Open Call for Research Fellowship

CALL FOR A RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP

Fellowship Reference GIMM/BI/65-2025

Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM) opens a call for one PhD fellowship under the project “EvoInHi – Evolution in the Gut in Health and Disease” with the funding support from “ERC-2022- Adv-101096203”, financed by Research Council Executive Agency, under the program Horizon Europe.

Scientific Area(s): Microbial Evolution

Fellowship recipients / Admission requirements: Any National, foreign and stateless candidate(s) that fulfill the necessary conditions to be enrolled in a PhD degree course can apply.

Applicants must hold the following requirements:

• MSc degree holder in Medical Microbiology; 
• Experience in microbiology methods, namely bacterial culturing, identification, genetic engineering, and bioinformatic analysis of bacterial genomes; 
• Experience in acquisition and analysis of genomic data, specifically long read sequencing of bacteria clones using Oxford Nanopore Technologies; 
• Certification and Experience in Laboratory Animal Experimentation, specifically axenic and gnotobiotic conditions.

Work Plan and Objectives:

The PhD student will investigate the evolutionary dynamics of bacteria strains from different phyla, by colonizing axenic mice with a defined consortium of commensal bacteria, and sampling feces for a time series analysis of long-term evolution. They will profile the tempo and mode of evolution across strains with different genome sizes and densities in the gut. The student will compare the landscape of adaptation of the same ecosystem in wild-type mice and in mouse models of inflammatory bowels disease. They will use gnotobiotic models, microbiology methods and bioinformatic analysis of metagenomic data and clone sequencing, whenever necessary. Key factors of the host gut environment will be measured through immunoassays and omics approaches, such as metabolomics. 

Legislation and Applicable Regulation: Estatuto do Bolseiro de Investigação (Lei n.º 40/2004, de 18 de Agosto, republished in attachment to Decreto-Lei n.º 202/2012, de 27 de Agosto, changed by Decretos-Leis n.º 123/2019, 28 de Agosto e nº 65/2024, 1 de outubro) and and current Regulation of Fellowships of GIMM.

Predicted start date, duration and renewal conditions: The fellowship contract is predicted to start in January 2026, for a period of 12 (twelve) months on an exclusive basis, renewable for equal periods until the maximum stipulated in applicable regulations, not exceeding the eligibility period of the project.

Workplace and Scientific orientation: The research activities will be developed at the Evolutionary Biology Laboratory of GIMM, under the supervision of Isabel Gordo.

Non-discrimination and equal access policy: GIMM undertakes to ensure compliance with the principles of non-discrimination and equality and to that extent, provides that no candidate can be privileged, benefited, harmed or deprived of any right or exempted from any duty due in particular ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, economic status, education, social origin or condition, genetic heritage, reduced working capacity, disability, chronic disease, nationality, ethnic origin or race, place of origin, language, religion, political or ideological convictions and trade union membership.

International environment and experience: Diversity is a fundamental aspect of the essence of GIMM, where researchers and non-researchers of different nationalities, backgrounds and areas of study work together, promoting the exchange of experiences and interactions, contributing to the personal and professional development of each person and to the existence of an international, inclusive and stimulating environment.

Research Fellows Support Centre: The Research Fellows Support Centre works everyday from 09:00AM to 11:00AM at People & Culture Unit Office.

Fellowship financial conditions: The fellow will benefit from a monthly stipend in the amount of 1.309,64€. The amount will be paid by wire transfer at the end of each month. The fellow will also benefit from a personal accident insurance to execute the proposed research activities as well as the right to Social Security through Voluntary Social Insurance regimen, if wanted, under the terms of Código dos Regimes Contributivos do Sistema Previdencial de Segurança Social, and the contributions costs will be supported by the research project.

Application documents: – Motivation Letter; – Detailed CV; MSc certificate.  

The non-compliance with these requirements determines the immediate rejection of the application.

In case the applicant does not have yet the required degree certificate, a declaration of honor stating the conclusion of the necessary qualifications for the purposes of this process will be accepted and must be sent by the end date of the call.

Jury evaluation and selection: The applications will be assessed by a jury composed of Isabel Gordo (GIMM), Luís Valente (GIMM) and Moisés Mallo (GIMM).

Selection methods: Motivation Letter (30%), CV (70%).

Deadlines and application process: The call will be open from November 27th 2025 until December 12th 2025. Applications should be submitted to People & Culture Unit, through the email positions@gimm.pt. 

The non-compliance with these requirements determines the immediate rejection of the application.

Notification of results: Within 90 days after the termination of the applications submission deadline, both admitted and excluded candidates list and final classification list shall be communicated to all admitted candidates through email.

Preliminary Hearing and Final Decision Deadline: After notification, all candidates have 10 working days to respond. Panel’s final decisions are pronounced within a period of 90 days, from application deadline.

Fellowship contracting: The Fellowship is granted through the signature of a contract between GIMM and the selected fellow and after the fellow send the following mandatory documents: copy of identification document (in case of non-European citizens is mandatory the work visa / valid resident permit), document proving the required academic degree. 

For each Fellowship period an Activity Report must be prepared by the fellow as well as the Report by the supervisor.

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