ONE (1) research grant for candidates that are enrolled in a BSc program with reference number BII|2024/517 is now available under the scope of Project Center for Responsible AI – refª C628696807-00454142, funded by RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE PLAN (RRP) HTT

Public notice for research grant

Project  Center for Responsible AI – refª  C628696807-00454142

BII|2024/517

INESC-ID - Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores, Investigação e Desenvolvimento em Lisboa is a R&D institute dedicated to advanced research and development in the fields of Information Technologies, Electronics, Communications, and Energy. INESC-ID has participated in more than 50 research projects funded by the European Union and more than 190 funded by national entities. Until today, our researchers have published more than 700 papers in international journal papers, more than 3000 papers in international conferences, and have registered 15 patents and/or brands.

1 | RESEARCH GRANT TYPE

ONE (1) research grant for candidates that are enrolled in a BSc program with reference number BII|2024/517 is now available under the scope of Project Center for Responsible AI – refª C628696807-00454142, funded by Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP)  https://recuperarportugal.gov.pt/ and by european funds Next Generation EU, under the following conditions:

2 | DURATION

THREE (3)  months, starting in April 2024

-     Renewable, if the candidate is enrolled in a BSc program -  art.5, nº1 and nº3

https://files.dre.pt/2s/2019/12/241000000/0009100105.pdf

subject to suitable performance within the period of the project, not exceeding the maximum period set by FCT for such grants – 1 years (included contract renewals)

-     Renewable, if the candidate is enrolled in a non-degree programme – art. 5º, n. 2 and nº3

https://files.dre.pt/2s/2019/12/241000000/0009100105.pdf  

subject to suitable performance within the period of the project, not exceeding the maximum period set by FCT for such grants – 1 year (included contract renewals)

3 | LEGISLATION

A fellowship contract will be celebrated according to:

1. Law 40/2004 of 18^th of August (Scientific Research Fellow Status) and its successive amendments, including the amendments introduced by the Decree Law n. 123/2019 of 28 ^th of August 
   https://dre.pt/web/guest/legislacao-consolidada/-/lc/124281176/201912061112/73740605/diploma/indice?lcq=estatuto+do+bolseiro,
    
2. Regulations for Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology in force  https://files.dre.pt/2s/2019/12/241000000/0009100105.pdf

1. INESC-ID Lisboa Grant Regulations

https://www.inesc-id.pt/scholarship-regulations/

1. Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP)

https://recuperarportugal.gov.pt/

The fellowship contract is awarded on an exclusive dedication basis – art. 5 of Scientific Research Fellow Status and art. 16 of Regulations for Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology.

4 | MONTHLY AMOUNT

The monthly amount of the grant 601,12€  is in accordance with the values stipulated in the “Regulations for Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology” in force https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM_atualizacao-2024.pdf  and shall be rendered through a monthly bank transfer to an account held by the grantee.

5 | OBJECTIVES/WORKPLAN

The main goal is to build a Proof of Space blockchain that relies on real contents that are maintained in the nodes of Machine Learning, Data

Analytics and Cloud platforms.

More precisely, the work will integrate previous work in our team on the Proof of Space blockchain protocol, called “Chia Bread Pudding”,

with an encrypted file system on a mainstream Operating System, such as Linux. In this blockchain protocol, the stake of each user is given by the amount of file contents that he holds in his disks.

The goal of the integrated system that should result from this grant is to allow “Chia Bread Pudding” to use the user’s contents that are

already maintained in an encrypted file system. The implemented solution should also try to ensure that this integration does not incur relevant overheads on the normal operation of the file system.

The work plan will include:

1. Study available file systems and choose one that meets the requirements of this project.

1. Build the integrated system, which should include measures to minimise the overheads.

1. Experimentally evaluate the resulting system, using realistic workloads from relevant benchmarks from the ML/data analytics/cloud domains.

The expected outcome is a design and implementation of the above-mentioned integrated systems, together with a comprehensive experimental evaluation, to be presented in at least one scientific paper.

6 | SCIENTIFIC SUPERVISION

The activities will be supervised by João Pedro Faria Mendonça Barreto, Associate Professor at Instituto Superior Técnico and Researcher at INESC-ID.

INESC ID will integrate the grantees in the research team of the scientific advisor.

7 | ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The candidates should be enrolled in a BSc program in Computer Engineering  or related areas.

By the grant start date, the candidate must be enrolled in

1. a BSc programme – art. 5º, n.1

https://files.dre.pt/2s/2019/12/241000000/0009100105.pdf

or

1. a non-degree programme – art. 5º, n. 2

https://files.dre.pt/2s/2019/12/241000000/0009100105.pdf

Preferential factors:

• proficiency in Portuguese
• proficiency in English

8 | EVALUATION CRITERIA AND COMMITTEE

The selection will be according to the following criteria:

1 - Academic record (50%)

2 - Experience in the domain of operating systems (50%)

The jury may also decide not to assign the scholarship, if none of candidates meets the required conditions

9 | COMPLAIN AND APPEAL DEADLINES AND PROCEDURES

The jury has the faculty not to select a candidate who does not prove the requirements mentioned in required education Level and research experience

The admitted and excluded candidates will be notified by email of the final ranking list, including the copy of the Preliminary Report of the jury.

Prior Hearing and Deadline for Final Decision: After being notified, candidates have 10 working days to submit, if applicable, a formal rebuttal.

After that period, the jury notifies the candidates of the Final Report.

Excluded applicants may complain about the jury's final report for 15 working days after notification or appeal the jury's decision to the INESC ID Board of Directors for 30 working days after notification.

According to the Portuguese Law, a disabled candidate has a preference when in equal classification, which prevails over any other legal preference. Candidates must declare their respective degree of disability, the type of disability and the means of communication / expression to be used in the selection process, under the law.

10 | FORMALISATION OF APPLICATIONS

11 | Application Dates