Research Fellowship

Research Field: Biological sciences » Biology

Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)

Positions: Master Positions

Application Deadline: 5 Nov 2026 - 00:00 (Europe/Lisbon)

Country: Portugal

Type of Contract: Other

Type of Contract Extra Information: Research Fellowship

Job Status: Full-time

Hours Per Week: 35

Offer Starting Date: 23 Oct 2026

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme

Reference Number: Fellow_BID/ ERC/i3S/23100511/2026

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Reference: Fellow_BID/ ERC/i3S/23100511/2026

i3s – Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (hereinafter i3) is opening a call to award a grant for the development of R&D activities by doctoral students, enrolled in doctoral programs, within the project “How dividing cells adapt to kariotypic evolution” – ref. ERC-2023-ADG-101140624-KAREVO, financed by the European Research Council (ERC) through an ERC Advanced Grant.

Host Institution: i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Porto, Portugal.

Scientific Area: Biological sciences.

Project Title: “Mechanisms of cellular adaptation to alterations in chromosome number: insights into cancer evolution and speciation”.

Workplan

We will follow up on promising results from our laboratory to further investigate how dividing cells adapt to alterations in chromosome number by taking advantage of two unique mammalian fibroblast lines derived from two closely related deer species – the Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak) and the Chinese muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi). These two species have a very similar genome size and composition but distinctively different chromosome numbers – the Indian muntjac has 6 very large chromosomes, whereas the Chinese muntjac has 46 small chromosomes. Here we will combine high-resolution live-cell imaging with specific molecular perturbations to further investigate the dependence of these muntjac fibroblasts on specific pathways behind chromosome dynamics, mitotic spindle organization and segregation fidelity. This unique synergistic approach will substantially increase our knowledge on the key factors that link chromosome number variability and segregation efficiency and will shed light on the relationship between chromosome evolution and speciation. Given the parallels between the mechanisms of speciation and cancer cell evolution, these factors will have important clinical implications and may represent potential targets for human cancer therapy.

Admission requirements

Mandatory:

• Candidates must have a Master’s Degree in areas related to the project, including but not restricted to Biomedical Sciences, Cell and Molecular Biology;
• Be enrolled in a PhD Program in a Portuguese University at a higher education institution, preferably in Biomedical Sciences/ Life Sciences or a related area, in a higher education institution, until the date of signature of the contract, Or declaration under oath of capacity to enrol in the referred cycle of studies until the scholarship is contracted;
• Experience with muntjac cell culture;
• Experience in advanced live-cell microscopy, FACS and image analysis;
• Experience with the manipulation and functional analysis of mitosis.

Preferential:

• Fluent (writing and speaking) in English and Portuguese;
• The candidate must demonstrate an interest in the scientific area of the project and be able to develop teamwork in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment.

Legislation and other applicable regulations

Research Fellowship Holder Statute enacted by Law no. 40/2004 of August 18th, as amended; FCT Research Grants Regulation, approved by way of Regulation nr. 950/2019, published in the II Series of DR of December 16th, 2019; i3S Research Grants Regulation.

Place

The research activities will be hosted at i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Porto, Portugal, under the scientific supervision of Professor Helder Maiato (i3S).

Length time

The duration of the fellowship is 5 months, eventually renewable. The expected starting date is 1st December 2026, upon availability of the financed funds.

Monthly maintenance stipend

€ 1,359.64, according to the values table of FCT, at Portugal (https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM-2026.pdf). This research grant will also include the voluntary social insurance, under the terms of the Research Fellowship Holder Statute, article 10. The payments will be made by bank transference. The host Institution may also assume the payment of a monthly allowance, relating to academic fees associated with obtaining an academic degree.

Evaluation Criteria

The candidate selection will be performed taking into account the Admission Requirements (described above), based on the evaluation of the curriculum vitae (70%), motivation letter (20%) and interview (10%). Candidates will be ranked taking into account the full evaluation (in a scale from 1 to 100). Up to 3 candidates with top evaluation of curriculum vitae and motivation letter will be invited to an interview.

Evaluation Panel

President – Prof. Helder Maiato; Other members – Doctor Sónia Silva and Doctor Tobias Kletter.

Information and Publicity of Funding Granted

The results of the evaluation will be notified by email to all candidates. After notification, candidates have 10 working days to comment and, within that period, a complaint may be submitted by email to rh.i3s@i3s.up.pt.

Applications

The call will be open between October 23th to November 5th 2026. The applications must be submitted electronically at: https://dozer.i3s.up.pt/applicationmanagement/#/addapplications/34b170bd8696563653a6b1258d3b9c3

The required documents composing the applications are: Certificate of Qualifications, detailed Curriculum Vitae, letter of motivation, proof of enrolment in a doctoral study cycle (proof of enrollment, Or an honor statement of capacity to enroll in the aforementioned study cycle until the grant is contracted), and other documents, considered as relevant by the candidate taking into consideration the mandatory and preferential admission requirements.

Documents to be provided at the time of contracting: in addition to those mentioned in the previous point, it is necessary to present proof of enrollment in the study cycle.

Full announcement at: https://dozer.i3s.up.pt/fileupload/downloadfile/viewpdfnewtab/699dd3a047496b2ad23ab4abcf36eaf

Where to apply

Website: https://dozer.i3s.up.pt/applicationmanagement/#/addapplications/34b170bd8696563653a6b1258d3b9c3

Requirements

Research Field: Biological sciences

Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent

Specific Requirements:

Admission requirements:

Mandatory:

• Candidates must have a Master’s Degree in areas related to the project, including but not restricted to Biomedical Sciences, Cell and Molecular Biology;
• Be enrolled in a PhD Program in a Portuguese University at a higher education institution, preferably in Biomedical Sciences/ Life Sciences or a related area, in a higher education institution, until the date of signature of the contract, Or declaration under oath of capacity to enrol in the referred cycle of studies until the scholarship is contracted;
• Experience with muntjac cell culture;
• Experience in advanced live-cell microscopy, FACS and image analysis;
• Experience with the manipulation and functional analysis of mitosis.

Preferential:

• Fluent (writing and speaking) in English and Portuguese;
• The candidate must demonstrate an interest in the scientific area of the project and be able to develop teamwork in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment.

Additional Information

Website for additional job details: https://dozer.i3s.up.pt/fileupload/downloadfile/viewpdfnewtab/699dd3a047496b2ad23ab4abcf36eaf

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available: 1

Company/Institute: i3S

Country: Portugal

City: Porto

Street: Rua Alfredo Allen 208

Postal Code: 4200-135

Contact

Website: http://www.i3S.up.pt

Email: rh.i3s@i3s.up.pt