Offer Description
A call is open for the attribution of one Grant for Graduate, Master’s degree holder or PhD student within the scope of the R&D project “Deciphering the cellular mechanisms underlying high-affinity long-lasting antibody responses in cattle”, [contact details available in the full listing].PEX, financed by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Where to apply
E-mail: candidatura.rh@fmv.ulisboa.pt
Requirements
Research Field: Medical sciences » Veterinary medicine
Education Level: Bachelor Degree or equivalent
Research Field: Medical sciences » Veterinary medicine
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Research Field: Medical sciences » Veterinary medicine
Education Level: PhD or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
- To hold a graduate or master’s degree in Veterinary Medicine, Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry or related fields
- Be a PhD student in Veterinary Medicine, Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry or related fields.
- In the case of Bachelor’s or Master’s degree holders, they must be enrolled on a non-degree course; proof of enrolment may be replaced by a sworn statement, and, in the event of admission, proof of enrolment must be submitted when the scholarship contract is drawn up.
- In the case of PhD students, they must submit proof of enrolment on a PhD programme.
Languages: ENGLISH – Level: Excellent; PORTUGUESE – Level: Excellent
Additional Information
Additional comments
NOTICE
Call for the attribution of one research grant for Graduate, Master or PhD student
A call is open for the attribution of one Grant for Graduate, Master’s degree holder or PhD student within the scope of the R&D project “Deciphering the cellular mechanisms underlying high-affinity long-lasting antibody responses in cattle”, 2024.17538.PEX, financed by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, under the following conditions:
- Scientific area: Veterinary Sciences
- Admission requirements:Hold a graduate or master’s degree in Veterinary Medicine, Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry or related fields
- Be a PhD student in Veterinary Medicine, Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry or related fields.
- In the case of Bachelor’s or Master’s degree holders, they must be enrolled on a non-degree course; proof of enrolment may be replaced by a sworn statement, and, in the event of admission, proof of enrolment must be submitted when the scholarship contract is drawn up.
- In the case of PhD students, they must submit proof of enrolment on a PhD programme.
- Work plan: This exploratory project aims to identify and characterise Tfh cells and germinal centre B cells in cattle using state-of-the-art methodologies, including single-cell RNA-seq, flow cytometry and microscopy. These cellular subpopulations form the basis for the production of high-affinity, long-lasting antibodies, which are fundamental to vaccine efficacy. Their study therefore has enormous potential to generate the knowledge necessary for the development of more effective vaccine strategies. Tfh cells, which control germinal centre reactions in lymph nodes, have recently been discovered in mice and humans, but have not yet been characterised in cattle.
The PhD student will participate in and/or assist with research activities such as:
- Immunisation of cattle and mice
- Collection of biological samples in vivo and collection of samples at the abattoir
- Sample preparation and data analysis in single-cell RNA-seq assays
- Flow cytometry, microscopy and ELISA assays
- Expression and purification of antigens in eukaryotic cell systems
- Co-culture assays with bovine T and B lymphocytes
The scholarship holder will be involved in presenting papers at specialty conferences and in writing scientific articles, and will be encouraged to apply for a PhD or postdoctoral position in order to continue their research work within the group.
4. Applicable legislation and regulations: Statute of the Scientific Research Fellows, approved by Law No. 40/2004, of August 18, in its drafting in force. Regulation of Research Grants of the University of Lisbon, order no. 8061/2022, published in the Diário da República (Official Journal), 2nd series, of July 01, 2022 and the Regulation of Research Grants of the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) as well as per applicable National and Community legislation.
5. Workplace: The work will be developed at the Tropical Animal Health and Production Laboratory (TAHP Lab) of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health – CIISA, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, under the scientific guidance of Afonso Basto, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon.
6. Duration of the scholarship(s): The scholarship will last for 10 months, starting in October 2026. The scholarship contract may be renewed until the maximum duration of 12 months or until the project’s funding for the grant reaches its limit.
7. Monthly maintenance allowance amount: It corresponds to € 1 359,64, as defined by FCT, I.P. (https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/valores).
8. Selection methods: Applications deemed admissible will be scored on a scale of 0 to 20, taking into account the candidate’s merit and the outcome for each of the following criteria:
Criterion A: Curriculum assessment (CA) – 60%, as follows:
- Academic background in the field of the competition – weighting of 30%
- Scientific publications in the field – weighting of 10%
- Laboratory experience related to the work plan – weighting of 20%
Criterion B: Motivation letter - 10%
Criterion C: Other factors considered relevant, namely participation in conferences and involvement in activities deemed pertinent to the project - 10%.
Criterion D: Interview – 20% (limited to the 3 candidates with the highest scores resulting from the application of criteria A, B and C).
Candidates not selected for interview will be awarded a score of zero in Criterion D. if the interview does not take place, the 20% weighting allocated to it will be added to the weighting of the Motivation letter.
For the final decision for the research grant attribution, the candidates will be ordered according to the weighted average of the obtained score in each of the four criteria, as follows:
For tiebreaker purposes, the ranking of candidates will be based on the scores attributed to each of the evaluation criteria by the following order: criterion A, criterion B, criterion C, criterion D.
Candidates who score less than 9.5 points will be excluded from the procedure, as well candidates who do not comply with all the requirements and formalities set out in this notice.
9. Composition of the Selection Jury:
President: Doctor Afonso Silva Pinto Basto, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon
Effective members:
- Doctor José Alexandre da Costa Perdigão e Cameira Leitão, Senior Researcher at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon
- Doctor José Ricardo Dias Bexiga, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon
Substitute members:
- Doctor Sofia Nolasco, Assistant Professor at the Lisbon School of Health Technology, Lisbon Polytechnic Institute
- Doctor Inês Lourenço da Silva Delgado, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lusófona University of Humanities and Technologies
The president of the Jury will be replaced in his absence or impediment by the member who succeeds him in the order mentioned above.
10. Notification of results: All candidates will be notified of the Final Assessment Result via the email indicated in the application.
11. Deadline for application and form of submission of applications: The call is open from 17/08/2026 until 11:59 pm on 07/09/2026.
Applications must be delivered by email, with delivery/receipt notice, to the following email address candidatura.rh@fmv.ulisboa.pt, with the Subject/reference: BI_001_LMED_2024.17538.PEX, in the care of Researcher Doctor Afonso Basto, FMV/UL.
Applications must be formalized by email, mandatory including the following documents:
- Application form, completed in full – available on the Faculty’s website at www.fmv.ulisboa.pt (Investigação/Bolsas de Investigação/ Formulários/Candidatura)
- Motivation letter;
- Detailed Curriculum Vitae of the candidate, dated and signed;
- Documents proving that the candidate meets the required conditions for awarding the scholarship, namely copies of the qualification certificates for all academic degrees obtained, with final grade;
- For academic degrees awarded by a foreign higher education institution, it is mandatory to present the record of recognition of the academic degree and the conversion of the final classification to the Portuguese scale (process regulated by Decree-Law no. 341/2007, of 12 October), or alternatively, obtaining equivalence/recognition of academic degrees (process regulated by Decree-Law no. 283/83, of 21 June);
- Foreign candidates who do not present proof of conversion of the final grade to the Portuguese grading scale will be assessed with the minimum grade;
- Scholarship contracts will only be concluded with candidates holding diplomas issued by institutions, upon presentation of proof of recognition of academic degrees and conversion of the final grade, as indicated above.
- Updated declaration proving the candidate's professional situation, indicating the nature of the relationship, functions and teaching hours on average per year, if applicable. This declaration may be replaced by a declaration of honor, with verification of this condition only taking place at the stage of finalizing the scholarship agreement. If the candidate is not engaged in any professional activities or provision of services, should provide a declaration of honor indicating this.
- Proof of enrolment on a doctoral programme or a non-degree course, in accordance with the applicable requirement set out in point 2 of this Notice. Alternatively, a sworn statement may be submitted, confirming that such enrolment will be effected at the time of signing the contract.
- Letters of recommendation (optional).
Scholarship contracts do not generate legal-labor relations or the provision of services, and the grantee does not acquire the status of worker in public functions.
12. Policy of non-discrimination and equal access: FMV-ULisboa promotes a policy of non-discrimination and equal access, meaning that no candidate may be privileged, benefited, impaired or deprived of any right or exempt from any duty based, in particular, on ancestry, age, sexual orientation, marital status, family situation, economic status, education, origin or social condition, genetic heritage, reduced working capacity, disability, chronic disease, nationality, ethnic origin or breed, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological beliefs and trade union membership.
13. Deadlines and Procedures for Prior Hearing, Complaints and Appeals: After the provisional list of assessment results has been communicated, candidates have a period of 10 working days to, if they wish, make a statement at a prior hearing of interested parties, in accordance with articles 121 et seq. of the Code of Administrative Procedure.
If any statements are submitted, they will be analysed and a final decision will be made. A complaint may be filed against this final decision within 15 working days, or, alternatively, an appeal may be filed within 30 working days, both counting from the date of notification. Candidates who choose to submit a complaint must address their statement to the Rector of the University of Lisbon. Candidates who choose to appeal must address the appeal to the funding entity.
Note: All documents sent by email must have the .doc or .pdf extension and the subject filled in with the project reference.
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 31 July 2026
Website for additional job details: https://www.fmv.ulisboa.pt/pt/investigacao/bolsas-de-investigacao
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária da Universidade de Lisboa
Country: Portugal
State/Province: Lisboa
City: Lisboa
Postal Code: 1300-477
Street: Av. da Universidade Técnica
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