Research Grant (BI), for the conduct of R&D activities by a graduate with a Master degree enrolled in a course non-leading to an academic degre - Ref. ª SF/2025/17

6 Nov 2025
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Faculdade de Ciências Médicas|NOVA Medical School da Universidade NOVA de Lisboa.

Research Field

Biological sciences » Biology

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Positions

Master Positions

Country

Portugal

Application Deadline

20 Nov 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon)

Type of Contract

Not Applicable

Job Status

Not Applicable

Offer Starting Date

15 Dec 2025

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by a EU programme

Reference Number

SF/2025/17

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

There is an open call for applications for a Research Grant (BI), for the conduct of R&D activities by a graduate with a Master degree enrolled in a course non-leading to an academic degree, under reference SF/2025/17 in the scope of the PI - IF - Dancing Genomes project, at the institution Faculdade de Ciências Médicas|NOVA Medical School (FCM|NMS) from Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), supported by income from the above mentioned project, financed by the Human Frontier Science Program Organisation, under the following conditions:

 

Field of study

Biomedicine

 

Admission requirements(eligibility criteria)       

- Master's degree completed by the application submission date in Biology or related fields;

- Enrollment in a course non-leading to an academic degree, in the area of Biologia or related fields.

 

Work plan

The selected fellow will join the project as a researcher and perform the following tasks under the scientific guidance and supervision of the project’s Principal Investigators:

a) Maintenance of iPSC cultures and retinal organoids.

b) Execution of molecular and cell biology experiments according to the Dancing Genomes project work plan.

c) Analysis and interpretation of results, preparation of progress reports, and collaboration in the writing of scientific articles.

d) Participation in institute activities, particularly in science outreach activities.

 

Place of work

The work will be carried out at the facilities of the Faculdade de Ciências Médicas | NOVA Medical School (FCM|NMS), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), in the research group "Degeneration and Aging" under the scientific supervision of Prof. Doctor Sandra Tenreiro, as well as other locations necessary for the preparation and implementation of the project activities.

 

Duration and start date

The fellowship will have an initial duration of 6 months, with an estimated start date of December 15, 2025. The fellowship contract may be renewed for an equal or different period until the project ends, provided the eligibility requirements for its granting are met at the time of renewal.

 

Monthly maintenance allowance

The fellowship stipend is 1,650.00€ (one thousand six hundred and fifty euros) per month, in accordance with the fellowship values listed in Annex I of the Universidade NOVA de Lisboa Research Fellowship Regulation. This amount includes personal accident insurance and, if applicable, voluntary social security corresponding to the first contribution tier, provided the fellowship duration is longer than 6 months. Payment will be made via bank transfer.

 

Legislation and applicable regulations:

The fellowship is legally governed by the Research Fellow Statute (Law no. 40/2004, of August 18), available at https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/legislacao-consolidada/lei/2004-58216179 , and the Universidade NOVA de Lisboa Research Fellowship Regulation (Dispatch no. 9484/2023, of August 14), available at https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/detalhe/despacho/9484-2023-221611620 .

 

Selection Methods

1.    The selection methods include the evaluation of the "scientific and curricular background," weighted at 75%, and the "professional selection interview," weighted at 25%.

2.    The application of the selection methods will be phased, as described below.

3.    The evaluation of the "scientific and curricular background" will focus on the relevance, quality, timeliness, specific knowledge, and proven prior experience, based on the application documents and in accordance with the following criteria:

         a) Proven experience in iPSC cell culture – 25%;

         b) Proven experience in differentiation of brain and retinal organoids from hiPSC cells – 25%;

         c) Proven experience in sample preparation for immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy of organoids – 10%;

         d) Proven experience in sample preparation for bulk RNA-seq, scRNA-seq, and spatial transcriptomics – 10%

         e) Proven experience in 3D bioprinting – 10%

         f) Proven experience in genetic manipulation of hiPSCs – 10%

g) Proven experience in data analysis and statistical analysis, including knowledge of RStudio and FIJI – 10%

 

4.    The evaluation of the "scientific and curricular background" will be expressed on a numerical scale from 0 to 20.

5.    The evaluation process includes a "professional selection interview", in which all information submitted in the application will be reviewed, aiming to obtain any necessary clarifications and explanations. This phase is part of the final evaluation.

6.    In the «professional selection interview», which lasts up to 20 minutes, the following parameters and evaluation criteria will be applied:

         a) Communication and verbal expression– 20%;

         b) Fluency in English – 20%;

         c) Analysis and critical thinking – 30%;

d) Motivation and interest in developing research in the specific area to which the candidate is applying – 30%.

7.    The evaluation of the «professional selection interview» is expressed on a numerical scale from 0 to 20 points.

8.    The evaluation method involving the "professional selection interview" may be waived by the unanimous and duly justified decision of the Jury, in which case the evaluation of the "scientific and curricular background" will account for 100%.

9.    The Jury will deliberate through a nominal vote based on the evaluation criteria. Abstentions are not permitted.

10.   Each candidate's final score will be the average of the scores assigned by each Jury member.  To be selected, the candidate must achieve a final score of 15 or higher. In case of a tie, the Jury Chair will decide.

11.   The Jury reserves the right not to award the scholarship if it considers that no candidate meets the required profile.

 

Selection Jury

- President of the Jury – Prof.ª Doutora Sandra Tenreiro, FCM|NMS;

– 1st Effective Jury Member – Professor Doutor Miguel Seabra, FCM|NMS;

– 2nd Effective Jury Member – Prof.ª Doutora Otília Vieira, FCM|NMS;

– 1st Alternate Jury Member – Prof.ª Doutora Helena Soares, FCM|NMS;

– 2nd Alternate Jury Member – Dra Ana Sofia Falcão, FCM|NMS.

 

Formalization and submission of applications

Applications, which may be submitted in Portuguese or English, must be sent by email to  recrutamento.investigacao@nms.unl.pt , with the following reference in the subject line SF/2025/17. The following documents must be included in PDF format, under penalty of exclusion:

A motivation letter of up to 500 words;

A detailed and updated Curriculum Vitae that meets the application requirements;

Academic degree certificates;

Proof of enrollment in a non-degree course;
  or, in its absence, the Declaration of Honour, duly completed and signed.

Application form, duly completed and signed – https://www.nms.unl.pt/pt-pt/faculdade/junte-se-a-nms/recrutamento?category=4348 ;

Other relevant documents for assessing the requested profile.

 

Additional provisions on mandatory documentation: 

Completion of the required academic degree – If the candidate has already completed the academic degree required in the Notice of Opening but does not yet have the respective certificates or official proof, they may submit, at the time of application, a declaration of honour stating their commitment to present the completion certificate by the date of the fellowship contract, should they be selected.

Enrollment in an academic program – If the candidate does not yet have proof of enrollment in the academic program defined in point 2 of the “Admission Requirements,” they must submit, at the time of application, a declaration of honour, duly completed and signed. The template is included in the Application Form. The proof of enrollment must be submitted by the date of the fellowship contract.

Recognition of foreign degrees – In the case of academic degrees awarded by foreign higher education institutions, the official recognition of the degree in Portugal is mandatory, in accordance with Decree-Law No. 66/2018 of August 16 and Ordinance No. 33/2019 of January 25. If the recognition is not available at the time of application, a Declaration of Honor may be submitted, committing to submit it before the grant contract. More information available at: https://www.dges.gov.pt/pt/pagina/reconhecimento?plid=374

Condition for grant contract – The signature of the grant contract is subject to the prior submission of the documents listed in items 1, 2, and 3. Failure to submit any of these documents by the date of grant award may result in non-contracting, pursuant to Article 18(6) of the Research Grant Regulations of Universidade NOVA de Lisboa.

 

Application period

The competition is open from 07/11/2025 to 20/11/2025 and is published at https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/ and https://www.nms.unl.pt/en-us/NMS/Join-NMS/Recruiting (English and Portuguese versions, respectively).

 

 

Result announcement/notification

Under Article 15 of the Research Scholarship Regulations of Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, evaluation results will be communicated by email to all candidates within 60 business days after the application submission deadline.

Candidates whose applications are unsuccessful may respond within 10 business days to the notification during the preliminary hearing, under the provisions of the Portuguese Administrative Procedure Code. Otherwise, the result will constitute the final decision.

Appeals or complaints regarding the final results may be submitted within 10 business days after their communication and must be addressed to the Dean of FCM|NMS.

Additional information

1.        In the event of withdrawal or resignation by the selected candidate or failure to submit the required recognition of qualifications or proof of enrollment, the next highest-ranked candidate may be contacted to sign the scholarship contract, provided all requirements in this Notice are met.

2.       Scholarships may be renewed for additional periods, up to the following maximum durations:

a)     One year for scholarships awarded to bachelor’s or master’s degree holders enrolled in non-degree programs;

b)    Two years for master’s degree students;

c)     Four years for doctoral students.

3.       If the academic degree or diploma is awarded during the scholarship contract period, the scholarship may continue under the terms specifically defined in the contract.

4.        Research scholarships granted to bachelor’s or master’s degree holders enrolled in non-degree programs may only be awarded to candidates who do not exceed a total accumulated period of two years in this scholarship category, whether consecutive or intermittent.

 

Non-discrimination and equal access policy

The Faculdade de Ciências Médicas|NOVA Medical School, a unit of Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, actively promotes a policy of non-discrimination and equal access. No candidate will be privileged, benefited, disadvantaged, deprived of any rights, or exempted from any duties based on ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family situation, economic status, education, social origin or condition, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic or racial origin, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological beliefs, or trade union membership.

 

Lisbon, November 20, 2025 - The Director, Professor Doctor Fernando Miguel Teixeira Xavier

 

Where to apply

E-mail

recrutamento.investigacao@nms.unl.pt

Requirements

Research Field

Biological sciences » Biology

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Internal Application form(s) needed
Formulário de candidatura - Bolseiros v4.pdf
English
(239.96 KB - PDF)
Download
Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Nova Medical School

Country

Portugal

Geofield

Contact

City

Lisboa

Website

https://www.nms.unl.pt/pt-pt/nms

Street

Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, n.º 130

E-Mail

recrutamento.investigacao@nms.unl.pt

STATUS: EXPIRED

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