Research Scholarship hiring_TenebrioPLUS BI_1

Organisation/Company

Universidade Católica Portuguesa - Porto

Research Field

Technology » Biotechnology

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Positions

Master Positions

Country

Portugal

Application Deadline

26 Nov 2025 - 17:00 (Europe/Lisbon)

Type of Contract

Other

Type of Contract Extra Information

NA

Job Status

Full-time

Offer Starting Date

12 Nov 2025

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Other EU programme

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

No

CALL FOR APPLICATION FOR A RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP

RefªTenebrioPLUS BI_1

Portuguese version

A call for tenders is now open for the attribution of one Research Scholarship within the scope of the Project “TenebrioPLUS - Ingredientes de Tenebrio molitor para Nutrição Avançada e Cosmética Sustentável” financed by the FEDER through the Northern Regional Program – NORTE2030-FEDER-01466000, under the following conditions, set out below.

Scientific area: Biotechnology 

Admission requirements: 

General requirements:

Candidates for the Research grant must, at the date of application, be enrolled, or present a commitment to enroll in a study cycle conferring an ( PhD) degree in  Biotechnology or related areas. Candidates for the Research Grant, after being selected, must enroll in the doctoral program in Biotechnology at the Escola Superior de Biotecnologia to initiate the grant agreement. This enrollment should align with the theme and work plan of the grant to be carried out under the above-mentioned project. Accordingly, the doctoral program must be undertaken at the Escola Superior de Biotecnologia by the team designated to implement the work plan.     

Candidates must have a master’s degree in  Biotechnology, Food science, or a related field.

Specific requirements:

Candidates must also have knowledge/research experience in the following areas:

a) Higher academic qualifications in Biotechnology, Food Science and Technology, or related areas.

b) Good command of the English language, both spoken and written.

c) Strong interest in the scientific area and ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary and multicultural research environment, integrating academic and industrial perspectives.     

Preferred Factors:

Will be considered preferred factors:

a) Experience in the valorization of insect-based or agro-food by-products for the development of functional ingredients.

b) Previous research experience in fermentation processes and ingredient formulations.

c) Previous participation in applied research projects and/or experience in scientific communication and dissemination activities.     

Work Plan:

The scholarship holder will carry out research activities within the TenebrioPLUS project, which aims to develop innovative fermented ingredients and functional oleogels derived from Tenebrio molitor for application in sustainable human foods and pet food. Tasks will include (i) preparation and physico-chemical characterization of T. molitor substrates for fermentation and oil processing; (ii) development and optimization of fermentation processes with probiotic strains; (iii) characterization of the obtained ingredients in terms of composition, techno-functional properties and bioactivity (e.g. antioxidant, antimicrobial and gut-health–related endpoints); (iv) incorporation of selected ingredients into model food prototypes and evaluation of shelf life, microbial safety, texture and sensory quality; and (v) analysis and interpretation of experimental data, preparation of technical reports and support to scientific dissemination outputs.

Applicable legislation and regulations: 

• Statute of the Scientific Research Fellow: https://dre.pt/web/guest/legislacao-consolidada/-/lc/58216179/view?w=2019-08-28 ;
• Regulation of Research Scholarships of the Science and Technology Foundation, I.P: https://dre.pt/application/conteudo/127238533 ;

• Regulation of Research Scholarships of the Portuguese Catholic University: http://www.porto.ucp.pt//sites/default/files/files/DRH/RegBolsasInvestigacao_Cientifica_UCP2020.pdf  

   

Workplace: 

The work will be developed at the CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina. of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Portugal, in Porto, under the scientific supervision of Prof. Doctor Manuela Pintado.

Duration of the scholarship:

The scholarship, which is expected to begin on January 12, 2026, will have an initial duration of  35 months on an exclusive basis. 

Monthly maintenance allowance amount:

The amount of the scholarship corresponds to 1 309,64 €. according to the research scholarship values awarded directly by FCT, I.P. in the Country (https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Tabela_valores_SMM_2025.pdf ) and will be paid by bank transfer.

Selection methods: 

The selection methods to be used will be the following: i) curriculum evaluation (40%); ii) previous experience (60%). If necessary, the 3 best positioned candidates may be interviewed, and in this situation, the weighting will be curricular evaluation (35%).; ii) previous experience (50%) and selection interview (15%). 

Only candidates with a final classification equal to or greater than 75 points, on a scale of 0 to 100, will be selected for this position.

Applications that do not meet the admission requirements, delivered on time and incomplete applications will be considered ineligible.

Composition of the Selection Jury: President of the Jury: Prof. Doctor Manuela Pintado, Effective Members: Doctor Sandra Borges and Doctor Maria Emilia Brassesco. Substitute Jury: Doctor Ana Amaro.

Form of advertising/notification of results: The jury deliberates in accordance with the selection criteria adopted and disclosed. The jury meetings minutes will contain a summary of the meeting content. After completing the application of the selection criteria, the jury proceeds with the elaboration of the ordered list, with the ranking of the approved candidates. The ranking list of eligible candidates will be published on the premises of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, in Porto, located at Rua de Diogo Botelho, 1327, 4169-005 Porto - Portugal, with each candidate being notified of his/her position on the list ranking of candidates via email. Ineligible applicants will be notified by email, with details of the missing eligibility elements.

Complaint and appeal procedures: Candidates have a period of ten working days, after the disclosure referred to in the previous number, to give their opinion at a prior hearing.

Deadline for acceptance of the scholarship: Within ten working days following notification of the grant award, the selected candidate must confirm in writing his/her availability to start the scholarship on the proposed date. Failing to do so or not having availability, the candidate placed in the next position will be called.

Application deadline and form of submission:

Candidates submit their application from November 12, 2025. until November 26, 2025. (until 5 pm, Lisbon time).

Applications are formalized by completing the Application Form https://hr-ucpporto.inqueritos.porto.ucp.pt/588151?lang=en

It will be necessary to submit the following documents:

Only applications received during the opening period of the above-mentioned call shall be considered. Candidates who incorrectly formalize their application or who do not prove the requirements of this call are excluded. False statements made by applicants will be punished under the law.

Privacy Policy: 

Universidade Católica Portuguesa is the controller responsible for the processing of Personal Data in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 – General Regulation on Data Protection.

The personal data processed in the scope of this tender procedure is processed within the framework of said tender procedure only and will be processed by Universidade Católica Portuguesa with the purpose of verifying the fulfilment, by the candidates, of the assumptions established in the applicable legislation for their contracting.  Opposition to the processing of data by the candidates will make it impossible to accept the application and, therefore, to analyse and evaluate it. 

The personal data of the Data Subject, if it be indispensable for the fulfilment of the obligations of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, may be conveyed to third parties, namely to the Financing Entities identified in this announcement.

The data retention period shall correspond to the legally defined period of five years.

The Data Subject is entitled to oppose to the collection and processing of data, has the right to verification, the right to rectification, the right to deletion, and the right to restriction of processing of the data collected. However, the exercise of such rights may be excluded when the personal data is used to protect public interest, namely in the detection and prevention of crimes or when subject to professional rules of confidentiality.

The Data Subject has the right of access and portability of the data.

Rights of Personal Data Subjects: https://www.ucp.pt/rights-data-subjects . 

For purposes of exercising the respective rights, contact the University through the e-mail address compliance.rgpd@ucp.pt  or by using the address found at the end of this announcement, through the means set out in "Contacts for clarification". 

The Data Subject is always entitled to contact and file a complaint with the Comissão Nacional de Proteção de Dados (Portuguese Supervisory Authority for Personal Data).

Non-discrimination and equal access policy:

Universidade Católica Portuguesa actively promotes a non-discrimination and equal access policy, wherefore no candidate can be privileged, benefited, impaired or deprived of any rights whatsoever, or be exempt of any duties based on their ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, family and economic conditions, instruction, social origin or condition, genetic heritage, reduced working capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological convictions, and union membership.

If you have any questions about this position, please contact:

Universidade Católica Portuguesa – Centro Regional do Porto 

Rua de Diogo Botelho, 1327

4169-005 Porto, Portugal

Direção de Recursos Humanos

drh.recrutamento.porto@ucp.pt

[1] If the required academic degree has been conferred by a foreign higher education institution, it must comply with the Portuguese legislation on the recognition of foreign degrees, regulated by DL no. 66/2018 of 16 August. 

Applicants are advised to consult the website of the Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES) for additional information on this matter: https://www.dges.gov.pt/pt/pagina/reconhecimento

[2]  The contracting of the research scholarship requires the candidate to provide enrollment in the degree-awarding course required in this notice. If the document is not presented within a maximum period of 30 days (in a row), counting from the date of communication of the selection to the candidate, the Jury Panel will have the power to disqualify the application due to failure to present the registration within the aforementioned period.

Website

https://hr-ucpporto.inqueritos.porto.ucp.pt/588151?lang=en

Research Field

Technology » Biotechnology

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Universidade Católica Portuguesa - Centro Regional do Porto

Country

Portugal

Geofield

City

Porto

Website

http://www.porto.ucp.pt/

Street

Rua Diogo Botelho, 1327

Postal Code

4169-005

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