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AC Until death 2025/2026

Objectives

Symbiosis is a key strategy for life on Earth. Nevertheless, although many research groups have long been committed to the study of symbiosis, its definition and functioning are not fully understood, and its ecological role and relevance are still underestimated.

Symbiotic associations vary from parasitism to mutualism and even simple persistent biological interactions, making the knowledge fragmented and focused on the details of single symbiotic systems. Knowledge of the various symbiotic relationships is rapidly increasing with the development of -omics tools, but without efforts to find common grounds.

The concept itself of symbiosis can be faced by different points of view, spanning from biology to evolution, from philosophy to artificial intelligence.

In this course, we promote a multidisciplinary approach presenting the most recent findings on the topic and challenging the traditional way of considering symbiotic associations as exceptions and not as the rule.

This course can be taken in one of two formats:

  • Option 1 – theoretical classes only (20 hours, online);
  • Option 2 – both theoretical and practical classes (36 hours total): practical sessions held in the mornings (in person), and theoretical sessions in the afternoons (online, same as in Option 1).

Participants must be present at 85% of the contact hours, and actively participate in all activities.

This course can give credits to PhD programmes at CIÊNCIAS or programmes with partnership from CIÊNCIAS and other institutions with 6h-7h of contact hours per ECT, as a function of specific requirements. For these students, in addition to the exercises done during the week, delivering a written report after the course is mandatory. The exact exercise for students doing Option 1 or Option 2 will be explained during the course. In Option 2, for programmes with fewer hours of contact per ECT (6h/ECT, getting 6 ECTs from the course), students must do an additional assignment (summary report). Such report(s) are also advised for other students requesting accreditation of the course in their institutions.

Minimum requirements: Bachelor (“Licenciatura”) in Biology, Natural Science or related areas.

Directed to: PhD or MSc students in Biology, Microbiology, Ecology, Environmental Studies or related areas, and postdocs and other professionals working in related topics.

General plan

Starting from the definition of symbiosis, we will analyse the role of symbioses in evolutionary terms.

Plant-fungal-bacteria symbioses will be presented to illustrate ecological networks and ecosystem services. Examples of different symbiotic associations (lichens, biofilm, mycorrhizas) will be given by specialists in the field in theoretical-practical lessons taking in consideration morphological, physiological and ecological aspects. Part of the course will be devoted to the human microbiome and insect-bacteria symbioses and their consequences on/potentialities for human and environmental health. Philosophical aspects and challenges brought by the new discoveries in the area will be discussed. Potential applications in technology like evolutionary algorithms and industrial symbiosis will be considered as well as sociological aspects associated to agroecology. Practical lessons will allow participants to “put their hands” in some of the symbiotic systems presented in the course.

Fees

Free for 1st year PhD students in Doctoral programmes at CIÊNCIAS (e.g. Biology), Biodiversity, Genetics and Evolution (BIODIV ULisboa; UPorto), Biology and Ecology of Global Changes (BEAG ULisboa, UAveiro) or Sustainability Science (ULisboa, several institutions), when the course counts credits for their formation, in which case the delivery of a final report done after the course is mandatory; the course is also free for more advanced PhD students of the BIODIV programme (ULisboa or UPorto).

For other students, fees vary depending on whether Option 1 or Option 2 is chosen:

FEE (option 1): 15 € for other PhD students of CE3C enrolled in doctoral programmes other than those previously listed; 30 € for PhD students of the PEERS network (CFE); 55 € for CIÊNCIAS Master students, more advanced CIÊNCIAS PhD students and unemployed; 80 € for BTI, BI and other PhD students; 115 € for professionals and postdocs.

FEE (option 2): 50 € for other PhD students of CE3C enrolled in doctoral programmes other than those previously listed; 80 € for PhD students of the PEERS network (CFE); 125 € for CIÊNCIAS Master students, more advanced CIÊNCIAS PhD students and unemployed; 180 € for BTI, BI and other PhD students; 250 € for professionals and postdocs.

When the maximum number of students is reached, 10 vacancies will be available for non-paying 1st year PhD students mentioned above, being, by order of preference, students from: 1) CE3C; 2) BIODIV (not from CE3C); 3) CIÊNCIAS (not from CE3C); 4) Sustainability Science (not from CE3C or CIÊNCIAS); 5) BEAG (not from CE3C or CIÊNCIAS).

How to Apply

Candidates should send an email to Silvana Munzi (ssmunzi@fc.ul.pt) with a short CV and motivation letter. The CV and letter should be named 1st-lastNAME-CV.pdf and 1st-lastNAME-ML.pdf (that is, personalise the name of each file with your first and last name).

In the email, please add the following information:

  • OPTION CHOSEN (1 or 2):
  • Full Name:
  • Email:
  • Phone:
  • Professional activity: Professional/Postdoc, BTI, BI (or other non-post-doc research grant), PhD student (with/without scholarship), Lic. (Bachelor)/Master student
  • PhD student in the 1st year of a Doctoral programme at CIÊNCIAS, BIODIV (CIÊNCIAS/FCUP), or BEAG (CIÊNCIAS or UAveiro)?
  • If yes to the above question, PhD student doing the Course to count credits for 1st year?
  • PhD student of CE3C or CEF (Centro de Ecologia Funcional)?
  • Name of the PhD programme:


If you have any questions, please contact the coordinator of the CE3C Advanced Courses, Margarida Matos (mmmatos@fc.ul.pt), and the teacher, Silvana Munzi (ssmunzi@fc.ul.pt).

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