One research grant for a student of a course that does not confer academic degree

(BL 02/2023)

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE ATTRIBUTION OF GRANTS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF R&D PROJECTS AND INSTITUTIONS

One research grant for a student of a course that does not confer academic degree

POCI-01-0247-FEDER-047050

There is an open call for awarding a research grant in the context of the Terraprima - Environmental Services project “GreenBeef: Towards carbon neutral Angus beef production in Portugal” (POCI-01-0247-FEDER-047050), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the POCI - Competitiveness and Internationalization Operational Program (COMPETE 2020) and the POR Lisboa 2020 - Lisbon Regional Operational Program, under the following conditions:

Scientific Area: Animal Production.

Admission Requirements: 

In compliance with the provisions of Article 6 of the FCT Research Grants Regulation (Reg. no. 950/2019), the candidate must:

                a) hold a Master’s degree and be (at the time of signing the contract) enrolled in a course that does not confer an academic degree integrated in the educational project of a higher education institution, developed in association or cooperation with one or several R&D units;

                b) Not to exceed, with the signing of the grant contract in question, including possible renewals, an accumulated period of two years in this type of grant, consecutive or interpolated.

Academic degrees obtained in foreign countries require registration by a Portuguese institution, according to Decree-law no. 66/2018, of 16th August and Ministerial Order no. 33/2019, of 25th January. The presentation of the certificate is mandatory for the signing of the contract. Additional information at https://www.dges.gov.pt/pt/pagina/reconhecimento?plid=374.

Work plan: The activities to be developed by the grant holder include: a) Gas sample collection in chambers present in pastures (place: Quinta da França, Covilhã); b) Gas sample collection in fattening trials (place: Quinta da França, Covilhã); c) Emission measurements in manure piles and in manure application (place: Quinta da França, Covilhã); d) Analyses of gas samples (CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O) in chromatography chambers (location: laboratories of the Instituto Superior de Agronomia); e) data analysis, preparation of reports and scientific papers (locations: Terraprima office in Porto Alto and Quinta da França).

Applicable legislation and regulations: Law No. 40/2004, of 18 August (Statute of the Scientific Research Grant Holder), as amended by Decree-Law No. 123/2019, of 28 August; FCT Research Grant Regulations, available at https://www.fct.pt/en/financiamento/programas-de-financiamento/bolsas and https://dre.pt/application/file/a/127230968.

Work place: The work will be carried out at Terraprima - Environmental Services, at its headquarters in Quinta da França, Covilhã, at the offices in Porto Alto, at the laboratories of the Instituto Superior de Agronomia and at the network of partner farms of the project, under the scientific guidance of Professor David Fangueiro and Engineer Nuno Filipe Ribeiro Rodrigues.

Duration of the grant: The grant will have a duration of 5 months, starting in February 2023.  The grant contract may be renewed up to a maximum of 12 months of total duration (not exceeding the end of the project, if it is extended). When the academic degree or diploma is awarded during the period of the grant contract, it may be concluded under the established contractual terms.

Amount of the monthly maintenance allowance: The amount of the grant is 1,144.64 euros per month, in accordance with the table of values for grants awarded directly by FCT, I. P. in Portugal (https://former.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/docs/Tabela_de_Valores_SMM_2022.pdf ), with the mode of payment being at the option of the Grant Holder by Bank Transfer/Cheque. The payment of Voluntary Social Insurance will be reimbursed to the grant holder (up to the amount corresponding to the 1^st bracket).

Selection methods

1. Curriculum evaluation: 75%, of which:
   1. 20% attributed to the arithmetic average of the classifications in the Degree (1^st Cycle) and in the Master Degree (2^nd Cycle) (score from 1 to 20);
   2. 20% attributed to the experience in Agricultural Engineering (points 1 to 20); 
   3. 30% attributed to experience in sustainable agriculture and carbon sequestration systems and stocks in agro-forestry systems (points 1 to 20);
   4. 5% to experience in publication of scientific papers in journals or papers in national or international conferences (points 1 to 20).
2. Individual interview (in case of a tie in the curricular evaluation): 25% (score from 1 to 20). In this interview the motivation and sensitivity for the programmed activities will be evaluated, as well as the availability to develop the activities in the places foreseen in the work plan.

Composition of the Selection Board

President: Professor Tiago Domingos; voting Members: Professor David Fangueiro and Engineer Nuno Rodrigues. Substitute: Engineer Ivo Gama.

Form of publication/notification of results: All candidates will be notified of the Final Evaluation Result by e-mail.

Deadlines and procedures for prior hearing, complaint and appeal: after notification of the provisional list of evaluation results, the candidates have a period of 10 working days to, if they wish, make their comments during a prior hearing of interested parties, under the terms of articles 121 and following of the Administrative Procedure Code. The final decision will be issued after the analysis of the statements presented during the prior hearing of interested parties. From the final decision can be appealed to the Jury of the competition or be appealed to the Directorate of Terraprima within 15 working days counting from the respective notification.

Application deadline and form of presentation of applications: The tender is open from 26th to 29th January 2023 (inclusive).

Applications should be formalised by sending the following documents: i) Research Grant Application Form (available at: https://www.terraprima.pt/pt/download/88/60994), ii) Curriculum Vitae; iii) Qualifications certificate; iv) Motivation letter; v) Declaration of honour that, with the signing of the grant contract in question, the accumulated period of two years in this type of grant will not be exceeded. These documents should be sent by e-mail to ambiental@terraprima.pt.