Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto
Offer Description Call open for applications for a research grant (Master's Degree), enrolled in a Doctoral Programme or a Course that does not provide a specific degree, within the framework of project EnZync with the reference EnZync - 0072891, financed by Novo Nordisk Fonden, under the following conditions:
Scientific Area: Chemistry
Admission requirements :
To have a Master's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics or related areas;
To be enrolled in PhD in Chemistry or a course that does not confer an academic degree.
Although the recipients must be enrolled in a cycle of studies leading to the attribution of an academic degree or in a course not conferring an academic degree, at the time of application it is not necessary for the candidate to have made such an enrollment, and proof of enrollment must be presented until the fellowship is contractualized. Candidates are only required to meet the requirements to enroll in the training offer. If there are candidates already enrolled (including attending a course), they compete on an equal footing with those who are not enrolled.
Note: In the case of masters who are enrolled in courses that do not confer academic degree, the research grant can only be awarded to those who do not exceed, with the signing of the research grant contract in question, including possible renewals, an accumulated period of two years in this type of grant, consecutive or interpolated.
Preferences Requirements: Preference will be given to candidates with experience in molecular dynamics.
Activity Outline: In order to promote and accelerate the transition to a more sustainable society, it is necessary to identify and optimize enzymes that are capable of degrading plastics, such as polyurethanes, unsaturated polyesters, epoxide resins or nylon. One of the objectives of this work will be to find in the PDB enzymes with the capacity to degrade plastics but which, at present, are not recognized as such. A second objective will be the computational modeling of polyurethane and epoxide surfaces. And finally, the enzymatic mechanisms of the enzymes found capable of biodegrading those plastics will be established. This study will be based on the use of computational methodologies such as molecular dynamics and other bioinformatics methods. In order to increase the robustness of the computationally obtained results, there will be close and continuous collaboration with several experimental partners at three Danish universities that are part of our EnZync consortium.
Work place: The work will be developed in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP), under the guidance of Prof. Maria Joao Ramos.
Grant duration: Initial duration of 12 months, with beginning on 1st February 2025, eventually renewable up, but not exceeding the end date of the project.
Maintenance allowance amount: The grant stipend amounts to 1259,64€ according to the table of values of the grants awarded directly by FCT, I.P. in the Country (https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/valores). The payment will be made by bank transfer.
Selection procedure: The selection methods to be used are as follows:
AC = Average of bachelor's degree (3/5) and master's degree (2/5) - (0-20 points).
Candidates whose application has been assessed with a final classification less than 15 points are not eligible to sign the contract of the fellowship.
Deadline for applications: The deadline for submitting applications will be 30 days from the date of publication of the Research Grant Announcement. Applications must be formalized, mandatorily, through the web page of Infociências of this opening (https://info.fc.up.pt/fcup/pedidos/users/novo.php?f_id=1291&formulario=…) accompanied by the following documents:
Detailed Curriculum Vitae;
Certificate of academic qualifications;
Declaration of eligibility (in attached);
Other relevant documents;
Up to three letters of recommendation, one is mandatory.
Supporting documents for the contract: At the time of signing the contract, the grant holder must provide the following documents:
Biographic form;
Photocopy of Passport and/or residency permit (if applicable);
Photocopy of Portuguese IBAN/NIB;
proof of enrolment in PhD in Chemistry or proof of non-degree course;
Foreign academic degree recognition (if applicable);
Exclusivity declaration;
Commitment: In compliance with paragraph h) of Article 9 of the Constitution, the University of Porto, as an employer, actively promotes a policy of equal opportunities between men and women in access to employment and professional advancement, scrupulously avoiding any form of discrimination.
The call is open from 19/11/2024 to 09/01/2025.
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