Results of Call Maria de Sousa PhD Studentships Call

The FCT announced the provisional results of Call Maria de Sousa I SEAGULL – Seeking Epidemiological and Virological Answers PhD Studentships , opened in collaboration with the Agency for Clinical Research and Biomedical Innovation (AICIB), under which 33 Studentships will be funded, representing an investment of €2.4 million.

This Call to fund PhD Studentships focused on obtaining new knowledge and building skills to respond to epidemiological and virological phenomena, including pandemics, which translate into effective prevention measures, better healthcare, and effective support for citizens. 

Forty-six applications were submitted, of which 38 met the requirements for evaluation. The 33 Studentships be awarded correspond to a success rate of 87% of the applications evaluated. The provisional results of the evaluation show that 79% of the selected candidates are women, 15% are foreign nationals, and 18% of the work plans are carried out in conjunction with foreign researchers and institutions.

The Studentships be awarded contribute to the following objectives:

1) Epidemiology and risk factors for infection and severe disease caused by the virus. 

2) Human-animal interaction, mechanisms of resistance and interspecies transmission of the virus, and the risk of pandemics. 

3) Prevention and preparedness strategies for new epidemics, including vaccines. 

4) Innovative approaches, including new methods and new technologies, for diagnosing the disease. 

5) Characterization of viral infection mechanisms. 

6) Characterization of the host's cellular and serological immune response to virus infection, impact of age and comorbidities. 

7) Development of new therapies and new therapeutic approaches, including life support equipment and personal protective equipment to combat the disease. 

8) Repercussions of viral infection on maternal health and the newborn. 

9) Psychological impact and behavioral changes associated with the pandemic.

The alignment of the work plans of the funded applications with the objectives of Call a greater incidence in objective 7, with a total of 12 Studentships 23%), followed by objectives 6 and 9, with a total of 9 Studentships (17%).

Applications were evaluated by a scientific panel using a peer review system, with three evaluation criteria: merit of the candidate, merit of the work plan, and merit of the hosting conditions. Thirteen experts from the scientific community, affiliated with nine research units, participated in this evaluation panel, of whom seven (54%) were women.

The title given by Maria de Sousa to this Call PhD Studentships is a tribute to the researcher, Professor Emeritus at the University of Porto and Emeritus Researcher at the i3S Institute, as well as retired professor at the Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences, internationally renowned for her studies in the field of immunology, particularly in the thymus-dependent area, or T area. 

FCT doctoral Studentships are competitively awarded grants to support advanced training in all areas of knowledge for the purpose of obtaining a doctoral degree. These Studentships doctoral students to devote themselves exclusively to their research, thereby contributing to the scientific and technological development of the country.

This is the second edition of Call Studentships Doctorates in Epidemiology and Virology. The first edition of Doctorates4Covid funded 50 Studentships, representing an investment of €3.5 million. See news item here.