Open Call for a Research Fellowship
The Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC) is welcoming applications to a Postdoctoral Research
Fellowship (BI-PD) within the project 223192/A/21/Z, entitled: “A systems-biology approach toidentify Toxoplasma effectors that co-opt host cell transcription and their function in immune systemsuppression” financed by The Wellcome Trust Investigator Award in Science, with the following
conditions:
Duration: The fellowship duration, according to the IGC Research Fellowship Regulation
approved by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, IP (FCT) is 12 months, renewable for up to 3 years.
The fellowship contract is expected to start in September 2023, under the exclusiveness regime as
required by the Research Fellowship Regulation of FCT.
1.

Subject of Activities: We are looking for a postdoc with a recent PhD interested to work on
host-pathogen interaction. We are interested to find out how various strains of Toxoplasma can infect awide range of hosts. More speficically, we are interested in identifying the proteins the parasite secretes
into its host cell, how they alter the host cell behaviour to their need, and which of these are specific tocertain hosts. In this project we want to identify novel host-cell transcriptional regulators the parasite
exports into the host cell using state-of-the-art single cell PerturbSeq methods we developed in the lab.
To identify the function of selected effectors we use cell biology and biochemistry techniques andinvestigate their relevance in a natural infection model using immunology methods. We are building adiverse team of cell biologists, immunologists and computational biologists for this Wellcome Trust
funded work. We are looking for teamplayers that can drive their individual project to develop theirniche. We provide a stimulating and supportive research environment.
2.

Scientific Guidance: The selected candidate will join the Cell Biology of Host-Pathogen
Interaction laboratory (https://gulbenkian.pt/ciencia/research-groups/mtreeck/ ), headed by Dr. Moritz
Treeck.
3.

Academic Profile and Admission Requirements: A recent PhD (< 3 years) in live sciences
is essential. We are looking for candidates with:
4.

i)
ii)
iii)
iv)

Experience in the analysis of scRNAseq data (10x genomics) and host-pathogen interaction(Plasmodium and Toxoplasma) is essential;
Candidates must be able to work in a team as well as independently;
Applicants must supply a specific cover letter detailing whey they are interested in thisproject and where they think they can bring strenghts, and areas they would like to develop;
Effective verbal and written communication skills in English.

If the qualification has been conferred by a foreign higher education institution it must be recognized
by a Portuguese higher education institution, under the terms of the provisions of article 25.º of DecreeLaw n.º 66/2018, of August 16th (https://www.dges.gov.pt/en/pagina/degree-and-diploma-recognition),
which approves the legal regime of recognition of academic degrees and diplomas of Higher Education,attributed by foreign higher education institutions, and of paragraph e) of n.º 2 of article 4.º of DecreeLaw n.º 60/2018, of August 3rd, and any formalities established therein must be fulfilled by the date of
the hiring act. The jury reserves the right to invite the candidate ranked immediately after to the positionin question when the first ranked candidate is not recognized with the academic degree after theaforementioned formalities have been fulfilled.
For Portuguese taxpayers: All candidates that where/are currently taxpayers in Portugal arerequired
to presentFinanciado
por: evidence of the fulfillment of their individual obligations towards the Portuguese5.

Tax Authority and Social Security. Failure to comply with this requirement will be considered as acriteria for exclusion from the recruitment process.
6.
Applicable legislation and Regulation: All candidates must comply with the IGC ResearchFellowship Regulation; Research Fellowship Statutes amended by Decree nº 123/2019 of August 28th;
FCT Legislation and Regulations for Fellowships and the Decree-Law n.º 66/2018, of August 16th
(Legal regime for recognition of academic degrees and diplomas of higher education awarded by foreign
higher education institutions).
7.
Subsidy Month Stipend: 2.200,00€/month according to the table of monthly maintenanceallowance amounts set out in Annex I of IGC Research Fellowship Regulation. The payment will bemade by bank transfer. The selected candidate may be reimbursed the amount corresponding to thecontribution to Voluntary Social Security.
8.
How to submit applications: Interested candidates should send their applications to
igcpositions@igc.gulbenkian.pt with subject “Applicant Name_BI-PD_ Toxoplasma”, with a single
PDF file named “Applicant Name_BI-PD_ Toxoplasma.pdf” containing:

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Motivation Letter (1 page max);
Curriculum Vitae;
Doctoral certificate and Summary of research achievements (1 page);Contacts of 3 references (name, email and phone number);
Other documents relevant for the evaluation of the application.

9.
Methods of Selection and Evaluation: Applications will be evaluated according toCurriculum and previous experience (60%), motivation letter (20%). References nominated by thecandidates shall be consulted, if necessary (10%). In case of a tie, the candidates in this situation will beinterviewed (10%) focusing on the research outcomes of the candidate. The decision is made by nominal
vote of the selection panel members, in accordance with eligibility and selection criteria, with noabstentions allowed. The final results will be presented on a scale from 0 to 100.
10.
Jury Selection: Chair: Dr. Moritz Treeck, Vowels: Dr. Vera Martins and Dr. Maria Joao
Amorim. Substitute: Dr. Walden Kwang.
11.
Form of Advertising / Notification of results: The assessment results will be sent to all
candidates by email. There will be 10 working days for complaints/appeals after the date of publicationof the Selection Minute.
12.

Application Period: From 09/05/2023 until 23/05/2023.

13.
Non-discrimination and equal access policy: The Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência of theCalouste Gulbenkian Foundation actively promotes a non-discrimination and equal access policy,
wherefore no candidate can be privileged, benefitted, impaired or deprived of any rights whatsoever, orbe exempt of any duties based on ancestry, age, sex, sexual preference, marital status, family andeconomic conditions, education, origin or social conditions, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity,disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, origin territory, language, religion, politicalor ideological convictions and union membership.

Financiado por: