Reference GIMM/CT/26-2025

The GIMM – Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine is a pioneering Portuguese private research foundation with an ambitious vision for fundamental scientific exploration and its profound impact on global health and well-being. Founded in 2023, GIMM is the result of the merge of two leading research institutes: Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes (iMM) and Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC) and dedicates to unraveling the fundamental mysteries of life and aims to be at the forefront of transdisciplinary research. 

GIMM opens a call to hire a Postdoctoral Researcher corresponding to the initial level according to the Applicable Regulation, under an Unfixed-Term contract under the project LISBOA2030-FEDER-00677500 – “Molecular, immunological and pathological crosstalk between gammaherpesviruses, Plasmodium and cancer”  (LYMPHOMAL), with the funding support from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia.

Regulation

• Decree-Law nr 57/2016, from 29^th August, altered by Law nr 57/2017, from 19^th July, that approves a Doctoral Hiring regime to stimulate Scientific and Technological Employment in all knowledge areas (RJEC).
• Portuguese Labor Law, approved by Law nr 7/2009, from 12th February in its current writing.  
• Regulatory Decree Nr 11-A / 2017, of 29th December.
• Decree-Law nr 1/2025, of 16^th January.

Work Plan Activities: We propose to investigate how infections by gammaherpesvirus and Plasmodium reciprocally influence each other, and how they impact the onset, progress and severity of disease manifestations. To this end, we will make use of a set of rodent host, virus and parasite models that includes (i) murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68); (ii) rodent P. berghei parasites; and (iii) C57BL/6 and Balb/c mice, to:

1. Assess the influence of Plasmodium parasites on viral reactivation and proliferation;
2. Elucidate the impact of MHV68 on Plasmodium infection and the development and severity of malaria;
3. Investigate the molecular and immunological features of liver infection by MHV68;
4. Dissect the relative impacts of MHV68 and Pb on the molecular and immunological events leading to lymphoproliferative disease.

Members of the Jury:  According to article 28 nr 5 from REC and article 13 from Decree-Law nr 57/2016, from 28th of August, altered by Law nr 57/2017, from 19th of July,the jury is composed by Miguel Prudêncio (President of the Jury and Responsible for the Project), Diana Fontinha and Diana Moita (all PhD’s).

Start Date and workplace: The contract is expected to start on July or August 2025 and will remain in place for the necessary execution period of the work plan; the activities will be developed at the GIMM facilities in Lisboa and/or Oeiras and/or other locations required for their execution.

Monthly salary: Gross monthly Stipend is 2.351,53€ €, in accordance with subsection a), section 1, article 15 from Law nr 57/2017, 19th July, and with the remuneration position at initial level predicted in article 2 of Regulatory Decree nr 11-A/2017, of 29^th December, corresponding to level 33 in Tabela Remuneratória Única, approved by Order nr 1553-C/2008, 31^st December and updated by Decree-Law nr 1/2025, of 16^th January.

Profile of Candidate: Any National, foreign and stateless candidate(s) that hold the following requirements can apply:

1. PhD in Biology, Microbiology or related areas;
2. Accreditation for animal experimentation according to FELASA category B;
3. Demonstrated experience in in vitro and in vivo viral infection studies;
4. Demonstrated experience in Plasmodium infection of rodent models;
5. Experience in virus titration and plaque assays;
6. Experience in quantitative real-time PCR, flow cytometry and bioimaging methods;
7. Experience in co-infection studies involving Plasmodium parasites;
8. Fluency in English;
9. Demonstrated student supervision skills;
10. Organization, independence and proactivity.

Application process: The call is open from 2^nd of May until 13^th of June 2025 (30 working days), and the application documents (indicated below) should be submitted, in PDF format, to People & Culture Team through the email positions@gimm.pt, by identifying the reference of the position in the “Subject”:

1. Motivation Letter in English;
2. Detailed CV;
3. PhD Certificate;
4. Other documents that applicant may consider relevant to demonstrate their scientific achievements.

Note: Candidates who incorrectly formalize their application or do not submit the documents proving the compliance with the requirements indicated in the call will be excluded. The jury has the right to require to any candidate, in case of doubt, to present documents proving their statements.

Non-discrimination and equal access policy: GIMM promotes a non-discrimination and equal access policy, wherefore no candidate can be privileged, benefited, impaired or deprived of any rights whatsoever, or be exempt of any duties based on their ancestry, age, sex, sexual preference, marital status, family and economic conditions, instruction, origin or social conditions, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, origin territory, language, religion, political or ideological convictions and 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.

Pursuant to Decree-Law nr 29/2001 of 3^rd February, disabled candidates shall be preferred in a situation of equal classification, and said preference supersedes any legal preferences. Candidates must declare, on their honour, their respective disability degree, type of disability and communication / expression means to be used during selection period on their application form, under the regulations above.

Evaluation criteria: Eligible applicants will be evaluated based on the quality, timeliness and relevance of their scientific path (scientific production and research experience), their curriculum, their motivation, and their adequacy to the proposed work plan.

• First phase: Analysis of the Curriculum (60%) and Motivation Letter (30%) – The Curriculum will be analyzed for its relevance regarding the tasks to be performed, namely: scientific publications and communications, with special emphasis on areas related to the work plan (10%); experience in the experimental methodologies of the proposed work plan as described in the candidate profile (20%); knowledge of the project’s scientific area (20%); other relevant knowledge and experience (10%). The letter of motivation will be evaluated to assess the motivation and interest in the activities to be performed (15%), adequacy of the candidate’s profile to the position (10%) and written communication in English language (5%).
• Second phase: The jury will select for the interview (evaluation: 10%) the candidates who obtained a minimum of 70% in the first phase. In the event of a tie, the decision will be responsibility of the chairman of the jury.
• After evaluation of all admitted applications, the jury will write a meeting minute with all process of recruitment, evaluation and selection including an ordered short list of approved candidates (alphabetic order) and their respective classification.
• The final decision of the jury shall be validated by the Head of the Institution, who is also in charge of deciding about the hiring.

Results: Both the admitted and excluded candidates list and the final classification list shall be communicated to all admitted candidates by email.

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

The present call is exclusively aimed at filling the indicated vacancy and may be terminated until the homologation of the final candidates’ ranking list and expires with the respective occupation of the position on offer.

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