CE3C strengthens research, scientific employment and advanced training with FCT funding

Eight research projects receiving a total of over €1.2 million in funding, a successful application to the Individual Scientific Employment Stimulus Competition (CEEC Individual), and new PhD scholarships highlight CE3C’s latest results in funding calls launched by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).

This funding spans different scientific areas within CE3C and supports researchers at various career stages, from PhD students to established researchers.

Research projects

Under the PTDC 2025 funding calls, CE3C secured €1,226,664 for eight projects coordinated by researchers from the centre.

The four scientific research and technological development projects, each lasting 36 months, received a total of €996,810:

• PARASEX, coordinated by David Duneau, investigates parasite plasticity and evolution in response to differences between host sexes.
• EvA, coordinated by Leonor Rodrigues, examines pest evolution and its consequences for crops in complex agroecosystems.
• SEABIRDCONNECT, coordinated by Maria Dias, explores the role of seabirds in connecting the deep sea and island ecosystems.
• RELOAD, coordinated by Vítor Sousa, assesses the effects of isolation and recurrent hybridisation on the genetic load of endangered freshwater species.

The four exploratory research projects, each lasting 18 months, received a total of €229,854:

• StressedRNA, coordinated by Duarte Guerreiro, investigates the RNA structure of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in response to stress conditions imposed by the host immune system.
• miRNAimPAT, coordinated by Élio Sucena, explores the role of microRNAs in controlling immunopathology in Drosophila.
• BLOOM, coordinated by Inês Rosário, combines biodiversity education with participatory monitoring and scientific data quality.
• SEEDS, coordinated by Sergio Chozas, promotes plant knowledge and awareness through innovative educational approaches.

Individual Scientific Employment Stimulus Competition (CEEC Individual)

In the Individual Scientific Employment Stimulus Competition (CEEC Individual), Silvana Munzi secured funding in the Assistant Researcher category.

Her project, entitled Lichens in time: Quantifying epiphytic lichen growth rates for biomonitoring applications, aims to measure the growth rates of epiphytic lichens (lichens that grow on trees), a parameter that remains poorly understood but is essential for interpreting air pollution and climate change monitoring data.

With fieldwork taking place in Portugal, Spain and Italy, the project involves citizen participation and will establish the first national lichen monitoring network across approximately 40 schools, engaging students aged 8 to 18.

This funding will support the continuation of her scientific career and the development of her research at CE3C.

PhD scholarships

FCT has also awarded 11 new PhD scholarships to candidates affiliated with CE3C, who will join nine research groups across the centre’s four thematic lines. This funding strengthens advanced training, the diversity of research areas and the development of new scientific careers.

The new PhD scholarship recipients are:

• Afonso Barrocal
• Ana Margarida Silva
• Bruno Tiago da Silva Luz
• Francisca Bacelar Ferreira de Sousa Simões
• Francisco Daniel Elias Catarino
• João Miguel Maurício Costa
• Luca Marinoni
• Maria João Alves Lopes de Oliveira Medina
• Phoebe Whittington
• Rafaela Pires Marques
• Tiago Morais Gonçalves

Together, these achievements strengthen CE3C's scientific activity, advancing knowledge and supporting the training of the next generation of researchers.