PhD holder Researcher

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

Offer Description

Reference: REQUIMTE 2026-56

Main research field: Health Sciences

Sub research field: Chemistry and bioactivity of natural products

1. In a meeting the Board of Directors of REQUIMTE has decided to open an international call for PhD holder Researchers, under a work contract for a non-fixed term. This announcement is intended to 1 (one) research position to pursue scientific research activities in the on the project “NUTRIBRAIN - Coastal Flora for Mental Well-being Promotion: Development of food supplements based on dune plant compounds with impact on BDNF-TrkB signalling”, with reference COMPETE2030-FEDER-00686600, operation nº 15759, supported by FEDER (COMPETE 2030) and national funds by FCT / MECI, in the area of Health Sciences, under a work contract for a non-fixed term, aiming at the development of research activities in the area of ​​chemistry and bioactivity of natural products, as well as design, development and characterization of food supplements.

2. Applicable Legislation

Law no. 55/2025 of April 28; Portuguese Labour Code, approved by Law 7/2009 of February 12, in its actual form; and Scientific Employment Regulation published in Diário da República under the number 607-A/2017 of November 22, modified by Regulation 1083/2023 of October 12.

3. Pursuant to article 13 of RJEC, the tender selection panel is formed by: Ana Clara Fortio Mourato Teixeira Grosso Gonçalves (Researcher at REQUIMTE, acting as chairperson by delegation of the President of REQUIMTE; Maria Manuela Barbosa Correia (Assistant Professor and Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering at ISEP; Graciliana Luísa Lino Lopes (Researcher at CIIMAR) and Ana Isabel Oliveira (Coordinating Professor at ESS, substitute member).

4. The workplace shall be at ISEP.

5. The gross monthly salary entitle is € 3.576,56, corresponding to 195 index of the Scientific Research Career (Annex 3 of Decreto-Lei nº 408/89, of 18 de November).

6. Application can be submitted by any national, foreign and stateless candidate(s) holding a doctorate degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biotechnology and related area and a scientific and professional curriculum whose profile is suited for the activity described below (item 7).

In case the doctorate degree was awarded by a foreign higher education institution, it must comply with the provisions of Decree-Law no. 66/2018 of 16th August, and all formalities established therein must be complied with at the signature of work contract.

7. The tender admission general requirements are those defined in the previous point 6, and additional specific requirements are proven experience in:

(1) the extraction of bioactive metabolites from natural matrices, using different extraction techniques;

(2) the chemical characterization of extracts, fractions and/or compounds of natural origin, by chromatographic techniques (HPLC-PDA and LC-MS), with particular relevance in the characterization of phenolic composts;

(3) the cultivation and maintenance of cell cultures, such as the implementation, validation and execution of tests in cellular models for the evaluation of biological activities, particularly using cell lines relevant to the scope of the project, designated SH-SY5Y, CACO-2, Hep-G2 and RAW 264.7;

(4) the assessment of cytotoxicity mechanisms and DNA damage in mammalian cells, as well as inflammatory responses through the quantification of different mediators and cellular markers;

(5) design, development and physicochemical characterization of nutritional supplements/functional foods based on natural matrices;

(6) the preparation of project reports, with particular value placed on previous experience in the participation and/or coordination of national and international projects;

(7) the organization of scientific dissemination events and outreach activities aimed at different audiences;

(8) supervision and training of graduate and postgraduate students, including scientific and pedagogical mentoring, supervision of research activities, and active participation in the training and development of early-career researchers.

8. Pursuant to article 5 of RJEC, the selection is to be made based on the evaluation of the scientific and curricular career of the candidate.

9. Scientific and curricular career evaluation focuses on relevance, quality and up-to-datedness:

a) of scientific and technological production in the last five years, considered most relevant by the candidate;

b) of research activities, fundamental or applied science, developed in the last five years, considered of higher impact by the candidate;

c) of knowledge extension and dissemination activities developed in the last five years, namely under the scope of the promotion of culture and scientific practices, deemed most relevant by the candidate.

10. The five-year period mentioned above can be extended by the panel, if requested by the candidate, whenever the suspension of scientific activities is reasoned by socially protected grounds like paternity leave, long-term serious illness, and other legal situations of unavailability to work.

11. Evaluation criteria are the following:

The evaluation of the CV of the candidates, in particular the scientific merit and research experience will take into consideration the elements presented for the last five years of activity falling within the scope of the specific areas of the tender (see Point 1) and will be performed according to the following criteria:

11.1 Integrated assessment of the curriculum trajectory of the candidate, based on an overview of their scientific merits, namely:

I. overall scientific coherence of the CV – 15%

II. diversity and quality of scientific indicators, including relevant published peer-reviewed articles and abstracts in the specific areas of announce (see point 1) – 25%

III. participation in research projects and students supervision – 10%

11.2 Relevant experience, proved in CV, in:

I. Extraction and chemical characterization of bioactive composts from natural matrices – 20%

II. implementation, validation and execution of tests in cellular models – 20%

III. Design, development and physicochemical characterization of nutritional supplements – 10%

Only candidates who obtain a classification equal to or greater than 50% in the parameters indicated at points 11.1 and 11.2 will be eligible.

12. In the case of admitted candidates whose evaluation does not differ more than 10% from that obtained by the best positioned candidate, the jury will interview the best positioned candidate and the candidates in this situation. This will be aimed at obtaining clarifications and explanations about the curricular elements and additional information as well as to evaluate the attitude profile and motivation of the candidate.

The final score of each jury member is obtained by the following assessment: 90% scientific and curricular career evaluation and 10% interview.

13. Candidate final classification system shall be given based on a scale 0 to 100.

14. The panel shall deliberate by means of roll-call vote justified under adopted and disclosed selection criteria, with no abstentions allowed.

15. Minutes of panel meetings shall be executed and include a summary of all occurrences of said meeting, as well as of all votes casted by the members and respective reasoning, and shall be provided to candidates whenever required.

16. After selection criteria application, the panel shall prepare a sorted list of approved candidates and respective classification.

17. Panel’s final decision shall be validated by the leader of the institution, who is also in charge of deciding about the hiring.

18. Application formalization:

18.1 The applications are formalized at the electronic address https://www.requimte.com/ with following documents in a digital form, in PDF format:

i) Curriculum vitae;

ii) Motivational Letter;

iii) Qualifications Certificate;

iv) other relevant documentation.

18.2. The application period is from 28/09/2026 and 12/10/2026.

19. All candidates who formalize their applications in an improper way or fail to prove the requirements imposed by this tender are excluded from admission. In case of doubt, the panel is entitled to request any candidate to present further documentation supporting their statements.

20. False statements provided by the candidates shall be punished by law.

21. Both admitted and excluded candidate list and final classification list shall be published at the address of REQUIMTE (Praça Coronel Pacheco nº 15-6º andar, Porto), in the website of the Institute and the selected candidate shall be notified by email.

22. Preliminary Hearing and Final Decision Deadline: After publication, all candidates have 10 working days to respond. Panel’s final decisions are pronounced within a period of 90 working days, from response period deadline.

23. This tender is exclusively destined to fill this specify position and can be terminated at any time until approval of final candidate list, expiring with the respective occupation of said position.

24. Non-discrimination and equal access policy: REQUIMTE 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, sex, sexual preference, marital status, family and economic conditions, instruction, origin or social conditions, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, origin territory, language, religion, political or ideological convictions and union membership.

25. The panel has approved this announcement in meeting held on 18/09/2026.

26. According to Decree-Law no. 29/2001 of 3 February, disabled candidates shall be preferred in a situation of equal classification, 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.

27. The selection of candidate to be hired is determined by orientations and regulations issued by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tec

Where to apply

E-mail: bolsas@iceta.up.pt

Requirements

Research Field: Other

Education Level: PhD or equivalent

Additional Information

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available: 1

Company/Institute: REQUIMTE

Country: Portugal

Contact

City: Porto

Website: https://www.requimte.pt/

Street: Praça Coronel Pacheco, nº 15 6º andar

Postal Code: 4050-453