Job Information
- Organisation/Company: Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto
- Department: HR - Human Resources
- Research Field: Medical sciences » Other
- Researcher Profile: Recognised Researcher (R2)
- Positions: Master Positions
- Application Deadline: 2 Oct 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon)
- Country: Portugal
- Type of Contract: Permanent
- Job Status: Full-time
- Hours Per Week: 35
- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?: Other EU programme
Offer Description
Call for the award of 1 (one) Research Fellowship (BI), within the scope of the project "Unveil the unseen: a dormancy-targeting strategy for gastric cancer" (ref. COMPETE2030-FEDER-00732400, Operation Nrº. 16169), ONGOING AT THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PORTO (BOLS-FMUP-26-11)
A call is open for the award of 1 (one) research fellowship (BI) for a student holding a master's degree enrolled in a non-degree course integrated in the educational project of a higher education institution, developed in association or cooperation with one or more R&D units, to carry out R&D activities, within the scope of the project "Unveil the unseen: a dormancy-targeting strategy for gastric cancer" (Ref. COMPETE2030-FEDER-00732400, Operation No. 16169) - HIDDEN, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Innovation and Digital Transition Program (COMPETE2030), ongoing at the Department of Pathology of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, under the following conditions:
1. Scientific Area(s): Oncobiology.
2. Admission requirements:
All individuals who meet the following requirements, duly supported by documentary evidence, may apply for this fellowship:
- Academic Qualifications – Master's degree completed in the area(s) of Oncobiology, Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, or related areas;
- To be, or to be until the act of hiring, enrolled in a course that does not confer an academic degree integrated in the educational project of a higher education institution, developed in association or cooperation with one or more R&D units, to carry out R&D activities, and the respective proof must be presented until the act of hiring.
3. Preferential conditions:
- Academic and/or professional training in Biology, Biochemistry, Life and Health Sciences;
- Research experience with relevance to the theme of the project;
- Proven laboratory experience in cell and molecular biology techniques, namely in 2D and 3D cell culture; functional assays; cell transfection; advanced microscopy; flow cytometry; RT-PCR and Western Blot;
- Scientific and technological production, including scientific publications, oral communications and posters;
- Spoken and written Portuguese and English language skills.
4. Work plan:
Project summary
Cancer cells exploit dormancy to survive in hostile microenvironments and evade antiproliferative therapies, contributing to disease recurrence and a worse prognosis. Although dormancy is widely recognized as a critical step in cancer progression, the molecular mechanisms through which cells enter and exit this state in invasive carcinomas remain poorly understood.
This project is based on the hypothesis that the basal extrusion of mutant cells from the epithelium exposes them to specific signals from the extracellular matrix (ECM), capable of inducing a state of dormancy that favors their long-term persistence, keeping them clinically undetectable.
The work plan will take an integrative approach to investigate how the tumour microenvironment regulates cell dormancy and promotes cancer persistence. Activities include:
- Characterization of cell dormancy states;
- Identification of its main molecular characteristics;
- Evaluation of experimental strategies to disrupt dormancy and limit disease progression;
- Other related tasks within the scope of the project.
When the academic degree or diploma is awarded during the term of the scholarship contracts, the scholarship may continue as long as the activities foreseen in the work plan are not completed and under the terms specifically provided for in the notice of opening and in the contract, under the terms of paragraph 6 of article 10 of the Regulation.
5. Applicable legislation and regulations:
The competition and the respective award of the scholarship are governed by the provisions contained in:
- Research Grant Holder Statute (EBI), approved by Law No. 40/2004, of 18 August, as amended by Decree-Law No. 65/2024, of 8 August;
- Regulation of Research Grants of the University of Porto – approved by Regulation no. 184/2021, published in the Diário da República, 2nd series, no. 43, of 3 March 2021, amended and republished by Regulation no. 582/2026, published in the Diário da República, 2nd series, no. 96, of 19 May 2026;
- Code of Ethics of the University of Porto, approved by Order No. GR.03/10/2025; Code of Conduct and Good Practices of the University of Porto, approved by Order No. GR.05/12/2025; and other applicable rules.
- Legal regime for the recognition of academic degrees and higher education diplomas awarded by foreign higher education institutions, approved by Decree-Law No. 66/2018, of 16 August;
- Code of Administrative Procedure (CPA), approved by Decree-Law No. 4/2015, of 7 January, as amended.
6. Workplace:
The work plan will be developed in the Department of Pathology of FMUP and/or other places necessary for execution, under the scientific supervision of Dr. Joana Figueiredo, PhD, equivalent to Assistant Researcher at FMUP.
7. Duration of the scholarship:
The BI will have a duration of 12 months, under an exclusive dedication regime, and cannot, under the terms of paragraph a) of paragraph 3 of article 10 of the Regulation, have a duration of more than 1 year, given that it is a scholarship awarded to the holder of an academic degree enrolled in a course that does not confer an academic degree, and/or on the date of completion of the project.
8. Amount of the monthly maintenance allowance:
8.1. The monthly maintenance allowance corresponds to €1,359.64 (amount corresponding to the type of Master's Degree enrolled in a non-degree-conferring course), according to Annex I of the Regulation of Research Grants of the University of Porto, updated by Rector's Order No. GR.01/04/2026, of April 2, 2026, which changes the value of the University of Porto's research grants for the year 2026.
8.2. Payment will be made by the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto by bank transfer. In addition to this allowance, the scholarship holder will be covered by personal accident insurance.
8.3. The fellowship holder may join the Voluntary Social Security scheme (applicable to fellowship contracts of six months or longer), being optional and the reimbursement corresponding to the 1st Bracket of the contribution base.
9. Selection methods:
9.1. The selection methods are as follows: curricular assessment (CA) with a weighting of 80% and, optionally, complemented by an interview (ENT) with a weighting of 20%, which will only take place when the Jury understands that the CA does not allow to clarify, in the intended way, the real skills of the candidates or to distinguish which candidate is best suited to the position and functions to be performed. If an interview is deemed necessary, it will be conducted with the five (5) candidates with the highest scores in the CA.
9.2. Each member of the Jury evaluates the selection methods on a scale of 0 to 100 points.
9.3. The criteria and weighting factors of the curricular assessment (CA) (80%) are:
- Academic and/or professional training in Biology, Biochemistry, Life and Health Sciences (50 points);
- Research experience with relevance to the project theme (15 points);
- Proven laboratory experience in cell and molecular biology techniques, namely in 2D and 3D cell culture; functional assays; cell transfection; advanced microscopy; flow cytometry; RT-PCR and Western Blot (20 points);
- Scientific and technological production, including scientific publications, oral communications and posters (15 points).
9.4. The criteria and weighting factors of the interview (ENT) (20%), if it is carried out:
- Specific knowledge to carry out the work (50 points);
- Motivation for activities (25 points);
- Communication skills (25 points).
9.5. The Final Classification (FC) will be obtained by applying the following formula: FC = (0.8×CA) + (0.2×ENT). If the Jury waives the need for an Interview (ENT), CF = CA.
9.6. Candidates may request authorization from the president of the Jury to have their interview conducted by videoconference, providing justification for their request.
9.7. Absence from the interview phase of the selection process is equivalent to withdrawal from the competition, and candidates are excluded from the competition.
9.8. Candidates who have had an evaluation of less than 50 points in the CA will be excluded from the competition.
9.9. This competition is exclusively intended to fill the vacancy indicated, therefore, if there is no candidate who obtains, in the curricular evaluation (CA), a score equal to or greater than 50 points, under the terms of point 9.8 of this Notice, the Jury reserves the right not to award the fellowship.
10. Composition of the Selection Jury:
President – Dr. Joana Pinto de Figueiredo, PhD, equivalent to Assistant Researcher at FMUP
1st Full Member – Dr. José Carlos Lemos Machado, Full Professor, FMUP
2nd Full Member – Dr. Rita Henriques Pinto de Barros, Assistant Researcher, FMUP
3rd Full Member – Dr. Eurico Manuel Januário Rodrigues Morais de Sá, Group Leader, i3S
1st Alternate Member – Dr. Maria do Céu Fontes Herdeiro Figueiredo, Associate Professor, FMUP
2nd Alternate Member – Dr. Rui Manuel Mendes da Silva Ferreira, Assistant Researcher, i3S
11. Form of presentation and deadline:
11.1. Applications must be submitted by October 2nd 2026 (local time in mainland Portugal).
11.2. Applications must be formalized in the online application submission system, available on the FMUP website: https://app.apply.up.pt (Ref. BOLS-FMUP-26-11).
11.3. The application is accompanied by the documents proving the conditions set out in this Notice, namely:
- Curriculum vitae, updated in English;
- Copy of the certificate(s) of the required qualifications and recognition of the degree if it has been obtained in a foreign Higher Education institution (this recognition can be delivered until the act of hiring), with final classification obtained or declaration of the candidate;
- Proof of enrollment in a course that does not confer an academic degree integrated in the educational project of a higher education institution (proof of enrollment or declaration on honor stating that the applicant is able to enroll in the specified course, to be presented until the act of hiring);
- Letter of application, indicating the motivation for applying for the scholarship and availability for the estimated start of the work plan from November 1, 2026;
- Declaration of eligibility (attached);
- Other supporting documents considered relevant for assessing the eligibility and merit of the application.
11.4. Failure to comply with the deadline for submission of the application set, failure to submit or submission after the deadline of the documents referred to in paragraphs a) to e) of paragraph 11.3. determine the exclusion of the application.
11.5. Documents must be attached directly to the application, without connections to external platforms/disks. In order to ensure that all documents are read, the preferred save format is the Portable Document Format (.pdf). The files must be designated with the name and surname of the applicant and must not exceed 5 MB combined. These files can be compressed in .zip format.
11.6. The Jury may, whenever it deems necessary, request candidates to deliver complementary documents supporting the information included in their curriculum vitae, determining a deadline for this purpose, in the following terms:
- the documentation referred to is not intended for the presentation of elements not referenced in the curriculum vitae, nor for the addition of missing documents required in this Notice;
- All candidates shall be informed that additional documentation has been requested.
12. Misrepresentation:
False statements made by candidates will be punished in accordance with the law.
13. Form of publication/notification of results:
13.1. Candidates will be notified of the minutes(s) relating to the phase(s) of evaluation of applications by publication on the Apply UP electronic platform, pursuant to paragraph c) of paragraph 1 of article 112 of the Code of Administrative Procedure (CPA), and such notification will take effect pursuant to article 113 of the CPA.
13.2. Pursuant to article 19(2) of the Regulation, at a prior hearing, candidates are informed of the probable direction of the final decision, and have 10 working days from the notification to express their views in writing, under the terms provided for in the Code of Administrative Procedure (CPA).
14. Appeal:
An appeal may be lodged with the Rector of the University of Porto against the final ordering decision, after exercising the right to a prior hearing provided for in paragraph 13.2 of this Notice, within 10 working days from the respective notification, under the terms of article 19(8) of the Regulation.
15. Reserve List:
A reserve list will be drawn up based on the final ranking list, which may be used in the event of withdrawal of the candidates ranked first and second. The highest authority of the Faculty reserves the right to call the next candidate, and so on, until the vacancy is filled. The use of this reserve list may occur for a maximum period of 12 months from the date of approval of the final ranking list, under the terms of paragraph q) of paragraph 4 of article 14 of the Regulation.
16. Non-discrimination policy, equal access and Code of Ethics and Conduct:
The University of Porto actively promotes a policy of non-discrimination and equal access, so that no candidate may be privileged, benefited, prejudiced or deprived of any right or exempt from any duty on the grounds of, namely, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family situation, economic situation, education, origin or social condition, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological convictions and union membership. The provisions of the Code of Ethics, approved by Order no. GR.03/10/2025, and the Code of Conduct and Good Practices of the University of Porto, approved by Order no. GR.05/12/2025, must also be observed.
Porto, September 11th 2026
The Deputy Director of FMUP
Professor Filipa Abreu Gomes de Carvalho
DECLARATION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
For the purposes of complying with the provisions of the Research Grant Holder Statute (EBI), approved by Law No. 40/2004, of 18 August, as amended by Decree-Law No. 65/2024 and the Regulation on Research Grants of the University of Porto, as amended by Regulation No. 582/2026, published in the Official Gazette, 2nd series, No. 96, of 19 May 2026, I hereby declare that:
I have not entered into any Research Fellowship contract to date under the EBI.
To date, I have entered into the following Research Fellowship contract(s) under EBI:
Fellowship Type | Start Date | End Date | Institution | Contractor | Host Institution
Note: in the "Fellowship Type" field, the applicant must specify the exact category of the previous scholarship, according to the typologies provided for in the EBI:
- BII — Research Initiation Grant
- BI — Research Grant, discriminating the subtype:
- BI – Bachelor's/Master's degree enrolled in a non-degree course
- BI – Master's Degree
- BI – PhD
- BIPD — Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
I further declare that I meet the eligibility requirements for the award of this fellowship, under the terms of article 10(1)(a) of the Regulation (candidates enrolled in a PhD program) or article 10(1)(b) of the Regulation (candidates holding a Master's degree enrolled in a non-academic degree course), depending on the type under which I am applying.
I hereby date and sign this declaration.
Date ____/_____/______
Signature __________________________________________________
If the academic degree has been conferred by a foreign higher education institution, it must be recognized by a Portuguese higher education institution, under the terms of article 25 of Decree-Law no. 66/2018, of 16 August, which approves the legal regime for the recognition of academic degrees and diplomas of Higher Education, awarded by foreign higher education institutions, and paragraph e) of paragraph 2 of article 4 of Decree-Law no. 60/2018, of 3 August, and any formalities established therein must be fulfilled by the date of the act of hiring.
For the purposes of the duration limit provided for in article 10(3) of the Regulation, only the following are relevant, depending on the type of admission of the candidate to this call: (i) for candidates enrolled in a PhD, the BI contracts awarded, under the EBI, to students enrolled in a PhD, under the terms of paragraph c); (ii) for candidates holding a Master's degree enrolled in a non-degree course, the BI contracts awarded, under the EBI, to holders of a Master's degree enrolled in study cycles not conferring an academic degree, under the terms of paragraph a). Even so, the candidate must declare all the Research Fellowship contracts previously signed under the EBI, and it is up to the Selection Jury to assess the relevance of each one for the purposes of the aforementioned duration limit.
Where to apply
Website: https://app.apply.up.pt/procedures/hdunyf2qxctd61at
Requirements
- Research Field: Medical sciences » Health sciences
- Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available: 1
- Company/Institute: Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP)
- Country: Portugal
- State/Province: Porto
- City: Porto
- Postal Code: 4200-319
- Street: Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro
Contact
- City: Porto
- Website: https://med.up.pt/
- Street: Alameda Professor Hernani Monteiro
- Postal Code: 4200 - 319
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