Lab Technician (Master) S2AQUAcoLAB/Ref_01/2024
S2AQUA- Laboratório Colaborativo, Associação para uma Aquacultura Sustentável e Inteligente (S2AQUAcoLAB) is calling for applications for 1 master’s degree in Aquaculture, Marine Biology, Biology or equivalent (M/F), to carry out research support activities for the Pact for the Blue Bioeconomy, project No. C644915664-00000026, Portuguese Blue Biobank, funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan, through the European Commission, Next Generation EU, under a certain term contract, as a lab technician.
1. Tasks
The work program includes, namely, the following activities:
1. Establishment of a biobank with samples that have a high biotechnological value in aquaculture;
2. Maintenance and cultivation of pathogenic bacteria isolated in marine fish;
3. Optimization of cryopreservation protocols, namely in macroalgae and bacteria;
4. Maintenance, cultivation and characterization of cell lines isolated from fish tissues;
5. Molecular identification protocols of biobanked species;
6. Analysis of virulence genes in the biobanked pathogenic bacteria, using molecular techniques;
7. Data processing and statistical analysis;
8. Dissemination of results;
9. Collaboration in the preparation of project reports and scientific articles;
10. Bibliographic search;
2. Desired profile:
1. Master's degree (MANDATORY GRADE) in Aquaculture, Marine Biology, Biology or equivalent;
2. Experience in establishing and maintaining biobanks related to aquaculture (0-5 points);
3. Experience in molecular biology techniques, namely in species identification (0-4 points);
4. Experience in techniques for isolating and growing microorganisms in-vitro (0-3 points);
5. Experience in cultivating micro and macro-algae (0-4 points);
6. Experience of biological sampling in an aquaculture context (0-2 points);
7. Scientific production demonstrated through publications, communications at conferences and other scientific meetings, and participation in projects (0-2 points).
3. Other requirements:
a) Knowledge of the areas covered by the project;
b) Expression and verbal fluency;
c) Adaptability and ability to work as part of a team;
d) Motivation;
e) Autonomy and proactivity.
4. Remuneration
The gross monthly salary corresponds to level 31 of the Single Remuneration Table (€2,186.53).
5. Duration, Supervision and Place where the activity will take place
The contract is scheduled to start on May 1, 2024.
The activities will be developed at the facilities of S2AQUAcoLAB, headquartered in Estação Piloto de Piscicultura de Olhão, Av. of the Ria Formosa Natural Park, s/n, 8700-194 Olhão, Portugal, and at the Fishing Port of Olhão, under the guidance of Dr. Íris Silva, Principal Investigator of the project.
6. Applications
The call is open between March 18th and 23:59 of April 1st 2024.
Only applications submitted directly and necessarily by email to geral@s2aquacolab.pt with reference to S2AQUAcoLAB/Ref_01/2024 will be accepted.
Each candidate may submit only one application, failing which all applications submitted will be cancelled.
The application must include a detailed Curriculum Vitae, a copy of the Master's degree certificate (MANDATORY) recognised by a Portuguese university if it was obtained abroad, a copy of the national identity card and other documents deemed relevant by the candidates.
False declarations or acts of plagiarism will result in the application being cancelled, without prejudice to the adoption of other sanctioning measures.
Who can apply for this call:
A. Nationals or citizens of other Member States of the European Union;
B. Citizens of third countries;
To apply you must:
C. To be permanently and habitually resident in Portugal;
6.1 Application Admissibility Requirements
It is indispensable, under penalty of non-admission of the application:
D. Detailed and signed Curriculum Vitae of the candidate;
E. A motivation letter;
F. Permanent residence certificate, permanent residence permit, or long-term resident status, if applicable;
G. Documents proving the conditions required, in particular certificates of qualifications indicating the degree and final classification, all recognised by a Portuguese university if diplomas were obtained abroad;
7. Composition of the jury
The jury was appointed by the Board of Directors of S2AQUAcoLAB and is composed by the following members:
President: Íris Silva, Principal Investigator - S2AQUAcoLAB;
1st Effective Member: Cátia Marques, Scientific Coordinator - S2AQUAcoLAB;
2nd Effective Member: Pedro Pousão Ferreira, President of the board - S2AQUAcoLAB;
1st Vowel Member: Joana Rosa – Researcher - S2AQUAcoLAB;
2nd Vowel Member: Raquel Quintã, Researcher - S2AQUAcoLAB.
8. Selection methods and criteria
Eligible Applications will be scored from zero (0 minimum rating) to twenty (20 maximum rating).
Admission criteria: all candidates who meet the requirements of this notice.
Evaluation method: applications will be evaluated through a curricular evaluation (CA) (100%) of the applicant. An interview will only be conducted if the jury deems it necessary or in case of a tie.
8.1 Curriculum assessment (CA)
The curricular evaluation (CA) will be expressed from 0 to 20 which corresponds to the score obtained with the following formula:
CA = 0.35 × A + 0.65 × B
where:
A - Evaluates the academic merit of the candidate based on the Master’s degree in Aquaculture, Marine Biology, Biology or equivalent average classification (0-20 values);
B - Evaluates the previous experience to perform the required functions:
1) Experience in the establishment and maintenance of biobanks related to aquaculture (0-5 points);
2) Experience in molecular biology techniques, namely in the identification of species (0-4 points);
3) Experience in techniques of isolation and growth of in vitro microorganisms (0-3 points);
4) Experience in micro- and macroalgae cultivation (0-4 points);
5) Experience of biological sampling in the context of aquaculture (0-2 points);
6) Scientific production demonstrated through publications, communications in conferences and other scientific meetings, and participation in projects (0-2 points).
8.2. Interview
The candidates will be ranked based on the curricular evaluation. An interview will be held if the jury deems it necessary, or in case of a tie.
The interview will be conducted in person or by videoconference, where the final score will correspond to the sum of the following criteria:
a) knowledge of the areas covered by the project;
b) verbal expression and fluency;
c) adaptability and integration to work as a team;
d) motivation;
e) autonomy and proactivity.
These criteria will be classified from zero to twenty, with the total of the interview resulting from the sum of the criteria to be divided by five (0 to 20 points).
8.3 Final Classification
The candidates´ final classification will be decided by a majority of the jury.
All candidates that applied will be ranked according to the classification awarded by the jury, based on the CA.
If the interview (I) is necessary, the final classification (FC) will be obtained through the weighted sum of the curriculum evaluation (CA) - with a weight of 40% - and the interview (I) - with a weight of 60%.
FC = 0.4 × CA + 0.6 × I
The jury will hold the necessary meetings to obtain a final decision, documenting the procedures in minutes, as well as all the elements deemed relevant to reach the final decision. If there are applications without merit, the jury may decide not to award this concurs.
9. Reporting the results
The results of the evaluation are published at the location indicated in the opening notice and by email within 90 working days after the application submission deadline.
Candidates have a period of 10 working days after the disclosure of the results to present any objections, in the pre-hearing of interested parties and in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Administrative Procedure.
The final decision shall be taken no later than 60 working days after the conclusion of the prior hearing of interested parties.
The provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall not apply where the draft decision leads to the granting to all applicants, in which case the draft shall be equivalent to the final decision.
10. Approval
After the conclusion of the hearing process of interested parties, the jury´s decision will be taken to the Board of Directors of S2AQUAcoLAB for approval.
11. S2AQUAcoLAB's non-discrimination and equal opportunities policy
No candidate may be favoured, benefited, disadvantaged, or deprived of any right or exempt from any claim on the grounds of descent, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, economic situation, origin, social economy, genetic inheritance, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnicity, territory of origin, language, religion, politics, ideology or trade union membership.
NOTICE OF OPENING FOR A LAB TECH POSITION