Research Grant (BI) — CHARLIE Project

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

Offer Description

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR 1 (ONE) RESEARCH GRANT (BI), AS PART OF THE "CHARLIE" PROJECT—CARCINOGENIC POTENTIAL OF HEATED TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF BLADDER CANCER (REF. 2024.13406. PEX), CURRENTLY UNDERWAY AT THE UNIT OF APPLIED BIOMOLECULAR SCIENCES/SCHOOL OF PHARMACY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PORTO (UCIBIO/FFUP) - BOLS-FFUP-26-22.

By order of the Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Porto (FFUP), Professor Dr. Susana Isabel Pereira Casal Vicente, dated October 2, 2026, it is hereby announced that this call for applications is now open for the award of 1 (one) Research Fellowship (BI) to a student enrolled in a doctoral program or a master's student enrolled in a non-degree-granting program, to carry out R&D activities within the scope of the "CHARLIE—Carcinogenic potential of heated tobacco products and e-cigarettes in the development of bladder cancer" project (Ref. 2024.13406. PEX), funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology, currently underway in the Department of Biological Sciences at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Porto.

Applicable Legislation and Regulations

The selection process and the awarding of the fellowship are governed by the provisions set forth in the Research Fellowship Statute (EBI), approved by Law No. 40/2004 of August 18, as currently in force, published by Decree-Law No. 65/2024 of October 1; the University of Porto Research Fellowship Regulations, approved by Regulation No. 184/2021, of March 3, amended and republished by Regulation No. 582/2026, of May 19 (hereinafter referred to as the "Regulations"); Regulations on Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), I.P., approved by Regulation No. 950/2019, of December 16, in its current version (applied subsidiarily); Legal Framework for the Recognition of Academic Degrees and Higher Education Diplomas Awarded by Foreign Higher Education Institutions, approved by Decree-Law No. 66/2018, of August 16; Code of Administrative Procedure (CPA), approved by Decree-Law No. 4/2015, of January 7; and other applicable regulations.

I – Description and Conditions of the Fellowship

1. Scientific Field(s): Biomedical Sciences, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Toxicology.

2. Host Institution and Location for Carrying Out the Work Plan: The work plan will be carried out at the UCIBIO-Porto Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, and/or other locations necessary for its execution.

3. Amount of the Monthly Living Allowance:

1. The amount of the monthly living allowance for the fellowship is €1,359.64, as specified in Annex I of the Regulations.
2. Payment will be made by the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Porto via bank transfer. In addition to this stipend, the scholarship recipient will be covered by personal accident insurance.
3. The scholarship recipient may enroll in Voluntary Social Security (valid for scholarship contracts of six months or longer); this is optional (not mandatory), and the reimbursement corresponds to the first bracket of the contribution base.

4. Duration of the fellowship: The BI fellowship will last for 6 months on a full-time basis and may be renewed for an additional 6 months, following a positive evaluation, up to the end of the work plan's implementation period or the funding period; under no circumstances may the fellowship last longer than one year when it has been awarded to a bachelor's degree holder enrolled in a program of study that does not lead to an academic degree, pursuant to Article 10(3) of the Regulations.

5. Work Plan:

5.1. The main tasks to be performed under the fellowship will be:

• a) Assessment of the viability and cellular morphology of bladder cells exposed to urinary chemical markers associated with the use of heated tobacco products and e-cigarettes, using the MTT assay and bright-field/phase-contrast and fluorescence microscopy;
• b) Assessment of the genotoxicity induced by the tested chemical markers using the comet assay;
• c) Quantification of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species production by fluorimetry, and assessment of cell cycle distribution by flow cytometry;
• d) Assessment of the type of cell death induced by flow cytometry;
• e) Assessment of cell migration and invasion potential;
• f) Assessment of tumorigenic potential using the colony formation assay, and integration and statistical analysis of the data obtained from the various tasks, in collaboration with the teams at UCIBIO-FFUP and iMed.ULisboa.

5.2. When an academic degree or diploma is awarded during the term of the fellowship agreement, the fellowship may continue, provided that the activities set forth in the work plan have not been completed and in accordance with the terms specifically set forth in the call for applications and in the agreement, as stipulated in Article 10, paragraph 6, of the Regulation.

6. Academic Advisor: The fellowship will be carried out under the academic supervision of Dr. Joana Isabel Monteiro Pinto and Dr. Maria Paula do Amaral Alegria Guedes de Pinho, of the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Porto.

II – Selection Process

7. Admission Requirements: All individuals of legal age who meet the following requirements, as documented by supporting evidence, may apply for this fellowship:

• a) A Master's degree or Integrated Master's degree in the fields of Biological Sciences and Medical and Health Sciences;
• b) Be a student enrolled in a doctoral program, preferably in the fields of Biological Sciences or Medical and Health Sciences, or be enrolled in a non-degree program that is part of a higher education institution's educational program, developed in association or cooperation with one or more R&D units. This requirement must be duly verified at the time of hiring.

8. Preferred qualifications:

• a) Proven experience in in vitro cell culture techniques, particularly with epithelial cell lines;
• b) Experience in cytotoxicity and cell viability assays, fluorescence microscopy, and/or flow cytometry;
• c) Experience in genotoxicity and/or oxidative stress assessment techniques;
• d) Experience in functional cell migration and invasion assays and/or cell transformation assays;
• e) Willingness to travel between the project's partner institutions (UCIBIO-FFUP and iMed.ULisboa) and ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.

9. Selection Methods:

9.1. All applicants who meet the admission requirements are subject to a curriculum evaluation, to be conducted in accordance with the criteria described below.

9.2. The selection methods are as follows: Curriculum Evaluation (CE), weighted at 60%, and, optionally, an Interview (INT), weighted at 40%, which will only take place when the selection committee determines that the CE does not sufficiently clarify the candidates' actual competencies or distinguish which candidate is best suited for the position and the duties to be performed. If conducted, the interview will be held with the 3 (three) candidates with the highest scores on the CA.

¹ If the academic degree was awarded by a foreign institution of higher education, it must be recognized by a Portuguese institution of higher education, in accordance with the provisions of Article 25 of the Decree-Law No. 66/2018, of August 16, which establishes the legal framework for the recognition of academic degrees and higher education diplomas awarded by foreign institutions of higher education, and Article 4(2)(e) of Decree-Law No. 60/2018, of August 3, and any formalities established therein must be completed by the date of hiring.

9.3 Each member of the jury evaluates the selection methods on a scale of 0 to 20 points.

9.4. The criteria and weighting factors for the curriculum evaluation (AC) are as follows:

Merit of the candidate:

a) Final grade for the required academic degree (0 to 5 points);

Master's Degree		Integrated Master's Degree
Ranking	Score	Ranking	Score
≥ 18	5,0	≥16	5,0
17	4,5	15	4,5
16	4,0	14	4,0
15	3,5	13	3,5
14	3,0	12	3,0
< 14	2,5	<12	2,5

Note: If an applicant holds a foreign academic degree or diploma whose final grade is expressed on a grading scale different from the Portuguese one, or if no grade is assigned, the applicant must submit documentation proving the recognition of the foreign degree or diploma and the conversion of the grade to the Portuguese grading scale by the application deadline for the competition. Otherwise, the selection committee will consider that the applicant has the minimum grade required to obtain the degree in Portugal (10 points).

b) Relevant academic track record (publications, conference presentations, participation in research projects in the field) (0 to 6 points).

• None: 0 points
• Not very relevant: 1–2 points
• Moderately relevant: 3–4 points
• Very relevant: 5 points
• Extremely relevant: 6 points

c) Proven practical experience in in vitro cell culture techniques and cytotoxicity/cell viability assays (0 to 5 points);

• No experience: 0 points
• Little experience: 1 point
• Limited experience: 2 points
• Extensive experience: 4 points
• Very extensive experience: 5 points

d) Experience in specialized laboratory techniques relevant to the work plan—genotoxicity, flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, migration/invasion or colony formation assays (0 to 4 points);

• No experience: 0 points
• Little experience: 1 point
• Limited experience: 2 points
• Extensive experience: 3 points
• Very extensive experience: 4 points

9.5. Applicants who receive a score of 10 points or less will be excluded during the AC phase.

9.6. The following are the criteria and weighting factors for the interview (ENT), should one be conducted:

• a) Demonstrated technical and scientific knowledge of the methodologies outlined in the work plan (0 to 8 points);
• b) Ability to engage in critical analysis and solve experimental problems (0 to 6 points);
• c) Motivation and availability to perform the duties, including mobility among partner institutions (0 to 3 points);
• d) Communication skills and ability to work in a multidisciplinary team (0 to 3 points).

9.7. Applicants may request authorization from the chair of the Selection Committee to have their interview conducted via videoconference, providing justification for doing so.

9.8. Failure to attend the interview phase of the selection process is considered a withdrawal from the competition, and applicants will be excluded from the competition.

9.9. The Final Score (FS) will be calculated using the following formula: FS = (0.6AC) + (0.4ENT).

9.10. This competition is intended exclusively to fill the specified vacancy; in the event that no candidate demonstrates the profile required to carry out the work plan described above within the scope of this project, the Selection Committee reserves the right not to fill the position.

10. Composition of the Selection Committee:

• Chair: Dr. Joana Isabel Monteiro Pinto, Assistant Researcher at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto;
• 1st Regular Member: Dr. Maria Paula do Amaral Alegria Guedes de Pinho, Assistant Researcher with Aggregation at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto;
• 2nd Regular Member: Dr. Félix Dias Carvalho, Full Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto;
• Alternate Member: Dr. Helena Maria Ferreira da Costa Ferreira Carmo, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto;
• Alternate Member: Dr. João Pedro Martins Soares de Castro e Silva, Assistant Researcher at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto.

11. Application Process and Deadline:

11.1 Applicants must access and register on the online platform https://www.apply.up.pt to submit their application, selecting the procedure for which they wish to apply (Ref. BOLS-FFUP-26-22). The application process is completed by filling out the sections available on the APPLY U. PORTO platform under "My Application."

11.2 Applications must be submitted exclusively through the aforementioned platform between October 16, 2026, and October 29, 2026 (10 business days), and must be accompanied by the following required documentation:

• a) Curriculum vitae, written in Portuguese, containing only the applicant's identification via their full name; all other personal data subject to protection under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) must be omitted. The applicant must also provide a reference to their ORCID portal, if applicable;
• b) A copy of the certificate(s) for the required qualifications and recognition of the degree if it was obtained from a foreign institution of higher education (this recognition may be submitted by the time of hiring);
• c) Proof of enrollment in a program of study or course that does not lead to an academic degree—submit proof of enrollment by the time of hiring;
• d) Declaration of eligibility (attached).

11.3. In addition to the documents listed in the preceding section, applicants must also submit documents proving their eligibility for preferential treatment and meeting the respective curriculum evaluation criteria set forth in sections 8 and 9.3 of this notice, respectively.

11.4. Applicants may also submit any other documents they deem relevant to the assessment of their qualifications.

11.5. Supporting documents must be uploaded directly to the APPLY UP electronic platform: https://www.apply.up.pt, without using links to external platforms or drives.

11.6. Documents included in the application should preferably be in a non-editable format, specifically in Portable Document Format (PDF).

11.7. Failure to submit the documents referred to in section 11.2 by the deadline for application submission will result in the exclusion of the application.

11.8. The Selection Committee may, whenever it deems necessary, request that applicants submit supplementary documents regarding the information provided in the submitted resume, setting a deadline for such submission, under the following terms:

• a) the requested documentation is not intended for the submission of information not mentioned in the resume, nor for the inclusion of missing documents required by this Notice;
• b) all applicants are notified that additional documentation has been requested.

III - Hearing of the Interested Parties and Decision

12. Method of Publication/Notification of Results:

12.1. Notifications are made by publication on the APPLY U.PORTO electronic platform, pursuant to Article 112(1)(c) of the CPA, and take effect in accordance with Article 113 of the CPA.

12.2. Applicants have 10 business days to present their views, if they so wish, at a hearing for interested parties, pursuant to the provisions of Article 121 et seq. of the Code of Administrative Procedure (CPA).

12.3. Applicants may consult the complete competition file by prior appointment, which must be requested through the APPLY U. Porto platform.

13. Complaint and Appeal Procedures

The final decision will be issued after reviewing the statements presented at the preliminary hearing for interested parties. A complaint may be filed against the final decision within 15 business days, or, alternatively, an appeal may be filed within 30 business days, both periods beginning on the date of notification.

Applicants who choose to file a complaint must address their arguments to the Dean of the Faculty. Applicants who prefer to file an appeal must address their arguments to the University President.

IV – Final Considerations

14. Filling the Vacancy(ies) Open for Competition

14.1. This competitive selection process is intended exclusively to fill the position(s) indicated in this Notice and may be terminated, for reasons in the institution's interest, by means of a duly justified decision, even before notification of the approval of the final ranking list of candidates, and shall expire upon the respective filling of the position being offered. In the event that none of the candidates demonstrates the profile required to perform the duties described above within the scope of this procedure, the selection committee reserves the right not to fill the position.

14.2. The Faculty's highest authority may use the final ranking list to replace the selected candidate should the candidate decline the position, up to one year from the date of approval.

15. Additional Information:

15.1. If a candidate wishes to obtain information about the process, they must send an email to recrutamentorh@sp.up.pt, citing the process reference "APPLY."

15.2. Under the Data Protection Regulations, no information will be provided to third parties who are not candidates in the process.

16. False statements: False statements made by candidates will be punished in accordance with the law.

17. Other Applicable Provisions

17.1. Policy on Non-Discrimination and Equal Access

The University of Porto actively promotes a policy of non-discrimination and equal access; therefore, no applicant may be given preferential treatment, favored, disadvantaged, or deprived of any right, nor exempted from any duty on the basis of, in particular, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family situation, economic status, education, social origin or status, genetic makeup, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological beliefs, and union membership.

17.2. Codes of Ethics, Conduct, and Best Practices, and Code of Good Conduct for the Prevention and Combating of Harassment and Discrimination

The University of Porto is governed by the Code of Ethics, the Code of Conduct and Best Practices, and the Code of Good Conduct for the Prevention and Combating of Harassment and Discrimination at the University of Porto, available at https://www.up.pt/portal/pt/conhecer/sobre-a-uporto/etica-e-conduta.

Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 15 October 2026. The Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Professor Domingos Ferreira, Ph.D.

Statement Eligibility

For the purposes of complying with the provisions of Article 10 of the University of Porto Research Studentship Regulation, I hereby declare that:

• I haven't signed any research studentship/s contract/s to date under the EBI;
• To date, I have signed the following research studentship/s contract/s under the EBI:

Type of studentship — Start Date — End Date — Contracting Authority

I also declare that I meet the eligibility conditions for this studentship, as required under the terms of the aforementioned regulation.

I hereby declare and sign this statement.

Date ___/___/___

Signature ______________________________

Where to apply

Website: https://www.apply.up.pt/

Requirements

• Research Field: Biological sciences » Biology
• Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent

Additional Information

Website for additional job details: https://sigarra.up.pt/spup/pt/noticias_geral.ver_noticia?p_nr=93191

Work Location(s)

• Number of offers available: 1
• Company/Institute: Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto
• Country: Portugal
• State/Province: Portugal
• City: Porto
• Postal Code: 4050-313
• Street: R. de Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, Porto

Contact

• State/Province: Porto
• City: Porto
• Website: https://sigarra.up.pt/spup/pt/noticias_geral.ver_noticia?p_nr=93191
• Street: Praça Gomes Teixeira
• Postal Code: 4099-002
• E-Mail: recrutamentorh@sp.up.pt