Offer Description
ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE AWARD OF A RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP
Title: Research Fellowship; 1 vacancy
Reference: 37/ECUM/CQUM/2026 - PeP2-AntiLeish
A call for applications is now open for the attribution of one research grant, within the scope of the I&D project Pre-clinical evaluation of novel pyrimidopyrimidine-based compounds against leishmaniasis, with reference COMPETE2030-FEDER—00715600, to be developed in Centre of Chemistry of University of Minho (CQ-UM), financed by FEDER funds under the following conditions:
Scientific Area: Chemistry
Recipient category: Research Grant for Masters, enrolled in a course not leading to an academic degree, but integrated in the educational project of a HigherEducation Institution.
Requirement for granting the fellowship:
- The applicants may apply without prior registration in the course for which the fellowship is open. The requirement to enroll in a degree course or non-academic degree course will be verified on the date of contracting the fellowship;
- Only fellowships whose selected applicants present a valid proof of enrollment in a degree course or non-academic degree course will be contracted, according to the type of the fellowship, issued by a Higher Education Institution, indicating, respectively, the academic year or its duration (start and term).
Applicants’ eligibility: Candidates who meet the conditions set out in Article 9 of the Research Grant Regulations, No. 950/2019, of [contact details available in the full listing], of FCT I.P. are eligible.
Nationals or citizens of other European Union member states, third-country nationals, stateless persons, and citizens with political refugee status are eligible to apply for this competition.
Candidate eligibility requirements:
The candidate must have the following mandatory requirements:
- degree in Chemistry;
- Master degree in Medicinal Chemistry;
- research experience in i) Synthesis and functionalization of nitrogen and oxygen heterocycles; ii) synthesis and characterization of nanosystems (morphology, size, surface charge, stability by SEM and DLS/ELS) for drug delivery; iii) Physical, analytical and spectroscopic characterization (IV, UV, fluorescence, 1H and 13C NMR) of new compounds; iv) Green synthesis methodologies.
- Proficiency in the English language.
Workplan and objectives to be achieved:
The work plan aims to develop and consolidate the scientific training of the grantee, through involvement in research work, carrying out the following R&D activities:
- Synthesize new compounds to be tested in Leishmania, using synthesis methods already developed in the research group or creating new more sustainable synthesis methods.
- Design new synthesis pathways, based on literature search, and implement them for optimization of structures, taking into account the results of SAR analysis of the new compounds in L. infantum.
- Characterise novel compounds by physical, analytical and spectroscopic methods and ensure the purity criteria of the compounds to be tested.
- Develop an efficient nanosystem for the delivery of hit compounds.
- Characterize the nanosystem(s) by the usual characterization methods.
- Compilation and analysis of results and writing of reports.
As evaluation criteria, the execution of the tasks indicated above is identified, according to their schedule, respecting good laboratory practices and complying with the purity criteria established for samples for biological tests.
Applicable legislation and regulations: Research Fellow Statute (EBI), approved by Law nº. 40/2004 of August 18, in its current wording and FCT Research Fellowship Regulation, approved by Regulation nº 950/2019, published in the Diário da República, 2nd series, of December 16, 2019, in its current wording, and Scientific Research Fellowship Regulation (RBIC) of the University of Minho, approved by order nº 4998/2025, published in the Diário da República, 2nd series, nº 81, of April 28, 2025 Amended and republished through amendment statement no. 634/2025/2, published in the Official Gazette, 2nd series, no. 132, of July 11.
Host/Contracting institution and scientific supervision: The workplan will be carried out in the Centre for Chemistry (CQ-UM), located in the Campus of Gualtar, under the scientific supervision and coordination of Professor Maria Alice Gonçalves Carvalho, Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemistry.
Fellowship duration: The grant will be awarded for a period of 6 months, with a provisional starting date in December 2026. The fellowship grant may, eventually, be renewed up to the maximum limit allowed by the project and/or applicable legislation.
Amount of the research grant: The amount of the grant corresponds to 1359.64€/month, according to the table of values of the Research scholarship of the University of Minho, updated annually, as decided by the Management Board.
Payment is made on the 23rd of each month, through bank transfer to the Bank Identification Number of the fellow identified in the contratualization process.
Other benefits: Reimbursement of Voluntary Social Insurance, if the candidate chooses to receive it, corresponding to the 1st level of discounts (for research grants with a total duration 6 months or higher) and personal accident insurance.
Exclusivity regime: The grantee will perform the activities under exclusivity, as foreseen in article 5º of the Research Fellow Statutes and applicable regulations.
Selection panel:
- President: Professor Maria Alice Gonçalves Carvalho, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, School of Sciences, University of Minho.
- Effective member: Professor Ana Paula Assunção Esteves, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, School of Sciences, University of Minho.
- Effective member: Professor Maria do Sameiro Torres Gonçalves, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, School of Sciences, University of Minho.
- Alternate Member: Doctor Maria João Ribeiro Peixoto de Queiroz, Coordinating Researcher, Centre for Chemistry, School of Sciences, University of Minho.
- Alternate member: Professor João Carlos Ramos Marcos, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, School of Sciences, University of Minho.
The first effective member will substitute the President of the selection panel in case of impediment, being nominate the first substitute member in the place of the first effective member.
Criteria and procedures for applications assessment and selection: The applications assessment will focus on the candidate's merit and an interview, following evaluation criteria, valued on a scale of 0 to 5 values:
A. Applicant Merit - AM (60%):
A.1 - Academic path (considering the classifications of academic degrees), with a weighting of 50%;
A.2 - Personal curriculum (considering professional and scientific background with relevance to the work plan), with a weighting of 40%;
A.3 - Motivation letter, with a weighting of 10%.
The final classification of the applicant’s merit will be achieved through the following formula:
AM = (A.1*0.5) +(A.2*0.4 +(A.3*0.1)
Candidates classified in the first 3 (three) positions, who obtain a minimum classification of 3.5 in the AM, will be admitted to the Interview phase, the Jury proceeding to the evaluation of the following sub-criteria
B. Interview – INT (40%):
B.1 - interpersonal skills (20%);
B.2 - Demonstrated knowledge in the area (50%);
B.3 - Motivation (20%);
B.4 - Linguistic competences (10%).
The Jury also decided to proceed with the evaluation of the Interview, according to the following levels:
- High – 5 values;
- Good – 4 values;
- Sufficient – 3 values;
- Reduced – 2 values;
- Insufficient – 1 value.
- Poor – 0 values.
The Interview classification (INT) will be obtained by applying the following formula:
INT=(B.1×0,2) + (B.2×0,5) + (B.3×0,2) + (B.4×0,1)
The final classification (CF) of Candidate Merit (MC) and Interview (INT) will be obtained by applying the following formula:
CF=(AM×0,6) + (INT×0,4)
Note: Applicants with degrees obtained abroad must present proof of recognition of qualifications in Portugal and conversion of the final classification obtained in them to the Portuguese classification scale or declaration under the terms indicated in the next point. Candidates who do not comply with one of these provisions, the selection panel will assign “0” in the grade of the graduation and/or master course. Candidates will be evaluated on the remaining parameters.
Application deadline and submission: The call for applications is open for a period of 10 working days from the date of publication.
Applications must be submitted by email to [contact details available in the full listing], indicating the reference number of the competition in the subject line: 37/ECUM/CQUM/2026 - PeP2-AntiLeish. Only applications submitted within the established deadline and accompanied by the following documents will be accepted:
- Candidate's updated curriculum vitae;
- Certificates of the academic degrees obtained or, if applicable, the candidate's declaration of honor that he/she has completed the degrees required in the notice by the application deadline.
For degrees obtained abroad, the record of recognition of the academic degrees and record of the conversion of the respective final classification to the Portuguese classification scale must be presented, or, alternatively, a declaration of honor from the candidate.
This declaration must attest to facts that occurred prior to the application. In the event of a discrepancy between the information contained in the declaration and the documentation submitted for the purposes of contracting the scholarship, only the information contained in the latter will be considered. If it is found that the documents proving the academic degree and diploma, or their recognition under the terms of Decree-Law n. º 66/2018, of August 16, do not correspond to the classifications awarded in the assessment of the academic career and may consequently alter the candidate's ranking, the scholarship will not be contracted;
- Motivation letter
- Other documents that the candidate considers relevant tot he evaluation process.
Form of publication/notification of results: The results of the evaluation are published in a single list in alphabetical order or by final score obtained, posted in a visible and public place in the host unit, as well as by email to all candidates, attaching, for this purpose, the minutes of the jury's deliberations, within a maximum period of 90 working days from the deadline for submission of applications.
Candidates are informed, at a preliminary hearing, in accordance with Articles 121 and 122 of the Administrative Procedure Code, of the likely outcome of the final decision, and may comment within 10 working days of this notification.
The waiver of the hearing for interested parties, if applicable, will be justified in accordance with Article 124 of the CPA.
An appeal may be lodged against the final decision within 15 working days, or an appeal may be lodged with the highest executive body of the funding entity within 30 days, both after the respective notification (Article 12 (nº6) of the FCT Research Grant Regulations).
Within 10 working days of notification of the grant award, the applicant must declare their acceptance in writing. In case of non-acceptance, the next highest ranked applicant will be notified immediately.
Constitution of a selection reserve list: The applicants ranked in the next positions on the ordered list will be included in a selection reserve list, which can be used until 01/04/2027.
Fellowship contractualization: The scholarship is awarded through the signing of a contract between the University of Minho and the scholarship recipient, in accordance with point 2.4 of the Rules for the Award and Management of Scholarships https://www.fct.pt/wpcontent/uploads/2022/03/Normas_de_Atribuicao_de_Bolsas_2021.pdf and the draft contract in Annex II of the University of Minho's Scientific Research Scholarship Regulations.
The contract can only be signed after receipt of all the documentation required for the type of scholarship, which must occur within a maximum period of 6 months, including proof of academic degrees or diplomas, as well as enrollment in non-degree study cycles or courses, as applicable.
Once all the documentation has been received, the contracting entity has 60 working days to sign the scholarship contract. Once received by the scholarship holder, the contract must be returned, duly signed, within 15 working days.
Term and cancellation of fellowship contracts: Without prejudice to the other grounds laid down in the University of Minho's Scientific Research Scholarship Regulation and in the Research Fellow Statute, the scholarship will cease on completion of the contracted work plan, as well as on expiry of the period for which it was granted or renewed.
The final report must be submitted to the scientific advisor, in accordance with the defined objectives and evaluation criteria, no later than 60 working days after the end of the scholarship, and must be drawn up in accordance with Annex I of the Regulations of the University of Minho.
Non-discrimination and equal access policy: Universidade do Minho actively promotes a policy of non-discrimination and equal access, so that no candidate may be privileged, benefited, harmed or deprived of any right or exempt from any duty due, namely, to ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, economic situation, education, social origin or condition, genetic heritage, reduced working capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological convictions and trade union membership.
Declaration of Honor
Academic qualifications
I, (full name), candidate for the vacancy for the award of a (type of scholarship), within the scope of the project (name or reference of the project), with the reference (ref. notice), declare on my honor that I have completed the academic degree of (academic degree), qualifying for the type of scholarship in the competition, namely the course (designation), by the (University conferring the degree), on the date XX/XX/XXXX, with a final average of XXXXX values on the YY scale.
As it is not possible for me to present proof of qualifications until the end of the competition, I declare that I undertake to present the aforementioned certificate at the moment of the scholarship contract, in the event that I am selected for the vacancy in the competition.
As this is true, I hereby date and sign this declaration.
(Place), (date).
________________________
(full name)
NOTE: The declaration may only attest to facts that occurred prior to the application.
In the event of a discrepancy between the information contained in the declaration and the documentation submitted for the purpose of contracting the scholarship, only the information contained in the latter will be taken into account.
Declaration of Honor
I, (full name), bearer of identification document number (XXXX), candidate for a research grant (type of grant), within the scope of the project (name or reference of the project), with the reference (ref. call for proposals), declare on my honor that (I have not received any research grants to date / I have received the following research grants) under the Research Grant Holder Statute.
University
Financing Entity
Project
Type of Grant
Duration
Start
Term
As this is true, I hereby date and sign this declaration.
(Place), (date).
________________________
(full name)
