Call for Postdoctoral Research Assignment_L1125411 Coimbra

Organisation/Company Universidade de Coimbra Department Divisão de Projetos e Atividades (Bolsas) Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Biological sciences » Other Chemistry » Biochemistry Pharmacological sciences » Other Other Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Postdoc Positions Country Portugal Application Deadline 23 Oct 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe Reference Number 101161142 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The University of Coimbra opens a call for the assignment of a postdoctoral research grant, with 1 position(s), under the project I3-4-SEAWEED - Interregional innovation investments for the piloting, demonstration and
- up of innovative seaweed/algae-based solutions and ecosystem building.

Call for Postdoctoral Research Assignment

The University of Coimbra opens a call for the assignment of a postdoctoral research grant, with 1 position(s), under the project I3-4-SEAWEED - Interregional innovation investments for the piloting, demonstration and
- up of innovative seaweed/algae-based solutions and ecosystem building.

The call is governed by this Notice of Opening, the University of Coimbra Research Grant Regulations (RBI-UC), subsidiarily by the Research Grant Regulations of the Foundation for Science and Technology (RBI-FCT), by the Research Fellow Statute (EBI), by the Norms for Grant Assignment and Management within R&D Projects, by the Code of Administrative Procedure (CPA), all in their current wording, and by other applicable national and community legislation.

Procedure Reference: IT137 - 2025 - 411

I. I - Grant Recipients:

Holders of a doctoral degree in the scientific area of Biology, Biosciences, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related areas. , obtained within the three years prior to the start date of the grant, where the research work leading to the degree was carried out at a host institution different from the one where the work of the current grant will be conducted.

I. II – Ineligible candidates:

The following candidates will not be admitted to the call:

• Candidates who, with the award of the current grant, including possible renewals, exceed a cumulative period of three years in this type of grant, whether consecutive or intermittent.
• Candidates who obtained their doctoral degree more than three years before the application submission date.
• Candidates who have conducted the majority of the research work leading to their doctoral degree at the host institution of the current grant.

I. III-Eligible for grant assignment if meeting the requirements:

a) Portuguese nationals or nationals of other EU Member States

b) Nationals of third countries

c) Stateless persons

d) Beneficiaries of political refugee status

II - Grant location: i
CBR/CIBB/Faculty of Medicine – University of Coimbra (FMUC)

III- Scientific supervision/coordination of the grant:

IV - Work Plan / Goals to be achieved:

The work plan for the student will be structured around three main objectives: evaluating the biological interactions between phytochemicals and skin, developing and characterizing cosmetic formulations, and assessing the safety of formulations and active ingredients.

Initially, the student will focus on evaluating the interactions between selected phytochemicals and skin tissue, including a series of in vitro tests to assess cytotoxicity and antioxidant potential. This phase will be complemented by exploring mitochondrial effects and assessing senolytic and
- aging activities to determine the compounds' potential in promoting skin rejuvenation. An important part of this phase includes evaluating
- AGE (advanced glycation
- products) activity, followed by conducting skin irritation tests according to OECD Guideline No. 439. Additionally, the student will assess the
- remodeling and photoprotective effects of these compounds on the skin.

In the second phase, the focus will be on developing and characterizing cosmetic formulations. During this stage, the student will develop various cosmetic formulations that incorporate the selected phytochemicals and will evaluate their stability, texture, and efficacy to ensure safe and effective application. Characterization of these formulations will involve evaluating their
- chemical properties to guarantee suitability for skin application.

Note: Preference will be given to candidates with knowledge in using 2D and 3D cellular models for toxicity, efficacy, and cellular aging studies, with a focus on skin cells. Knowledge in the development, optimization, and characterization of cosmetic formulations, including stability, texture, and
- chemical properties assessment, will be highly valued.

V. I - Renewal Possibility: Possibily renewable

VI - Funding and financial conditions of the grant

VI. I - Monthly grant amount (paid by bank transfer at the end of each month): 1851, 00€

VI. III - In addition to the above amounts, voluntary social security (SSV) is included when the grant has a duration of six months or more, corresponding to the first level, if the candidate opts for it, as well as mandatory personal accident insurance.

VI. IV - Funding: The grant(s) assigned under this call will be funded by the European Commission.

VI. V - Information and publicity about the funding: In all R&D activities directly or indirectly funded by the grant, namely in all communications, publications and scientific creations, as well as theses, carried out with the support provided by the grant, the financial support of the European Commission must be expressly mentioned. To this end, the EU insignia must be included in the documents relating to these actions, in accordance with the graphic standards of the funding programme.

The dissemination of research results funded under the RBI must comply with the rules on open access to data, publications and other research results in force at the FCT.

Monitoring and control actions may be carried out by national and Community bodies in accordance with the applicable legislation in this area, and grant holders are required to cooperate and provide the requested information, which includes conducting surveys and evaluation studies in this area, even if the grant has already ended. )

VII - Selection Methods: Evaluation of the academic record (AR) and Interview (I)

VII. I - AR - In the evaluation of the academic record, the candidates' academic performance will be assessed according to the following weights and criteria:

- Criterion 1 – Specific knowledge related to the work plan;

- Criterion 2 – Absolute merit of curriculum vitae;

- Criterion 3 – Adequacy of the candidate’s profile to the work plan to be developed.

VII. II- I –In the evaluation of the interview, candidates' performance will be assessed according to the following weights and criteria:

- Criterion 1 – Knowledge and profile appropriate to the functions to be developed;

- Criterion 2 – Interpersonal relationships;

- Criterion 3 – Ability to express oneself and verbal fluency;

- Criterion 4 – Motivation and interest.

VII. III- The evaluation of the criteria and the final classification will be based on a scale from 0 to 100, with scores rounded to the nearest hundredth, applying the following formulas:

- AR: criterion 1 * (25%) + criterion 2 * (35%) + criterion 3* (40%) = X

- I: criterion 1 * (30%) + criterion 2 * (20%) + criterion 3* (20%) + criterion 4* (30%) = X

- Final Classification (FC): AR * (50%) + I * (50%) = X

VII. IV - All candidates who meet the admission requirements are subject to the academic record evaluation, carried out according to the criteria and weights defined in VII. I.

VII. V - Candidates who score below 50 in any selection method will be excluded, and subsequent methods, if any, will not apply to them. Candidates who are duly notified but fail to attend the interview (if applicable) or withdraw at any stage will also be excluded.

VII. VI All candidates who score above 50 in the AR will proceed to the next method, i. e. , the interview.

VII. VII - Tie-breaking criteria:In the event of a tie in the rankings, candidates will be ordered in descending order as follows:

a) Based on the score obtained in the first method applied;

b) Based on the score of their academic qualifications.

VII. VIII - All provisional and final jury decisions must be justified, recorded in minutes, and published on https://apply. uc. pt/.

VII. IX - Jury Composition:

VII. X - Selection reserve list -N. A.

VIII- Application Submission

Candidates must access and register on the electronic platform https://apply. uc. pt/ to submit their application, selecting the procedure to which they wish to apply.

Documents uploaded for the application must be in portable document format (PDF).

Applications are submitted by completing the sections available in the electronic platform "Apply UC" under "My Application. "

VIII. I- Mandatory documents to attach when applying:

• Curriculum Vitae, duly updated, dated, and signed;
• Copy of academic degree certificates.
• If the possession of a degree is a requirement for the grant, candidates holding a degree obtained abroad must, by the end of the application period, provide proof of recognition or evidence that it has been requested, as per Decree-Law No. 66/2018 of August 16. Failure to present degree recognition at the time of contract signing, as per the RBI-UC, will result in exclusion.
• If duly justified, documents proving the possession of academic degrees and diplomas, or their recognition, may be waived at the application stage and replaced by a candidate's sworn statement. However, until the grant agreement stage, the respective proofs must be submitted under penalty of exclusion.
• Whenever possible, documentation proving prior grant benefits should also be attached to the application.

VIII. II- Other documents to attach when applying:

• Any other elements the candidate considers relevant.
• References;
• Declaration on the honor of the candidate with the indication of the fellowship(s) of the typlogy to which the contest was held and the respective duration(s).

VIII. III - All application documents must be submitted in Portuguese and/or English. When the originals are in another language, a translation into one of these languages must be provided.

VIII. IV - Applications that are not properly completed or do not meet the admission criteria defined in the applicable legislation and this notice will not be accepted.

VIII. V - No documents required for the application may be submitted after the application deadline.

VIII. VI - Without prejudice to the penal provisions of the law, false statements made by candidates or grant holders regarding relevant matters for the grant award or renewal, or for the evaluation of its progress, will result in its cancellation.

X - Activity Regime:The grant does not create or constitute a
- labor relationship. It is carried out under an exclusive dedication regime, and the grantee is awarded the Research Grantee Status, as stipulated in the EBI and the RBI-UC.

XI - Notification of Candidates: All notifications will be made through the electronic platform Apply UC , under the terms of subparagraph c) of paragraph 1 and subparagraph b) of paragraph 2 of Article 112 of the CPA and Article 22 of the RBI-UC. The notifications will take effect after being made, as provided in Article 113 of the CPA.

XII - Under Articles 121 and 122 of the CPA and Article 22 of the RBI-UC, candidates may, if they wish, submit comments regarding the jury's decisions within 10 business days, through the "Audiência dos Interessados" option in the platform's procedure section.

XIII - Candidates may also submit a complaint within 15 business days or an appeal to the UC's
- ranking official within 30 business days, both following the respective notification, under Articles 191 and 192 of the CPA.

XIV - Selected candidates must declare in writing, within five business days of notification, their acceptance of the grant and confirm that they meet the requirements to accept the proposed start date of the grant contract. Unless a justifiable reason is provided, failure to provide this declaration within the stipulated time will be considered a renunciation of the grant. In case of renunciation or withdrawal by the selected candidate, the next candidate on the final classification list will be notified.

XV - The full competition process can be consulted by candidates, subject to prior scheduling, by sending an email to the Human Resources Management Service at: sgrh@uc. pt.

XVI - In compliance with subparagraph h) of Article 9 of the Constitution, the University of Coimbra, as an employer, actively promotes a policy of equal opportunities between men and women in terms of employment access and career progression, ensuring that any form of discrimination is strictly avoided. It encourages underrepresented minorities in each area to apply.

Accordingly, no one may be privileged, benefited, disadvantaged, or deprived of any right or exempted from any duty on the grounds of ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender, marital status, family status, economic situation, education, social origin or condition, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, place of origin, language, religion, political or ideological beliefs, or trade union membership.

The University of Coimbra also promotes measures to facilitate the balance between professional, family, and personal life, recognizing the efforts of its employees and fostering motivation.

XVII- The grantee must submit annual activity reports for each renewal and at the end of the grant contract, as stipulated in Article 7 of the RBI-UC, subject to an opinion issued by the respective supervisor(s). The report models, performance evaluation criteria, and the grant contract model are those approved under the University of Coimbra's Research Grant Regulations.

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute i
CBR/CIBB/Faculty of Medicine – University of Coimbra (FMUC) Country Portugal Geofield