FEUP| One Position of Assistant Professor in the disciplinary area of Electrical and Computer Engineering - Notice 277/2024

UNIVERSITY OF PORTO 
PUBLIC NOTICE N. 277/2023

Professor José Manuel Pereira Dias de Castro Lopes, Full Professor of Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto and Vice-Rector of the University of Porto:

Following my Order issued on 9th January 2024, by delegated power under the Ordinance no. 9493/2022 published in the Official Gazette (Diário da República), 2nd series, n. 148 of 2nd August, this call for application is published for one position of Assistant Professor in the disciplinary area of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto. The application procedure will remain in force for a period of thirty business days as from the date immediately following the publication of this Notice in the Official Gazette.

1.    Applicable legal provisions
Articles 37 to 51, 61 and 62-A of the University Teaching Career Statute (ECDU – Estatuto da Carreira Docente Universitária), republished in Decree-Law 205/2009 of 31 August, and amended by Law n. 8/2010 of 13 May, and the Regulations for the Recruitment of Full, Associate and Assistant Professors of the University of Porto (abbreviated to Regulations), approved by Order no. 12913/2010, published in the Official Gazette, 2nd Series, n. 154 of 10 August, and the Amendment Resolution (excerpt) n. 380/2019, published in the Official Gazette, 2nd Series, n. 64 of 1 April 2019.

2.    Eligible candidates:
2.1. Under the provisions of Article 41-A of the ECDU, all candidates in this call for applications must hold a PhD degree. 
If the doctoral degree was awarded by a foreign higher education institution, it must be recognized by a Portuguese higher education institution, under the terms of Decree-Law no. 66/2018, published in the Official Gazette, 1st series, n. 157 of 16 August. This formality must be accomplished by the application deadline.
2.2.  - Mastery of spoken and written Portuguese language. Candidates of foreign nationality, except those from Portuguese-speaking countries, must possess mastery of spoken and written Portuguese language at the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level B1 or higher. This requirement is officially recognized through a certificate or diploma of communicative competence in the Portuguese language from the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, by the Council of Europe.

3.    Approval based on absolute merit
3.1.     If there are no fundamentals for rejecting the applications, the Jury will deliberate on their approval or non-approval on absolute merit, by justified nominal vote, abstentions not being admitted.
3.2.     The candidate who is approved by an absolute majority of the voting members of the jury is considered to have passed with absolute merit.
3.3.     The favorable vote of a jury member must be based on the cumulative fulfillment of the following conditions:
    a) The candidate holds a Ph.D. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering or a related field;
b) The candidate has a CV suitable for carrying out pedagogical and scientific activities in at least one of the following specific domains of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering, Digital Systems and Computer Architecture, Analog Electronic Systems.

4.    - Evaluation and ranking based on relative merit
The ranking based on relative merit will be conducted based on the aspects and criteria for ranking, their respective scores, and the final valuation system, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 6 of article 50 of the ECDU and article 16 of the Regulation.
    4.1 - Evaluation Methodology
Candidates approved with absolute merit are subject to a curriculum evaluation, considering the general functions assigned to university professors by article 4 of the ECDU, focusing on the aspects and criteria mentioned below.
4.2 - Evaluation Aspects
The evaluation of candidates focuses on the following aspects and project, emphasizing curricular aspects in the disciplinary area for which the competition was opened, with a special focus on the specific domains of Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering, Digital Systems and Computer Architecture, Analog Electronic Systems.
a) Scientific Merit (VMC) - 45%;
b) Experience and Pedagogical Merit (VEMP) - 20%;
c) University Extension and Economic and Social Knowledge Valorization Tasks (VTC) - 10%;
d) Scientific-Pedagogical Project (VPCP) - 25%.

4.3 - Evaluation Criteria
The criteria to be considered in the evaluation of each of the evaluation aspects and projects identified in the previous section, and the weighting to be assigned to each of them in the final classification, are as follows:
4.3.1 - Criteria for the evaluation of the Scientific Merit aspect (VMC) - 45%
4.3.1.1 - MC1 - Scientific Production
Quality and quantity of scientific production (books, articles in journals, publications in conference proceedings) expressed by the number and type of publications, and the recognition given by the scientific community (reflected in the quality of the publication venues and the references made to them by other authors).
4.3.1.2 - MC2 - Coordination and execution of scientific projects
Quality and quantity of scientifically funded projects on a competitive basis by public funds, through national or international agencies or by companies, in which the candidate participated and the results obtained therein, with emphasis on project coordination. In assessing quality, attention should be paid to the funding obtained, the level of competition, the evaluations received by the projects, and the prototypes realized, particularly if they led to products or services.
4.3.1.3 - MC3 - Establishment of scientific teams
Ability to generate, organize, and lead scientific teams, as well as to guide researchers in post-doctoral, doctoral, and master's work.
4.3.1.4 - MC4 - Involvement in the scientific and professional community
Ability to engage with the scientific and professional communities, expressed notably through collaboration in journal editing and through the presentation of invited lectures and participation in academic juries outside the institution.

4.3.2 - Criteria for evaluation of the Experience and Pedagogical Merit aspect (VEMP) - 20%
4.3.2.1 - EMP1 - Coordination of pedagogical projects
Coordination and dynamism of new pedagogical projects (e.g., development of new curriculum unit projects, creation and coordination of new courses or study programs, etc.), or reform and improvement of existing programs (e.g., reformulating existing curriculum unit projects, participating in the reorganization of existing courses or study programs), implementation of projects with impact on the teaching/learning process, as well as participation in accreditation or certification processes.
4.3.2.2 - EMP2 - Production of pedagogical material
Quality and quantity of pedagogical material produced by the candidate, as well as publications of pedagogical nature in prestigious international journals or conferences.
4.3.2.3 - EMP3 - Teaching activity
Quality of teaching activity carried out by the candidate, whenever possible, using objective methods based on extensive opinion surveys (pedagogical surveys).

4.3.3 - Criteria for evaluation of the University Extension and Economic and Social Knowledge Valorization aspect (VTC) - 10%
4.3.3.1 - TC1 - Patents, registration, and ownership of rights, preparation of technical standards and legislation
Authorship and co-authorship of patents, registration of intellectual property rights over software, mathematical methods, and rules of mental activity. Participation in the preparation of legislative projects and technical standards.
4.3.3.2 - TC2 - Consulting services and study and development contracts
Coordination and participation in consulting activities and/or study and development activities involving the business environment and the public sector. Participation as an expert in panels and evaluation processes of research and technological development (R&D) projects in companies and/or entities of the scientific and technological system (STS). Coordination and participation as a teacher in vocational training courses or technological specialization courses aimed at companies or the public sector. The evaluation of this criterion should also consider the economic valorization of the research results achieved, measured by the development and technology transfer contracts resulting from them and the spin-off companies whose creation they have contributed to.
4.3.3.3 - TC3 - Dissemination of science and technology
Coordination and participation in initiatives for the dissemination of science and technology to the scientific community (e.g., organization of congresses and conferences) and to various audiences. Publications on the dissemination of science and technology.

4.3.4 - Criteria for evaluation of the Scientific-Pedagogical Project aspect (VPCP) - 25%
4.3.4.1 - PCP1 - Scientific activity development project
Consistency, viability, and impact of the Scientific and Pedagogical Project for the scientific development of the area of Electrical and Computer Engineering, in the specific domains of Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering, Digital Systems and Computer Architecture, Analog Electronic Systems.
4.3.4.2 - PCP2 - Pedagogical activity development project
Consistency, viability, and impact of the Scientific and Pedagogical Project for the pedagogical development of the area of Electrical and Computer Engineering, in the specific domains of Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering, Digital Systems and Computer Architecture, Analog Electronic Systems.
4.3.4.3 - PCP3 - University Extension activity development project
Consistency, viability, and impact of the Scientific and Pedagogical Project for the university extension development of the area of Electrical and Computer Engineering, in the specific domains of Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering, Digital Systems and Computer Architecture, Analog Electronic Systems.

5.    Procedural guidelines for the Selection Committee
5.1.    Candidates Score
Each member of the jury evaluates the candidates by assigning a score to each dimension on a scale of 0 to 100 points, considering the criteria approved for each dimension, with a degree of demand adjusted to the category for which the competition is open.
5.2.    Public Hearing
The Selection Committee has the possibility to hold public hearing under equal circumstances for all candidates admitted on absolute merit, for the purpose of personal clarification of the evaluation elements contained from the documentation submitted.
If there is a need to hold these public hearings, it will take place between the 30th and the 70th day following the deadline for submission of applications. All candidates will be informed in advance by email, at least ten working days in advance, of the date and place on which these public hearings will take place.
5.3.     Final Score
The Final Result (RF) of the evaluation of each candidate by each jury member is calculated through the weighting formula of the various curricular and project aspects:
FS = (0,45*VMC) + (0,20*VEMP) + (0,10*VTC) + (0,25*VPCP)
As defined in the table presented in Annex I of this Public Notice.
Following their evaluation exercise, each jury member constructs their ordered list of candidate evaluations, with which they participate in the votes that lead to the decision and final ranking of the candidates according to section 4, with no possibility of ties between candidates in the final ranking. 
5.4.    Selection Committee deliberations
5.4.1.    Any decision results from no. 12 of Article 17, of the Regulations, applicable under Article 83-A of the ECDU, which determines its approval with a view to implementing the rules of that legal diploma, covering the procedural requirements of the calls for applications, namely the system of evaluation and final classification.
Consequently, under the terms of article 17, n. 12 of the aforementioned Regulations, the Selection Committee will deliberate by means of a nominal vote based on the selection criteria adopted for the admission, selection and ranking of the candidates. An absolute majority is required for any deliberation; from which abstentions are not permitted.
5.4.2.    Ranking methodology:
In the different votes, each member of the Selection Committee must respect his/her ranking list, observing the following in each vote:
a)    the first voting round is intended to determine the candidate placed in 1st place by counting the number of votes each candidate received for that place;
b)    if a candidate obtains an absolute majority of votes for the first place, he/she is placed in the respective position and removed from the vote. The procedure will start to choose the candidate who will be positioned in the second place of the voting round;
c)    if no candidate obtains an absolute majority of votes for the first place, a new voting round will be held, which will only include candidates who have achieved votes for the first place, upon removing the least voted candidate in the previous vote for that place;
d)    if there is a tie between two or more candidates in the least voted position, a tiebreak vote between them will be held, counting the number of relative first positions for each, with the least voted being removed;
e)    if a tie still remains between two or more candidates in the least voted position, but the number of those candidates has been reduced in relation to the previous vote, a further tiebreak vote shall be held only between candidates tied for the least voted position, counting the number of relative first positions for each, with the candidate least voted being removed;
f)    if the tie still remains between two or more candidates in the least voted position, without reducing the number of candidates tied in the least voted position in relation to the previous voting round, the decision will be made by the quality vote of the President of the Selection Committee has or by a casting vote, according to the situation. The candidate voted by the President of the Selection Committee will be chosen to integrate the following voting round for the same place;
g)    if there is a tie when only two or more candidates remain for the first place, the tiebreaker is made through the casting vote of the President of the of the Selection Committee or by the exercise of the tiebreaker vote, according to the situation;
h)    the candidate chosen for the first place will leave the votes and then begins the selection procedure for the candidate to place in second place, repeating the process mentioned in the previous paragraphs for the subsequent places until there is a single ordered list of candidates.

6.    Submission of applications
6.1.     Applications delivering
Applications must be submitted exclusively on the FEUP website, at the following address: https://sigarra.up.pt/feup/pt/cnt_cand_geral.concursos_list  , until the established deadline.

6.2.    Required application procedures and documents 
The application must be necessarily accompanied by the following documents, under penalty of exclusion from the competition:
a)    Mandatory application form (personal data and statements), fully filled in and dully dated and signed, wich is available at: https://sigarra.up.pt/up/pt/conteudos_geral.ver?pct_pag_id=1004282;
b) Documentary evidence of meeting the conditions set forth in paragraph 2 of this notice, namely, the doctoral certificate, except for cases corresponding to obtaining the doctoral degree at the University of Porto;
c) Proof of recognition of the Doctorate conferred by a foreign higher education institution, by a Portuguese higher education institution (if applicable);
d) Certificate or diploma of communicative competence in the Portuguese language from the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, by the Council of Europe, in the case of foreign national candidates, except those from Portuguese-speaking countries;
e) Curriculum Vitae, containing all relevant information for the evaluation of the application, considering the selection and ranking criteria set out in paragraph 4 of this notice. The candidate should structure the curriculum vitae to facilitate the rapid and complete identification of their contribution in the disciplinary area for which the competition is opened, in each of the sub-items of point 4.
f) One copy of each of the works and proofs of the activities mentioned in the presented curriculum vitae, which allow the verification and evaluation of the criteria set out in points 3 and 4 of this notice. Additionally, candidates may also highlight, in an individual PDF file, up to ten of these works/activities mentioned in the presented curriculum vitae that they consider most representative of the activity they have developed, indicating the reasons for the highlighting given to the selected documents;
g) PDF document with a Proposal for a scientific/pedagogical project. This document must not exceed 12 A4 pages.
6.3.    Each of the documents listed in point 6.2(e) of the notice of the call, should be submitted in an individual file and in full in the Sigarra system. The documents can be integrated into folders with compressed format (zip, rar, 7z) being, however, necessary to consider the system limit for upload, which is set at a maximum of 720MB per file or compressed folder. Each application may submit several files or zipped folders, each with a limit of 720 MB, and there is no limit to the total number of files/zipped folders submitted.
6.4.    For the purposes of evaluating applications, any documents whose access is provided through links will not be considered, with the exception of those that refer to publications with DOI, maintaining, however, the requirement for submission of these same documents in the Sigarra system, as defined in point 6.3. above.
6.5.    The documents mentioned in item 6.2 should be submitted preferably in a non-editable format.
6.6.    Failure to comply with the provisions of 6.1 above will result in exclusion from the application.
6.7.    Failure to submit or late submission of the documents mentioned in 6.2 a) to f) above shall result in rejection of the application

7.    Notification of the results and requests for a prior hearing
7.1.    The Human Resources Service of the Common Resources and Services Centre of the University of Porto will notify the candidates of the administrative ranking of admission or non-admission to the call, which will be based on the fulfilment or non-fulfilment of the conditions established in the current legislation, in paragraph 2. of this Notice and the conditions established regarding the application instructions referred to in 6.2.
7.2.    The candidates who have not been admitted administratively, or have not been approved on absolute merit, as well as candidates who appear on the ranked list of candidates in positions that do not allow them to fill the post announced, may request a prior hearing under the terms of Articles 121 and 122 of the Code of Administrative Procedures. All candidates are notified of the final resolution approved by the Rector.
7.3.    The notifications will be sent by email, pursuant to articles 112 (1) (c) and 113 (5), of the Code of Administrative Procedures (CPA).
The deadline for candidates to comment in writing is ten working days.

8.    Composition of the Selection Committee:
Chair:
Doutor Rui Artur Bártolo Calçada, Director and Full Professor at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, by delegated power under the Ordinance n. 11002/2023 published in the Official Gazette (Diário da República), 2nd series, n. 208 of 26th October.

Members:
Professor Leonel Augusto Pires Seabra de Sousa, Full Professor, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa;
Professor Doutor João Carlos da Palma Goes, Full Professor, NOVA University
Professor Doutor Nuno Miguel Gonçalves Borges de Carvalho, Full Professor, Universidade de Lisboa;
Professor Doutor Manuel Alberto Pereira Ricardo, Full Professor, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto;
Professor Doutor Manuel Alberto Pereira Ricardo, Associated Professor with Agregation, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto.

9.    Other provisions
The Joint Order n. 373/2000, of 31 March, issued by the Minister for Reform of Government and Public Administration and the Minister for Equality, determines that the following mention must be included in entry and access calls for applications:
«In compliance with paragraph h) of article 9 of the Portuguese Constitution, the Public Administration, as an employer, actively promotes a policy of equal opportunities among men and women to access employment and in their professional progress, taking strict measures to avoid any type of discrimination. »
In this sense, the terms “candidate(s)”, “teacher(s)” and similar terms are not used in this public notice to refer to the gender of people.
Likewise, no candidate may be privileged, benefited, harmed or deprived of any right, or exempted from any duty on any grounds, in particular of lineage, age, sexual orientation, marital status, family situation, economic situation, education, origin or social status, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic or racial origin, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological beliefs and trade union membership.

9 January 2024. — Vice-Rector, Prof. Doutor José Manuel Pereira Dias de Castro Lopes.
 
Annex I

Table 1. Weights of evaluation dimensions
Dimension    Weight    Criteria
VMC
(Scientific Merit)    0,45    VMC1 - (Scientific production)
        VMC2 - (Coordination and carrying out of scientific projects)
        VMC3 – (Integration of scientific teams)
        VMC4 - (Intervention in the scientific and professional community)
VEMP
(Experience and Pedagogical Merit)    0,20    VEMP1 - (Coordination of pedagogical projects)
        VEMP2 - (Production of pedagogical material)
        VEMP3 - (Teaching activity)
University Outreach and Economic and Social Valorization of Knowledge [VTC]     0,10    VTC1 - (Patents, registration and ownership of rights…)
        VTC2 - (Consulting and study and development contracts)
        VTC3 - (Dissemination of science and technology)
Scientific-Pedagogical Project [VPCP]     0,25    VPCP1 - Scientific Activity Development Project
        VPCP2 - Pedagogical Activity Development Project
        VPCP3 - University extension activity development Project