Organisation/Company CCMAR – Centro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve Department CEIB Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions Research Support Positions Country Portugal Application Deadline 25 Jun 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Jul 2025 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number MPr-2023-12-1609 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description
Junior Researcher – in the area of Biological Sciences
(M/F) - 1 Position Available
Reference: CCMAR/IJ/11/2025
1. About CCMAR:
CCMAR (https://ccmar.ualg.pt/ ) is one of Portugal's leading marine science research centres, rated Excellent in evaluations promoted by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). With a multidisciplinary team, well-equipped facilities, and laboratories, CCMAR engages in core areas such as research, training, business, societal engagement, and collaboration.
2. Summary and Functions:
We are searching for a junior researcher to carry out research and development activities directed at establishing tools for monitoring of economically important bivalves species in Portugal.
The selected candidate is expected:
a) Conduct method optimization for chemistry, molecular biology and environmental monitoring.
b) Conduct analysis of bivalves samples collected in the context of the project (sampling, animal management, chemical, molecular biology, environmental monitoring);
c) Contribute to bioinformatics analysis of population genetics and validation and apply for the verification of molecular biology analysis in the project;
d) Technology transfer activities/knowledge and dissemination in the context of the project objectives;
e) Data collection, analysis of results, writing and preparation of reports, and scientific publications.
f) Contribute to the general maintenance of the laboratory.
3. Applicable Law:
⦁Decree-Law No. 57/2016, of August 29, amended by Law No. 57/2017, of July 19.
⦁Regulatory Decree No. 11-A/2017, of December 29.
⦁Labour Code, approved by Law No. 7/2009, of February 12, in its current version.
⦁Decree-Law No. 124/99 of April 20, in its current version (Scientific Research Career By-Laws).
⦁Administrative Procedure Code.
⦁Internal Regulation for Scientific Research and Technological Development Personnel, and Science and Technology Management and Communication at Centro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve,here.
4. Start Date: The contract is expected to start in July 2025.
5. Workplace: Activities will occur at CCMAR (University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal) and other locations necessary for the proposed tasks.
6. Working Hours: 35 hours per week.
7. Monthly Salary: The gross base monthly salary is €2351.53 (TRU 33) and the possibility to join CCMAR's group health insurance, with 50% of the cost covered by CCMAR and 50% covered by the employee.
8. Application Period: The application period starts on 9th of June, 2025 and ends on 25th of June, 2025, at 23:59 (Lisbon time, Portugal).
9. Required Profile:
9.1) The selected candidate must have completed a PhD in biological sciences or related areas.
9.2) Good knowledge of written and spoken English.
9.3) Proven experience in bivalve biochemistry and molecular biology techniques for extraction of RNA and DNA, transcriptomics, genetics, genomics and gene amplification (PCR and qPCR) from bivalve samples.
9.4) Proven experience in the analysis of bivalve and other mollusc genomes, transcriptomes and modeling using a diversity of bioinformatics tools.
9.5) Availability to travel for sample collection in Portugal and also in China (the latter for short periods of up to 1 month).
9.6) A track record of strong scientific accomplishments linked to work on bivalves shown by publications, conferences, projects, patents and related activities.
10. Selection Panel:
The selection panel consists of:
1 – Professor Deborah Mary Power, Full Professor at the Algarve University and group leader at CCMAR (President);
2 – Professor Adelino Vicente Mendonça Canário, President of the CCMAR Board of Directors (regular member);
3 – Professor João Cardoso, Assistant Professor at the Algarve University (regular member);
4 – Professor Rosa Freitas, Professor at the Aveiro University (regular member);
5- Professor Diogo Neves Proença, Assistant Professor at the Algarve University (regular member);
6 – Doctor Teresa Correia, Principal Researcher at CCMAR (Substitute member);
7 – Doctor Zélia Velez, Assistant Researcher at CCMAR (Substitute member).
11. Evaluation and Selection Process:
The evaluation will consist of a curriculum assessment (final rating between 0-100).
Admitted applications will be evaluated considering the scientific and curricular path, focusing on the relevance, quality, and up-to-datedness of the following criteria:
CA) Scientific and technological, cultural or artistic production in the last five years considered most relevant by the candidate. The content of the scientific output is more relevant than publication metrics or the publishing entity (55%)
CB) Applied or practice-based research activities developed in the last five years and considered by the candidate to be most impactful (35%)
CC) Extension and dissemination activities developed in the last five years, particularly in the context of promoting scientific culture and practices, considered most relevant by the candidate (5%)
CD) Management activities of science, technology, and innovation programs, or experience in observing, monitoring, and evaluating the scientific and technological system or higher education in Portugal or abroad (5%).
The selection panel may extend the five years referred to in the evaluation criteria upon the candidate’s request when justified by the suspension of scientific activity for socially protected reasons, such as parental leave, severe prolonged illness, and other legally protected situations of work unavailability.
The selection panel reserves the right to contact or interview candidates if additional information or clarification of documentary aspects related to research results is needed. The possible interview, which does not constitute a selection method and is not classified, aims to obtain clarifications or explanations on elements contained in the candidates’ CVs.
12. Selection Panel Functioning:
The evaluation (with a score of 0-100) is carried out through the assessment of the motivation letter (with a personal evaluation of the relevance of the activities of the last 5 years to the present competition, highlighting the chosen publications), the CV that will include activities in the specific area and the candidate's scientific and professional path, and up to 5 articles selected by the candidate.
The score of each candidate is obtained by summing the points of each criterion multiplied by the respective weights according to the following formula:
C = CA*55% + CB*35% + CC*5% + CD*5%
After determining the candidates’ scores (C), each selection panel member will rank the candidates from highest to lowest score. Voting follows for the first place and each successive place. The candidate receiving the majority of votes will be selected.
If no candidate is selected in the first round of voting, the lowest-ranked candidate is eliminated, and the process is repeated with the remaining candidates. In the event of a tie, applying the previous criteria, the jury president will make the tie-breaking decision.
The selection panel will write minutes of meetings describing the evaluation and selection process, including a ranked list of admitted candidates and their scores. The CCMAR Board of Directors will validate the panel's final decision.
The jury reserves the right to close the competition without recruitment if the candidates do not possess the appropriate profile for the proposed functions. If the selected candidate cannot be appointed due to non-compliance with documentary requirements or other reasons, or if they later terminate the employment contract, the jury reserves the right to appoint the next candidate in the final ranking based on a reserve list that can be used up to 12 months from the date of this announcement.
13. Required Documents, Process, and Submission of Applications:
Only complete applications submitted directly and obligatorily on the CCMAR website https://ccmar.ualg.pt/en/career-opportunities are accepted. The application is considered valid only after the candidate receives written confirmation from CCMAR. The application in English must include:
a)A motivation letter (in English) with a personal evaluation of the relevance of the activities of the last 5 years to the present position, highlighting the chosen publications, considering the evaluation criteria, not exceeding 10 000 characters;
b)Detailed curriculum vitae (in English) that includes activities in the specific area and the scientific and professional path of the candidate organised according to the CV evaluation criteria;
c)Up to 5 articles chosen by the candidate;
d)A copy of the Ph.D. certificate;
e)Email contact of up to 3 references.
Non-compliance with requirements/documents in sections 9 and 13 invalidates the application. According to the law, false information may be penalised.
15. Prior Hearing and Final Decision Deadline:
15.1) After evaluating all admitted applications, the Selection Panel will produce a provisional minute describing the admission, evaluation, and selection process, including a list of candidates ranked and their scores and decisions.
15.2) All candidates will be notified by email of the Selection Panel's provisional decision.
15.3) Under Article 121 of the Administrative Procedure Code, all candidates have 10 working days from the date of email notification to contest the provisional decision by emailing the Selection Panel.
15.4) The CCMAR Board of Directors will validate the final decision, which will be communicated (by email) to all candidates within 90 working days from the application deadline.
16. Final Information:
16.1) Candidates holding certificates proving degrees from a foreign university must have their certificate recognised in Portugal when signing the employment contract. Failure to do so justifies exclusion from the procedure. Information on degree recognition can be obtained from any Portuguese university or here.
16.2) The CCMAR Board of Directors reserves the right to cancel this recruitment process without hiring if circumstances related to the project change.
16.3) CCMAR endorses the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (Charter and Code).
16.4) Disabled candidates have a preference in case of equal classification, which prevails over any other legal preference. Candidates must declare in their application, under oath, their disability degree, type of disability, and means of communication/expression to be used in the selection process under the aforementioned decree. CCMAR encourages applications from individuals with a disability, including those with a disability degree of 60% or more.
16.5) CCMAR’s non-discrimination and equal access policy: No candidate may be privileged, benefited, prejudiced, or deprived of any right or exempt from any duty on the grounds of, namely, ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, family situation, economic situation, social origin or condition, genetic heritage, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnicity, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological beliefs, and union membership.
The members of the Selection Panel approved this announcement on 05-June-2025.
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