Call for 2 Research Fellowship (area of Psychology)

(Call Ref. WJCR/013/2BI/2024)

A call is now open for 2 (two) Research Fellowship in the scope of the research-related activities in Psychology of the project “BEJUST: Breaking Barriers to Enhance Criminal Justice Interactions and Safeguards for ASD in Portugal” (project reference: SR24-00183), of the William James Center for Research at Ispa – Instituto Universitário, funded by the Social Observatory of the “la Caixa” Foundation.

1. Scientific field: Psychology

2. Funding source: the Social Observatory of the” la Caixa” Foundation (project reference: SR24-00183)

3. Applicant’s profile

Mandatory requirements: 

• Master’s degree in forensic psychology.
• Enrollment in a Ph.D. Degree.
• Experience in data collection in digital platforms for survey design and management (e.g., Qualtrics).
• Proficiency in quantitative and qualitative methodologies and data analysis.
• Proficiency in statistical software (e.g., R, SPSS, JAMOVI, Mplus, AMOS).
• Residency in the Lisbon metropolitan area and availability for on-site project activities.
• Immediate availability to start the grant.

Preferred factors:

• Experience in data collection, including in forensic or criminal justice settings.
• Involvement in research projects focused on vulnerable populations or the Criminal Justice System, particularly related to investigative interviewing or neurodiversity.
• Experience in publishing scientific articles in psychology. 
• Excellent communication skills in Portuguese and English.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative research team.

4. Requirements for admission to the call

The following documents must be submitted: 

1. Master’s degree in forensic psychology with the final classification and academic transcript.
2. Proof of registration in a Ph.D. Degree.
3. Detailed curriculum vitae (CV).
4. Motivation letter.

Candidates who do not submit the academic transcript of the degree (that is, curricular courses taken and concomitant classifications of the master’s in forensic psychology) will not be admitted. 

If the academic degree has been conferred by a foreign higher education institution, it must be recognized by a Portuguese higher education institution, and the final classification must be converted into the Portuguese evaluation scale, under the terms of the provisions of Decree-Law no. 66/2018, of August 16th, which approves the legal regime of recognition of academic degrees and diplomas of Higher Education, attributed by foreign higher education institutions, and of paragraph e) of no. 2 of article 4 of Decree-Law no. 60/2018, of August 3rd.

If the candidate has already requested but is waiting for the recognition of the academic degree conferred by a foreign higher education institution to be issued, he/she can submit a declaration of honor clarifying that the recognition was requested and will be dated within the application period.

The recognition of foreign academic degrees and diplomas and the conversion of the final classification to the Portuguese classification scale may be requested in any Portuguese public higher education institution or at the Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES, for automatic recognition only). Please consult the DGES portal for details: http://www.dges.gov.pt.

5. Requirements for signing the fellowship contract

The candidate must be enrolled in Ph.D. degree integrated in the educational project of a higher education institution. This registration must be completed by the time of contracting the research fellowship.

In the case of diplomas issued by foreign higher education institutions, the recognition of this academic degree must be presented until the time of contracting the research fellowships and the date of recognition must fall within the application period (as indicated in point 4).

To sign the contract, a form with personal information, Ciência ID, a copy of the identification document, and a declaration on the exercise of the exclusive functions might also be requested.

False declarations are reasons to cancel the candidacy without prejudice to the application of other sanction measures.

6. Work plan

The fellows will contribute to the research-related activities of the BEJUST project. Specifically, they will be involved in tasks designed to examine and address challenges faced by autistic individuals within the Portuguese Criminal Justice System and needs of criminal justice professionals. The fellows will:

• Prepare and organize data collection, namely establishing contacts to schedule data collection moments, preparing project data storage, organizing materials for surveys, interviews, and focus groups, and monitoring the project’s schedule.
• Conduct surveys and interviews with key stakeholders (e.g., police officers, legal professionals, and members of the autism community), and manage the transcription of focus groups and interviews.
• Enter and clean data, perform statistical and qualitative analyses, and prepare results for dissemination.
• Conduct literature reviews, co-write scientific papers, and assist in the organization of the project’s final seminar.
• Manage project outreach and social media platforms.
• Additionally, the fellows may collaborate in other tasks that align with the project’s objectives, including participation in scientific events and outreach activities. 

7. Applicable legislation

• Law No. 40/2004, of August 18th, as amended by the Decree-Law No. 123/2019, of August 28th, in its current wording (Research Fellowship Holder Statute/Estatuto do Bolseiro de Investigação - EBI). 
• Regulation No. 950/2019, of November 29th, published in Diário da República, No. 241, Series II, of December 16th (FCT’s Regulation for Research Studentships and Fellowships/Regulamento de Bolsas de Investigação da FCT - RBI). 
• Decree-Law No. 66/2018, of August 16th (Legal regime of recognition of academic degrees and diplomas of higher education awarded by foreign higher education institutions). 
• Regulation for Scientific Research Fellowships of Ispa – Instituto Universitario; and other applicable legislation. 

8. Workplaceand scientific supervision

The research fellowship contract will be signed with Ispa, CRL (contracting entity). The place of work will be at the William James Center for Research (host institution), located at Ispa – Instituto Universitario (Rua Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041 Lisbon, Portugal) and, eventually, other locations necessary for the execution of the planned activities, under the scientific supervision of Prof. Doctor Telma Sousa Almeida.

9. Duration of the fellowship

The fellowship will have a duration of 24 months, eventually renewable for periods not exceeding the eligible period of the project, conditioned by the project's budget, and by the maximum period for research fellowships as indicated in points 4 and 5 of Article 6 of FCT’s Regulation for Research Studentships and Fellowships. 

The fellowship is expected to start in January 2024. 

10. Remuneration and other components

The monthly stipend is €1 259,64 euros according to the table of monthly maintenance, set by FCT for activities in the exclusive dedication regime, subject to any updates that may apply, to be paid monthly through bank transfer. The fellow is also entitled to the applicable voluntary social security system (Seguro Social Voluntário, Decree-Law No. 40/89, of February 1st; EBI – art. 10º), and personal accident insurance.

(https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM_atualizacao-2024.pdf)

11. Submission of applications

The call is open from 12ndDecember 2024 to 03rd January 2024, 11 PM (Lisbon time). Only applications received within the specified application period will be considered. 

Applications must be formalized via e-mail to candidaturas.investigadores@ispa.pt and cc. to telma.almeida@ispa.pt, and wjrc@ispa.pt and must clearly state the reference of this call in the “Subject” of the e-mail: WJCR/013/2BI/2024.

Applicants must submit the following mandatory documents (as indicated in point 4):

1. Copy of the master’s degree certificate/diploma with the final classification and academic transcript.
2. Proof of registration in a Ph.D. Degree.
3. Detailed curriculum vitae (CV).
4. Motivation letter.

Alternatively, applications can be sent via post to Ispa – Instituto Universitário – Departamento de Recursos Humanos – Rua Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal, and received at Ispa within the specified application period.

All documents must be submitted in PDF format. 

The non-compliance with these requirements may determine the rejection of the application.

12. Evaluation and selection criteria

The evaluation and selection process will be conducted according to the merit of the candidate and based on the following (weighted) criteria:

Criterion A: Academic degree (20%), based on the final classification indicated in the Master’s, or Integrated Master’s, diploma/certificate.

Criterion B: Prior experience in data collection and analysis, as well as proficiency with digital platforms and statistical software, as demonstrated in the candidate’s CV (60%).

Criterion C: Interest and commitment to the field, as expressed in the candidate’s motivation letter (20%).

Applications will be evaluated, and candidates ranked, on a 0,00 – 20,00 scale. The final classification of Stage 1 will result from the formula: 

Final Classification = (Criterion A x 20%) + (Criterion B x 60%) + (Criterion C x 20%)

In the event of a tie, candidates will be ranked based on the grades obtained in each evaluation criterion with the following precedence: Criterion B: Experience in data collection and analysis, as well as proficiency in digital platforms and statistical software, as demonstrated in the candidate's CV; Criterion C: Motivation and commitment in the area, according to the candidate's motivation letter; Criterion A: Final classification of the Master's Degree, or Integrated Master's Degree, as stated in the certificate/diploma.

If none of the candidates presents the appropriate and/or necessary skills and competencies required for the position and respective work plan, despite fulfilling all the requirements for admission, the Evaluation Panel has the right to not attribute the fellowship.

Note for the evaluation of Criterion A: 

1. When candidates submit more than one equivalent Master’s, or Integrated Master’s, degree (equivalent number of ECTS), the Evaluation Panel will decide which academic degree is best suited for the pursuit of the research plan and which should, therefore, be considered for Criterion A. Other course(s) presented by the candidate can eventually be considered for Criterion B.
2. The Evaluation Panel will award the minimum score (10 points on a 0 – 20 scale) required for obtaining a degree in Portugal when the submitted Portuguese certificate does not mention the final classification.
3. The Evaluation Panel will award the minimum score (10 points on a 0 – 20 scale) required for obtaining a degree in Portugal when candidates submit a declaration of honor indicating they have completed the cycle of studies leading to a master’s degree by the application deadline but do not present the concomitant certificate (as indicated in point 4 of the call for applications).
4. The Evaluation Panel will award the minimum score (10 points on a 0 – 20 scale) required for obtaining a degree in Portugal when degree certificates/diplomas issued by foreign institutions are not recognized in Portugal and/or do not have the respective final classifications converted to the Portuguese evaluation scale (as indicated in point 4 of the call for applications).
5. In the case of Integrated Master’s degrees awarded by institutions that do not issue certificates with discrimination of the final classifications of 1st and 2nd cycles, the final classification indicated in the Integrated Master’s degree certificate after the completion of the cycle of studies will be considered.

13. Composition of the Evaluation Panel

• President: Prof. Doctor Telma Sofia de Sousa Almeida (Assistant Professor at Ispa – Instituto Universitário, Integrated Researcher at the William James Center for Research at ISPA – Instituto Universitário);
• Effective member: Prof. Doctor Raquel Maria Baptista de Lemos Guerra de Oliveira (Assistant Professor at ISPA – Instituto Universitário; Postdoctoral fellow at Champalimaud Foundation);
• Effective member: Prof. Doctor Catarina João Capela Ribeiro (Associate Professor at the Faculty of Education and Psychology of Católica University in Porto, Integrated Researcher at the Research Centre for Human Development);
• Vogal suplente: Prof. Doctor Rui Paulo (Associate Professor at Birmingham City University);
• Vogal suplente: Prof. Doctor Miguel da Costa Nunes de Freitas (Assistant Professor Lusíada University, Integrated Researcher at the Psychology for
  Development Research Center).

14. Communication of results

The results will be notified no later than 90 working days after the closing date for submission of applications to the e-mail address provided by the applicants.

15. Deadlines and procedures for preliminary hearing, complaint, and appeal

After communicating the provisional list of the results, applicants who want to dispute the results have a period of 10 working days to request a preliminary hearing, per Article 121 and following the Administrative Procedure Code (CPA). The final decision will be communicated after examining the arguments presented at the preliminary hearing. After this communication, the selected candidate has 10 working days to accept, in writing, the awarded fellowship. Otherwise, withdrawal or renouncement of the fellowship will be considered, unless a proper justification is presented.

After the final decision, a complaint may be placed within 15 working days or an appeal within 30 working days, both counting from the notification date. Applicants who wish to submit a complaint or an appeal should address their complaint to the Board of the funding agency.

In case the selected candidate renounces or withdraws from the fellowship, the Evaluation Panel can notify and award the fellowship to the candidate(s) in the subsequent position(s), if applicable, and according to the final ranking list.

16. Templates for the research fellowship contract and the final reports by the fellow and the supervisor 

The template for the research fellowship contract as well as the template for the final reports to be created by the fellow and by the supervisor, and concomitant evaluation criteria, can be found in the ISPA – Instituto Universitário’s Regulation for Scientific Research Fellowships (Appendices 2, 3, and 4) at: https://intranet.ispa.pt/sites/default/files/users/531/rg102_bols_invest_cient_v4.0.pdf)

17. Non-discrimination and equal access policy 

ISPA, CRL actively promotes a policy of non-discrimination and equal access policy, wherefore no candidate can be privileged, benefited, impaired, or deprived of any rights whatsoever, or be exempt from any duties based on ancestry, age, sex, sexual preference, marital status, family and economic conditions, education, origin or social conditions, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, origin territory, language, religion, political or ideological convictions, and union membership.

18. Disabled candidate

According to DL nº. 29/2001 of February 3rd, disabled candidates have a preference in an equal classification situation, which supersedes any legal preference. Candidates must declare, on their honor, on their application form during the selection period under the regulations above, their respective disability degree, the type of disability, and the communication/expression mean to be used.