Research Fellowship – 1 vacancy

 

Within the project – HaloFarms

Project number: PRIMA/0002/2019

 

Ref. ª: CCMAR/BINCGAM/14/2022

 

The Centre for Marine Sciences (CCMAR) opens one (01) Research Fellowship for a person with a Master Degree (Research grant not conducive to obtaining an academic degree for a person with a master's degree), for applicants of any nationality, including stateless candidates, and holders of political refugee statute, in the scientific field of Biology Sciences within the research project: HaloFarms– “Development and Optimization of Halophyte-based Farming systems in salt-affected Mediterranean Soils.” with reference PRIMA/0002/2019  funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, (FCT) through national funds (OE)  and PRIMA under the following conditions:

 

Host and Contracting Institution: CCMAR

This fellowship is intended for Master Degree holders that are enrolled in a non-academic degree course, integrated in the educational project of a higher education institution and developed in association or cooperation with one or more R&D units at the starting date of the fellowship.

 

Work Plan, Tasks to perform and objectives:

The HaloFarms project is focused on the optimization of cultivation systems combining edible salt tolerant plants and other commercial crops, and valorisation of produced biomass in different commercial areas. It is a PRIMA project evolving Tunisia (leader country), Egypt, Spain, Italy, France, and Portugal.

 

Specifically, the fellowship holder will be involved in the following tasks and objectives:

Task 1. Determination of the nutritional, and anti-nutritional properties of edible parts of the halophyte’s and consociated crops produced in the farming systems, by the project partners.

Task 2. Preparation of natural extracts from dried biomass from nonedible parts of the halophytes and consociated plants.

Task 3. Determination of bioactive properties of the extracts (in vitro antioxidant, anti-diabetic, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective properties).

Task 4. Chemical properties of the extracts (total phenolics, flavonoids and tannins contents)

Task 5. Training of students, preparation of scientific papers, dissemination of project results by other means.

 

Scientific Supervisor:

Dr. Luisa Custódio, Coordinator of the project, researcher and team leader at CCMAR.

 

Work place:

The workplace is CCMAR (Gambelas Campus of the Algarve University, Faro, Portugal).

 

Requirements for the application:

Applicants must meet all the conditions stated below:

 

1. Master’s degree in Biology, Biotechnology, or related area.
2. Experience, to be confirmed through the candidate’s CV, in:

a) Evaluation of biological activities in natural extracts of salt-tolerant plants

b) Analysis of the biochemical properties of biomass/extracts from salt-tolerant plants

3. This fellowship may only be granted to those who do not exceed, with the conclusion of the present fellowship contract, an accumulated period of two years in this type of fellowship, consecutive or otherwise, to be confirmed through the candidate’s CV.

 

Non-compliance justifies exclusion from the procedure.

 

Evaluation criteria:

Through the analysis of the application documents the evaluation criteria for the applications and their relative weight for ranking are as follows:

1. Experience in determining the nutritional profile of biomass from salt-tolerant plants (25%)
2. Experience in determining the anti-nutritional properties of biomass from salt-tolerant plants (25%)
3. Experience in determining the antioxidant properties of extracts from salt-tolerant plants (25%)
4. Experience in determining the enzyme inhibition properties of extracts from salt-tolerant plants (25%)

 

The selection committee reserves the right to contact and interview candidates if additional information or clarification of any curricular aspect is necessary. In case it takes place, the interview aims to evaluate in more detail the curricular items used to grade the candidate according to the list above.

 

In the event that no applicant has the necessary profile, the selection committee reserves the right to close the call without any recruitment. In the event that the selected person does not take up the position because of failure to comply with documentary requirements or any other reason, or later during the contract if they resign, the jury reserves the right, upon convenience and opportunity, to assign the post to the next applicant in accordance with the ranking positions based on the selectable reservation list that can be used up to 12 months of the date of the present announcement.

 

Fellowship conditions: The fellowship is expected to start from November 2022 and will have a duration of 12 months, or until the end of the research project and with a total maximum of 12 months. The fellowship must be carried out under an exclusivity regimen, according to the FCT Fellowship Regulation (RBI) and of the  CCMAR fellowship regulations (see here) based on the Portuguese law 40/2004, of 18 of August (Scientific Research Fellowship holder statutes) amended by the Decree-Law 123/2019 of 28 of August. A maintenance allowance of 1144.64€ will be paid monthly, through bank transfer, and will be updated as stipulated by the Foundation for Science and Technology (see here https://bit.ly/2ZcxUGJ).

 

Application period: from October the 7th until October the 21st  at 23:59 (Lisbon time, Portugal).

 

Application process and mandatory documents:

Complete applications must be submitted online at https://www.ccmar.ualg.pt/list/job and must include:

1. a motivation letter in English.
2. a detailed Curriculum Vitae in English.
3. The email contact of up to 3 referees.
4. The declaration of honour, available from the application platform, declaring the intention to enrol in a non-academic degree course, integrated in the educational project of a higher education institution and developed in association or cooperation with one or more R&D unit, if the candidate is selected for the position.
5. A copy of the Master degree Certificate (if awarded by a Portuguese Higher Education Institution) or a copy of the certificate of recognition of the Master degree by a Portuguese Public Higher Education Institution or by DGES – Directorate General for Higher Education (if the degree was awarded by a foreign University).

or

6. The complete declaration of honour, available from the application platform, if they are unable at the time of application, to provide a copy of the Master degree certificate (if awarded by a Portuguese Higher Education Institution) or a copy of the certificate of recognition of the Master degree (if the degree was awarded by a foreign University), as indicated above.

 

Non-compliance with this documents/information determines the immediate rejection of the application.

 

Results and Preliminary Hearing: The admission and evaluation results will be communicated by email within 90 working days after the application deadline. After notification, candidates have 10 working days to contest the preliminary decision.

 

Candidates holding degrees awarded by a foreign university should have their degree recognized in Portugal no later than the date indicated in the communication of selection for the position. Non-compliance justifies exclusion from the procedure. Information about the recognition procedures can be obtained at any Portuguese public higher education institution or by Directorate General for Higher Education – DGES (here https://bit.ly/3afyQQU). The CCMAR board of Directors reserves the right to extend the above mentioned period, after request from the selected applicant, and as long as it does not cause a negative impact the working plan.

 

 

Selection Committee:

Dr. Luisa Custódio, Coordinator of the project, researcher and team leader at CCMAR (president), Dr. Maria João Rodrigues, researcher at CCMAR (member), and Professor André Lopes, Professor at Algarve University (member).

 

 

Notes:

Hiring Documents

After the candidate is selected and for the hiring purpose the following documentation/information will be requested:

1. Proof of the enrolment (Registration/enrolment receipt) from the Academic Services in a non-academic degree course (in accordance with the declaration on honour).
2. If applicable, copy of the master’s degree (if awarded by a Portuguese Higher Education Institution).
3. If applicable, certificate of recognition of the master’s degree by a Portuguese Public Higher Education Institution or by DGES – Directorate General for Higher Education (if the degree was awarded by a foreign University).
4. Declaration of commitment stating the exclusivity regime.
5. Civil, fiscal, and social security Identification (if applicable).
6. Account Number – IBAN
7. Ciência ID: https://www.ciencia-id.pt/CienciaID/HomePage.aspx
8. If applicable, a statement from the candidate saying that does not exceed, with the conclusion of the present fellowship contract, an accumulated period of two years in this type of fellowship, consecutive or otherwise.
9. Proof of country of residence, residence authorization, or other document legally equivalent, if applicable, in force at the time of fellowship start date.

 

Fellowship Agreement model

After the candidate selection and all information is received, it will be signed a fellowship agreement in accordance with the model  here

 

Fellowship holder Assessment

At the end of each period of duration of the fellowship contract, the activity developed by the grant-holder will be evaluated by the supervisors, by applying the following criteria, in accordance with the model below:

1. Conducted practical work (75%)
2. Dissemination of results (25%)

 

 

Supervisor report model here

 

Fellowship holder report

By the end of each fellowship period, the fellowship holder must present a report. You can find the fellowship holder final report model here

 

The board of Directors reserves the right, due to a change in circumstances at the date of the present announcement, to cancel the present call without any recruitment.

 

Disabled candidates shall be preferred in a situation of equal ranking, and said preference supersedes any legal preferences. Candidates must declare, on their honour, their respective disability degree, type of disability and communication / expression means to be used during selection period on their application form, under the regulations above.

 

CCMAR’s non-discrimination and equal access opportunities policy – No candidate can be privileged, benefited, jeopardised or be deprived of any right or exempt of any claim in regards to descendent, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, economic situation, origin, social economy, genetic heritage, disability, chronic disease, nationality, ethnicity, territory of origin, language, religion, politics, ideology or union membership. 

 

 

Faro, 30/09/2022