Scientific area

Chemistry

Admission requirements

Master’s degree in Chemistry or Biochemistry

Preference will be given to candidates with experience in Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, molecular dynamics simulation or chemical synthesis.

As set forth FCT Research Scholarship Regulation No. 950/2019 of December 16, 2019, article 3 and 6, candidates for “BI” (Research Grants), must be currently enrolled in, or intend to enrol in, a course that does not lead to an academic degree, as a rule condition for the award of the scholarship. 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’, focusing primarily on the first two tasks. The main activities will be:

1. Synthesis or structural modification of fluorinated compounds used as a dispersed phase (oxygen transport) or continuous phase (liquid ventilation), their purification and structural characterisation. The syntheses will be carried out primarily by telomerisation and their characterisation will be performed by NMR spectroscopy.
2. Selection of the surfactants to be used, their preparation (polypeptides and cell membranes) and/or synthesis (fluorinated surfactants).
3. Experimental determination of the thermophysical properties of substances and binary mixtures used as active ingredients in fluorinated emulsions. The properties to be measured are density and surface tension as a function of temperature and composition (in the case of mixtures). Densities will be determined using a vibrating-tube densimeter, whilst surface tensions will be determined using a breakaway-force tensiometer.
4. Study of the stability of the emulsions prepared in the meantime 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.
5. Modelling and simulation of fluorinated emulsions in water using molecular dynamics simulation.

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), and the Research Grant Regulations of the Science and Technology Foundation, I.P. (Regulation no. 950/2019, of July 22, 2024). º 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 12 months, or until the funding allocated to the project is exhausted, whichever comes first, starting in October 2026. The scholarship will not be renewable, given 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 €1.359,64, 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. Alfredo Jorge Palace Carvalho
1º Alternative Member– Prof. Dr. António Paulo Silva Teixeira
2º Alternative Member– Prof. Dr. João Paulo Cristóvão Almeida Prates Ramalho

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 master’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