In the scope of the project EXPL/BTM-ORG/0500/2021, at the institution CEDOC - Chronic Diseases Research Centre (Centro de Estudos de Doenças Crónicas) from Faculdade de Ciências Médicas|NOVA Medical School (FCM|NMS), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), supported by income from the above mentioned project financed by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, I.P., under the following conditions:
Field of study: Gene Therapy
Admission requirements (eligibility criteria):
- Master’s Degree in the area of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology or related fields;
- Enrolment in a course non-leading to an academic degree in the area of animal experimentation (The Proof of enrolment in a course non-leading to an academic degree could be obtained until contracting. The assessment made here will only take into account if the candidates meet the conditions for enrolling in a course non-leading to an academic degree in accordance with the work plan of the grant.);
- Documented experience (thesis, research paper) in retinal gene therapy.
Work plan:
- In vitro work with retinal cells, namely, cell culture, transfection, cytotoxicity, Western blot, immunocytochemistry;
- In vivo work in relevant mouse models, namely analysis of retinal gene expression by Western blot, immunohistochemistry detection of gene expression and retinal markers;
- Statistical analysis of results;
- Writing of manuscripts and scientific reports.
Legislation and applicable regulations:
The fellowship is legally framed by the Research Fellowship Holder Statute (Law 40/2004, of August 18) and the FCT Regulation for Research Studentships and Fellowships in force.
Place of work:
The work will be carried out at Gene Therapy Group of CEDOC – Chronic Diseases Research Centre at Faculdade de Ciências Médicas|NOVA Medical School (FCM|NMS), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), under the scientific supervision of Professor Gabriela Silva.
Fellowship duration and predicted start date:
The fellowship will last for 6 months and is expected to start on April 1, 2022.
The fellowship contract is eventually renewed for an equal period until the total of 18 months for the duration of the fellowship or until the end of the project.
Monthly Scholarship Amount:
The monthly amount of the fellowship corresponds to € 1144.64 (one thousand one hundred and forty-four euros and sixty-four cents), paid monthly by bank transfer, according to the table of stipend values of FCT, I.P., in the country.
Selection Methods:
The motivation letter and CV of the candidates will be evaluated according to the weighting of the factors indicated below.
Preferential Factors and assigned values in %:
- Documented experience in tools for retinal gene therapy, such as vector targeting strategies - 30%;
- Documented experience in Western blot, cell culture and transfection, cytotoxicity, immunohistochemistry and immunocytochemistry of retinal cells - 40%;
- Documented experience in analysis of retinal sections of models of retinal degeneration - 30%.
In case of a tie in the top two ranked candidates, the Jury will interview these candidates, and the assigned values for final scores will be:
- Curricular evaluation: 50%;
- Interview: 50% .
Selection Jury:
- Gabriela Silva, Assistant Professor with Habilitation, FCM|NMS – President of the Jury;
- Diogo Bitoque, Doctoral Researcher, FCM|NMS – 1st Effective Jury Member;
- José Belo, Associate Professor with Habilitation FCM|NMS – 2nd Effective Jury Member;
- Rune Matthiesen, Principal Investigator, FCM|NMS – 1st Alternate Jury Member;
- José Inácio, Doctoral Researcher FCM|NMS – 2nd Alternate Jury Member.
Form of publicizing/notifying the results:
The results of the evaluation will be sent by email to the candidates who submitted the application within the deadline. The candidates will also be notified by email that if they wish to comment at the prior hearing, they should present their comments by email within10 working days.
Application deadline and form of presentation of applications:
The call is open from March 3 to 17 (until 12:00 AM), 2022, and is published on https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/ and on https://www.nms.unl.pt/en-us/NMS/Join-NMS/Recruiting (Portuguese and English versions on this website).
Applications must to be submitted by email, to applications@nms.unl.pt, mentioning the reference SAI/2022/04 in the Subject of the message.
Applications are formalized by sending a Motivation Letter accompanied by the following documents: Curriculum Vitae, Certificate of Qualifications, proof of registration on a course non-leading to an academic degree or statement on the CV or on the Motivation Letter saying that the candidate wants to enter a course non-leading to an academic, and other supporting documents deemed relevant.