Call for tenders is open for the attribution of 1 Research Grant (BI) within the scope of the R&D institution Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias - Autónoma TechLab, of the Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa (UAL), project with the reference BI _2023_8_FCT2022.03897.PTDC with financial support from the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education (MCTES), through national funds (PIDDAC), under the following conditions:

Generic scientific area: Engineering.

Specific scientific area: Electronics and Informatics Engineering.

Mandatory admission requirements: a) Candidates must be enrolled in a Ph.D. study program; b) not exceed, with the conclusion of the scholarship contract in question, including possible renewals, an accumulated period of one year of having this type of scholarship, continuous or intermittent; c) not have already been the beneficiary of any other research grant directly or indirectly financed by FCT.

Proof of registration must be carried out prior to contracting, and the candidate may attach a declaration of honor stating that they meet the registration requirements.

Eligibility of candidates: candidates must meet the eligibility conditions set out in article 9º of the FCT I.P. Research Grant Regulation.

Preferred Factors: Motivation to develop and carry out the research program as described in the work plan; knowledge of wireless communications; knowledge in mathematical optimization; fluency in writing in English; previous research experience.

Work plan: The primary objective of this role is to delve deep into the domain of Virtualization and Slicing in UAV-enabled Networks, particularly its integration with AI and machine learning; engage in intensive research on the topic of "Virtualization and Slicing in UAV-enabled Networks". This includes both theoretical study and practical experimentation; the incumbent is expected to target top-tier peer-reviewed academic journals for publishing their research findings; collaborate with fellow researchers, and engage in constructive discussions regarding the good development and execution of the project.

Objectives to achieve: UAV positioning and trajectory design in mixed ground and air base station networks.

Applicable legislation and regulations: The scholarship is approved by Law n.º 40/2004, of August 18th, in the current wording published by Decree-Law N.º 123/2019, of August 28th of the Statute of the Research Fellow (EBI), (available at https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/legislacao-consolidada/lei/2004-58216179), and Regulation of Research Grants, N.º. 950/2019, of December 16, from the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. (https://files.dre.pt/2s/2019/12/241000000/0009100105.pdf) and amendments to Regulation No. 950/2019, of December 16, 2019 (available at https://former.fct.pt/apoios/veraocomciencia/docs/Primeira_Alteracao_Regulamento_Bolsas_Investigacao_FCT.pdf).

Contracting Institution: CEU – University Education Cooperative, CRL

Workplace: The work will be carried out in person at the facilities of the Autónoma TechLab – Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias, of the Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa, Rua de Santa Marta, 47, 6th, 1150-293 Lisbon, under the scientific supervision of Professor Dushantha Nalin K. Jayakody.

Scholarship duration: The grant has duration of 6 months, scheduled to start on December 11, 2023. A reserve selection list will be created, which can be used for a maximum of 3 months.

Monthly maintenance allowance amount: The scholarship amount corresponds to a €1.199,64 according to the table of values of scholarships awarded directly by FCT, (https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM_2023.pdf), and according to the contract draft. The scholarship will be paid monthly by bank transfer, by the contracting entity.

Exclusive regime: The grantee's duties are carried out on an exclusive basis, under the terms set out in article 5 of the Research Fellow's Statute and the Research Grant Regulations, currently in force.

The selection methods to be used will be the following: Only three candidates who meet the admission requirements will be considered for interview. The candidate selection methods are as follows: evaluation of the Curriculum Vitae (70%); interview (20%) and motivation letter (10%). Only candidates with a weighted average equal to or greater than 15 will be admitted.

The Selection Jury composition: President: Professor Doctor Dushantha Nalin K. Jayakody, Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa; Professor Doctor Gonçalo Valadão, Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa; Professor Doctor Tharindu Ponnimbaduge Perera, Campus Tecnológico do Sri Lanka. Vogal suplent: Professor Doctor Mário Marques da Silva, Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa.

Form of announcement/notification of results: The candidates selected and admitted for an interview are invited by email. The Public Notice and the final evaluation results will be published, through a list ordered by the final grade obtained, in a public place on the websites of Autónoma TechLab ( https://techlab.autonoma.pt) and of Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa (https://autonoma.pt/category/artigos/bolsas-de-investigacao/), and the approved candidate will be notified by email. All applicants will be notified of the decision by email.

Application deadline and form of submission of applications: The tender is open from 16 November, 2023 until 29 November, 2023. Applications must be formalized, obligatorily, by sending an application letter accompanied with the following documents (in PDF format):

- Detailed and updated Curriculum Vitae (should contain all elements to assess admission requirements, including language skills and research experience);

- Certificate of Qualifications (that confer an academic degree under the terms requested in the notice, which contain the final classifications);

- Letter of Motivation;

- Other documents that attest to what is described in the candidate’s CV.

Proof of enrollment in a study cycle leading to an academic degree or in a non-degree course must be presented before signing the contract.

Applications must be submitted by email to gaid@autonoma.pt, including in the subject field: BI_2023_8_FCT2022.03897.PTDC.

Only applications received during the opening period of the said competition will be considered. Failure to send any of the documents required in the application is grounds for exclusion (in accordance with the provisions of Article 10 of FCT Research Grants Regulation No. 950/2019).

Complaint and appeal deadline: After the final decision and notification to the candidates, they have a period of 15 working days to make a statement to the President of the Jury, or appeal to the highest executive body of the financing entity within 30 working days.

Final report: The scholarship holder must submit, within 60 working days after the end of the scholarship, a final report of the activities, in digital format. This report must describe in detail all the activities carried out, the period of time spent on them, the objectives achieved and the respective URL addresses (if applicable).