Offer Description
Reference: BIOPOLIS 2025-03
Scientific Area: Ecology
Sub research field: Wildlife Management
INVITED CHAIR “CAÇA E BIODIVERSIDADE”
UNIVERSIDADE DO PORTO
1. Associação Biopolis opens an international selection procedure for the recruitment of an Assistant Researcher, under an unfixed term contract, in accordance with the Labour Code. This call is for one (1) position (Reference BIOPOLIS 2025-03 ), for research and development activities in the scientific area of Ecology / Wildlife Management, within the scope of the “CAÇA E BIODIVERSIDADE” INVITED CHAIR, a project funded by the Sociedade Agrícola do Vale dos Perditos (representative of the…
consortium of co-funding entities) and the FUNDAÇÃO PARA A CIÊNCIA E TECNOLOGIA (FCT) and awarded to the UNIVERSIDADE DO PORTO following an application to the FCT's Invited Chairs programme.
2. The selected candidate is expected to achieve the following objectives:
- i. Create a solid research team in the field of biology, ecology, health, genetics, management and conservation of game species;
- ii. To ensure the development of lines of research relevant to the preservation and enhancement of game species, especially the red partridge, the Iberian rabbit and the Iberian hare, namely to:
- a. Deepen scientific knowledge of their biology, ecology and population dynamics.
- b. Study and optimise integrated monitoring methods: demography and health status.
- c. Evaluate the impact of game management on biodiversity;
- iii. Contribute to the training of researchers and students, especially postgraduate students, in the areas identified in (ii), and in other related areas, through collaboration in Masters and Doctoral Programmes, such as the Doctoral Programme in Biodiversity, Genetics and Evolution (BIODIV), among others;
- iv. Promoting an appropriate link between researchers, students, technicians and managers of hunting and the environment, namely through residencies, internships, ongoing training, fostering permanent contacts and the formation of mixed research teams (researchers, students and managers of hunting and the environment);
- v. Develop advanced training courses in related fields;
- vi. Promoting the dissemination of knowledge and the results obtained through seminars, colloquia, social networks, newsletters, books, among other initiatives;
- vii. Mobilising national and international partnerships, cooperation networks, projects and other research initiatives in the areas identified in (ii) and other related areas;
- viii. Promote the raising of additional funds by preparing applications for national and European funding programmes;
- ix. Contribute to the development of scientific research in the Alentejo region, mainly by integrating the Chair's team into the Mértola Biological Station;
- x. To encourage and consolidate the establishment of an integrated monitoring network for game species, in sentinel populations, which will make it possible, among other things, to assess population trends and the impact of emerging diseases and climate change over time.
3. Applicable legislation
Decree-Law no. 57/2016, of 29 August, amended by Law no. 57/2017 and Regulatory Decree no. 11-A/2017, which approves a system for hiring doctorates, to stimulate scientific and technological employment in all areas of knowledge (Legal System for Scientific Employment - RJEC); Labour Code, approved by Law no. 7/2009, of 12 February, in its current form.
4. In accordance with article 13 of the RJEC, the selection panel is composed as follows: Paulo Célio Alves (Associate Professor at FCUP, Researcher at the BIOPOLIS/CIBIO Association, Director of the Mértola Biological Station and President of the selection panel), Nuno Ferrand de Almeida (Full Professor at FCUP and Director of the InBIO Associated Laboratory and General Director of the BIOPOLIS/CIBIO Association), Pedro Beja (Associate Director of the BIOPOLIS/CIBIO Association). Substitute members: Dr Gonçalo de Mello (Sociedade Agrícola do Vale dos Perditos and representative of the consortium) and David Gonçalves (Assistant Professor at FCUP and Researcher at the BIOPOLIS/CIBIO Association).
5. The place of work is at the BIOPOLIS/CIBIO - Biodiversity and Genetic Resources Research Centre, on the Vairão Campus of the University of Porto, Vila do Conde, and at the Mértola Biological Station, Mértola, and may also involve travelling to other regions of Portugal or abroad, in the service or representation of the employer.
6. The monthly salary is €3501.28, corresponding to index 195 of the Scientific Research Career (Annex I of Decree-Law no. 124/99, of 20 April).
7. All national, foreign and stateless candidates who hold a doctoral degree in Biological Sciences or related areas and have a scientific and professional curriculum vitae that reveals a profile appropriate to the activity to be carried out may apply (points 2 and 8). If the doctorate was awarded by a foreign higher education institution, it must comply with the provisions of Decree-Law no. 66/2018, of 16 August, and any formalities set out therein must be fulfilled by the date the employment contract is signed.
8. The general requirements for admission to the competition are those defined in the previous point (point 7) and the following multidisciplinary requirements that will contribute to the development of a broad research programme:
- Proven ability in:
- Wildlife management, with knowledge and experience in veterinary sciences (notably emerging pathogens), wildlife genetics (notably population genetics and genomics using traditional and high-throughput sequencing methods), non-invasive genetic sampling and environmental DNA; skills in bioinformatics for analysing genetic and genomic data; experience in fieldwork for collecting biological samples in mammals, birds and aquatic organisms; consolidated experience with census methods and analysing demographic models,
- Attracting complementary funding for the development of research on the subject of the Chair, by preparing applications for tenders launched by public or private organisations in Portugal and abroad;
- Ability to contribute to the development of doctoral and master's programmes, and to participate in the orientation and training of doctoral graduates and young researchers in the area of the Chair and related areas.
- Fluency in languages, namely Portuguese, Spanish and English (spoken and written).
9. Under the terms of article 5 of the RJEC, selection is made by assessing the candidates' scientific and curricular background.
10. Curriculum evaluation is based on relevance, quality and actuality:
- a) The planning, management or research activities, based on consolidated practice, developed in the last 5 years and considered to have the greatest impact by the candidate;
- b) The scientific production of the last 5 years considered most relevant by the candidate;
- c) Outreach and knowledge dissemination activities carried out in the last 5 years, namely in the context of promoting culture and scientific practices, considered most relevant by the candidate;
11. The 5-year period mentioned in the previous paragraph may be extended by the jury, at the candidate's request, if it is based on suspension of activity for socially protected reasons, namely parental leave, prolonged serious illness and other legally protected situations of unavailability for work.
12. Evaluation criteria:
In the evaluation of candidates' CVs, in particular their professional experience and technical and scientific merit, the elements presented for the last five years of activity covered by the specific areas of the call (see point 1) will be valued, according to the following criteria:
- 12.1 Integrated assessment of the candidate's curriculum trajectory, based on an overview of their merit, considering the potential for integrating the candidate's profile into the areas of the Chair - 40%;
- 12.2 Experience in carrying out research activities in the areas covered by the Chair - 40%;
- 12.3 Experience in obtaining funding and in national or international multidisciplinary collaborations - 20%;
13. If there are candidates with a score that is less than or equal to 10 % of the score obtained by the best candidate, the jury will interview the candidates in this situation. The purpose of the interview is to clarify aspects related to the results of previous research, as well as to assess the candidate's attitude and motivational profile. In this case, the final classification to be indicated by each member of the jury is made up of: 90 % based on the evaluation of the curriculum and scientific background and 10 % based on the interview.
14. The classification system is from 0 to 100.
15. The jury will decide by roll-call vote, based on the selection criteria established and announced, with no abstentions allowed.
16. Minutes will be drawn up of the jury meetings, which should contain a summary of what took place, as well as the votes cast by each member and their respective justifications, and will be made available to candidates on request.
17. Once the selection criteria have been applied, the jury will draw up an ordered list of successful candidates, with their respective ranking.
18. The selection board's final decision is approved by the institution's director, who is also responsible for deciding on the appointment.
19. Formalisation of applications:
19.1 Applications must be formalised by submitting a request to https://www.cibio.up.pt/en/jobs/, with the following documents in digital format PDF:
- i) Certificate of qualifications;
- ii) Curriculum vitae;
- iii) Motivation letter, explaining the interest and plan to develop the activities proposed in 2;
- iv) A maximum of five works considered to be the most representative and in line with the Chair's plan;
- v) Name and contact details of references;
- vi) Other documents considered relevant;
19.2. O período de apresentação de candidaturas decorre entre 8 a 21 de janeiro de 2025
Expect starting date: 1st March 2025.
20. Candidates who formalise their application incorrectly or who fail to prove that they meet the requirements of this competition will be excluded from admission to the competition. If in any doubt, the selection panel may ask any candidate to produce documentary evidence of their declarations.
21. False statements are penalised in accordance with the law.
22. Admitted and excluded candidates and their rankings will be notified by email.
23. Deadlines for complaints and for the Final Decision: After notification, candidates have 10 working days to comment by sending an email to hru@biopolis.pt. The jury's final decisions will be made within 90 working days of the deadline for submitting applications.
24. This competition is intended exclusively to fill the vacancy indicated, and may be terminated until the final ranking list of candidates has been approved, and will expire when the job on offer has been filled.
25. Policy of non-discrimination and equal access: The BIOPOLIS Association actively promotes a policy of non-discrimination and equal access, whereby no candidate may be favoured, benefited, disadvantaged or deprived of any right or exempted from any duty on the grounds, in particular, of ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family situation, economic situation, education, 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 trade union membership.
26. In order to comply with Law no. 4/2019 of 10 January, candidates must declare on the application form, under oath, their degree of disability, the type of disability and the means of communication/expression to be used in the selection process.
27. The selection board approved this notice at its meeting held on 07/01/2025.
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