Scientific Research Fellowship – Biomedical Engineering

for R&D Units, reference "UID/04044/2025-2029", funded by national funds through FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., under the following conditions: SCIENTIFIC AREA: Biomedical sciences RECIPIENTS: Holders of a Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering or related areas who are PhD students in Biomedical Sciences. DURATION: 06 months, eventually renewable until the end of the project or the maximum duration for this research fellowship type. The fellowship is due to start in 12/2026. WORK PLAN: The objective of this work is to develop an injectable granular hydrogel based on gelatin microgels and decellularized matrix for application in temporomandibular joint disc defects. Summary of the activities: Optimization and characterization of the hydrogel, including its mechanical properties, stability, degradation profile, and injectability. In vitro evaluation of biomaterial-cell interactions. Assessment of regenerative potential through the analysis of extracellular matrix component production and molecular markers associated with fibrocartilaginous tissue. Evaluation of the inflammatory response using in vitro models stimulated with IL-1β. Organization, processing, documentation, and dissemination of the results obtained. WORKPLACE AND SCIENTIFIC SUPERVISION: The work will be developed at the Centre for Rapid and Sustained Product Development from the University of Leiria and Oeste (CDRSP-ULO), under the supervision of PhD professor: Nuno Manuel Fernandes Alves. GRANT FINANTIAL COMPONENTS: Monthly maintenance stipend of € 1.359,64, according to the FCT Regulation for Studentships and Fellowships ( https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM-2026.pdf ). Plus, if applicable, the monthly Voluntary Social Insurance, according to the conditions defined in the Statute of Research Fellows. The scholarship holder will benefit from Personal Accident Insurance for the duration of the scholarship grant. PAYMENT: The maintenance stipend will be monthly processed, through bank transfer, to the account identified by the scholarship holder. ACTIVITY SCHEME: Exclusivity, in accordance with applicable legislation. EVALUATION PANEL: The jury responsible for the applications evaluation will be constituted by PhD Professors: Rui Miguel Barreiros Rúben (president), Nuno Manuel Fernandes Alves and Paula Cristina Rodrigues Pascoal Faria (effective member); Marcelo Rudolfo Calvete Gaspar and Pedro Miguel Gonçalves Martinho (substitute member). APPLICATION DEADLINE: november 12, 2026 to november 25, 2026 Selection method and evaluation criteria The evaluation will be made through curriculum analysis and eventually interview, and will focus on the merit of the candidate, where they will be considered and weighted according to the following: A) Academic Qualification (30%): Final grade of master. B) Experience in research and innovation activities, general scientific knowledge, teamwork skills, chemical analysis, and cell culture techniques. Participation in R&D projects (20%): Has excellent professional/academic experience – 20 points Has very good professional/academic experience – 17 points. Has good professional/academic experience – 14 points. Has enough professional/academic experience – 10 points. Has insufficient professional/academic experience – 2 points. No mention of professional/academic practice – 0 points. C) Motivation letter (10%) D) Specific knowledge (SK) (40%): Experience in the use of decellularized extracellular matrix for tissue engineering applications; development and characterization of granular hydrogels; knowledge of DNA, RNA, glycosaminoglycan (GAG), and collagen extraction and quantification techniques; experience in fibrochondrocyte cell culture; and analysis and statistical processing of experimental results. Excellent knowledge – 20 points. High knowledge – 15 points. Medium knowledge – 10 points. Low level of knowledge – 5 points. No knowledge – 0 points. with the final grade FG = (0.3 × A) + (0.2×B) + (0.1×C) + (0.4 x D). If the jury decides by reasoned deliberation, the three first classified in the curriculum analysis will be invited for an interview (INT), with the final grade (FG) = [FG*0.8 + INT*0.2]. Candidates who, at the end of the assessment, obtain a classification of less than 9.5 will be excluded. Observation: If the candidate(s) with foreign qualifications(s) do not present, during the application phase, the recognition of the degree or foreign diploma and the classification conversion to the Portuguese scale, the jury defines the conversion only for the application purposes based on the rules of the legal regime applicable to the recognition of foreign degrees and diplomas or, when not possible, applies the minimal classification of 10 points. Note that foreign academic degrees need to be registered by a Portuguese institution, in accordance with Decree-law no. 66/2018, dated August 16th, and Ordinance no. 33/2019, dated January 25th. The presentation of the certificate is mandatory for signing the contract. More information can be obtained at: https://www.dges.gov.pt/pt/pagina/reconhecimento?plid=374 Eligibility of candidates Without prejudice to the applicable rules to each type of research scholarship, the following candidates are eligible: National citizens or citizens of other member states of the European Union; Third-party states citizens; Stateless persons; Beneficiaries of political refugee status. Submission of applications Applications must be submitted through the link https://recrutamento.ipleiria.pt/processos-ativos/bolseiros/concurso?recruitment_process_id=280 by clicking the "submit application" button, filling out and submitting the application form accompanied by the following documents: Document(s) proving the ownership of the academic degree(s) and/or required application diploma(s), preferably with the final average and curricular units' classification. Candidates with foreign qualifications must prove their academic degree and foreign diploma in the terms of the Decree-law no. 66/2018, dated August 16th. These documents can be dismissed during the application phase, by submitting a declaration of honour available in the application form, which can only attest to facts that occurred prior to the application date, with the verification of this condition occurring only in the contract signing phase; Document proving the enrolment and registration in the study cycle as stated in the application announcement (optional presentation in the application stage, which in turn constitutes a mandatory element when contracting the research grant); Updated candidate Curriculum Vitae; Document(s) supporting other evaluation parameter(s) indicated in the announcement; Other certifications and/or other documents considered relevant by the candidate. Results | Disclosure and complaints The jury will send to the candidates, by e-mail, the provisional results of the evaluation (presented in the form of the minutes resulting from the evaluation process) within 90 working days after the application deadline. After this disclosure, candidates have 10 working days to pronounce, if they wish, using the appropriate form available in the institutional webpage, and under the terms of the administrative procedure code (CPA). The final decision will be taken within a maximum period of 60 working days after the conclusion of the previous hearing of the interested parties, of which a complaint can be filed within 15 working days, after notification, to the highest executive body of the University of Leiria and Oeste. Within the scope of the research fellowship awarding procedure, if the final ordering list, duly approved, contains a number of approved candidates higher than the number of research fellowships to be filled, an internal recruitment reserve is always created, which can be used when there is need for occupation due to withdrawal of the scholarship holder, under the terms of the CPA, to be used during the eligibility of the project. Applicable legislation and regulation Research Fellowship Holder statute, approved by Law no. 40/2004, dated August 18th, in its current wording; Regulation nº 950/2019 [FCT Regulation for Studentships and Fellowships, I.P.] ( https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/regulamento.phtml.pt ) Leiria, november 11, 2026 Pro-Rector of University of Leiria and Oeste Diogo Manuel Teixeira Monteiro Requirements Research Field: Engineering » Biomedical engineering Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent