Offer Description
CALL FOR THE AWARD OF 1 (ONE) RESEARCH GRANT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT "RESTORE – REGULATION OF IRON HOMEOSTASIS, INFLAMMATION AND DOPAMINE METABOLISM IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE WITH THE NEW GENERATION OF DISEASE-MODIFYING DRUGS" (REF. COMPETE2030-FEDER-00776500), ONGOING AT THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PORTO (FMUP) — REF. [BOLS-FMUP-26-9]
A call is open for the award of 1 (one) research grant (BI), for a Master's degree enrolled in a PhD or holder of an academic degree enrolled in a course that does not confer an integrated degree in the educational project of a higher education institution, developed in association or cooperation with one or more R&D units within the scope of the operation "RESTORE - Regulation of iron homeostasis, inflammation and dopamine metabolism in Parkinson's disease with the new generation of disease-modifying drugs" (Ref. COMPETE2030-FEDER-00776500), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Innovation and Digital Transition Program (COMPETE2030), Portugal 2030 and national funds, taking place at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP), under the following conditions:
1. Scientific Area
Health Sciences.
2. Nomination requirements
All individuals of legal age who cumulatively meet the following requirements, proven by documents, can apply for this scholarship:
- Academic Qualifications – Master's degree in the area of Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biochemistry, Biology and respective related areas;
- Be a PhD student in the area of Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biochemistry, Biology and respective related areas or a Master's student enrolled in a non-academic degree course, integrated in the educational project of a higher education institution, developed in association or cooperation with one or more R&D units, and this requirement must be duly proven by the date of the act of hiring.
3. Preference conditions
- Academic and/or professional training obtained that demonstrates knowledge in experimental pharmacology and biochemistry, namely in studies of enzyme inhibition, enzyme kinetics (including tight-binding models), preparation of subcellular fractions, chromatographic techniques (HPLC-ED), evaluation of cytotoxicity and mitochondrial toxicity;
- Laboratory experience in eukaryotic cell culture and HPLC;
- Experience in animal experimentation, namely drug administration, anesthesia and tissue collection;
- Publication of articles in an indexed journal and/or presentation of communication in the area of the call.
4. Work plan
The main tasks to be carried out under the research grant are:
- Evaluation of the inhibition of COMT activity in liver and brain homogenates of male Wistar rats, determining the formation of metanephrine by HPLC-ED.
- Re-evaluation of the most promising compounds in purified soluble (S-COMT) and membrane-bound (MB-COMT) COMT fractions obtained from liver and brain tissues.
- For tight-binding inhibitors, measure the initial velocities and fit to the Ackermann-Potter equation to determine the catalytic number (K cat) to properly measure the potency of the compounds.
- For the most active compounds, evaluation of mitochondrial cytotoxicity and toxicity in liver and neuronal cells that express the enzyme.
- In vivo studies for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluation of the selected compound. Conducting behavioral studies.
- Other related or related activities assigned to it within the scope of the project.
5. Applicable legislation and regulations
The call 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 5 September;
- Regulation of Research Grants of the University of Porto, approved by Regulation No. 582/2026, published in the Diário da República, 2nd series, No. 96, of 19 May 2026, hereinafter referred to as Regulation;
- 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.
6. Workplace
The work plan will be developed in the Department of Biomedicine of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto and/or other places necessary for its execution, under the scientific guidance of Professor Patrício Soares da Silva, Full Professor at FMUP.
7. Duration of the scholarship
The research grant will have a duration of 12 (twelve) months, on an exclusive dedication basis, eventually renewable, for equal or different periods, after positive evaluation, up to the deadline for the execution of the work plan or funding (June 29, 2028), and may not, under any circumstances, exceed the duration of four years, when the research grant has been awarded to a student enrolled in a PhD or one year, when the scholarship has been awarded to holders of an academic degree who are enrolled in study cycles that do not confer an academic degree, under the terms of paragraph 3 of article 10 of the Regulation.
8. Amount of the monthly maintenance allowance
8.1. The value of the monthly allowance for the maintenance of the research grant corresponds to €1,359.64, according to Annex I of the Regulation of Research Grants of the University of Porto.
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 scholarship holder can join the Voluntary Social Security (valid for a scholarship contract equal to or greater than six months), 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 evaluation (CA) with a weighting of 60% and, optionally, complemented by an interview (ENT) with a weighting of 40%, 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 it exists, the interview will be held with the 3 candidates best classified in the AC, and candidates who obtain, in the curricular evaluation, a score of less than 50 points will not be called for interview.
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 evaluation (CA) are:
- Academic and/or professional training (0 to 40 points);
- Final classification in the Master's Degree;
- Relevance of the curricular units for the project;
- Academic performance in the related Master's degree.
- Experience in animal experimentation (0 to 30 points):
- Drug administration;
- Administration of anesthesia;
- Tissue collection.
- Laboratory experience (0 to 20 points):
- Laboratory experience in HPLC;
- Laboratory experiment in cells
- Scientific area (0 to 10 points)
- Participation in relevant congresses, seminars, workshops or courses;
- Support for research and scientific production.
9.4. The criteria and weighting factors of the interview (ENT), if it is carried out, are:
- Specific knowledge for the realization of the work plan (0 to 40 points):Understanding of the project's objectives;
- Relevant technical and methodological knowledge;
- Ability to integrate multidisciplinary concepts.
- Motivation for the activities to be carried out (0 to 30 points):Genuine interest in the research topic;
- Research objectives aligned with the project;
- Demonstration of commitment and availability.
- Communication skills (0 to 30 points):Clarity of oral expression;
- Ability to argue scientifically;
- Proficiency in the English language.
9.5. The Final Classification (FC) will be obtained by applying the following formula: CF = (0.6×AC) + (0.4×ENT). If the Jury dispenses with the need to conduct an Interview (ENT), the CF = AC.
9.6. Candidates may request authorization from the president of the Jury for their interview to be carried out by videoconference, substantiating the reasons for this purpose.
9.7. Absence from the interview phase of the selection process is equivalent to withdrawal from the call, and candidates are excluded from the call.
9.8. Candidates who have had an evaluation of less than 50 points in the CF will be excluded from the call.
9.9. This call is intended exclusively to fill the vacancy indicated, therefore, if there is no candidate who obtains, in the Final Classification, 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 assign the place to the call.
10. Composition of the Selection Jury
President – Professor Patrício Soares da Silva, Principal Investigator of the project at FMUP and Full Professor at FMUP;
1st Effective Member – Professor Maria Fernanda Martins Borges, Associate Professor at FCUP;
2nd Effective Member – Professor Maria Augusta Vieira Coelho, Full Professor at FMUP;
1st Alternate Member – Dr. Ester Sofia Benfeito, Initial Level PhD at FMUP;
2nd Alternate Member – Dr. Daniel Freitas Chavarria, Initial Level PhD at FMUP.
11. Form of presentation and deadline
11.1. Applications must be submitted by October 30th at 11:59 pm (mainland Portugal time).
11.2. Applications must be formalized in the online application submission system, available on the website of the U.Porto recruitment platform, APPLY: https://app.apply.up.pt Ref.ª [BOLS-FMUP-26-9].
11.3. Applications must be accompanied by the following mandatory documentation, under penalty of exclusion:
- Curriculum Vitae, updated in Portuguese and/or English;
- Copy of the certificate(s) of the required qualifications and recognition of 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;
- Proof of enrollment in a cycle of studies leading to a PhD degree or in a non-degree course developed in association or cooperation with one or more R&D units, or commitment of honour that meets this condition until hiring;
- Letter of application, indicating the motivation for the scholarship and availability for the estimated start of the work plan from October 2026;
- Declaration of Eligibility (attached);
- Other supporting documents considered relevant to assess the eligibility of the application and assessment of its merit.
11.4. Failure to comply with the deadline for submission of the application, failure to submit or late submission of the documents referred to in paragraphs a) to e) of paragraph 11.3. determine the exclusion of the candidacy.
11.5. Documents must be attached directly to the application message, without connections to external platforms/disks. In order to ensure that all documents are read, the preferred recording format is the Portable Document Format (.pdf). The files must be designated with the name and surname of the candidate and must not exceed 5 MB combined. These files can be compressed into .zip format.
11.6. The Jury may, whenever it deems necessary, request the candidates to deliver complementary documents of the facts referred to in the curriculum presented, 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 attachment of missing documents required in this Notice;
- All tenderers are 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) evaluation of the applications that are sent to them by publication on the Apply UP electronic platform, under the terms of paragraph c) of paragraph 1 of article 112 of the Code of Administrative Procedure, hereinafter referred to as CPA, producing its effects under the terms of article 113 of the CPA.
13.2. Pursuant to the provisions of article 121 et seq. of the CPA, after being notified, candidates have 10 working days to respond in writing.
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 Regulation no. 582/2026.
15. Reserve List
A reserve list will be drawn up based on the final ranking list, which may be used in case of withdrawal of the candidate ranked first. The highest authority of the Faculty reserves the right to summon the next candidate, and so on, until the vacancy is filled. The use of this reserve list may take place for a maximum period of 12 months from the date of approval of the final ranking list, in accordance with Article 14(4)(q) 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, in implementation of the principle of equality enshrined in article 13 of the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic, so that no application can be privileged, benefited, prejudiced or deprived of any right or exempt from any duty on the ground, in particular, of 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, August 26, 2026
The Director of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto,
Professor Doutor Altamiro da Costa Pereira
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 May 19, 2026, declares that:
I have not entered into any Research Grant contract to date under the EBI.
To date, I have entered into the following Research Grant contract(s) under EBI:
Research Grant TypologyStart DateEnd DateInstitutionContractorHost Institution Note: in the "Scholarship Typology" 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 Grant
I further declare that I meet the eligibility conditions to join this research grant, 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.
Because it is true, I date and sign this declaration.
Date _______/_______/_______
Signature ______________________
- If the qualification has been conferred by a foreign higher education institution, it will have to 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 completed by the date of the act of contracting. The presentation of the recognition of the degree does not invalidate the presentation of the certificate(s) of qualifications. Even if the candidate holds an integrated master's degree, master's or doctorate, he or she must attach the bachelor's degree certificate.
- For the purposes of the duration limit provided for in article 10(3) of the Regulation, the following are only relevant, depending on the type of admission of the candidate to this call: (i) for candidates enrolled in a PhD, 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, 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 Grant 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.
