Research Fellow Master

Scientific area: Biochemistry

Admission requirements:

• Experience in clinical trials
• Solid knowledge in Biochemistry
• Proven experience in saliva proteomics analysis

Preference requirements

• Experience in recruitment of participants to clinical trials
• Experience in analysis of psychophysiological data (e.g. heart rate variability)

As set forth FCT Research Scholarship Regulation No. 950/2019 of December 16, 2019, article 3 and 6, candidates for “BI” (Research Grants) must comply as a rule condition for the award of the scholarship, the effective inclusion in study cycles leading to the attribution of academic degrees or in courses not leading to an academic degree. Courses that do not confer an academic degree correspond to the courses provided for in subparagraph e) of paragraph 3 of article 4 of Decree-Law No. 74/2006 of 24 March and must be developed in a higher education institution in association with at least one R&D unit, including a course plan in one or several research areas of the unit.

Work plan:

The grant holder will participate in work within the scope of the HealthyW8 project, particularly related with the tasks planned in WP4 (long-term trials), namely recruitment of participants, for intervention trials, continuous contact with them, as well as collection and processing of saliva samples. More particularly, the work plan will include the periodic contact with young adults and children, application of surveys, unstimulated saliva collection and biochemical treatment of saliva samples. Concerning this last, gel-based and gel-free proteomics approaches will be used, as well as molecule quantification through immunostaining techniques (e.g. ELISA and Western Blot). The grant holder will be also involved in analysis of data collected at the beginning and intermediate periods, namely dietary data (FFQ), data about physical activity, health and wellbeing and psychophysiological data (e.g. heart rate variability).

Applicable legislation and regulations: The granting of the Research Scholarship will be carried out upon the signing of a contract between the University of Évora and the scholarship holder, according to the version in Annex I, pursuant to the Research Scholarship Statute (Law no. 40/2004 of August 18, as amended) and considering the provisions of other applicable legislation and regulations, namely, the Research Grant Regulations of the University of Évora (published by Order no. 8131/2024, of July 22, 2024), and the Research Grant Regulations of the Science and Technology Foundation, I.P. (Regulation no. 950/2019, of July 22, 2024).

Place of work: The work will be developed at Laboratory of Oral Biology and Salivary Proteomics of the Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture Environment and Development of the University of Évora, under the general coordination of the Administrator of the University of Évora and the scientific guidance of the Professor/PhD, Elsa Lamy, who must draw up an opinion on the final activity report of the scholarship (Annex II), according to the draft in Annex III.

Duration of the scholarship(s): The scholarship will have a duration of 6 months, starting on november of 2026. The scholarship contract may be renewed up to the end of the budget allocation of the financing project.

Amount of monthly maintenance allowance: The amount of the scholarship corresponds to €1 259,64, according to the table of scholarships awarded directly by FCT, I.P. in Portugal (https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Tabela_valores_SMM_2026.pdf), payments being made monthly, by check or bank transfer.

Selection methods: The selection methods to be used will be the following:

• CV assessment (100%)

If deemed necessary by the jury, for additional clarification or to break ties, the top two candidates may be called for a selection interview. If an interview is used, the assessment criteria will be as follows:

• CV assessment (50%)
• Interview (50%)

Composition of the Selection Jury:

President – Elsa Lamy (Assistant Researcher – Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development - MED) – coordinator of the HealthyW8 project at the University of Évora)

1st Member – Fernando Capela e Silva (Associate Professor – Department of Biomedical and Health Sciences – ESDH, University of Évora)

2nd Member – Sofia Tavares (Professora Auxiliar – Departamento de Psicologia - ECS, Universidade de Évora)

1st Alternate Member – Armando Raimundo (Full Professor – Department of Sports and Health – ESDH, University of Évora)

2nd Alternate Member – Nuno Batalha (Associate Professor - Department of Sports and Health – ESDH, University of Évora)

Advertising/notification of results: The final results of the evaluation will be sent by e-mail, for all the candidates. To ensure the right of prior hearing of interested parties, the Final Classification project will be announced by any written means to all interested parties.

After communicating the provisional list of the results of the evaluation, candidates have a period of 10 working days to express their opinion in a preliminary hearing of interested parties. Based on the final ranking list, a reserve selection list will be drawn up, to be used for the possible recruitment of new scholarship holders within the scope of this project, up to the duration of the scholarship, which may be used in the eventuality of the first ranked candidate withdrawing, failing to present the mandatory documentation, or in the event of the scholarship holder canceling their scholarship early. In the eventuality that none of the candidates demonstrates the profile required to carry out the work plan, the jury reserves the right not to award the scholarship.

Application deadline and submission of applications: The tender is open from 15th October to 29th October 2026 and the results of the selection will be published until 2nd November 2026.

Applications must be formalized, obligatorily, by sending an application letter with the following documents: Curriculum Vitae, certificate of qualifications and other supporting documents considered relevant.

For the purposes of application, the evidence may be replaced by a declaration of honor signed by the candidate, but the failure to demonstrate that evidence, in the contracting phase, possession of the required degree on the deadline for application or the non-presentation of proof of enrollment in the study cycle or non-degree course, for scholarships with this component, imply the cancellation of the candidate's application.

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 25th.

The presentation of the certificate is mandatory for the signing of the contract. More information can be obtained at: https://www.dges.gov.pt/pt/pagina/recognition?plid=374

Applications must be sent by email to:

Prof. Elsa Lamy

Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, University of Évora

email: ecsl@uevora.pt

Subject: Application for Saliva HealthyW8 Master's Scholarship 2

Where to apply

E-mail: ecsl@uevora.pt

Requirements

Research Field: Chemistry » Biochemistry

Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available: 1

Company/Institute: Universidade de Évora

Country: Portugal

State/Province: Évora

City: Évora

Postal Code: 7000-803

Street: Largo dos Colegiais, 2