Open Call for a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship

The Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC) is welcoming applications to a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship(BI-PD), funded by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, with the following conditions: 

1.           Duration: The fellowship duration according to the IGC Research Fellowship Regulation approved by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, IP (FCT) is 12 months, with the possibility of renewal for a maximum of 3 years. The fellowship contract is expected to start by March 2023, under the exclusiveness regime as required by Research Fellowship Regulation of FCT.

Subject of Activities: The Functional Ecology group uses marine phytoplankton as a model system to study how species interactions (e.g. competition between phytoplankton species, interactions between phytoplankton and bacteria) alter the metabolism of organisms, their fitness and competitive ability on short (plasticity) and long temporal scales (evolution). Ultimately, the research group aims to discover how these metabolic changes affect the diversity and functioning of communities. The successful candidate will investigate the physiological and eco-evolutionary consequences of species interactions in communities of marine phytoplankton. Particularly, they will develop and undertake projects to identify and characterize plastic and evolutionary metabolic responses to competition. They will also use experimental manipulations to identify the mechanisms driving metabolic changes (including but not limited to chemical communication and phytoplankton-bacteria interactions), and explore their consequences for the diversity, functioning, and stability of communities.

2.           Scientific Guidance: The selected candidate will join the Functional Ecology Laboratory (https://gulbenkian.pt/ciencia/research-groups/gghedini/), headed by Dr. Giulia Ghedini.

3.           Academic Profile and Admission Requirements: PhD-holder in ecology, evolutionary biology, microbial or marine ecology, or related fields. Experience working with aquatic microorganisms in the lab is an advantage.

We are looking for candidates with:

i)      Ability to work individually and in a team;

ii)     Good communication skills, including good level of spoken and written English;

iii)   High level of initiative and rigour;

iv)    Commitment and collaboration.

According to point 3 of article 3º of the IGC Research Fellowship Regulation, the doctoral degree must have been obtained in the three years prior to the date of submission of the fellowship application.

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.º of Decree-Law n.º 66/2018, of August 16^th (https://www.dges.gov.pt/en/pagina/degree-and-diploma-recognition), 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 n.º 2 of article 4.º of Decree-Law n.º 60/2018, of August 3rd, and any formalities established therein must be fulfilled by the date of the hiring act. The jury reserves the right to invite the candidate ranked immediately after to the position in question when the first ranked candidate is not recognized with the academic degree after the aforementioned formalities have been fulfilled.

4.           For Portuguese taxpayers: All candidates that where/are currently taxpayers in Portugal are required to present evidence of the fulfillment of their individual obligations towards the Portuguese Tax Authority and Social Security. Failure to comply with this requirement will be considered as a criteria for exclusion from the recruitment process.

5.           Applicable legislation and Regulation: All candidates must comply with the IGC Research Fellowship Regulation; Research Fellowship Statutes amended by Decree nº 123/2019of August 28^th; FCT Legislation and Regulations for Fellowships and the  Decree-Law n.º 66/2018, of August 16th (Legal regime for recognition of academic degrees and diplomas of higher education awarded by foreign higher education institutions).

6.             Subsidy Month Stipend: 1.900,00€/month according to the table of monthly maintenance allowance amounts set out in Annex I of IGC Research Fellowship Regulation. The payment will be made by bank transfer. The selected candidate will be reimbursed for the amount corresponding to the Voluntary Social Security contribution.

7.           How to submit applications: Interested candidates should send their applications to igcpositions@igc.gulbenkian.pt in a single PDF file, named “Applicant Name_BI_PD_FE” containing:

i)      Motivation Letter (1 page max);

ii)     Curriculum Vitae (2 pages max);

iii)   Two reference letters indicating the name, email and phone number of the referee.

After a pre-analysis of applications, selected candidates will be invited for an interview.

8.           Methods of Selection and Evaluation: The selection procedure shall be as follows:Curriculum (35%), motivation letter (15%), interview and reference letters (50%), if considered necessary by the jury, of the selected candidates.

9.           Jury Selection: Chair: Dr. Giulia Ghedini, Vowels: Dr. Karina Xavier and Dr. Waldan Kwong. Substitute: Dr. Paula Duque.

10.         Form of Advertising / Notification of results: The assessment results will be sent to all candidates by email. There will be 10 working days for complaints/appeals after the date of publication of the Selection Minute, through the same application email.

11.         Application Period: From 04/01/2023 until 31/01/2023.   

12.         Non-discrimination and equal access policy: The Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation actively promotes a non-discrimination and equal access policy, wherefore no candidate can be privileged, benefitted, impaired or deprived of any rights whatsoever, or be exempt  of any duties based on ancestry, age, sex, sexual preference, marital status, family and economic conditions, education, origin or social conditions, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, origin territory, language, religion, political or ideological convictions and union membership.