Driven by the pursuit of excellence, CIIMAR seeks to enhance its research and innovation capacity by raising its staff´s research profile and enhance its competitiveness in attracting talent. Every year, the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) opens applications to the CEEC call: “Estímulo ao emprego científico individual” (Stimulating individual scientific employment), attributing up to 6 year contracts to over 400 doctoral researchers.

To make the best of accumulated knowledge and experience, CIIMAR organized a session where CIIMAR researchers who submitted successful proposals shared their tips, strategies and insights. Last year, GRINNAQUA scientists Marina Machado and Rita Azeredo were able to secure a junior researcher CEEC and, on the 18th of April, Rita shared with the CIIMAR community her personal strategy to help others improve their proposal competitiveness. The session also counted with insights from Claudia Serra, who develops her work in fish nutrition and immunobiology, and Teresa Neuparth, a researcher in endocrine disruptors and emergent contaminants. Both were able to secure CEEC contracts, as assistant researcher and principal researcher, respectively, in last year’s call. The session also counted with Susana Moreira’s invaluable expertise, as CIIMAR’s science and innovation officer.