Research Assistant

Description Research Assistant – Online S ensor for O n-field M easurement of S mall M icroplastics in M arine E nvironments U sing Raman S pectroscopy Job Reference: Ref.20.26.423 Employer: International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) Location: Braga, Portugal Group/Unit: Espiña Research Group Number of Vacancies: 1 Employment Type: Full time Contract Duration: 42 months Salary Range: 25K-28K Open Date for Applications: July 1 5 th , 2026 Closing Date for Applications : August 4 th , 2026 , 23h00m (Lisbon Time) Key words: #microplastics #nanoplastics # r amanspectroscopy #onlinemonitoring #marinemonitoring Overview The Espiña Research Group is dedicated to overcome some of the most challenging issue0073 in the water environment, making responsible use of original applied research on environmental nanotechnologies. The group develops and applies nanotechnology solutions for the safe and sustainable use of water resources. Currently, we are looking for a Research Assistant to join the group under the SEATRACE project. Job Duties T he job duties will be the following : Develop innovative Raman strategies for the monitoring and identification of small microplastics (≤ 300 µm) in marine environments . Implement analytical methods ( e.g., electron microscopy, particle tracking analysis, Raman spectroscopy) for analy s ing the presence of nanoplastics during the degradation of microplastics in marine environments. Develop and integrate robust sensor solutions with microfluidic, fluidics, and electronics . Collaborate with international multidisciplinary teams with expertise in micro- and nanoplastics , Raman sensors, microsystems and microfabrication technology, surface chemistry, and microfluidics. Produce several technical and scientific documentation as well as day-to-day management of work planning . Mandatory Qualifications Education Master ’s degree in Materials Science , Chemistry , Environmental S cience , Nanotechnology or similar fields. Experience and Technical Skills Experience in characteri s ation and identification of small microplastics and nanoplastics in complex matrices by size and composition (i.e., electron microscopies, particle tracking analysis, Raman spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, fluorescence spectroscopy, and sample preparation). Experience in Raman spectroscopy using confocal Raman microscopy and portable Raman systems . Experience in surface and analytical chemistry. E xperience in microfluidic device fabrication. Other Valued Skills Experience in the design and modelling of microfluidics will be positively evaluated. Experience in the synthesis and preparation of micro and nanoplastics will be positively evaluated . Personal Skills “Hands-on” approach together with a high commitment to respecting working deadlines and pay close attention to details. Good communication skills. Highly organi s ed and dynamic . Our Benefits Competitive salary Tax benefits and other Diplomatic privileges . Private health i nsurance . F amily allowance s (according to family situation) . Free nursery service at INL premises (subject to availability) . Support for e ducation fees of dependent children . Relocation support . 30 working days o f annual leave. How to Apply The application must be in English and include the following mandatory documents : a) Cover letter b) Curriculum Vitae c) Academic and/or Professional diplomas Online application instructions: The application is made online by clicking the “Apply ” button; The candidate must complete all required sections of the online application form ; The candidate must submit the m andatory documents mentioned above in pdf format by including them in the “A dditional files” sectio n using the “Add portfolio” button. Important note: Incomplete applications including the failure to provide mandatory documents or providing inaccurate information will result in the application not being considered. How the Selection P rocess works A. Applications e ligibility check This stage will be carried out on the basis of the mandatory requirements, education, experience and techn ical skills defined for the job, as well as the validation of the mandatory documents. Only candidates who meet the eligibility criteria will move forward to t he next stage . B. CV Assessment T he Selection Committee will evaluate the eligible applications based on their CV and other submitted documents and the suitability for the position. The best ranked candidates will be shortlisted for the interview stage(s). C. Interview(s) The interview(s) may be done in different formats: video recording , online or onsite. The question based interview will evaluat e the match between the candid ate’s profile and the requirements for the position, including the technical and personal skills. To better support this stage, the candidate may be requested to prepare a short presentation. D. Nomination The selected candidate will be nominated and formally offered the position, including the disclosure of the contractual conditions. Additional Information Application feedback We highly value your interest in becoming part of the INL experience and it is important for us to maintain good c ommunications with all candidate s. No matter the outcome of your application, we will always provide you with feedback . Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Principle INL follows a non-discri mination and equal access principle , wherefore no candidate can be privileged, benefited, impaired or deprived of any rights whatsoever, or be exempt of and duties based on any possible discriminatory issues. The advertisement deadline may be extended at any time without previous notice in order to improve the suitability and effectiveness of the recruitment process. About INL The International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory – INL ( http://www.inl.int ), is the first and only Intergovernmental Organisation in the world entirely focused on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. It was founded under an international legal framework to perform interdisciplinary research, deploy and communicate nanotechnology for the benefit of society. INL aims to be a recognised leading global nanotechnology innovation hub.

ABOUT RELATION Relation is a sector defining TechBio company developing transformational medicines, with technology at our core. Our ambition is to understand human biology in unprecedented ways, discovering therapies to treat some of life’s most devastating diseases. We leverage single-cell multi-omics from patient tissue, functional assays, and machine learning to drive disease understanding, from cause to cure. We are scaling rapidly and building a team of exceptional individuals to push the boundaries of drug discovery. You will work in highly interdisciplinary teams where biology, computation, and engineering come together to solve complex problems that have not been solved before. Our state-of-the-art wet and dry labs in the heart of London are designed to accelerate this integration and translate insight into impact. We are committed to building diverse and inclusive teams. Relation is an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, gender reassignment, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, disability, or age. By joining Relation, you will help define how medicines are discovered and deliver meaningful impact for patients. The opportunity Relation has an excellent opportunity for a Research assistant to join an interdisciplinary, highly collaborative team of experimental and computational drug discovery researchers in our newly built state-of-the-art functional genomics lab in London. Large-scale genetic studies, including genome-wide association studies (GWAS), have discovered thousands of variants and loci associated with complex diseases, yet it is difficult to draw disease insight as the vast majority of loci lie in non-coding regions of the genome and have unknown function. At Relation, we are generating proprietary large-scale datasets to accelerate the prediction of disease genes from these loci using state-of-the-art functional genomics and machine learning methods. We will identify the key effector genes, cells and pathways involved in the pathophysiology of disease and proceed to predict disease targets for experimental validation. We have an exciting opportunity for a Laboratory technician to contribute to the cutting-edge drug discovery endeavours of Relation’s experimental laboratory. Aside from major contributions to the execution of the tissue profiling team, the post-holder is expected to contribute as well to the upkeep of the lab and other general tasks across teams. By joining Relation, you will be part of an exceptionally talented team, learn a broad range of skills within and outside your area of expertise, help us shape our culture and ultimately, make a positive impact on patients' lives. Day to day you will * Receive, process, and store clinical samples promptly in accordance with laboratory Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). * Complete, write and maintain accurate laboratory documentation, including electronic lab books, SOP and EOP. * Assist with laboratory housekeeping tasks to ensure smooth and efficient daily operations. * Perform NGS experiments, including bulk RNA-seq, single-cell, and spatial transcriptomics, and operate the sequencer. * Troubleshoot experimental or technical issues and maintain effective collaboration and communication with CROs and internal teams. * Work effectively within the laboratory team, fostering clear and efficient communication. Professionally, you have: * MSc. or BSc in a biology related area with at least 2 years laboratory experience. * Experience in human sample processing: serum, plasma and tissue handling. * Experience in single cell, spatial and/or NGS library preparation. Desirable knowledge or experiences * Experience in histology, tissue culture or fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). Personally, you: * Are comfortable working in a matrixed environment, balancing multiple stakeholders and contributing effectively across teams. * Take ownership of your work, proactively seek opportunities to contribute, and enable others to do their best work. * Communicate openly and directly, give and receive feedback constructively, and handle challenging conversations with respect. * Actively seek out diverse perspectives, build strong working relationships, and contribute to shared goals across teams. * Embrace challenges with openness and resilience, set high standards for yourself, and strive to deliver meaningful outcomes. Working Style & Culture at Relation At Relation, we operate in a matrixed, interdisciplinary environment, where impact is driven through collaboration across scientific, technical, and operational domains. We collaborate, and you will partner with colleagues across multiple teams and projects, contributing your expertise while aligning to shared company priorities. We work together and win together! The patient is waiting! RECRUITMENT AGENCIES: Please note that Relation does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies. Resumes should not be forwarded to our job aliases or employees. Relation will not be liable for any fees associated with unsolicited CVs. Relation is a committed equal opportunities employer.