Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

Fellowship Reference GIMM/BIPD/54-2025

Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM) opens a call for one research fellowship under the project “Computational Analysis of the Evolution of Microtubule Organising Centres” with the funding support from “Moore Grant – UBC- GR021323 CC00976 FD200”.

Scientific Area(s): Bioinformatics, Comparative Genomics, Phylogenetics, Structural Biology, Cell Evolution

Fellowship recipients / Admission requirements: Any National, foreign and stateless candidate(s).  

Applicants must hold the following requirements:

• PhD in a field relevant to bioinformatics (obtained less than 3 years ago);
• Experience in programming and in some of the following areas: comparative genomics, phylogenetics ancestral sequence/trait reconstruction, and structural bioinformatics;
• Interest in data visualization and/or web development will be considered an asset.

The international experience of the candidates, although not a determining criterion for selection, will be valued.

Work Plan and Objectives: 

The project aims to understand the morphological and molecular constraints that have shaped the evolution of microtubule organising centres (MTOCs). The fellow will apply computational and comparative approaches to analyse genomic and proteomic data from representative organisms across the tree of life. The work will include the construction of community-based resources and data extraction to study the evolution of cell division and motility mechanisms.

The project involves collaborations with the laboratories of Pedro Beltrão (ETH-Zurich), Patrick Keeling (UBC, Canada), Holy Goodson (UND, USA), and Jeremy Wideman (ASU, USA). The project may be extended beyond the initial 8 months at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona, where the group will relocate

Legislation and Applicable Regulation: Estatuto do Bolseiro de Investigação (Lei n.º 40/2004, de 18 de Agosto, republished in attachment to Decreto-Lei n.º 202/2012, de 27 de Agosto, changed by Decretos-Leis n.º 123/2019, 28 de Agosto e nº 65/2024, 1 de outubro) and current Regulation of Fellowships of GIMM. 

Predicted start date, duration and renewal conditions: The fellowship contract is predicted to start in December 2025, for a period of 8 (eight) months on an exclusive basis, eventually renewable until the maximum stipulated in applicable regulations, not exceeding the eligibility period of the project.  

Work place and Scientific orientation: The research activities will be developed at the Cell Cycle Regulation Laboratory of GIMM, under the supervision of Mónica Bettencourt-Dias. 

Non-discrimination and equal access policy: GIMM undertakes to ensure compliance with the principles of non-discrimination and equality and to that extent, provides that no candidate can be privileged, benefited, harmed or deprived of any right or exempted from any duty due in particular ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, economic status, education, social origin or condition, genetic heritage, reduced working capacity, disability, chronic disease, nationality, ethnic origin or race, place of origin, language, religion, political or ideological convictions and trade union membership..

PhD in a field relevant to bioinformatics (obtained less than 3 years ago); - Experience in programming and in some of the following areas: comparative genomics, phylogenetics ancestral sequence/trait reconstruction, and structural bioinformatics; - Interest in data visualization and/or web development will be considered an asset. The international experience of the candidates, although not a determining criterion for selection, will be valued

International environment and experience: Diversity is a fundamental aspect of the essence of GIMM, where researchers and non-researchers of different nationalities, backgrounds and areas of study work together, promoting the exchange of experiences and interactions, contributing to the personal and professional development of each person and to the existence of an international, inclusive and stimulating environment.

Research Fellows Support Centre: The Research Fellows Support Centre works everyday from 09:00AM to 11:00AM at People & Culture Unit Office.

Fellowship financial conditions: The fellow will benefit from a monthly stipend in the amount of 2.260,00€. The amount will be paid by wire transfer at the end of each month. The fellow will also benefit from a personal accident insurance to execute the proposed research activities as well as the right to Social Security through Voluntary Social Insurance regimen, if wanted, under the terms of Código dos Regimes Contributivos do Sistema Previdencial de Segurança Social, and the contributions costs will be supported by the research project.