ASSISTANT RESEARCHERS (6) FOR THE i3S ASSOCIATED LABORATORY Porto

ASSISTANT RESEARCHERS (6) FOR THE i3S ASSOCIATED LABORATORY
Porto
Porto, Porto District, Portugal

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Organisation/Company Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde da Universidade do Porto (i3S) Research Field Medical sciences » Health sciences Biological sciences » Biology Technology » Biotechnology Researcher Profile Established Researcher (R3) Positions Ph
D Positions Country Portugal Application Deadline 1 Sep 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon) Type of Contract Permanent Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 31 Jul 2025 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Next
Generation
EU Reference Number Assistant_Researcher(6)/FCT_Tenure/i3S/3107/2025 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

A call for applications has opened for six Assistant Researchers at i3S, to carry out roles aligned with the objectives of the Institute for Health Research and Innovation - i3S-LA Associated Laboratory. The scientific strategy motivating these Assistant Researcher positions aims to assemble a diverse team of Staff Scientists, thereby enhancing multidisciplinary collaborative projects within the three i3S Integrative Research Programmes:Cancer, Infection, Immunity & Regeneration, and Neurobiology & Neurological Disorders.

The contracts will be permanent and exclusive, following the approval of the i3S application for the FCT-Tenure measure, which is financed by funds from the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia IP or by the PRR – Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência.

Reference FCT of the six positions:

1-2023. 14140. TENURE. 003 - Assistant Researcher in Innovative Models for Neurologic Diseases

2- 2023. 14140. TENURE. 004 - Assistant Researcher in Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology and Neurologic Diseases

3 - 2023. 14140. TENURE. 007 - Assistant Researcher in Immunity and Infection

4- 2023. 14140. TENURE. 008 - Assistant Researcher in Repair and Regeneration

5- 2023. 14140. TENURE. 015 - Assistant Researcher in Cancer Translational Research

6- 2023. 14140. TENURE. 016 - Assistant Researcher in Cancer Basic Research

1. Summary

As a Staff Scientist, Assistant Researchers will dedicate 50 per cent of their time to their own research activities within an i3S research group, while the remaining 50 per cent will be allocated to supporting the research of any other i3S group in the design, implementation, and analysis of experiments within specific
- technical areas of their expertise. These activities will be coordinated by the Scientific Programme coordinating team. Within the strategic framework of an i3S research group, each Assistant Researcher is expected to develop their own research projects, actively seek research funding, support advanced training, promote dissemination, and provide operational support to the laboratory.

Labour Code, in its current wording.

3. Jury

The jury is appointed by i3S Director Claudio Sunkel, who is also responsible for approving the results.

President: Claudio Enrique Sunkel Cariola, Full Professor, University of Porto, Porto.

Other members:

Jocelyne Demengeot, Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM), Lisboa.

Adriano Henriques, Institute of Chemical and Biological Technology (ITQB), Universidade Nova de Lisboa.

Lorena Dieguez, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), Braga.

Each application will be assessed by a minimum of three members of the jury, allocated according to each member's expertise in the specific scientific area of the research project to be presented by the candidate.

4. Workplace

5. Monthly salary and category

Assistant Researcher, €3. 501, 28 equated with index 195 of the Scientific Research Career, in accordance with the Statute of the Scientific Research Career, provided for in Law no. 55/2025 of April 28.

6. General requirements for admission

a. Candidates must hold a Ph
D in Life Sciences, Health, Biology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, or related fields for more than five years;

b. Candidates must demonstrate an excellent scientific track record in the area they intend to develop their highly innovative research project in the framework of an i3S Integrative Program;

c. Candidates must demonstrate original contributions in articles published in scientific journals;

d. Candidates must demonstrate experience in leading or participating in research projects;

e. Candidates must demonstrate experience in supervising or
- supervising ongoing or completed doctoral, master's or undergraduate students.

f. Candidates must be willing to contribute to the i3S training mission by supporting advanced training and participating in graduate and Ph
D programs;

g. Competence in administrative/coordinating tasks is appreciated, as the selected candidates are also expected to carry out duties to which they will be elected or appointed in i3S collegiate bodies;

h. Past involvement in outreach activities will be valued, as the candidates are expected to engage with the i3S educational program.

i. The candidate can carry out a maximum of 4 hours per week of teaching activities (average value per
- year period), during the FCT-Tenure employment contract.

7. Specific requirements for admission

a. Each application must be supported by the Leader of the i3S Group in which the candidate will be integrated for the 50% research activities.

b. Each i3S Group Leader can only support one application.

c. Each candidate can only submit one application and must be supported by only one i3S Group Leader.

8. Evaluation

The evaluation of the candidates' scientific and curricular background should concentrate on the most relevant activities undertaken in the last five years. The
- year period may be extended by the jury at the candidate’s request if justified by suspension of scientific work due to socially protected reasons, such as parental leave, prolonged serious illness, or other legally protected situations of unavailability for work.

As part of the i3S commitment to The Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment, as outlined by the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (Co
ARA), evaluation panels are advised to adhere to Co
ARA principles and not to use quantitative metrics as a substitute for assessing the quality of individual outputs and applicants’ contributions.

The evaluation focuses mainly on items i), ii) and iii):

i) Detailed curriculum vitae (maximum 3 pages, excluding list of publications), in which emphasis should be placed on
- reviewed publications, lectures and oral presentations by invitation by national and foreign institutions or at national and international meetings, ability to raise competitive funding or participating in Research Projects and experience in supervising
- graduate students. Activities associated with technology transfer (if applicable) and scientific dissemination, as well as institutional activities.

ii) Research plan for the next 6 years (maximum 3 pages), within the scope of an i3S Integrative Research Program in which the supporting research group is primarily integrated; relevance and innovative nature of the proposed research plan; suitability of the methodology adopted and feasibility of the research plan; integration of the project within the selected i3S Integrative Research Program.

iii) Demonstrated expertise (maximum 3 pages) in at least one of thepriority
- technical areas of interest listed for each position: level of knowledge and added value for the Program and the research strategy of i3S.

Weight of the evaluation criteria:

i) Candidate's curriculum vitae (30%)

ii) Research plan for the next 6 years (30%)

iii)Quality and impact of
- technical expertise(30%)

iv) Interview (10%)

For each position, up to three of the
- ranked candidates may be called for an interview to clarify any aspect related to the application.

Candidates who submit their application incorrectly or fail to meet the required qualifications for this competition will be excluded from admission.

The jury reserves the right to request any candidate, in case of doubt, to provide supporting documents for their statements.

False statements made by candidates will be sanctioned in accordance with the law.

The jury will prepare minutes of its meetings, which can be consulted by the candidate upon request within ten working days after the selection results are released.

The jury deliberates using a justified individual vote according to the evaluation criteria, with no abstentions allowed. The jury draws up a list of excluded and admitted candidates, ordered by respective classification within each position.

All candidates are notified of the selection results by email. After notification, candidates have ten working days to comment.

Within the 90 days following the application submission deadline, the jury's final decision is communicated to the candidates. Subsequently, the institute’s Director, who is also responsible for the final hiring decision, will ratify the jury's decision.

This call is intended exclusively to fill the indicated position on offer and may be cancelled before the final ranking list of candidates is ratified by the i3S Director.

9. Submission of applications

Applications must be accompanied by documents proving the conditions for admission, namely:

a) Copy of Ph
D certificate;

b) Curriculum vitae, according to evaluation criterion (i); (3 pages A4 max, excluding list of publications);

c) Research plan for the next 6 years, according to criterion (ii); (3 pages A4 max) (must refer the position number and the FCT reference);

d) Demonstration of expertise in at least one of
- technical areas of interest listed for each position and impact on the Program/i3S, according to criterion (iii); (3 pages A4 max)

e) Letter of endorsement (template provided below paragraph 14) by an i3S Research Group Leader, stating that the Group Leader is not endorsing any additional application.

The submission of applications is digital, in pdf format, from the 31th July to the 1st September 2025, at the following link:

The anticipated start date for the contract is the 31st October 2025 and is subject to budget availability. This will be a permanent contract with i3S.

11. Non-discrimination and equal access policy

i3S actively promotes a policy of
- discrimination and equal access, whereby no candidate may be privileged, benefited, disadvantaged, or deprived of any right, nor exempt from any duty on the grounds of ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, family situation, economic circumstances, education, social origin or status, genetic heritage, reduced working capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin, race, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological beliefs, or trade union membership.

Within the framework of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, i3S adopts the Open, Transparent, and Merit-based (OTM-R) principles for researcher recruitment to ensure fair and transparent processes, providing equal opportunities for all candidates.

12. Candidates with disabilities

Under the terms of Decree-Law no. 29/2001, of 3 February, candidates with disabilities have priority in cases of equal ranking, which overrides any other legal preference. Candidates must declare, on their honour, their level of disability, the type of disability, and the means of communication or expression to be used in the selection process, in accordance with the provisions of the aforementioned law.

13. Positions

Position 1:Assistant Researcher in Innovative Models for Neurologic Diseases

Reference FCT: 2023. 14140. TENURE. 003

Scientific Area: Medical and Health Sciences / Basic Medicine / Neurosciences

Work plan:

Given the importance of research in
Molecular and Cellular Neurobiologyfor the Neurobiology and Neurologic Disorders (NND) Integrative Program, i3S aims to strengthen its critical mass and enhance its international competitiveness in the following fields: Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience; Neurobiology of Disease; Translational and Clinical Neuroscience; Neurogenetics and Developmental Neuroscience; Sensorial and Cognitive Neuroscience. Through this initiative, the NND programme will foster robust fundamental research, advancing understanding of the causes of these diseases, identifying targets for innovative translational approaches for treatment and prevention. Within the context of a research group primarily affiliated with the NND Programme of i3S, the Assistant Researcher is expected to develop their research projects, actively seek research funding, support advanced training, promote dissemination, and provide operational support to the laboratory.

As a Staff Scientist, the Assistant Researcher will dedicate 50 per cent of their time to their research project within an NND research group, while the remaining 50 per cent will be available to support the research of any other i3S group in the design, implementation, and data analysiswithin at least one of thefollowing priority
- technical areas, for which they have proven expertise and will continue to develop:

• Computational and/or machine/deep learning models in Neuroscience;
• Advanced bioinformatic models;
• 2D and 3D advanced cell systems (i
  PSCs, brain organoids and/or assembloids, organs on a chip);
• Advanced models for regeneration and tissue repair.

Position 2:Assistant Researcher in Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology and Neurologic Diseases

Reference FCT: 2023. 14140. TENURE. 004

Scientific Area: Medical and Health Sciences / Basic Medicine / Neurosciences

Work plan:

Given the importance of research in
Molecular and Cellular Neurobiologyfor the Neurobiology and Neurologic Disorders (NND) Integrative Program, i3S aims to strengthen its critical mass and enhance its international competitiveness in the following fields: Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience; Neurobiology of Disease; Translational and Clinical Neuroscience; Neurogenetics and Developmental Neuroscience; Sensorial and Cognitive Neuroscience. Through this initiative, the NND programme will foster robust fundamental research, advancing understanding of the causes of these diseases, identifying targets for innovative translational approaches for treatment and prevention. Within the context of a research group primarily affiliated with the NND Programme of i3S, the Assistant Researcher is expected to develop their research projects, actively seek research funding, support advanced training, promote dissemination, and provide operational support to the laboratory.

As a Staff Scientist, the Assistant Researcher will dedicate 50 per cent of his/her time to conducting his/her research project within an NND research group, while the remaining 50 per cent will be allocated to supporting the research of any other i3S group in the design, implementation, and data analysiswithin at least one of thefollowing priority
- technical areas, in which he/she has proven expertise and will continue to develop:

• In vivo brain imaging and/or live imaging at
  - cell resolution ;
• Advanced proteomics and/or lipidomics;
• Single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics;
• Electrophysiology;

Position 3:Assistant Researcher in
Infection and Immunity

Reference FCT: 2023. 1414