Research Initiation Scholarship (BII) - Project LIFE BIOAs

Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development

Research Initiation Scholarship (BII) – 1 vacancy

9 of august of 2023

A call for tenders is open for one Research Initiation Scholarship (BII) for R&D activities within the scope of the project LIFE BIOAs - “Removal of As from water using innovative BIO-adsorbents produced from by products of the agro-industrial sector”, with the reference LIFE19 ENV/IT/000512 financed by the “LIFE Programme” of the European Union.

Scientific area: Chemistry, Environment, Biochemistry, Materials, Geology, and related areas.

Admission requirements: Candidates must be attending a 1st cycle, integrated master or master course in the fields of Chemistry, Environment, Biochemistry, Materials, Geology or similar. The number of subjects passed, the respective marks and, in particular, the completion of the dissertation/ internship work within the scope of the work to be developed will be valued. Curricular and extracurricular training in the areas of project development, possible experience in research, publications and participation in congresses and others will also be considered. Other applicants, who respect points 1 and 2, Article 5, of the FCT Research Grants Regulation nº950/2019, will also be accepted.

As set forth FCT Research Scholarship Regulation nº950/2019 of 16 December 2019, article 5, - BII (Research Initiation Scholarship) cannot be awarded to those who have already benefited from research grants directly or indirectly funded by FCT, awarded under the terms of the Statute of the Research Grant.

Work plan: The established plan is based on the implementation actions of the project, namely in the demonstration activities related to:

1. Water treatment with bioadsorbents;
2.  Efficiency tests;
3.  Laboratory and field tests.

The work carried out should contribute to achieving the following project objectives:

1. Carrying out water characterisation analyses before and after treatment in the portable unit;
2. Bioadsorbents characterisation;
3. Participation in the project's dissemination activities.

Applicable legislation and regulations: The granting of the Research Scholarship will be carried out upon the signing of a contract between the University of Évora and the scholarship holder, as set in the template former.fct.pt/apoios/Minuta_Contrato_Bolsa.docx , pursuant to the Research Scholarship Statute (Law No. 40/2004 of August 18 and Decree-Law No. 123/2019 of August 28) and in accordance with the legislation and Regulation of Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology, IP in force, regulation nº950/2019 of December 16, 2019 https://files.dre.pt/2s/2019/12/241000000/0009100105.pdf and other applicable rules.

Place of work: The work will be carried out on the University of Évora campus and/or in external locations, when required by the work plan, namely in tasks such as transport and installation of the treatment unit, sample collection or analysis in sampling sites, among others. At the University of Évora, most of the work will take place at the Chemistry Department and at the MED, under the scientific supervision of Doctor Paulo Alexandre Mira Mourão.

Duration of the scholarship: The scholarship will have a duration of 3 months, starting in October 2023. Based on the best adequacy to the good pursuit of the project's objectives the grant contract can be renewed up to a maximum of 6 months.

Amount of monthly maintenance allowance: The amount of the scholarship corresponds to € 541,12, according to the table of scholarships awarded directly by FCT, I.P. in Portugal (https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM_2023.pdf), payments being made monthly, by check or bank transfer.

Selection methods: The selection methods to be used will be:

A - Demonstration that the curricular internship work/dissertation will be done within the scope of the scholarship and project – 40%t;

B - Curriculum evaluation (B1 - overall grade (25%) and B2 - grade in disciplines considered essential to the subject of the project (15%)) – 40%;

C - Research experience, professional and other extracurricular activities – 10%;

D - Motivation letter – 10%.

The selection jury reserves the right, if it considers necessary, to interview the candidates.

The respective evaluation will correspond to a classification defined by the following formula:

Final Classification = (0,40 x A) + (0,25 x B1) + (0,15 x B2) + (0,10 x C) + (0,10 x D)

Composition of the Selection Jury:

President: Inv. Doutor Paulo Alexandre Mira Mourão

1º Effective – Professor José Eduardo dos Santos Félix Castanheiro

2º Effective – Professor Isabel Pestana Paixão Cansado

1º Alternate – Professor Jorge Ginja Teixeira

2º Alternate – Professor António Paulo da Silva Teixeira

Advertising/notification of results: The final results of the evaluation will be publicized, through an alphabetical ordered list posted in a visible and public place of the Chemistry Department of the University of Évora, being the candidate approved notified via by email.

To ensure the right of prior hearing of interested parties, the Final Classification project will be announced by any written means to all interested parties.

After communicating the provisional list of the results of the evaluation, candidates have a period of 10 working days to express their opinion in a preliminary hearing of interested parties.

Application deadline and submission of applications: The tender is open from 25 of August to 11 of September 2023 and the results of the selection will be published by 15 of September 2023.

Applications must be formalised by sending a letter of application accompanied by the following documents: letter of motivation, curriculum vitae, qualification certificate(s) (stating the final classification and, preferably, the classifications obtained in all the disciplines completed), letter(s) of recommendation and other relevant supporting documents.

For the purposes of application, the evidence may be replaced by a declaration of honor signed by the candidate, but the failure to demonstrate that evidence, in the contracting phase, possession of the required degree on the deadline for application or the non-presentation of proof of enrollment in the study cycle or non-degree course, for scholarships with this component, imply the cancellation of the candidate's application.

Academic degrees obtained in foreign countries require registration by a Portuguese Institution in accordance with Decree-Law no. 66/2018, of August 16 and Ordinance No. 33/2019, of January 25th.

The presentation of the certificate is mandatory for the signing of the contract. More information can be obtained at: https://www.dges.gov.pt/pt/pagina/recognition?plid=374

Applications must be sent by email to:

Inv. Doutor Paulo Alexandre Mira Mourão

Universidade de Évora, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia

Departamento de Química & MED

e-mail: pamm@uevora.pt