Research Grant (RG) - Proteogenomic analysis of clinical Candida albicans isolates

Offer Description

Reference: Public notice 14/2026/BI/iBiMED/CANDIDATE

NOTICE FOR THE AWARD OF GRANTS IN THE SCOPE OF R&D PROJECTS AND INSTITUTIONS

A tender is hereby opened for the award of 1 (one) Research Grant (RG) in the scope of R&D projects CANDIDATE / iBiMED - Instituto de Biomedicina, Departamento de Ciências Médicas (COMPETE2030-FEDER-00840900) under the following conditions:

1. Scientific Area: Biomedical Sciences.

2. Funding Source: Foundation for Science and Technology/MCTES, I.P., through national funds (PIDDAC), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the European Union, through the COMPETE2030 of Portugal 2030.

3. Admission Requirements:

3.1. Masters enrolled in courses that do not confer academic degree integrated in the educational project of a higher education institution.1

3.2. Master's Degree in: Biomedicine, Biology, other similar.

4. Other Requirements:

Applications demonstrating laboratory experience in microbiology will be highly valued, particularly in culture growth, protein extraction and quantification, Western blotting, and sample preparation for mass spectrometry, as well as experience in molecular biology techniques for the development of genetic tools in fungi. Experience in proteomics data analysis using different software platforms, as well as knowledge of programming languages, including R and Python, will also be highly valued. Knowledge of Candida albicans biology and/or the mechanisms of protein translation will be taken into consideration.

5. Eligibility: Applicants are eligible if they comply with paragraph a) of no.1 of article 2, of the Research Fellow Statute as amended by Decree-Law no. 123/2019, of August 28th, as well as nos. 1 and 2 of article 6 of the Research Grant Regulations of the Foundation for Science and Technology.

6. Workplan: The fellowship holder will support the proteogenomic analysis of clinical Candida albicans isolates originating from different host niches, with the aim of identifying and quantifying protein translation errors and relating them to the adaptive mechanisms and pathogenic potential of different strains. The work will include strain cultivation, sample preparation and processing, protein fractionation, data acquisition by LC-MS/MS, and the implementation and optimisation of a proteogenomic analysis pipeline.

The fellowship holder will also participate in the validation and absolute quantification of relevant proteins and peptides using Parallel Reaction Monitoring (PRM), as well as in the bioinformatic processing and analysis of the resulting data. These activities will contribute to the identification of proteins and codons susceptible to translation errors and to a better understanding of the biological relevance of these events in the adaptation and pathogenicity of C. albicans.

7. Applicable legislation and regulations: Statute of Scientific Research Grant Holder, as amended by Decree-Law no. 123/2019, of August 28th; Regulation no. 950/2019, of November 29th, published in Diário da República, no. 241, Series II, of December 16th (FCT, I.P. Research Grants Regulation); Decree-Law no. 66/2018, of August 16th (Legal regime for recognition of academic degrees and diplomas of higher education awarded by foreign higher education institutions).

8. Workplace: The work will be carried out at iBiMED - Institute of Biomedicine / Departamento de Ciências Médicas of the University of Aveiro, under the scientific supervision of Professor/Doctor Catarina Inês Ribeiro Correia.

9. Duration of the grant(s): The grant duration will be 12 months, starting in December of 2026 up to the maximum limit of approved funding. Under no circumstances shall it exceed the limits defined in nos. 3, 4 and 5 of article 6, of Regulation no. 950/2019, of November 29th, published in Diário da República, no. 241, Series II, of December 16th (Research Grants Regulation of FCT, I.P.).

10. Amount of monthly maintenance allowance: The amount of the grant corresponds to €1.359,64, according to the table of monthly maintenance allowance amounts set out in Annex I of Regulation no. 950/2019, subject to any updates that may be applicable, under the terms of no. 2 of article 18 of Regulation no. 950/2019, of November 29th, published in Diário da República, no. 241, Series II, of December 16th (Research Grants Regulation of FCT, I.P.). The fellow may also be reimbursed for the amount corresponding to the Voluntary Social Security, in case of adherence to this plan. 2

11. Selection methods: The selection methods to be used will be the following: Curricular evaluation, focusing on academic background and experience in the relevant field and with the techniques of interest for the project to be developed; and an online or in-person interview, which will be conducted only with candidates who obtain a minimum score of 16 out of 20 in the curricular evaluation. The Selection Committee reserves the right not to select any of the candidates admitted to the call and provisionally ranked if the minimum overall score obtained is below 17 out of 20 with the respective value of 70% and 30%.

12. Composition of the Selection Jury: Chair of the Selection Committee: Drª Catarina Inês Ribeiro Correia, Level I Researcher, iBiMED - Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro. Full Members: Dr Ana Rita Macedo Bezerra and Dr Ana Raquel Santos Calhôa Mano Soares, both Assistant Researcher-equivalent, and both from iBiMED - Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro. Alternate Members: Dr Ana Rita Guimarães Rodrigues da Silva, Level I Researcher, and Dr Rui Filipe Santos Marçalo, Post-Doctoral Fellow, both from iBiMED - Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro.

13. Deadline for applications (not be less than 10 working days) and how to submit applications: The call is open from 25-09-2026 to 09-10-2026, and only applications submitted within the deadline will be admitted.

Applications must be formalized by sending a letter of application accompanied by the following documents: Curriculum Vitae, and certificate of qualifications or/and a signed declaration of honor. They shall also indicate the e-mail address to which by such indication they accept to be notified for all purposes within this procedure.

Applications should be sent by e-mail to dcm-candidaturas@ua.pt.

14. Form of publication/notification of results: The final results of the evaluation will be published through an ordered list by final mark obtained posted on the University's website, within 90 working days after the final date of submission of the application, and the successful candidate will be notified by email. For the purposes of prior hearing of interested parties, the deadline of 10 working days is set, as provided for in the Code of Administrative Procedure. At the end of the period for hearing the interested parties, and in the absence of any response from them, the list of candidates will become final. Candidates may lodge a complaint against the final decision within 15 working days, or appeal to the maximum executive body of the funding entity within 30 working days after notification of the final decision, in accordance with the provisions of article 12 of the Research Grants Regulation of the Foundation for Science and Technology.

15. Tender duration: The final ranking list of candidates will be valid until 31-12-2026 for the purpose of constituting a reserve list for selection.

University of Aveiro, 21-09-2026

Catarina Inês Ribeiro Correia

Obs:

The models of the grant contract and of the final report to be prepared by the grant holder and the supervisor are available at Research fellows - sgrh - Universidade de Aveiro (ua.pt).

1. View Courses at: Courses - University of Aveiro (ua.pt) and Training at UA - Universidade de Aveiro

The proof of enrolment must be made available until the contract is awarded, and the candidate may attach a declaration of honor to confirm that they meet the requirements for enrolment in an integrated master's degree, master's or doctoral program or in a course that does not confer an academic degree.

If the qualification has been conferred by a foreign higher education institution it must be recognized by a Portuguese higher education institution, under the terms of the provisions of article 25 of Decree-Law no. 66/2018, of August 16th, which approves the legal regime of recognition of academic degrees and diplomas of Higher Education, attributed by foreign higher education institutions, and of paragraph e) of no. 2 of article 4 of Decree-Law no. 60/2018, of August 3rd, and any formalities established therein must be fulfilled by the date of the hiring act.

2. Note: Depending on the case, the grant may also include other components, namely tuition fees for grants associated with obtaining an academic degree or diploma up to the maximum amount provided for therein in the table in Appendix III of Regulation 950/2019, provided it is considered eligible expenditure under the terms of the applicable funding regulations.

Where to apply

E-mail: dcm-candidaturas@ua.pt

Requirements

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

Additional Information

Work Location(s)

• Number of offers available: 1
• Company/Institute: Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro
• Country: Portugal

Contact

• City: Aveiro
• Website: https://www.ua.pt/ibimed/ https://www.ua.pt/en/dcm
• Street: Agra do Crasto
• Postal Code: 3810 Aveiro