Research Grant - NANO2HCC

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

Offer Description

The University of Coimbra opens a call for the assignment of a research grant, with two position(s), under the project CENTRO2030-FEDER-02364100, title NANO2HCC - Bispecific nanosystem to mediate a combined and multi-target theranostic strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

The call is governed by this Notice of Opening, the University of Coimbra Research Grant Regulations (RBI-UC), subsidiarily by the Research Grant Regulations of the Foundation for Science and Technology (RBI-FCT), by the Research Fellow Statute (EBI), by the Norms for Grant Assignment and Management within R&D Projects, by the Code of Administrative Procedure (CPA), all in their current wording, and by other applicable national and community legislation.

Procedure Reference: IT137-26-446

I - Legal admission requirements

I.I - Grant Recipients: Masters in the scientific fields of Biomedicine, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related areas, enrolled in a PhD program or in a non-degree course.

I.II - The non-degree-granting course must be related to the type of activity covered by the grant. Non-degree-granting courses are defined as those referred to in subparagraph e) of paragraph 3 of Article 4 of Decree-Law No. 74/2006, in its current wording, provided that, under subparagraph e) of Article 3 of RBI-FCT, they are developed in association or cooperation between the higher education institution and one or more R&D units.

I.III - Ineligible candidates: Candidates enrolled in non-degree-granting courses who have already benefited from a grant contract and who, with this grant assignment, including possible renewals, exceed a total accumulated period of two consecutive or non-consecutive years in this type of grant.

I.IV - Eligible for grant assignment if meeting the requirements:

1. Portuguese nationals or nationals of other EU Member States
2. Nationals of third countries
3. Stateless persons
4. Beneficiaries of political refugee status

II - Grant location: Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of the University of Coimbra (CNCUC)

III - Scientific supervision/coordination of the grant: Henrique Manuel dos Santos Faneca

IV - Work Plan / Goals to be achieved: The main objective of this project is to develop a bispecific lipid-polymer hybrid nanosystem that has the ability to mediate an innovative theranostic strategy for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This nanoformulation, with a core-shell structure, will combine the encapsulation of an imaging agent and two drugs with the functionalization with two targeting ligands in the lipid bilayer. This project will be developed in three stages: in the first phase of the project, the new nanosystems will be developed and characterized in terms of their physicochemical properties; in the second stage, the biocompatibility, specificity, and cellular binding and internalization of the developed nanosystems will be assessed; and in the third phase, the antitumor activity of the individual and combined therapeutic strategies, mediated by the nanosystems, will be evaluated in 2D and 3D HCC cell culture models, and the underlying mechanisms of cell death will be analyzed.

V - Initial grant duration: 8 months. The duration of the scholarship will be adjusted according to the time it takes for the competition to go through the process and the corresponding formalization of the scholarship, and it cannot go past the project end date: 07/31/2027.

V.I - Renewal Possibility: Possibily renewable

VI - Funding and financial conditions of the grant

VI.I - Monthly grant amount (paid by bank transfer at the end of each month): 1359,64€

VI.II - Other financial components of the grant: N.A.

VI.III - In addition to the above amounts, voluntary social security (SSV) is included when the grant has a duration of six months or more, corresponding to the first level, if the candidate opts for it, as well as mandatory personal accident insurance.

VI.IV - Funding: The grant(s) assigned under this call will be funded by European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), through the Centro Regional Program 2021-2027 (Centro 2030), by Portugal 2030 and by the European Union | Notice Code: Centro2030-2024-59 | Operation code: CENTRO2030-FEDER-02364100

VI.V - Information and publicity about the funding: In all R&D activities directly or indirectly funded by the grant, namely in all communications, publications, and scientific creations, as well as theses carried out with the support provided by the grant, the acknowledgment of EU support must be expressed through the CENTRO 2030 logo, the Portugal 2030 logo, and the emblem of the European Union, in compliance with the Communication Rules of Portugal 2030.

VII - Selection Methods: Evaluation of the academic record (AR) and Interview (I)

VII.I - AR - In the evaluation of the academic record, the candidates' academic performance will be assessed according to the following weights and criteria:

• Criterion 1 - Absolute merit of curriculum vitae
• Criterion 2 - Specific knowledge related to the work plan
• Criterion 3 - Publications in scientific journals and minutes
• Criterion 4 - Scientific knowledge in the field of cancer nanomedicine

VII.II - I - In the evaluation of the interview, candidates' performance will be assessed according to the following weights and criteria:

• Criterion 1 - Knowledge and profile appropriate to the functions to be developed
• Criterion 2 - Motivation and interest
• Criterion 3 - Ability to express oneself and verbal fluency

VII.III - The evaluation of the criteria and the final classification will be based on a scale from 0 to 100, with scores rounded to the nearest hundredth, applying the following formulas:

AR: criterion 1 * (30%) + criterion 2 * (30%) + criterion 3 * (20%) + criterion 4 * (20%) = X

I: criterion 1 * (50%) + criterion 2 * (25%) + criterion 3 * (25%) = X

Final Classification (FC): AR * (70%) + I * (30%) = X

Scientific knowledge in the area of cancer nanomedicine will be valued, particularly in the development and physicochemical characterization of polymer- and lipid-based nanosystems for drug delivery, and in the evaluation of antitumor strategies, especially chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and cell death mechanisms. Proven/documented knowledge in these areas, through master's theses and/or published articles, is an essential requirement.

VII.IV - All candidates who meet the admission requirements are subject to the academic record evaluation, carried out according to the criteria and weights defined in VII.I.

VII.V - Candidates who score below 50 in any selection method will be excluded, and subsequent methods, if any, will not apply to them. Candidates who are duly notified but fail to attend the interview (if applicable) or withdraw at any stage will also be excluded.

VII.VI - Only the top 4 candidates, based on the ranking from the academic record evaluation, will be admitted to the interview.

VII.VII - Tie-breaking criteria: In the event of a tie in the rankings, candidates will be ordered in descending order as follows:

1. Based on the score obtained in the first method applied;
2. Based on the score of their academic qualifications.

VII.VIII - All provisional and final jury decisions must be justified, recorded in minutes, and published on https://apply.uc.pt/.

VII.IX - Jury Composition:

President: Henrique Manuel dos Santos Faneca

Effective Members: Ana Cristina Pereira Gonçalves; Dina Pereira Alves Farinha

Alternate Members: Ana Bela Sarmento Antunes Cruz Ribeiro; João Nuno Sereno Almeida Moreira

VIII - Application Submission

Candidates must access and register on the electronic platform https://apply.uc.pt/ to submit their application, selecting the procedure to which they wish to apply.

Documents uploaded for the application must be in portable document format (PDF).

Applications are submitted by completing the sections available in the electronic platform "Apply UC" under "My Application."

VIII.I - Mandatory documents to attach when applying:

• Curriculum Vitae, duly updated, dated, and signed;
• Copy of academic degree certificates.

1. If the possession of a degree is a requirement for the grant, candidates holding a degree obtained abroad must, by the end of the application period, provide proof of recognition or evidence that it has been requested, as per Decree-Law No. 66/2018 of August 16. Failure to present degree recognition at the time of contract signing, as per the RBI-UC, will result in exclusion.
2. If duly justified, documents proving the possession of academic degrees and diplomas, or their recognition, may be waived at the application stage and replaced by a candidate's sworn statement. However, until the grant agreement stage, the respective proofs must be submitted under penalty of exclusion.
3. Proof of enrollment in a degree or non-degree course may be waived at the application stage and replaced by a sworn statement from the candidate. However, the required proof must be submitted by the grant agreement stage under penalty of exclusion.

Whenever possible, documentation proving prior grant benefits should also be attached to the application.

VIII.II - Other documents to attach when applying:

• Any other elements the candidate considers relevant.
• Motivation Letter
• References

VIII.III - All application documents must be submitted in Portuguese and/or English. When the originals are in another language, a translation into one of these languages must be provided.

VIII.IV - Applications that are not properly completed or do not meet the admission criteria defined in the applicable legislation and this notice will not be accepted.

VIII.V - No documents required for the application may be submitted after the application deadline.

VIII.VI - Without prejudice to the penal provisions of the law, false statements made by candidates or grant holders regarding relevant matters for the grant award or renewal, or for the evaluation of its progress, will result in its cancellation.

IX - Application deadline: 21/10/2026 to 03/11/2026

X - Activity Regime: The grant does not create or constitute a legal-labor relationship. It is carried out under an exclusive dedication regime, and the grantee is awarded the Research Grantee Status, as stipulated in the EBI and the RBI-UC.

XI - Notification of Candidates: All notifications will be made through the electronic platform Apply UC, under the terms of subparagraph c) of paragraph 1 and subparagraph b) of paragraph 2 of Article 112 of the CPA and Article 22 of the RBI-UC. The notifications will take effect after being made, as provided in Article 113 of the CPA.

XII - Under Articles 121 and 122 of the CPA and Article 22 of the RBI-UC, candidates may, if they wish, submit comments regarding the jury's decisions within 10 business days, through the "Audiência dos Interessados" option in the platform's procedure section.

XIII - Candidates may also submit a complaint within 15 business days or an appeal to the UC's highest-ranking official within 30 business days, both following the respective notification, under Articles 191 and 192 of the CPA.

XIV - Selected candidates must declare in writing, within five business days of notification, their acceptance of the grant and confirm that they meet the requirements to accept the proposed start date of the grant contract. Unless a justifiable reason is provided, failure to provide this declaration within the stipulated time will be considered a renunciation of the grant. In case of renunciation or withdrawal by the selected candidate, the next candidate on the final classification list will be notified.

XV - The full competition process can be consulted by candidates, subject to prior scheduling, by sending an email to the Human Resources Management Service at: sgrh@uc.pt.

XVI - In compliance with subparagraph h) of Article 9 of the Constitution, the University of Coimbra, as an employer, actively promotes a policy of equal opportunities between men and women in terms of employment access and career progression, ensuring that any form of discrimination is strictly avoided. It encourages underrepresented minorities in each area to apply.

Accordingly, no one may be privileged, benefited, disadvantaged, or deprived of any right or exempted from any duty on the grounds of ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender, marital status, family status, economic situation, education, social origin or condition, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, place of origin, language, religion, political or ideological beliefs, or trade union membership.

The University of Coimbra also promotes measures to facilitate the balance between professional, family, and personal life, recognizing the efforts of its employees and fostering motivation.

XVII - The grantee must submit annual activity reports for each renewal and at the end of the grant contract, as stipulated in Article 7 of the RBI-UC, subject to an opinion issued by the respective supervisor(s). The report models, performance evaluation criteria, and the grant contract model are those approved under the University of Coimbra's Research Grant Regulations.

Where to apply

Website: https://apply.uc.pt/IT137-26-446

Requirements

• Research Field: Pharmacological sciences
• Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent

Additional Information

Work Location(s)

• Number of offers available: 1
• Company/Institute: Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Universidade de Coimbra (CNC-UC)
• Country: Portugal

Contact

• City: Coimbra
• Website: https://www.uc.pt/administracao/dpa
• Street: Rua Larga