Open Call for a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
The Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC) is welcoming applications to a Postdoctoral ResearchFellowship (BI-PD) within the project 101116029-META_FUN-ERC-2023-StG, entitled“Mapping metabolic responses to understand coexistence and community functioning”, financedby Horizon Europe, 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 3years. The fellowship contract is expected to start in May 2024, under the exclusiveness regime asrequired by the Research Fellowship Regulation of FCT.
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Subject of Activities: The Functional Ecology lab is looking for a motivated andindependent postdoc to join our group. We are a young and dynamic group of researchers interested
in ecology and evolutionary dynamics with different expertise and backgrounds. We look forward
to welcoming a new member to the team who will contribute to this diversity, and who shares ourenthusiasm for understanding ecological systems. The postdoctoral researcher will lead an
independent project under the supervision and guidance of the PI. The project will study how
metabolic plasticity influences the outcomes of competition and the functioning of phytoplankton
communities, as part of the recently awarded ERC Starting Grant 2023 META_FUN. This specificposition will focus on establishing the relationship between metabolic plasticity, biodiversity, andstability. The experimental work will be done in the laboratory using marine phytoplankton strainsfrom culture collections that will be used to assemble synthetic communities of varying metabolic
diversity and under a range of environmental conditions. The work will involve tracking populationand community dynamics through microscopy, flowcytometry and respirometry, among othermethods. The specific details of the work will be agreed between the PI and the successful
candidates, also taking into consideration their interest and expertise. The postdoc will give andreceive help from other members of the lab, and will be expected to actively participate to the groupand institutional intellectual activities.
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Scientific Áreas: Ecology, biodiversity, marine ecology, microbial ecology, evolution

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Scientific Guidance: The selected candidate will join the Functional Ecology laboratory(https://gulbenkian.pt/ciencia/research-groups/gghedini/ ), headed by Dr. Giulia Ghedini.
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Academic Profile and Admission Requirements: A PhD in ecology (or closely relatedarea) with research experience in ecology. We particularly seek applications from candidates who
have worked on metabolic and/or community ecology (e.g., coexistence, biodiversity, stability
theory). Experience with phytoplankton or other micro-organisms is an advantage but the positionis open to candidates with expertise in other systems too - but we do require evidence ofexperimental work which is essential to the project. The candidates must be able to work in a team
as well as independently, and have an excellent level of written and spoken English.
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Essential requirements:i)

A PhD in ecology or closely related area;

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iv)

Research experience in ecology including laboratory/experimental work, preferably on
phytoplankton or other micro-organisms;
A strong interest in community ecology, specifically to understand the physiologicalmechanisms (metabolic rate and energy use more generally) that influence the diversity
and functioning of ecological communities;
Proven track record of publications in the field of ecology.

According to point 3 of article 3º of the IGC Research Fellowship Regulation, the doctoral degree musthave been obtained in the three years prior to the date of submission of the fellowship application.

If the qualification has been conferred by a foreign higher education institution it must berecognized by a Portuguese higher education institution, under the terms of the provisions of article
25.º of Decree-Law n.º 66/2018, of August 16th (https://www.dges.gov.pt/en/pagina/degree-anddiploma-recognition), which approves the legal regime of recognition of academic degrees anddiplomas of Higher Education, attributed by foreign higher education institutions, and of paragraphe) of n.º 2 of article 4.º of Decree-Law n.º 60/2018, of August 3rd, and any formalities establishedtherein must be fulfilled by the date of the hiring act. The jury reserves the right to invite thecandidate ranked immediately after to the position in question when the first ranked candidate is
not recognized with the academic degree after the aforementioned formalities have been fulfilled.
For Portuguese taxpayers: All candidates that where/are currently taxpayers in Portugal
are required to present evidence of the fulfillment of their individual obligations towards thePortuguese Tax Authority and Social Security. Failure to comply with this requirement will beconsidered as a criteria for exclusion from the recruitment process.
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Applicable legislation and Regulation: All candidates must comply with the IGC
Research Fellowship Regulation; Research Fellowship Statutes amended by Decree nº 123/2019 ofAugust 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).
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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
be made by bank transfer. The selected candidate may be reimbursed the amount corresponding to
the contribution to Voluntary Social Security.
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How to submit applications: Interested candidates should send their applications to
igcpositions@igc.gulbenkian.pt with subject and file named “Applicant Name_BI-PD_
MappingMetabolicResponse, containing:
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i) Cover Letter - Please let us know in your presentation letter (max 2 pages) how
you meet each of the requirements designated in bullet 5. and your motivation forjoining our lab;ii) Curriculum Vitae;iii) Contacts of 2-3 references (name, email and phone number).
All documents should be in English.
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Methods of Selection and Evaluation: Applications will be evaluated according toCurriculum and previous experience (60%), cover letter (20%). References nominated by thecandidates shall be consulted, if necessary (10%). In case of a tie, the candidates in this situation
will be interviewed (10%) focusing on the research outcomes of the candidate. The decision is madeby nominal vote of the selection panel members, in accordance with eligibility and selection
criteria, with no abstentions allowed. The final results will be presented on a scale from 0 to 100.
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Jury Selection: Chair: Dr. Giulia Ghedini, Vowels: Dr. Marco Fumasoni and Dr. Charlotte
Briddon. Substitute: Dr. Ilana Gabanyi.
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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 ofpublication of the Selection Minute.
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Application Period: From 23/01/2024 until 28/02/2024.

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,or be exemptof 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, political or ideological convictions and union membership.
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