Bachelor's Research Scientific Fellowship

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

NOTICE OF THE OPENING OF A CALL FOR RESEARCH GRANTS

The University of Leiria e Oeste opens a call for the award of 1 Bachelor's Research Scientific Fellowship (BI - 196793) within the scope of the project "AGROSHIELD - From the sea to the orchard: Asparagopsis armata against bacterial fire in the Rocha Pear", through the Voucher Award of the "Innovate to Value" Competition, funded by the Knowledge Circle 2.0 project with the reference COMPETE2030-2024-6 – SIAC – Collective Actions – Transfer of Scientific and Technological Knowledge, funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Thematic Program Innovation and Digital Transition (COMPETE 2030), Portugal 2030.

Scientific area: Marine biosciences, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biological Sciences, or areas considered related.

Recipients: Graduates in the areas of marine biosciences, biotechnology, microbiology, biological sciences, or related areas, enrolled in a cycle of studies leading to a master's degree or in a course that does not confer an academic degree, under the terms of the regulations applicable to Research Grants.

Duration of the fellowship: The fellowship will have a duration of 7 months, eventually renewable until the end date of the project or up to the maximum duration limit of this type of fellowship (whichever occurs first), scheduled to start in 2026-11.

Work plan: The work plan will be developed within the scope of the project "AGROSHIELD - From the sea to the orchard: Asparagopsis armata against bacterial fire", focused on the development and validation of a bioactive extract of Asparagopsis armata to reduce the impact of bacterial fire in Rocha pear orchards. The work to be carried out will be related to:

1. Processing of Asparagopsis armata biomass and production of bioactive extracts;
2. Optimization of the extraction process and quality evaluation between batches;
3. Conducting microbiological tests;
4. Support for field validation in Rocha Pear orchards, including application of the extract, recording of symptoms and data collection;
5. Treatment and analysis of results and support for the preparation of protocols and technical reports;
6. Support for the dissemination and transfer of knowledge, namely through the preparation of scientific communications, publications, among others.

Host entity and scientific supervision: The work will be developed at MARE, under the scientific supervision of the professor(s) Doctor(s):

• Carina Rafaela Faria da Costa Félix

Financial components of the scholarship: Monthly maintenance allowance, in the amount of €1090.98, according to the FCT, I.P. (table of values). To this amount is added the monthly amount referring to the Voluntary Social Security, if applicable, in accordance with the conditions defined in the Research Grant Holder Statute. The grant holder will benefit from Personal Accident Insurance, during the course of the grant.

Payment: The amount of the scholarship will be processed monthly, by bank transfer, to the account identified by the scholarship holder.

Activity regime: Exclusivity, in accordance with the applicable regulations.

Evaluation panel: Carina Rafaela Faria da Costa Félix (chair), Marco Filipe Loureiro Lemos (member), Susana Filipa De Jesus Silva (member), Sara Calçada Novais (alternate), Ana Luísa de Sousa Augusto (alternate).

Application deadline: from 25-09-2026 to 09-10-2026.

Selection methods and evaluation criteria: The evaluation will be made through curriculum analysis, technical-scientific experience, scientific production and dissemination, motivation letter and interview, focusing on the overall merit and suitability of the candidate for the work plan.

Criterion A - Academic Background (15%)

• Final grade of the degree (15%).

The classification in this criterion will correspond to the final classification obtained in the degree, on a scale of 0 to 20 values. Degrees in the areas of Marine Biosciences, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biological Sciences or areas considered related will be considered preferably, according to the adequacy to the objectives of the work plan.

Criterion B - relevant technical-scientific experience (35%)

• B1 - Laboratory experience in microbiology, biotechnology, marine biosciences, biological sciences or related areas (10%).
• B2 - Experience in relevant techniques, namely extraction and characterization of bioactive compounds; spectrophotometry; microbiological tests, valuing experience with bacterial cultures (15%).
• B3 - Experience in field trials and treatment and analysis of experimental data (10%).

Criterion C - Scientific Production and Dissemination (10%)

Articles, scientific communications, posters, technical-scientific reports, participation in R&D projects and dissemination or knowledge transfer activities relevant to the work plan will be valued.

Criterion D - Letter of Motivation and Suitability for the Project (20%)

The candidate's motivation, understanding of the work plan, interest in the areas of marine biotechnology applied to agriculture and/or phytopathology, the adequacy of the academic and technical path to the activities to be developed and the motivation to pursue advanced training, namely a future path leading to a doctoral degree, will be evaluated.

Criterion E - interview (20%)

The interview will be classified on a scale of 0 to 20 values and is intended to evaluate:

• Technical-scientific knowledge relevant to the work plan;
• Ability to solve problems in a laboratory and/or experimental context;
• Critical thinking and ability to interpret and experiment design;
• Communication skills;
• Motivation and interest in continuing research;
• Global adequacy of the profile to the project and the team.

Among the eligible candidates, only the five candidates with the best classification in the documentary evaluation will be interviewed, ordered in descending order of their respective classification. In the event of a tie in the last eligible position, all candidates with identical classification will be admitted to the interview.

Failure to attend the interview, without a duly justified reason accepted by the jury, implies exclusion from the procedure.

Final Classification: NF = (A x 0.15) + (B x 0.35) + (C x 0.10) + (D x 0.20) + (E x 0.20).

Note: If the candidate(s) holding a foreign qualification(s) does not present the document(s) proving, in the application phase, the recognition of the foreign degree or diploma and the conversion of the classification to the Portuguese classification scale, the jury establishes the conversion, only for the purposes of the competition, based on the rules of the legal regime applicable to the recognition of foreign degrees and diplomas or, when impossible, applies the minimum classification of 10 points. We emphasize that academic degrees obtained in foreign countries require registration by a Portuguese Institution in accordance with Decree-Law no. 66/2018, of August 16 and Ordinance no. 33/2019, of January 25. The presentation of the certificate is mandatory for the signature of the contract. More information can be obtained at: https://www.dges.gov.pt/pt/pagina/reconhecimento?plid=374

Eligibility of candidates: Without prejudice to the provisions of the rules applicable to each type of scholarship, the following are eligible for scholarships:

1. National citizens or citizens of other Member States of the European Union;
2. third-country nationals;
3. Stateless persons;
4. Beneficiaries of political refugee status.

Application | Formalization of documentary elements:

Applications must be submitted through the link https://recrutamento.ipleiria.pt/processos-ativos/bolseiros/concurso?recruitment_process_id=247, clicking on the "Submit application" button, filling in and submitting the respective form accompanied by the following documents:

Document(s) proving the ownership of the academic degree and/or diploma(s) required in the competition, indicating the final average and the grades obtained per curricular unit. Candidates holding foreign qualifications must prove their academic degree and foreign diploma under the terms of Decree-Law No. 66/2018, of 16 August. These documents may be waived, at the application stage, by the declaration of honour contained in the application form, which can only attest to facts that occurred on a date prior to the application, and this condition will only be verified at the stage of contracting the scholarship; Document proving enrollment and enrollment in a cycle of studies or course not conferring an academic degree; Updated curriculum vitae of the candidate; Document(s) proving another evaluation parameter(s) indicated in the application notice; Other certifications and/or other documents considered relevant by the candidate.

Results | Disclosure and complaint: The jury will send the candidates, by e-mail, the provisional results of the evaluation (presented in the form of the minutes resulting from the evaluation process) up to 90 working days after the deadline for submission of applications. After this disclosure, candidates have 10 working days to comment, if they wish, in a specific form available on the Institutional page and under the terms of the administrative procedure code (CPA). The final decision will be taken within a maximum period of 60 working days after the conclusion of the prior hearing of the interested parties, of which a complaint may be filed within 15 working days, after notification, to the highest executive body of the University of Leiria and Oeste. Within the scope of the procedure for awarding the grant, if the final ranking list, duly approved, contains a number of approved candidates greater than the number of grants to be occupied, an internal recruitment reserve is always constituted, which may be used when there is a need for occupation due to withdrawal of the grantee, under the terms of the CPA, to be used during the eligibility of the project.

Applicable legislation and regulations: Statute of the Research Grant Holder, approved by Law No. 40/2004, of 18 August, as amended; Regulation of Scientific Research Grants of the Polytechnic of Leiria, currently the University of Leiria and Oeste, Regulation No. 152/2021, of 22 February. Applicable legislation and regulations: Statute of the Research Grant Holder, approved by Law No. 40/2004, of 18 August, as amended; Regulation of Scientific Research Grants of the Polytechnic of Leiria, currently the University of Leiria and Oeste, Regulation No. 152/2021, of 22 February.

Leiria, 24 September 2026

The Pro-Rector of the University of Leiria and Oeste,

Diogo Manuel Teixeira Monteiro

Where to apply

Website: https://recrutamento.ipleiria.pt/processos-ativos/bolseiros/concurso?recruitment_process_id=247

Requirements

• Research Field: Biological sciences » Other
• Education Level: Bachelor Degree or equivalent

Work Location(s)

• Number of offers available: 1
• Company/Institute: University of Leiria e Oeste
• Country: Portugal

Contact

• State/Province: Leiria
• City: Leiria
• Website: https://www.ulo.pt/
• Street: Leiria
• E-Mail: bolsas.investigacao@ulo.pt