Post-Doctoral Researcher

Offer Description

The Rector of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Prof. Dr. Isabel Capeloa Gil, hereby announces the opening of an international call for applications for one vacancy of junior researcher to perform duties of scientific research (with an exclusivity clause) related to the purification of proteins and lipids and in vitro reconstitution systems, in the scientific field of Virology. The research activities will be carried out at the Católica Biomedical Research Centre (CBR), integrated at the Católica Medical School, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences (Lisbon and Porto) of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, in Lisboa - Oeiras, within the framework of the LO Flu_TREAT: Targeting liquid organelles to develop new antiviral strategies against IAV infections, ERC Proof of Concept Grant, Project 101334839.

The project aims at identifying, producing and testing molecules able to harden influenza A virus liquid inclusions in vitro and in vivo. The researcher herein hired will be involved in the in vitro part of the project.

Formal application procedure
Applications are formalized by sending the required documentation to mjamorim@ucp.pt with the following reference in the Subject of the e-mail: CBR-2026-07 - #Candidate's name#.

Applications must be submitted in English.

Applications shall include the following documents:

a) Curriculum vitae, highlighting the scientific and curricular course (of the past five years) considered most relevant by the candidate.
b) Doctoral Certificate with date of admission to the degree.
c) Motivation letter to develop the project and explain why the candidate is a good fit for it;
d) Names of referees to be contacted for three references for candidates who score more than 50 points in the initial stage.

If the doctoral degree has been awarded by a non-Portuguese higher education institution, said degree must comply with the provisions of the Portuguese legislation on the recognition of foreign degrees, as set out in Decree-Law no. 66/2018 of August 16th. Entering into a contract with the selected candidate is conditional on the submission of the formal document.
For additional information on this matter candidates are advised to check the website of the Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES): https://www.dges.gov.pt/en/pagina/degree-and-diploma-recognition.

Application deadline
Candidates may submit their application, pursuant to the terms mentioned in the previous point, from October 28, 2026 until November 10, 2026 (until 5pm, Continental Portugal time).
Candidates who do not comply with the application's prerequisites or who fail to submit proof of meeting the requirements stated in the present public notice shall be excluded from consideration. In case of doubt, the panel is entitled to request that candidates present further documentation attesting to their written statements. Failure to submit the requested clarification, information, or documents, within five working days of being requested to do so, determines the dismissal of the application.
Any false statements made or provided by the candidates are punishable by law.

Where to apply

E-mail: mjamorim@ucp.pt

Requirements

Research Field: Biological sciences » Biology

Education Level: PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

We are seeking candidates with a PhD and expertise in virology, protein purification, lipid biology and phase-separation mechanisms. Candidates should be able to manipulate viruses, handle viral infections, purify viral components and cellular proteins, and investigate different molecular condensates to characterise their material properties. They should also be able to produce liposomes.
In addition, candidates should have experience in microscopy, FRAP, and microfluidics. Other desirable skills include experience in cell culture, transfection systems, viral infection, and quantification of viral replication throughout the course of infection.

Specific Requirements

Selected candidates should have experience in virology, microscopy, and molecular and cellular biology, particularly in the biology of biomolecular condensates and lipids. Candidates should have experience in both mammalian cell and bacterial culture, as well as protein purification protocols.
It is essential that candidates are proficient in live-cell imaging microscopy, the analysis of condensate material properties, SPLASHH, and the monitoring of viral infection progression using plaque assays and RT-qPCR.

Languages: ENGLISH
Level: Excellent

Research Field: Biological sciences » Biology

Additional Information

Benefits

Gross monthly pay is 2622,59 euros, plus meal allowance, to which will be added annual leave and Christmas allowances.

Eligibility criteria

Assessment criteria
The assessment criteria are the following: scientific output and its relevance, participation in scientific projects and conferences, student supervision, scientific dissemination activities, knowledge transfer, and other relevant activities and experience. The assessment process additionally includes an interview with the candidates ranked in the top three positions, if deemed necessary.
The final candidate classification shall be given on a scale of 0 to 100. The value shall be invariably calculated taking into account that, for each item, only those activities relevant to the field of the present call for applications are to be considered, with the following weighting:
1. Scientific and curricular background (SCB)

a) Scientific and technological output: 30%;
b) Applied or practice-based research activities: 20%;
c) Knowledge extension and dissemination activities: 10%;
d) Interview (I).

The candidates ranked in the first three positions will be interviewed (I), in order to clarify aspects related to the results of their research. They will be asked to make a 10-minute presentation (including a PowerPoint presentation), in which they demonstrate their contributions to the research field.
Applicants who are interviewed will be awarded a new classification - in addition to the initial one-, based on the following formula:
Final classification = 60% SCB + 40% I
Candidates with 50 or more points will be considered for the position.

Selection process

Tender Selection Panel
The tender selection panel shall be formed by:
President of the Jury: Prof. Dr. Maria Joao Amorim;
Other members: Prof. Dr. Raquel Oliveira; Prof. Dr. Marta Alenquer and Prof. Dr. Claudio Franco.

Deliberation and publication

The panel shall deliberate by means of roll-call voting based on the adopted and disclosed selection criteria, with no abstentions allowed. Minutes of panel meetings shall be taken. These shall contain a summary of events, as well as details of the votes cast by each of the members and their respective reasoning. After all selection criteria have been applied, the panel shall prepare a ranked list of approved candidates and their respective classification. The panel's final decision shall be approved by the Rector, who shall also approve the hiring of the selected candidate.
The ranked list of approved candidates will be posted at the Lisboa - Oeiras facilities of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, located at Católica Biomedical Research Centre, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, 2780-156 Oeiras and will be published on the website Católica Biomedical Research Centre | FM WEBSITE (ucp.pt). Candidates will be notified by email once this list has been made available.

Preliminary Hearing and Final Decision Deadline
After notification of the results, candidates have ten working days to respond. In the following five working days (counting from the end of the candidates' response period), the panel's final decision is issued.

Website for additional job details: https://cbr.fm.ucp.pt/en/Post-Doctoral-Researcher-LOFlu-TREAT

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: Católica Biomedical Research Centre - Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Country: Portugal
City: Oeiras
Postal Code: 2780-156
Street: Rua da Quinta Grande 6

Contact

City: Oeiras
Website: https://fm.ucp.pt/news/post-doctoral-researcher-recruitment-15716?change-language=1
Street: Rua Quinta Grande 6
Postal Code: 2780-156