Fourth level Researcher (R4) in the field of analytical chemistry - recruiting for the formatio[...]

Organisation/Company: Edmund Mach Foundation

Department: Research and Innovation Centre

Research Field: Chemistry, Biological sciences, Environmental science, Agricultural sciences

Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions

Country: Italy

Application Deadline: 31 Mar 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/Rome)

Type of Contract: Temporary

Job Status: Full-time

Hours Per Week: 38

Offer Starting Date: 1 Jun 2025

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The selected candidate will contribute to the activities of the Traceability Unit, with a primary focus on applying stable isotope ratio analysis (IRMS) and/or Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) to determine the origin and authenticity of agri-food products. Additionally, he/she will support other research areas aligned with the Unit’s activities. The candidate will be responsible for sample preparation, instrumental analysis, and data interpretation, as well as assisting in the preparation of scientific technical reports and publications and, if this is the case, participation in dissemination activities.

Moreover, the candidate will actively participate in ongoing research projects and collaborations within the Unit.

Although a background in Mass Spectrometry, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and/or bioinformatics and biostatistics is considered advantageous, it is not essential, as the candidate will work together with the permanent FEM staff, who are expected to train the candidate during the first year of work so that he/she will be sufficiently autonomous to carry out his/her tasks.

Under the supervision of the researchers and technicians of the Unit, the selected researcher will deal with:

• Preparation of Unit’s samples for IRMS and/or NMR analyses;
• Apply IRMS and/or NMR-based methods to Unit’s samples;
• Record in a detailed and accurate manner metadata on the samples and how the data has been collected;
• Perform the quality control of the data produced;
• Process and analyse obtained data;
• Prepare regular written reports with data derived from performed analyses;
• Participation in national and/or international conferences and meetings.

Specific Requirements

• Master of Science (MSc degree) in the field of Chemistry, Pharmacy, Biotechnology, Food science, Biology, Natural sciences, Environmental sciences, Agricultural sciences or equivalent;
• European Driving License, car category (B);
• Knowledge of written and spoken English (minimum level B2), evaluated during the interview.

Languages: ENGLISH Level: Excellent

Eligibility criteria

Applications must arrive by and no later than 23:59 CET on March 31, 2025.

The recruitment procedure will terminate at the latest by September 30, 2025.

Applications to participate in the selection must be sent in electronic format to the email address (not certified email address, a.k.a. PEC) curricula@fmach.it , indicating the recruitment code (385_CRI_ACH – R4 temporary analytical chemistry) in the subject of the message and must consist of:

• the application form (Annex A), as per the model available on the webpage announcement, which must be saved with the file name and extension: Surname First Name_Application.pdf;
• the candidate’s curriculum vitae, saved with the file name and extension as follows: Surname First Name_CV.doc or .pdf;
• a copy of a valid identity document.

Any person encountering difficulty in submitting the application due to disability is invited to contact +39 0461 615542.

Selection process

By qualifications (maximum 25 points) and interview (maximum 75 points). The results of the recruitment process will be based on the sum of points obtained from qualifications and interview.

Candidates will present their education, work experience and aspirations with a 5-minute slide presentation in English (Powerpoint, Slide, Impress or PDF).

During the interview, which will be conducted in English, the following knowledge will be verified (maximum 75 points):

• Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (maximum 20 points);
• Statistical analysis (maximum 10 points);
• Strategies for samples collection (maximum 10 points);
• Safety in the chemical laboratory (maximum 10 points);
• General organisation and activity of FEM, rights and duties of employees (maximum 5 points).

In the interview, the candidate must achieve a minimum score of 50/75 points.

On the basis of the information provided exclusively in the application (Annex A), FEM will select and admit to the interview the best 20 candidates evaluated based on the following criteria (maximum 25 points):

• MSc thesis on topics related to the field of analytical chemistry, Mass Spectrometry or Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (maximum 5 points: 0 points=no relation, 1=minimal relation, 3=medium relation, 5=perfect relation);
• PhD thesis in the field of analytical chemistry, Mass Spectrometry or Nuclear Magnetic Resonance awarded within the last 4 years (maximum 3 points: 0 points=no relation, 1=minimal relation, 2=medium relation; 3=perfect relation);
• Work experience (including PhD periods) in analytical chemistry as employee in qualified laboratories/research organizations/universities (1 point per year of experience with a maximum of 6 points);
• Scientific publications with Impact Factor and/or CiteScore in the topics of analytical chemistry, analytical methods application and development, stable isotope ratio analysis, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1 point for first/last name publications or corresponding author, 0.5 points for others, up to a maximum of 6 points);
• Presentations at national and international conferences in oral or poster form, conference proceedings, book chapters, technical-scientific publications without Impact Factor made in the last 5 years (0.2 points per publication/proceeding/act up to a maximum of 3 points);
• Training courses in the field of safety and health at work (0.5 points for each course with at least 4 hours duration up to a maximum of 2 points).

If none of the 20 shortlisted applicants proves to be suitable following interview, the Commission reserves the right to interview additional candidates.

This Recruiting Announcement is issued in compliance with equal opportunities between men and women for access to employment, pursuant to Legislative decree no. 198 of 11 April 2006 "Code of equal opportunities between men and women, pursuant to Article 6 of Law no. 246 of 28 November 2005".

The candidate identifies their gender prior to the tests and/or interview.

Number of offers available: 1

Company/Institute: FONDAZIONE EDMUND MACH – ISTITUTO AGRARIO DI SAN MICHELE ALL’ADIGE

Country: Italy