INSTITUTE OF EARTH SCIENCES – ÉVORA POLE

RESEARCH GRANT FOR MASTER - ONE VACANCY

7 of December of 2023

A call for tenders is open for one Research Grant for Master within the scope of the project INCOME – Inputs para uma região mais sustentável: Instrumentos para a gestão de zonas contaminadas por metais (Inputs for a more sustainable region: Instruments for managing metal-contaminated areas), PD23-00013, supported by the Promove Program of the “la Caixa” Foundation, in partnership with BPI and the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), under the following conditions:

Scientific area: Geophysics, Geology, Physics, Engineering.

Admission requirements:

The candidate must have a Master degree in one of the defined scientific areas.

Preferred factors are knowledge in Geophysics applied to the environment, experience in fieldwork and computational tools, namely programming, signal processing, use of geographic databases.

As set forth FCT Research Scholarship Regulation No. 950/2019 of December 16, 2019, article 3 and 6, candidates for “BI” (Research Grants) must comply as a rule condition for the award of the scholarship, the effective inclusion in study cycles leading to the attribution of academic degrees or in courses not leading to an academic degree. Courses that do not confer an academic degree correspond to the courses provided for in subparagraph e) of paragraph 3 of article 4 of Decree-Law No. 74/2006 of 24 March and must be developed in a higher education institution in association with at least one R&D unit, including a course plan in one or several research areas of the unit.

Work plan:

Goals:

The fellow must work within the scope of the INCOME project, participating in the acquisition of geophysical data (georradar, magnetic gradient, electromagnetic induction, electrical and seismic resistivity tomography), and geospatial data (differential GNSS, laser scanner and photogrammetry), and use of tools computational methods for processing data from the aforementioned methods, in contexts of analyzing the structure of the subsurface, as well as the use of geographic information systems programs and production of graphical outputs for interpretation of the subsurface. The work will take place in collaboration with the project team in developing the instrument for managing metal-contaminated areas.

Activity Plan:

A1. Collection of information about the São de Domingos Mine (Mértola), particularly regarding information on the geological setting and environmental contamination by potentially toxic metals at the site.

A2. Participation in the preparation and implementation of geophysical data collection campaigns.

A3. Data management. The fellow will be responsible for organizing and storing the collected data and associated metadata, so that they can be used together with other sources of information (edaphology, chemistry and hyperspectral remote sensing) in the development of the management tool for metal-contaminated areas.

A4. Preparation of subsurface geophysical models based on data collected by geophysical techniques complemented with geological and geospatial information and participation in modeling activities of the same areas using remote sensing data.

A5. Creation of models that integrate geophysical, geospatial, soil, chemical and remote sensing data.

A6. Participation in the preparation of progress reports, publication of articles and dissemination activities for the project.

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 developed at the Institute of Earth Sciences – Évora Pole of the University of Évora, under the scientific guidance of Doctor Rui Jorge Braga de Oliveira.

Duration of the scholarship: The scholarship will have a duration of 22 months, starting on March of 2024.

Amount of monthly maintenance allowance: The amount of the scholarship corresponds to €1199,64, 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 the following:

The selection is made through a curricular assessment in which the following will be considered:

1. Course average: 30%;
2. Publications and other relevant activities: 30%;
3. Experience in geophysical data processing methods: 20%;
4. Fieldwork experience: 20%.

If none of the candidates for the competition meet the appropriate profile, the jury reserves the right to close the contest without any recruitment. In the event of a tie, to select the first-place candidate, candidates with the same classification will be subjected to an interview where the following aspects will be evaluated:

• Ability to express and communicate;
• Motivation for teamwork;
• Expectations of personal and professional development;
• Verification of the professional experience declared in the CV;
• Verification of the level of knowledge of the English language.

In the case of using the interview, the evaluation elements will be valued as follows:

• Curricular evaluation (60%)
• Interview (40%)

Composition of the Selection Jury:

President: Doctor Rui Jorge Braga de Oliveira

1st Member – Professor Bento António Fialho Caeiro Caldeira

2nd Member – Professor José Fernando Borges

1st Substitute – Professor Mourad Bezzeghoud

2nd Substitute – Professor Maria João Costa

Advertising/notification of results: The final results of the evaluation will be publicized, through an ordered list by final grade obtained posted in a visible and public place of Institute of Earth Sciences – Évora Pole, being the candidate approved notified through 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 3 January 2024 to 19 January 2024 and the results of the selection will be published by 2 February 2024.

Applications must be formalized, obligatorily, by sending an application letter with the following documents:

• Curriculum vitae;
• Certificate of qualifications;
• A letter of recommendation;
• A motivation letter.

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:

Doctor Rui Jorge Braga de Oliveira

Institute of Earth Sciences – Évora Pole, of the University of Évora

email: ruio@uevora.pt