1 (one) Research Fellowship (BI) for MSc student or BSc enrolled in a non-degree course

1 Research Fellowship(s) (BI) is(are) open at the FCiências.ID – Associação para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento de Ciências, for the project “Acquisition of a study to characterize the marine trophic web with isotopic composition analysis (ɗ15N and ɗ13C) within the scope of PRR project C21-i07_01”, financed by  National public entities (IPMA), under the following conditions:

1. Scientific Area: Biology or related areas
    
2. Admission requirements: Degree in Biology or related areas.
    
3. Additional optional skills and qualifications: Experience in the study of marine trophic webs, in particular the pelagic and demersal environment, R&D activity in the laboratory, preferably trophic studies.
    
4. Contracting requirements: Presentation of the academic qualifications and/or diplomas. Enrolment in  a Master's degree in Biology or a non-degree course developed in association or cooperation between a High Education Institution and one or multiple research units. 
    
5. Work plan: The general objective of this project is to characterize the trophic chain of the Portuguese continental shelf in the area where the wind structures are being implemented and adjacent areas, by analysing the isotopic composition (δ15N and δ13C) of the most abundant or relevant organisms in the chain. The tasks to be carried out by the grantee include: 1) Embarking on research campaigns or commercial vessels to support the IPMA team in the collection and biological sampling of organisms to be analysed for isotopic composition; 2) Supporting the processing of samples for isotopic analysis (namely weighing, lyophilisation  ); 3) Analysis of the composition of nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) isotope ratios in selected tissues (typically muscle for most organisms);  4) Preparation of progress reports with the following information for all the species analysed: isotopic composition (δ15N and δ13C), trophic position, trophic niche and trophic relationships of the analysed organisms. 
   The work plan includes visits to the IPMA-Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera, Lisbon, to carry out the work.
    
6. Legislation framework: Research Fellowship Holder Statute, in accordance with Law 40/2004, of 18 August, in its current version and the FCT Regulation for Research Studentships and Fellowships, in its current version  (Reg. 950/2019 published in DR on 16th  December: https://dre.pt/application/file/a/127230968,  or at the FCT website: https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/regulamento.phtml.pt), and FCiências.ID Fellowship Regulation, as approved on 12th May 2020 (available at Regulamento de Bolsas de Investigação Científica da FCiências.ID).
    
7. Place of work: The work will be developed at the CE3C – Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes of the Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, under the scientific supervision of Professor Cristina Máguas.
    
8. Fellowship duration: This position is initially opened for 6 months due to start in February 2025. The fellowship contract may be potentially renewed for until the end of the project, in accordance with the provisions of Regulation of Research Fellowships from the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P and FCiências.ID Fellowship Regulation. 
    
9. Monthly allowance: The fellowship amounts to € 990,98, according to table values of the FCiências.ID Fellowship Regulation. The fellowship holder will have a personal accident insurance and can ensure the right to social security through adherence to the voluntary social insurance scheme, if not covered by any other social protection scheme, pursuant to Código dos Regimes Contributivos do Sistema Previdencial de Segurança Social.
   The fellowship will be paid monthly by bank transfer.
    
10. Evaluation and selection process: Candidates will be assessed by a) Proven experience in biological sampling of marine organisms, preferably from the demersal or pelagic ocean environment – 20%;
    b) Proven experience in processing biological samples in the laboratory - 20%;
    c) Proven experience in analysing the trophic ecology of marine organisms – 20%;
    d) Assessment of the reference letter(s) – 15%;
    e) Assessment of the motivation letter – 15%;
    f) Knowledge dissemination activities – 10%;
    The jury may interview the top 3 candidates in criteria a) to f), in order to obtain clarification, additional information and/or explanation of the curricular elements presented. If there is an interview, the sum of the evaluations obtained in evaluation criteria a) to f) will correspond to 80% of the final classification and the interview to 20%.
    Applicants whose application is scored with a final classification of less than 50 points are not eligible for granting a fellowship.
     
11. Selection Committee: President: Cristina Máguas (Ce3C); Effective members: Susana Garrido (IPMA), Hugo Mendes (IPMA); Alternate members: Cristina Antunes (CE3C), Alexandra Silva (IPMA).
     
12. Publication/notification of results: All the candidates will be notified by e-mail, sent by the call holder, with the selection meeting minutes enclosed.
     
13. Deadlines: This call for applications is open from 27/01/2025 to 04/02/2025 .
     
14. Application: Applications should be sent via e-mail to susana.garrido@ipma.pt, by attaching the following documents: 
    a) Curriculum vitae;
    b) Certificate of completion of previous degree Note 1, 2;
    c) At least one letter of recommendation;
    d) Letter of motivation.
     
15. Processing of personal data: FCiências.ID – Associação para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento de Ciências, as the controller under the General Data Protection Regulation, collects and processes the personal data requested in the context indicated in paragraph 14., under the legitimate interests in ensuring the award of the research fellowship to candidates with the indicated profile.
    The personal data will be kept for the period necessary for the execution of the purposes for which they are intended, being ensured the processing and protection in an appropriate and diligent way, the confidentiality and integrity of these data, through appropriate technical and organizational measures.
    Personal data may be transmitted to third parties, namely the entity funding the research project, solely for the purposes specifically established. In this sense, whenever the transfer of personal data to countries outside the European Union and/or international organizations is necessary, compliance with the applicable legal provisions is ensured.
    You have the right to request access, rectification, elimination, limitation of processing, the right to object and also data portability (if technically feasible), through the e-mail address: dpo@fciencias-id.pt. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the National Data Protection Commission. 
    For more information, we recommend consulting the Internal Rules of Data Protection of FCiências.ID - Association for Research and Development of Sciences at https://fciencias-id.pt/.
     
16. Time limits for the appeal procedure: In case of negative decision, the candidates have 10 business days, after the date of announcement of the results of the candidates evaluation, to pronounce their disagreement in accordance with the Código do Procedimento Administrativo. Appeals against the final decision may be submitted to the Administration Board of FCiências.ID (fciencias.id@fciencias-id.pt) within 15 business days after the notification date.

Note 1: The documents that prove the entitlement of the academic qualifications and diplomas can be dismissed during the application period and replaced by a declaration on their honour from the applicant (Minuta PT, Minute EN). Their delivery is mandatory for the fellowship contractualization.

Note 2: Please note that - higher education degrees and diplomas awarded by foreign higher education institutions  need to be  recognized by a Portuguese higher education institution, pursuant to the Decree-Law nr. 66/2018 (August 16) and the Ministerial Order nr. 33/2019 (January 25). The presentation of the recognition certificate is mandatory for contract signature. More information can be obtained at: https://www.dges.gov.pt/en/pagina/degree-and-diploma-recognition.