Research Technical Officer [M/F] - 1 vacancy 

 Post Ref.: CCMAR/TSI/05/2021

The Algarve Centre for Marine Science (CCMAR) opens a vacancy for a Research Technical Officer (Técnico Superior de Investigação) (M/F) to satisfy temporary needs under an uncertain term employment contract in order to support the work carried in the context of the research project with reference: H2020-MSCA-RISE-2015-691102 “Algae4IBD – From nature to bedside – Algae based bio compound from prevention and treatment of inflammation, pain and IBD” (Project ID: 101000501) funded by the  European’s Union funding programme: Horizon 2020 – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. 

⦁    Tasks to be performed: 
1.    Cultivation of microalgae at lab scale to obtain biomass.
2.    Production of extracts from microalgal biomass.
3.    Assessment of antioxidant activity of microalgal extracts.
4.    Chromatographic fractionation of bioactive extracts.
5.    Chemical characterization of bioactive extracts/fractions by GC-MS, HPLC-UV and LC-MS/MS.
6.    Tentative identification of bioactive compounds by LC-MS/MS.
7.    Isolation and purification of bioactive compounds.
8.    Chemical analysis of microalgae mutants for bioactive compound production.

Salary: Monthly gross salary of 1185.71€ 

Required profile: 
The candidate should: 
1.    Hold a BSc. degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Biology or related fields. 

Non-compliance with this requirement invalidates the application. Provision of false documentation will be punished by law.

It is considered as desirable to have experience in the following techniques:
1.    Liquid and gas chromatographic such as HPLC, GC-MS and LC-MS.
2.    Isolation and identification of natural products.
3.    Microalgae cultivation.

Working contract conditions: uncertain term employment contract expected to start in June 2021. 

Working Schedule: 35 hours weekly, may be necessary to work on weekends.

Working Place: CCMAR, Faro, Portugal.

Application submission process and documents:

Only applications submitted through the CCMAR website will be considered: https://www.ccmar.ualg.pt/list/job. Applications are considered to be correctly submitted only after the candidate has received a confirmation e-mail from CCMAR. Applications (in English or Portuguese) should include:
⦁    a Motivation Letter.
⦁    Detailed CV (in accordance with the requirements, desirable experience and selection criteria)
⦁    a copy of the BSc. Degree Certificate (if awarded by a Portuguese Higher Education Institution) or copy of the certificate of recognition of the BSc. Degree by a Portuguese Public Higher Education Institution or by DGES – Directorate General for Higher Education (if the degree was awarded by a foreign University).
⦁    a declaration available in the application platform if you are unable to provide a copy of the BSc. Degree certificate or a copy of the recognition of the BSc. Degree certificate, as indicated above.
⦁    Email contacts of up to 3 referees.
⦁    Other documents deemed as relevant for the application.

Application Period:  between the 8th and 23rd of April 2021.

Selection Committee: Professor Luísa Barreira, Associate Professor at the University of Algarve, coordinator of the project at CCMAR and researcher at CCMAR (President of the jury); Professor Dina Simes, Assistant Professor at the University of Algarve and researcher at CCMAR (member of the jury) and Professor João Varela, Assistant Professor at the University of Algarve and researcher at CCMAR (member of the jury).

Selection Criteria: The selection will be based on the documents provided, but the selection committee reserves the right to contact and interview candidates if additional information or clarification of any curricular aspect is necessary.

The candidate’s assessment is expressed from 0 to 20 points as follows:
1.    Curricular assessment – 30%
2.    Experience using chromatographic techniques as HPLC, GC-MS and LC-MS - 30%
3.    Experience in isolation and identification of natural products - 20%
4.    Experience in microalgae cultivation – 20%

The selection committee reserves the right to not accept applicants with a final classification of 9 points or less (out of 20). 

In the event that no applicant has the necessary profile, the selection committee reserves the right to close the call without any recruitment. In the event that the selected person does not take up the position because of failure to comply with documentary requirements or any other reason, or later during the contract if they resign, the jury reserves the right, upon convenience and opportunity, to assign the post to the next applicant in accordance with the ranking positions.

Results: The lists of admitted and excluded candidates, and the final classification list, shall be posted on the CCMAR website at https://www.ccmar.ualg.pt/list/job-closed and all candidates will be notified by email.

Preliminary Hearing and Final Decision Deadline: After notification, candidates have 10 working days to contest the preliminary decision sending an email to the selection committee. The final decisions will be announced within 90 days of the application deadline.

Candidates holding degrees awarded by a foreign university should have their degree recognized in Portugal no later than the date indicated in the communication of selection for the position.  Non-compliance justifies exclusion from the procedure. Information about the recognition procedures can be obtained at any Portuguese university or here. The board of directors reserves the right, upon request from the candidate, to extend the compliance period provided it does not impact negatively the programmed activities.

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.

CCMAR’s non-discrimination and equal access opportunities policy – No candidate can be privileged, benefited, jeopardised or be deprived of any right or exempt of any claim in regards to descendent, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, economic situation, origin, social economy, genetic heritage, disability, chronic disease, nationality, ethnicity, territory of origin, language, religion, politics, ideology or union membership.  

March the 30th  2021