PhD Researcher

Research Field: Biological sciences Researcher Profile: Other Profession Positions: PhD Positions Application Deadline: 24 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon) Country: Portugal Type of Contract: Not Applicable Job Status: Full-time Hours Per Week: 40 Offer Starting Date: 11 Nov 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Other EU programme Reference Number: 2026_093_IJ_FinWeightCycle Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No Offer Description A competition is open for the attribution of 1 work contract vacancy to an PhD Researcher (level 38) in the framework of the project FinWeightCycle- Development and molecular characterization of a weight-cycling model in zebrafish (Danio rerio) and its effects on the metabolism of the offspring, funded by the Innovation and Digital Transition Program (COMPETE 2030), Portugal 2030, under reference COMPETE2030-FEDER-00871800, at the research unit CIIMAR – Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, under the following conditions: 1. Scientific area: Biological Sciences (Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Environmental Sciences and Technologies, Pharmacy or related areas) 2. Admission requirements: To be admitted to the competition, candidates must hold a PhD degree in the area of Biological Sciences (Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Environmental Sciences and Technologies, Pharmacy or similar areas). Candidates must be proficient in the English language. The candidates must have experience in maintenance and experimental work using zebrafish adults and larvae (including zebrafish transgenic lines), experience in molecular fish physiology, and hold a Federation for European Laboratory Animal Science Associations (FELASA) accredited certification. The candidates must have experience in writing publications in international scientific journals in English, preferentially with high impact factor in the areas relevant for the project (e.g., physiology, endocrinology), molecular techniques such as transcriptomics (RNA-Seq, qPCR), proteomics (e.g. western blotting), and histological techniques (e.g. classic histology and immunohistochemistry). Experience with micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and RAS systems is highly desirable. Applicants must also have excellent academic and professional credentials, a willingness to work in a team, and be highly motivated and oriented towards a researcher role and teamwork. Other highly desirable competences include experience in Outreach and Science Dissemination activities, student supervision and mentoring, and research experience abroad. National, foreign and stateless candidates with a scientific and professional curriculum that reveals an adequate profile for the activity to be developed, according to the place in the competition, are encouraged to apply for the position. If the degree has been 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 established therein must be fulfilled until the signing of the contract. The jury reserves the right to close the application in case none of the candidates meets the desired profile. 3. Work plan: The selected candidate will join the FinWeightCycle project team and B4H Biodiscovery for Health Group. The project focuses on the development and molecular characterization of a weight cycling model (commonly known as “yo-yo dieting”) using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a subject. Its core objective is to map out the metabolic consequences of repeated weight loss and regain, specifically looking at how these changes affect the health and metabolism of the subjects' offspring. The tasks will include Proof-of-concepts experiments on obese and weigh-cycled adult zebrafish, which will be characterized by microCT analyses, transcriptomics and metabolomics/proteomics techniques. Phenotypic screening assays based on zebrafish larvae in vivo are planned. The candidate will also be involved in preparing project reports and their deliverables, as well as participating in project meetings, preparing manuscripts and other forms of communicating results. The selected candidate will also participate in laboratory management (orders, inventories) and maintenance of wild type and transgenic zebrafish strains. 4. Legislation and official rules: Decree-Law no. 57/2016, of August 29, which established the legal framework for the hiring of PhD holders—aimed at stimulating scientific and technological employment across all fields of knowledge (RJEC)—as amended by Law no. 57/2017, of July 19, and by the Labour Code (approved by Law no. 7/2009, of February 12, in its current wording), as well as by Regulatory Decree no. 11-A/2017, of December 29. 5. Work place: The selected candidate will work under the supervision of Dr Ralph Urbatzka from the B4H Biodiscovery for Health Group. The laboratory is located at the headquarters of CIIMAR, in the modern Cruise Terminal of the Port of Leixões, in Matosinhos, in the metropolitan area of Porto. The successful candidate will work in an international and multidisciplinary environment with a strong connection to the marine environment. 6. Duration of the contract: Employment contract for an uncertain term, starting in December 2026, according to legal terms (articles n. 140, no 1 and no 2, g; and article n. 148, − Labour Code and article 6 number 2 DL 57/2016. 7. Salary: The gross monthly salary is 2679.17 €, in accordance with the Single Remuneration Table (level 38), food, holidays and Christmas allowance apart. 8. Selection methods: An overall assessment (valued from 1 to 10) of the candidates' merit will be made through the evaluation of their scientific and curricular track record, based on 3 strands, relevance for the planned project and requested experience levels. The evaluation of the curriculum vitae will count 40% (CV), the motivation letter 10% (ML) and the scientific activity 50% (SA). CV: For the global evaluation of the CV, the academic qualifications and the scientific path will be evaluated. ML: Evaluation of the candidate's motivation and ability to innovate, based on the motivation letter describing the relevance of the scientific path to the position and personal career goals. SA: The scientific production is evaluated, based on publications in peer-reviewed international journals and conference contributions in the working area of the project. The classification of the scientific production is obtained by quantitative (50%) and qualitative evaluation (50%). Research activities include (i) supervision of students in the laboratory and (ii) participation in R&D projects, services, and technology transfer processes and (iii) participation in science management and knowledge dissemination activities. This global assessment will result in a pre-selection of the three best-ranked candidates, which will be communicated to the candidates. One or both of the referees indicated by each of the pre-selected candidates can be contacted at this stage to provide reference letters. An interview may also be carried out, in which case all of the pre-selected candidates will be summoned to the interview. The jury will select one candidate among the preselected candidates to the position. If an interview to the pre-selected candidates takes place, it is intended exclusively for the clarification of aspects related to the research results. The interview has a weight of 10% and the previous evaluation weight of 90%. The evaluation of the scientific and curricular path focuses on the relevance, quality, timeliness and adequacy to work plan of the project. 9. Composition of the jury selection: President of the jury: Ralph Urbatzka Vogal: Dra Joana Almeida Vogal: Dra Isabel Cunha 10. Form of Advertising/notification of results: The final results of the first evaluation step (pre-selection) will be published on the CIIMAR website as a list of candidates ranked according to the assigned valuation. These results will also be emailed to candidates. In case of disagreement, candidates have a period of 10 working days to respond, if they so wish, in a prior hearing and in accordance with the Code of Administrative Procedure. After the interviews, the final results related to the pre-selected candidates will be published on the CIIMAR website and communicated to them via e-mail. The jury reserves the right not to assign the position if none of the candidates meet all the requirements and match the desired profile. 11. Period for receiving applications: If you are interested in this position, you must send your application between 11/11/2026 until 24/11/2026, to rh@ciimar.up.pt , with the reference of the competition (as stated in this notice) in the “Subject” field of the email. The application must be formalized by sending the following documents (all written in English): Curriculum vitae, detailed and structured pursuant to section 8; including information regarding: scientific and technological production, research activities, and knowledge dissemination; Motivation letter (max 2 pages) that includes a short description of the professional activities that the candidate considers relevant; Contact e-mail address and phone number; as well as the contacts of two references (name, email and current position); Copy of eligibility certificates. Applications that do not include all of the above elements will not be considered. False statements provided by the candidates shall be punished by law. 12. Policy of non-discrimination and equal access: CIIMAR actively promotes a policy of non-discrimination and equal access, whereby no candidate may be privileged, benefited, harmed or deprived of any right or exempt from any duty on the grounds, namely, of ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family situation, economic situation, education, origin or social condition, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, illness chronicle, nationality, ethnic origin or race, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological convictions and union membership. Under the terms of Decree-Law nº 29/2001, of February 3rd, the disabled candidate has a preference in equal classification, which prevails over any other legal preference. Candidates must declare in the application form, under a commitment to honour, the respective degree of incapacity, the type of disability and the means of communication/expression to be used in the selection process, under the terms of the aforementioned diploma. Where to apply E-mail: rh@ciimar.up.pt Requirements Research Field: Biological sciences Education Level: PhD or equivalent Skills/Qualifications: To be admitted to the competition, candidates must hold a PhD degree in the area of Biological Sciences (Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Environmental Sciences and Technologies, Pharmacy or similar areas). Candidates must be proficient in the English language. The candidates must have experience in maintenance and experimental work using zebrafish adults and larvae (including zebrafish transgenic lines), experience in molecular fish physiology, and hold a Federation for European Laboratory Animal Science Associations (FELASA) accredited certification. The candidates must have experience in writing publications in international scientific journals in English, preferentially with high impact factor in the areas relevant for the project (e.g., physiology, endocrinology), molecular techniques such as transcriptomics (RNA-Seq, qPCR), proteomics (e.g. western blotting), and histological techniques (e.g. classic histology and immunohistochemistry). Experience with micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and RAS systems is highly desirable. Applicants must also have excellent academic and professional credentials, a willingness to work in a team, and be highly motivated and oriented towards a researcher role and teamwork. Other highly desirable competences include experience in Outreach and Science Dissemination activities, student supervision and mentoring, and research experience abroad. National, foreign and stateless candidates with a scientific and professional curriculum that reveals an adequate profile for the activity to be developed, according to the place in the competition, are encouraged to apply for the position. If the degree has been 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 established therein must be fulfilled until the signing of the contract. The jury reserves the right to close the application in case none of the candidates meets the desired profile. Languages: ENGLISH Level: Excellent Research Field: Biological sciences Years of Research Experience: 1 - 4 Work Location(s) Number of offers available: 1 Company/Institute: CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Center of Marine and Environmental Research – Uporto Country: Portugal State/Province: Porto City: Matosinhos Postal Code: 4450-208 Matosinhos Street: Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões Contact City: Matosinhos Website: https://www.ciimar.up.pt/jobs/ Street: Terminal Cruzeiros Porto Leixoes Postal Code: 4450-208 E-Mail: rh@ciimar.up.pt