Research Scholarship for Graduate’s Students

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

Offer Description

LAQV-REQUIMTE (Évora pole), UNIVERSITY OF ÉVORA

Research Scholarship for Graduate’s Students - 1 vacancy

25 of august of 2026

A call for tenders is open for one Research Scholarship for master’s students within the scope of the project “FEMO2 - New fluorocarbon emulsions for oxygen transport” (ALT2030-FEDER-02674100), co-financed by Alentejo 2030, through the Program “SACCCT - Investigação científica e tecnológica - Projetos de IC&DT”, under the following conditions:

Scientific area: Chemistry/Biochemistry

Admission requirements: Graduation in Biotechnology

Preference will be given to candidates with a postgraduate qualification in Biomedical Sciences and who have expertise in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectrometry.

As set forth FCT Research Scholarship Regulation No. 950/2019 of December 16, 2019, article 3 and 6, candidates for “BI” (Research Grants) must comply as a rule condition for the award of the scholarship, the effective inclusion in study cycles leading to the attribution of academic degrees or in courses not leading to an academic degree. Courses that do not confer an academic degree correspond to the courses provided for in subparagraph e) of paragraph 3 of article 4 of Decree-Law No. 74/2006 of 24 March and must be developed in a higher education institution in association with at least one R&D unit, including a course plan in one or several research areas of the unit.

Work plan:

The research fellow to be recruited will carry out their work as part of the FEMO2 project: New fluorocarbon-based emulsions for oxygen transport. The main activities will be:

1. Experimental determination of the diffusion coefficients of fluorocarbons (dispersed phase) and surfactants in water, as well as of surfactants in fluorocarbons. These measurements will be carried out using spin-echo NMR methods. This property, together with the surface tensions and densities of the dispersed phase, will be used to model the decay of fluorinated nano-emulsions via the Ostwald ageing mechanism, thereby predicting their stability
2. Preparation of emulsions using the pre-selected components (active oxygen-carrying agents and surfactants). The preparation will be carried out using an emulsifier (probe ultrasonicator or a high-pressure homogeniser), followed by autoclave sterilisation.
3. Study of the stability of the prepared emulsions by measuring and recording the average size of the dispersed phase particles as a function of time, using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), optical microscopy and flow cytometry.
4. Conducting in vitro oxygenation tests involving cell lines and micro-organs. The study will focus in particular on the effect of fluorocarbon emulsions on pseudo-islands formed by BRIN-BD11 hybrid cells. Once the formation of pseudo-islets has been optimised in different media, cell viability will be determined using the double-staining method with fluorescein diacetate and propidium iodide. Tissue oxygenation will be assessed by the expression of hypoxia markers in the pseudo-islets, using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Applicable legislation and regulations: The granting of the Research Scholarship will be carried out upon the signing of a contract between the University of Évora and the scholarship holder, according to the version in Annex I, pursuant to the Research Scholarship Statute (Law no. 40/2004 of August 18, as amended) and considering the provisions of other applicable legislation and regulations, namely, the Research Grant Regulations of the University of Évora (published by Order no. 8131/2024, of July 22, 2024), https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/2s/2024/07/140000000/0035300366.pdf and in the Research Grants Regulations of the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. (Regulation no. 950/2019, of December 16, as amended).

Place of work: The work will be developed at LAQV-REQUIMTE (Évora scientific pole) of the University of Évora, under the general coordination of the Administrator of the University of Évora and the scientific guidance of the Professor Luís Filipe Guerreiro Martins, who must draw up an opinion on the final activity report of the scholarship (Annex II), according to the draft in Annex III.

Duration of the scholarship(s): The scholarship will run for 24 months, with a start date scheduled for October 2026. It will not be renewable, in view of the maximum duration stipulated for this type of scholarship under the University of Évora’s Regulations on the Award of Research Scholarships currently in force, specifically Article 14.

Amount of monthly maintenance allowance: The amount of the scholarship corresponds to €1.090,98, according to the table of scholarships awarded directly by FCT, I.P. in Portugal (https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM-2026.pdf), payments being made monthly, by check or bank transfer.

Selection methods: The selection methods to be used will be the following: curriculum evaluation and interview, with the respective valuation of: 70 % for the curriculum evaluation; 30 % for the interview.

Composition of the Selection Jury:

President: Prof. Dr. Luís Filipe Guerreiro Martins

1st Effective Member – Dr. Elisabete da Palma Carreiro

2nd Effective Member – Prof. Dr. Ana Cristina Bugalho Oliveira Rodrigues Costa

1º Alternative Member– Prof. Dr. Célia Maria Miguel Antunes

2º Alternative Member– Prof. Dr. António Paulo Silva Teixeira

Advertising/notification of results: The final results of the evaluation will be publicized, through an ordered list by final grade obtained posted in a visible and public place at Colégio Luís António Verney of University of Évora, being the candidate (a) approved notified by email.

To ensure the right of prior hearing of interested parties, the Final Classification project will be announced by any written means to all interested parties.

After communicating the provisional list of the results of the evaluation, candidates have a period of 10 working days to express their opinion in a preliminary hearing of interested parties. Based on the final ranking list, a reserve selection list will be drawn up, to be used for the possible recruitment of new scholarship holders within the scope of this project, up to the duration of the scholarship, which may be used in the eventuality of the first ranked candidate withdrawing, failing to present the mandatory documentation, or in the event of the scholarship holder canceling their scholarship early. In the eventuality that none of the candidates demonstrates the profile required to carry out the work plan, the jury reserves the right not to award the scholarship.

Application deadline and submission of applications: The tender is open from 27 of August to 10 of September of 2026 and the results of the selection will be published by 14 of September of 2026.

Applications must be submitted by email, accompanied by the following documents: Curriculum Vitae, a certificate confirming a bachelor’s degree, and a covering letter.

For the purposes of application, the evidence may be replaced by a declaration of honor signed by the candidate, but the failure to demonstrate that evidence, in the contracting phase, possession of the required degree on the deadline for application or the non-presentation of proof of enrollment in the study cycle or non-degree course, for scholarships with this component, imply the cancellation of the candidate's application.

Academic degrees obtained in foreign countries require registration by a Portuguese Institution in accordance with Decree-Law no. 66/2018, of August 16 and Ordinance No. 33/2019, of January 25th.

The presentation of the certificate is mandatory for the signing of the contract. More information can be obtained at: https://www.dges.gov.pt/pt/pagina/recognition?plid=374

Applications must be sent by email to:

Prof. Luís Filipe Guerreiro Martins

Chemistry and Biochemistry Department of the University of Évora

email: lfgm@uevora.pt

Where to apply

E-mail: lfgm@uevora.pt

Requirements

Research Field: Chemistry » Biochemistry

Education Level: Undergraduate

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available: 1

Company/Institute: Universidade de Évora

Country: Portugal

State/Province: Évora

City: Évora

Postal Code: 7000-803

Street: Largo dos Colegiais, 2

Contact

State/Province: Alentejo

City: Évora

Website: https://www.uevora.pt/investigar/Oportunidades-de-Investigacao/concursos-bolsas-id

Street: Largo dos Colegais, nº. 2

Postal Code: 7000-803

E-Mail: lfgm@uevora.pt