowledge of proteomics or immunopeptidomics 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 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P.

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: In this project, the objectives will be:

- Use the direct cell reprogramming platform to advance cancer immunotherapy;

- The discovery of new immunotherapeutic technologies based on mRNA, peptides and small molecules;

- New tumor immunogenic approaches and identification of targets capable of inducing tumor immunity, which will serve as a basis for the development of strategies with high translational value.

Within the scope of this project we will establish several models of synergistic tumors in order to test and characterize the impact of the findings. Models of low immunogenicity and unresponsive to current immunotherapeutic strategies are included, such as inhibitors of immune checkpoints (anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA4) and responsive immunogenic models, as well as orthotopic and spontaneous genetic models.

The project brings together an interdisciplinary team with partners in the production and delivery of mRNA, peptides and small molecules in in vivo models, which will result in new ways of elucidating antitumor 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 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., both in their current wording.

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

Duration: 12 months.

Renewal: possibly renewal.

Scientific orientation: Carlos Filipe Ribeiro Lemos Pereira; Lavínia Romera.

Financial conditions: The amount of the fellowship is € 1144,64€ corresponding to the monthly compensation stipulated in the FCT table (https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/valores.phtml.en), 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 suitable for the functions to be developed - 50%

Motivation and interest - 50%

The conclusion of this tender procedure and the consequent contracting are dependent on the approval of the financing of the respective Project.

Jury responsible for selection: Carlos Filipe Ribeiro Lemos Pereira; Lavínia Romera; Luis Oliveira.

Formalization of application: Applications must be formalized by sending a Letter of Motivation, Curriculum Vitae, Certificate of Qualifications and document proving enrollment in a PhD and/or enrollment in a non-degree course (only mandatory in the contractualization phase).

The aforementioned Declaration must be formalized in a specific form on the apply.uc.pt platform.

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.

Submission of applications: Between 19/12/2022  and 31/01/2023.

Submission deadline date: 31/01/2023.

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