FCUP|Call for recruitment for one Research Assistant, within the Project 2024.16665.PEX

Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto Organisation/Company Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto Department The functions will be developed in the GreenUPorto of Department of Biology of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto. Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Master Positions Application Deadline 9 Nov 2026
- 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon) Country Portugal Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Dec 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number .
PEX Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No Offer Description

NOTICE OF THE OPENNING OF AN INTERNATIONAL CALL FOR RECRUITMENT OF ONE RESEARCH ASSISTANT Ana Cristina Moreira Freire, Full Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, hereby advertises the opening for 10 working days of an international call for recruitment on one Research Assistant, with Master degree, resolutive term uncertain, within the Project .
PEX, epiAGRO_2.0
- Transgenerational and epigenetic responses of crops growing under pesticide-contaminated soils: the missing link in agro-ecotoxicology, financed by Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). 1.
Main research field and justification

Biology. The epiAGRO_2.0 project .
PEX) focuses on the physiological, biochemical, transcriptomic and epigenetic responses of tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) exposed to glyphosate residues in the soil. It also studies how these responses are passed on to subsequent generations (stress memory). The Research Assistant will conduct plant growth trials, assess photosynthetic performance, redox status and antioxidant metabolism, and carry out gene expression analyses. These activities fall within the field of Biology, in particular Plant Biology, and require solid training in plant physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology. 1.1.
Sub research field and justification

Plant Stress Physiology. The work plan focuses on the transgenerational effects of glyphosate on the growth, physiology and biochemistry of the F2 generation of tomato plants. The aim is to understand how parental exposure to a soil contaminant modulates the offspring’s ability to tolerate stress. To this end, photosynthetic parameters, oxidative stress markers and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defences will be assessed, together with their relationship to changes in gene expression. These topics fall within the scientific sub-field of Plant Stress Physiology. 2. General Admission Requirements

Application can be submitted by any nationals, foreigners and stateless people who meet the following conditions cumulatively: hold a MSc degree in the above-mentioned scientific area. 3. Hiring requirements

If the candidate holds a MSc awarded by a foreign higher education institution, it must comply with the provisions established in the Decree-Law no. 66/2018 on July 16. All the formalities established in the Decree-Law must be met until the hiring. Failure to comply with these requirements results in the preliminary rejection of the application. 4. Special Admission Requirements

Experience in conducting plant growth trials under controlled conditions and in assessing physiological and biochemical parameters associated with plant responses to abiotic stress (e.g., photosynthetic performance, oxidative stress markers and antioxidant metabolism); Experience in molecular biology laboratory techniques, namely the extraction and quantification of nucleic acids (DNA and/or RNA) from plant tissues; Proven experience in implementing experimental trials with tomato plants. 5. Functions to be performed and scientific guidance

As a Research Assistant, you will be responsible for participating in, developing, and carrying out research and development projects under the supervision of Doctor Cristiano Fortuna Soares and will contribute to the objectives set forth in the program contract for the project by performing the duties described below. 5.1.
Participation in the development and execution of the research project

Task 3 – Transgenerational effects of glyphosate: assessment of growth and physiology – conducting growth trials with F2-generation tomato plants in glyphosate-contaminated (2.5 mg kg⁻¹) and non-contaminated substrate; in vivo assessment of photosynthetic performance (chlorophyll fluorescence and gas exchange); determination of biometric parameters (biomass and organ elongation), photosynthetic pigments, soluble proteins and sugars, oxidative stress markers (lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion), non‑enzymatic antioxidants (ascorbate, glutathione and proline) and the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, APX and GPX); data processing and statistical analysis; Task 4 – Collection