COMPETITION FOR GRANTING 1 PhD RESEARCH STUDENTSHIP - #NOVAID-B062

A tender is open for the attribution of 1 PhD Research Scholarship within the scope of the R&D project “Terahertz reconfigurable meta-surfaces for ultra-high-rate wireless communications (TERRAMETA)- ref.101097101”, financed by the European Union, in the context of HORIZON-JU-SNS-2022-STREAM-B01-02 under the following conditions:

1. Scientific Area:

Microelectronic and nanotechnology, Material science engineering, Physics

2. Recipients profile/category:

Mandatory requirements:

Candidates must have a master in Micro and Nanotechnologies Engineering, Materials Engineering, Electronics, Physics, chemical engineering, and similar areas. Priority will be with students owing skills include hands-on experience with solution processing and printing techniques or cleanroom processing namely thin film deposition and photolithography processes, as well as on electrical characterization. Excellent English written and verbal communication skills will be required for technical reporting and problem solving.

Other necessary requirements: valid enrollment in a cycle of studies leading to obtaining the academic degree of doctor in Microelectronics and Nanotechnology.

For academic degrees conferred by a foreign higher education institution, it is mandatory to present a record of the recognition of the academic degree and the conversion of the final classification to the portuguese scale, or alternatively, to obtain equivalence/recognition of the academic degrees, and a document of proof of permanent and usual residence in Portugal, if the candidate is a foreign citizen.

3. Research work Plan:

The project aim is to explore the employment of two types of memristors as part of reflectarray tunable antenna elements for the first time. Memristor concepts have been previously considered for the purpose of achieving tunability in microwave components, e.g., tunable filters, phase shifters and RF switches. Applying a memristor-based switch improves energy-efficiency, since it requires zero hold voltage for the operation. In the scope of the current research proposal, the candidate will be involved closely with project team members to design and implement experiments to optimize the deposition and patterning processes of nonvolatile RF switches.

Main subject of the first research grant (Scholarship nº1) is research on 2D materialbased memristors. Project tasks start with the fabrication of 2D materials via solution processing. Layered materials, such as MoS2 and graphene, will be processed by liquid phase exfoliation. Furthermore, to improve uniformity, device-to-device and cycle-tocycle variations, elaboration of inks, using printing techniques will be also explored in the scope of application of 2D materials.

Next, the films will be characterized by means of FTIR, TG-DSC, UV-Vis absorption. Interface reactions will be studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). To pattern devices at the nanoscale, conventional photolithography will be used. Optimization of devices especially by reducing the device area will tremendously improve cut-off frequency. The target maximum frequency aims to surpass the 300 GHz barrier.

The electrical, and radio-frequency characterization of devices will be done by using probe stations, parameter analyzers, and Vector network analyzers.

4. Applicable legislation and regulations:

Law No. 40/2004, of August 18, amended and republished by Decree-Law No. 202/2012 of August 27 (Statute of the Scientific Research Fellow) and amended by Decree-Law No. 233/2012 of October 29, by Law No. 12 /2013 of 29 January, by Decree-Law No. 89/2013, of 9 July and Decree-Law No. 123/2019, of 28 August; Regulation of Research Grants of NOVA.id.FCT – Association for Innovation and Development of FCT; Regulation of Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. in force (https://files.dre.pt/2s/2019/12/241000000/0009100105.pdf);

5. Workplace:

The work will be carried out in CENIMAT|i3N labs at Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (FCT-NOVA), under the scientific supervision team of Dr. Asal Kiazadeh and Dr. Emanuel Carlos.

6. Fellowship duration:

The fellowship contract is for 12 months, renewable during the project duration, starting on July.

7. Monthly maintenance allowance amount:

The amount of the grant is € 1,199.64, with reference to the table of values of grants awarded directly by FCT, I.P. in Portugal, payment being made monthly by bank transfer. University fees are paid by the project.

8. Selection criteria:

The evaluation of the applications will focus on the merit of the candidate, applying the following criteria, valued on a scale of 1 to 5 values:

A – Merit of the candidate – MC (70%)

A1 - Curriculum evaluation (40%)

A2 - Scientific Domain (30%)

A3 - Experience in scientific activities of hands-on experience with solution processing and printing techniques or cleanroom processing (30%)

Final classification of the candidate’s merit will be obtained by applying the following formula:

𝑀𝐶 = (𝐴1 × 0.4) + (𝐴2 × 0.3) + (𝐴3 × 0.3)

Candidates who obtain a minimum classification of 3.0 in the MC criterion will be admitted to the interview phase, with the jury proceeding to evaluate the following sub-criteria:

B – Interview – INT: 30%

B1 – Interpersonal skills and motivation: 50%

B2 – Knowledge demonstrated in the area of the fellow: 50%

The evaluation of the sub criteria of the interview parameter will correspond to the following levels:

High – 5 values; Good – 4 values; Sufficient – 3 values; Reduced – 2 values and Insufficient – 1 value.

The classification of the interview (INT) will be obtained by applying the following formula:

𝐼𝑁𝑇 = (𝐵1 × 0.5) + (𝐵2 × 0.5)

Candidates called for the interview who do not appear for this evaluation element will be excluded from the competition.

The final classification (CF) will be obtained by applying the following formula:

𝐶𝐹 = (𝑀𝐶 × 0.7) + (𝐸𝑁𝑇 × 0.3)

The candidates with a final classification inferior to 3.5 will be excluded from this call.

9. Composition of the Selection Jury:

President of the Jury – Dr. Asal Kiazadeh

Effective Members – Dr. Jonas Deuermeier and Dr. Emanuel Carlos

Substitute Members – Dr. Joana Vaz Pinto and Dr. João Coelho

10. Form of advertising/notification of results:

The evaluation results proposed by the jury will be notified, up to 30 days after the deadline for the submission of applications, by email, of the results proposed by the jury, with access to the minutes and the final ranking list.

After notification, candidates will have 10 working days to comment on the draft decision (prior hearing of interested parties, under the terms of the Code of Administrative Procedure). The final decision will be taken after the expiry of the prior hearing period, again notified to all candidates by e-mail. Of this final decision the candidates can file a complaint within 15 working days (to the e-mail address used for the notification), or a hierarchical appeal, within 30 working days, addressed to NOVA.ID.FCT's Board through the address coord1@novaidfct.pt.

11. Application deadline and form of application submission:

Candidates can apply from May 15th to June 15th 2023.

Documentation to be provided upon application: the following documents attached in a single pdf file: (a) Curriculum Vitae, (b) certificate of qualifications (during the application phase, it can be replaced by a declaration of honor as stated in point n. 2) (c) Cover letter or other supporting documents relevant to the final assessment.

The selected candidate must be enrolled in a doctoral program or be eligible to enroll in them, having only to prove enrollment in the contracting phase.

Form of submission of applications: Applications must be submitted by email to cenimat.rh@fct.unl.pt and a.kiazadeh@fct.unl.pt (Dr. Asal Kiazadeh) indicating “Application for TERRAMETA project” in the subject of the email.

Documentation to be provided under contract: Proof of Master's academic degree; Proof of enrolment in courses that do not confer an academic degree or in a Doctoral program, and certificate of recognition of the degree obtained abroad (if applicable).

12. Drafts:

The drafts of: i) fellowship contract, ii) final report to be presented by the fellowship holder, iii) final report to be presented by the scientific advisor, and; iv) declaration on honor, can all be found on website da NOVA.id.FCT.