International tender for the recruit a post-doctoral initial level Researcher

ANNOUNCEMENT

INTERNATIONAL TENDER FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF A POST-DOCTORAL ASSOCIATE RESEARCHER

1. Pursuant to the Doctoral Hiring regime to stimulate Scientific and Technological Employment in all knowledge areas approved by the Decree-Law 57/2016 of 29 August, with the wording given by Law 57/2017 of 19 July, and by order of the Rector of the Universidade do Algarve dated 09, March 2023, authorisation has been given for the opening of an international tender to recruit one (1) post-doctoral initial level researcher to perform duties in the scientific area of Archaeology or related areas, for the Research Unit Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology and the Evolution of Human Behavior (ICArEHB) of Universidade do Algarve in the form of a fixed-term public service contract, in the scope of the ERC project MATRIX – “Into the Sedimentary Matrix:  Mapping the Replacement of Neandertals by early Modern Humans using micro-contextualized biomolecules” financed by the European Research Council, Starting Grant (project nº 101041245).
2. The employment contract has a duration of three (3) years, automatically renewable for further periods of one (1) year, up to a total duration of six (6) years, unless, without prejudice for other grounds for termination or extinction covered by the law, the institution's scientific body proposes to terminate the contract, which must be notified to the interested party within 90 days before the expiry date of the initial contract or of the renewal, based on an unfavourable evaluation of the work developed by the post-doctoral researcher, carried out under the terms of the regulation to be approved, being decisive, in addition to other tasks, the promotion and obtaining of sources of external funds to guarantee future research in the area for which he or she was hired.
3. The tender is open for a period of 30 (thirty) business days. The tender notice has been published on the BEP (Public Employment Exchange) under the URL www.bep.gov.pt, on Euraxess Portugal Portal at https://www.euraxess.ptat and on the website of the Universidade do Algarve, at https://www.ualg.pt/procedimentos-concursais.
4. Applicable legislation: Decree-Law 57/2016 of 29 August, amended by Law 57/2017 of 19 July, which approves the Doctoral Hiring regime to stimulate Scientific and Technological Employment in all knowledge areas (“RJEC”); the General Law for Public Service Employment approved in the appendice to Law 35/2014 of 20 June (“LTFP”), in its current wording, Regulatory Decree n.º 11-A/2017 of 29^th December and the Code of Administrative Procedure (“CPA”).
5. Pursuant to article 16 of Decree-Law 57/2016 of 29 August, amended by Law 57/2017 of 19 July, this tender does not require:

1. authorisation from the members of the Government responsible for the areas of taxation and Public Administration, specifically those made reference to in article 7, paragraph 3, of the General Law for Public Service Employment;
2. a favourable preliminary opinion from the members of the Government responsible for the areas of taxation and Public Administration, as made reference to in article 30, paragraph 5, of the General Law for Public Service Employment;
3. the recruitment procedure for workers undergoing retraining, as referred to in article 265 of the General Law for Public Service Employment.

1. Pursuant to article 13 of the RJEC, the tender jury panel shall comprise the following members:

President: Vera Lúcia Dias Aldeias, Principal Investigator, Universidade do Algarve

Effective members:

Frido Welker; Principal Investigator, Globe Institute;

Hussein Kanbar, Associate Investigator, University of Algarve;

Vogais suplentes:

Godefroy Louis François Devevey, Associate Investigador, Universidade do Algarve;

Tomos Proffit, Principal Investigator, Universidade do Algarve;

1. The recruited postdoctoral researcher will perform his/her duties at the Universidade do Algarve Gambelas campus in Faro, notwithstanding occasional situations in which he/she will be asked to perform the duties for which he/she was recruited at a different location.
2. Job responsibilities and duties: The successful candidate will integrate the ERC project MATRIX – “Into the Sedimentary Matrix:  Mapping the Replacement of Neandertals by early Modern Humans using micro-contextualized biomolecules” financed by the European Research Council, Starting Grant (project nº 101041245) conducting experimental research with proteins on sediments/soils and bones; investigate thermal degradation of proteins in burned samples; construct an empirical database on protein preservation on archaeological bones and sediments/soils; extraction of proteins from resin-impregnated sediments from several archaeological contexts.
3. The postdoctoral researcher may be asked to teach 4 hours per week of curricular units within his/her area of expertise.
4. The gross monthly salary to be paid shall be €2.2294,95 (two thousand two hundred and ninety four euros and ninety five-euro cents) pursuant jointly to: article 15, paragraph 1, of Decree-Law 57/2016 of 29 August, with the amendments introduced by Law 57/2017 of 19 July; and to Regulatory Decree 11-A/2017 of 29 December, corresponding to level 33 on the Single Salary Scale approved by Ordinance 1553-C/2008 of 31 December.
5. This tender is open to Portuguese citizens, nationals of other countries and stateless persons who hold a doctoral degree in the scientific area of archaeology, molecular biology, chemistry, biochemistry, environmental sciences, or similar research fields and to holders of a scientific and professional curriculum with a profile appropriate for the activity to be developed.

When the PhD has been awarded by a foreign higher education institution, it must comply with the rules established in the Portuguese legal regime for the recognition of foreign higher academic degrees, and the candidate must comply with the formalities required by law until the expiry date of the period allowed for the contract signature, under penalty of exclusion from the tender proceedings.

1. The requirements listed in article 17 of the LTFP are general requirements for applications.
2. The requirements set out in point 11 are special requirements, more specifically the successful candidate must:
   1. Hold a doctoral degree in archaeology, molecular biology, chemistry, biochemistry, environmental sciences, or similar research fields;
   2. Have experience with peptide mass fingerprinting and ZooMS from archaeological contexts;
   3. Have experience working at archaeological field sites and with archaeological assemblages;
   4. Have an established track record of peer-reviewed scientific publications in international journals;
   5. Be willing to integrate a research team and establish contacts between researchers from several institutions;
   6. Be motivated to learn and develop interdisciplinary research topics;
   7. Have excellent knowledge in English (oral and written).

Desirable competencies (ideal candidates would check at least one of these competencies):

1. 1. Familiarity and experience with GIS.  
   2. Proficiency in statistical analysis;
   3. Familiarity with techniques of molecular biology and/or biochemistry.
   4. Have international doctoral or postdoctoral experience.

1. Pursuant to article 5 of the RJEC, selection will be based on the assessment of the scientific and curricular background of each applicant.
2. The evaluation of the scientific and curricular background of each applicant will focus on relevance, quality, and topicality of:

1. scientific, technological, cultural or artistic production in the last five years considered as most relevant by the applicant;
2. research activities, applied or based in practice, conducted in the last five years and considered as being most impactful by the applicant;
3. activities to expand and disseminate knowledge carried out in the last five years, specifically in the context of the promotion of culture and scientific practices, considered as most relevant by the applicant;
4. management activities related to science, technology and innovation programmes, or experience in observing and monitoring the scientific and technological or higher education system in Portugal or abroad.

1. The five-year period mentioned in the previous point may be increased by the panel, at the applicant’s request, if the said applicant has suspended his/her scientific activity for reasons such as maternity/paternity leave, prolonged serious illness and other situations of legally-provided-for unavailability to work
2. The assessment criteria defined by the panel in the minutes of the meeting held on 15/March/2023, pursuant to point 15, are:

1. The scientific, technological and cultural production in the last 5 years considered most relevant by the applicant (10 points) and it should be considered the work relevant for the specific research areas mentioned above, and illustrated by the number and type of publications (books, papers in international peer-reviewed journals, other types of publications, and presentations in congresses), as well as elements showing the recognition of the candidate by his/her peers, as based on the quality of the journals and publishers and on citation indexes;
2. The applied research or practice-based activities developed in the last five years and considered of highest impact by the applicant (8 points) in the subject areas of this tender, an expressed through integration in research projects, preferably interdisciplinary projects; experience in field, laboratorial and experimental work; experience in data analysis; and established track record in research teams. These competencies can be further evaluated through letters of recommendation;
3. The extension and knowledge dissemination activities in the last five years, specifically in the context of promotion of scientific culture and practice considered more relevant by the applicant (1 points), and it should be considered for evaluation, among others, the supervision of students at different academic levels; participation in actions dealing with the scientific and technological outreach within the scientific community (e.g., organization of scientific meetings and symposia) and to the general public; publications of popular science, talks, presentations and seminars for the greater public;
4. Science, technology, and innovation management activities, or experience in the observation and monitoring of the scientific and technological system, or the higher education system in Portugal or abroad (1 points).

1. Candidates who have scored below 9.5 points are excluded from the tender procedure.
2. During a second stage of the evaluation process, the panel may, if it deems appropriate, interview up to five top-scoring/short-listed applicants for the sole purpose of clarifying aspects related to their research findings in order to better assess how suited they are for the job.
3. The final scoring for each applicant will be presented on a scale of 0-20, calculated to tenths of a point.

Final scoring (if there are interviews): the final scoring and consequent rank order of the applicants will be calculated using the formula below and will be expressed on a scale of 0-20:

FS = ASCP (90%) + I (10%)

Where:

FS = Final Score;

ASCP = Assessment of Scientific and Curricular Background;

I = Interview.

If there is a tie, the President of the panel shall have the casting vote.

1. The panel decide by means of a substantiated roll-call vote based on the selection criteria adopted and advertised; abstentions are not permitted.
2. Minutes will be drawn up of each meeting of the panel, with a summary of each meeting’s proceedings and the vote cast by each member along with their justification. The applicants will be given access to the minutes whenever they request them.
3. Once the selection criteria have been applied, the panel will draw up an ordered list of the approved applicants and their respective scores.
4. The panel’s final decision will be ratified by the Rector of the Universidade do Algarve, who also has the final say on the recruitment.
5. Applications must be formalised by means of a request form provided for the purpose at the Universidade do Algarve’s website (https://www.ualg.pt/en/tender-procedures), addressed to the Rector of the Universidade do Algarve and delivered:

a) (preferably) by email to the adress srhconcurso@ualg.pt until 11.59pm of the last day of the tender application period; or

b) (alternatively) by registered post with proof of receipt to the Reitor da Universidade do Algarve, Campus da Penha, 8005-139 Faro, postmarked on or before the tender closing date; or

c) (alternatively) in person to the University’s General Office (“Expediente Geral”) on the lower floor of the Administration Building at the Penha Campus in Faro from 9.00 am-12.30 pm or from 2.00 pm - 5.30 pm until the last day of the tender application period.

1. Applications must contain the following: the identification of this job announcement; the applicant’s full name, the number of their identity document (citizen’s card, identity card or equivalent document for non-Portuguese applicants, or passport; the expiry date of the document must be stated); taxpayer number; date and place of birth; marital status; occupation; subject field of their doctoral degree and date of conclusion; address; telephone number; and e-mail address. Applicants must also give their consent to any communication or notifications within the scope of this tender sent by e-mail.
2. Applications must be accompanied by documentary evidence of the conditions provided for in points 11 and 13 for admission to the tender, i.e.

1. A copy of the applicant’s doctoral certificate or diploma (one copy in electronic format and printed copy, if delivery by registered post or in person);
2. A cover letter (in English) highlighting the most significant scientific activities and contributions over the last five years (maximum of 3,000 characters including spaces) pursuant to article 5(2) of the RJEC; a list and copies of three to five published articles considered by the applicant to be representative or most impactful in the subject field (in English) (one copy in electronic format and  printed copy, if delivery by registered post or in person);
3. A detailed curriculum vitae containing information about the applicant’s scientific and curricular background, organised according to the established assessment criteria (in English), and containing the names and contacts of three references (one copy in electronic format and printed copy, if delivery by registered post or in person);
4. Other relevant documents for the assessment of the applicant’s qualifications in the appropriate subject field (if applicable, a copy in electronic format);
5. Other documents which the applicant considers relevant for the appreciation of their application (if applicable, a copy in electronic format);

1. Applications submitted after the closing date stipulated in point 3, as well as those which fail to adhere to all the formalities or do not contain the required evidence of eligibility, will be rejected.
2. False statements made by the applicant will be punished pursuant to the applicable legislation. Should there be any doubts about the veracity of any statement, the panel may require the applicant to submit further documentary evidence should it deems necessary.
3. Details of meeting/interview dates and times for the purposes of selection will be sent by e-mail with acknowledgement of receipt.
4. The list of admitted and rejected applicants, as well as the final ranking, will be affixed at the Universidade do Algarve’s Human Resources Department and published on the University’s website, applicants will also be sent this information by e-mail with acknowledgement of receipt.
5. Pursuant to article 121 of the CPA, applicants will be notified of the exclusion decision and of the final classification list draft and will be granted a period of 10 working days to proceed with a preliminary hearing, by which they can, if they so wish, say whatever they deem appropriate.
6. This tender is intended solely for the purpose of filling the indicated positions. It may be cancelled up until the final ordered list of applicants is ratified, and it will expire once the positions in question have been filled.
7. The Universidade do Algarve actively promotes a policy of non-discrimination and equal access. Consequently, no applicant may be privileged, benefited, impaired, or denied any right or exempted from any duty because of, specifically, their ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, family circumstances, financial circumstances, education, origin or social condition, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, country of origin, native language, religion, political or ideological beliefs or union membership.
8. The panel approved this announcement at the meeting held on 15 of March 2024.
9. Pursuant to Decree-Law 29/2001 of 3 February, disabled applicants take precedence in the event of a tie, the said precedence prevailing over any other legal precedence. On their application form, disabled applicants must state, upon their honour, the degree of their incapacity, the type of disability and the means of communication or expression to be used in the selection process.
10. The Universidade do Algarve states, for the purposes of no. 5 of article 6 of the RJEC, that it does not assume any commitment to consider that it is in its strategic interest to open tender procedures for a scientific research career job or for a teaching career job in higher education.

March 19, 2024 -  The Rector, Paulo Águas.