Open Call for Research Fellowship

Fellowship Reference GIMM/BI/21-2026

Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM) opens a call for one research fellowship under the project “Transcription factors as key regulators of Plasmodium nutrient sensing and virulence” with the funding support
from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, IP.P. / MCTES through national funds (PIDDAC).

Scientific Area(s): Parasitology; Malaria

Fellowship recipients / Admission requirements (indicate mandatory and preferential requirements): Any National, foreign and stateless candidate(s) that fulfill the necessary conditions to be enrolled in a non-academic degree course (in area related to the work plan) can apply.Are considered “Non-academic degree courses” the

ones referred in paragraph e) of number 3 of article 4 of Decree-Law nr 74/2006, from 24^th March, in its current version, as long as they are developed in association and cooperation between a higher education institution and at least one R&D Unit in accordance with the provisions of paragraph e) of Article 3 of FCT Fellowship Regulation.

Applicants must hold the following requirements:

– MSc / BSc degree holder in area of biomedical sciences (mandatory);

–MSc degree holder with a focus on cell and molecular biology or related fields (particularly valued);

– High sense of responsibility, organization and method;

– Pro-active personality;

–Ability to work independently but also with team spirit;

–Excellent knowledge of English, both spoken and written.

Although not a determining criterion for selection, experience in the following will be valued:– Mammalian cell culture;– Molecular biology techniques;–Flow Cytometry.

Work Plan and Objectives: Organisms have developed mechanisms to sense and respond to abundant or scarce nutrients, that include the control of gene expression from transcription to translation.  Plasmodium falciparum which is responsible for more than 500,000 malaria deaths annually, is no different. We have revealed that a kinase unique to Plasmodium – KIN – acts as a critical regulator of the parasite energy-sensing pathway. Yet, we are only now beginning to understand exactly how malaria parasites sense and adapt to nutrient availability. The proposal aims to provide new insights in a complex mechanism that is essential for the survival of Plasmodium and also provide new opportunities to design intervention strategies against malaria. The successful candidate will participate in customized hypothesis-driven experimental approaches to identify the transcription factors involved in nutrient sensing, the pathways involved and how they modulate parasite virulence and disease outcome in tasks such as the following:–         Cell culture of Plasmodium parasites; –         Cytoadhesion assay–         Bioimaging and Flow cytometry analyses;–         Molecular techniques such as DNA/RNA extraction and PCR–         Data analyses and communication of results.

Legislation and Applicable Regulation: Estatutodo Bolseiro de Investigação approved by Law nr 40/2004, from 18^thAugust in its current form (altered by Decree Law nr 123/2019, 28^thAugust) and current Regulation of Fellowships of Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (approved by Regulation nr 950/2019, from 16^th December).

Predicted start date, duration and renewal conditions: The fellowship contract is predicted to start in July 2026, for a period of 6 months on an exclusive basis.  

Work place and Scientific orientation: The research activities will be developed at the Biology & Physiology of Malaria in the Mota Lab of GIMM, under the supervision of Dr. Yvonne Azasi.

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 between 1090,98€ and 1359,64€, depending on the academic degree of the selected candidate, in accordance with the defined by FCT. 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; – BSc / MSc certificate; – 1 letter of recommendation (optional); – Candidate’s declaration of honor indicating previous fellowships, if any, its typology and duration.  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: Doctors Yvonne Azasi (GIMM), Sofia Marques (GIMM) and Inês Fernandes Bento (GIMM)

Second phase: The jury will select for the interview (evaluation: 30%) 3 candidates who obtained in the first phase the highest ranking, with a minimum of 50%. No interviews will be conducted if none of the candidates achieves a score of at least 50% in the first phase.

Deadlines and application process: The call will be open from 17^th June till 30^th June 2026.

Applications should be submitted to People & Culture Unit, through the email positions@gimm.pt with the reference call “GIMM/BI/21-2026” in the subject. The non-compliance with these requirements determines the immediate rejection of the application.

Notification of results: Within 90 days after thetermination 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 hrough 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 and the document proving the enrollment in a non-academic degree course.

Applicants with academic degrees obtained abroad will be required to present a certificate of recognition in accordance with the applicable regulation. This document is mandatory only in the contracting phase.

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