The NOVA Institute of Philosophy (IFILNOVA) opens a call for granting 2 (two) PhD Research Studentships in the area of Philosophy under the FCT Regulation for Studentships and Fellowships (RBI) and the Research Fellowship Holder Statute (EBI).

The Research Studentships are financed by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), under the Collaboration Protocol for Funding of the Pluriannual Research Grant Plan for PhD Students, signed between FCT and IFILNOVA.

1. SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION

The call is open between March, 1 2023 and the 17.00h (Lisbon time) March 14, 2023.

Applications and supporting documents must be submitted by e-mail sent to drhbolsas@fcsh.unl.pt.

Each candidate may submit only one application, under penalty of cancellation of all applications submitted.

False statements or plagiarism will be grounds for cancellation of the application without prejudice to the adoption of other sanctionary measures.

Any documentation sent after 17:00 (Lisbon time) on 14 March 2023 will not be considered for the purposes of evaluating the application.

2. TYPE AND DURATION OF THE STUDENTSHIPS

The PhD Research Studentships are intended to finance research activities carried out by the doctoral candidate that will lead to the attainment of the academic degree of doctor in Portuguese Universities.

The research activities leading to the attainment of the academic degree of doctor will take place at IFILNOVA, which will be the candidates’ host institution, notwithstanding that the research work may be carried out in collaboration with more than one institution.

The research activities leading to the attainment of the academic degree of doctor of the selected applicants must be framed within the activity plan and strategy of IFILNOVA, and must be carried out within the Doctoral Program in Philosophy of the School of Social Sciences and Humanities of NOVA University Lisbon.

The work plan must take place entirely at IFILNOVA (in-country scholarship). The duration of the scholarships is, as a rule, annual, renewable up to a maximum of four years (48 months).

Studentships should start by September 2023.

3. RECIPIENTS

The PhD Research Studentships are intended for candidates already enrolled or that comply with the requirements to enroll in the PhD mentioned in point 2 and who intend to develop research activities, leading to the award of a PhD academic degree, at the IFILNOVA.

4. ADMISSIBILITY

4.1 Candidate Admissibility Requirements

The following may apply to this competition:

·         National citizens or citizens of other member states of the European Union;

·         Third-party states citizens;

·         Stateless persons;

·         Citizens benefiting from political refugee status.

To apply for these PhD Research Studentships, it is necessary:

·         To hold a bachelor's or master's degree in the scientific areas of Philosophy, or in areas considered to be related;

·         Permanently and habitually residing in Portugal, a requirement applicable to both national and foreign citizens;

·         Not have benefited from a PhD or PhD in Enterprise grant directly funded by FCT, regardless of its duration.

·         Not to hold a doctoral degree.

4.2 Admissibility Requirements of the Application

The following documents must be attached to the application, under penalty of non-admission to the competition:

·         Elements of the identity card/citizen card/passport;

·         Curriculum vitae of the candidate;

·         Certificates of the academic degrees held, specifying the final grade and, if possible, the grades obtained in all courses taken, or, alternatively, a declaration of honor from the candidate that he/she has completed a bachelor's or master's degree by the application deadline;

·         Record of recognition of academic degrees awarded by foreign higher education institutions and record of the conversion of the respective final classification into the Portuguese classification scale, or alternatively, declaration of honour from the candidate that he/she has requested the recognition of the foreign degree equivalent to a bachelor or master by the application deadline;

·         Motivation Letter (maximum 800 words) in which the candidate must indicate the integrated researcher of IFILNOVA who will accompany the development of the work plan in case of granting the studentship;

·         Work plan containing: title; objectives (maximum 300 words); state of the art (maximum 600 words); detailed description (maximum 1200 words); bibliographic references (maximum 30);

·         2 (two) separate recommendation letters signed by the respective issuer, excluding the supervisor or co-supervisor;

·         Declaration by the supervisor(s) assuming responsibility for supervising the work plan;

Both the application and all documents associated with it, including the letters of motivation and recommendation, can be written in Portuguese or English.

Regarding the above admissibility requirements, the following should be noted:

·         In the case of academic degrees awarded by foreign higher education institutions, and in order to ensure the application of the principle of equal treatment for applicants holding foreign and national academic degrees, it is mandatory to recognize those degrees and convert the respective final classification into the Portuguese classification scale.

The recognition of foreign degrees and diplomas as well as the conversion of the final classification into the Portuguese classification scale may be requested at any public higher education institution, or at the Directorate General of Higher Education (DGES, only in the case of automatic recognition). Regarding this matter, we suggest that you consult the DGES portal at the following address: http://www.dges.gov.pt.

·         Applicants will only be admitted if they have completed the cycle of studies leading to a bachelor or master degree by the application deadline. If they do not yet have a degree certificate, a declaration of honor from the candidates that they have completed the necessary qualifications for the competition by the application deadline will be accepted. Granting the PhD studentship will depend on the presentation of proof of the academic qualifications required at the contracting stage.

5. WORK PLANS AND SCIENTIFIC ORIENTATION OF THE STUDENTSHIPS

The main objective of the NOVA Institute of Philosophy (IFILNOVA) is the development of research programs focused on human action and on the construction of values ​​in the ethical, aesthetic, political and argumentative spheres. In order to fulfill this objective, IFILNOVA develops research programs on the topic of values, especially the normativity of rules and argumentation, aimed at the study, development and investigation of philosophical theories and their application to social practices and problems.

These programs are developed in four laboratories, which have different methods and perspectives: ArgLab considers the problem of values ​​from the perspective of argumentation, philosophy of language, epistemology and philosophy of mind; CultureLab considers the problem of values ​​from the perspective of the history of philosophy, philosophy of history, philosophy of culture, philosophical anthropology and aesthetics; EPLab considers it from the perspective of ethics and political philosophy; CineLab considers it as part of an investigation into the relationship between philosophy and cinema.

• The work plan proposed by each candidate must fall within the scope of the programs developed by one of these laboratories.

• The candidate must indicate, when applying, the supervisor who will accompany the work plan in case of granting the scholarship, supervisor who must be an integrated member of IFILNOVA.

6. EVALUATION CRITERIA AND BONUSES

6.1 Evaluation Criteria

The evaluation takes into account the merit of the applicant, the merit of the motivation letter and  the merit of the work plan.

All admitted applications must be graded from 0 to 5 in each of the following evaluation criteria:

·         Criterion A – Merit of the Applicant, with a weight of 50%:

o   Sub-criterion A1 – Academic training and grades obtained, with a weight of 20%

o   Sub-criterion A2 – Curriculum vitae and recommendation letters, with a weight of 30%

·         Criterion B – Merit of the Motivation Letter, with a weight of 10%:

·         Criterion C – Merit of the work plan, with a weigh of 40%;

For the purposes of the grant decision, applicants will be ranked according to the weighted average of the classification obtained in each of the 3 criteria, translated by the following formula:

Final Classification = (50% x A) + (10% x B) + (40%x C)

For tie-breaking purposes, candidates will be ranked on the basis of the marks awarded for each of the evaluation criteria in the following order of precedence: criterion A, criterion C, criterion B.

Subcriterion A1

The score for this sub-criterion is calculated based on the final classifications contained in the academic degree certificates presented by the candidate when applying:

i)                    Bachelor's + Master’s Degree (pre- or post-Bologna) or Integrated Master's (300-360 credits);

ii)                   Bachelor's Degree (180 credits, pre- or post-Bologna); or

iii)                 Master's (90-120 credits, pre- or post-Bologna).

i) Bachelor's + Master’s Degree (pre- or post-Bologna) or Integrated Master's (300-360 credits):

Classification equal or higher than 18 – 5,0 values

Classification of 17 – 4,5 values Classification of 16 – 4,0 values

Classification of 15 – 3,5 values

Classification of 14 – 3,0 values

Classification lower than 14 – 2,5 values

ii) Bachelor's Degree (180 credits, pre- or post-Bologna):

Classification equal or higher than 17 – 3,5 points

Classification of 16 – 3,0 values

Classification of 15 – 2,5 values

Classification of 14 – 2,0 values

Classification lower than 14 – 1,5 values

iii) Master's (90-120 credits, pre- or post-Bologna):

Classification equal or higher than 17 – 3,0 points

Classification of 16 – 2,5 values

Classification of 15 – 2,0 values

Classification of 14 – 1,5 values

Classification lower than 14 – 1,0 values

Note: the classification to be considered is the one that appears in the respective degree certificates submitted in the application. In the case of qualification certificates whose final classification is presented with decimal places, it will be rounded to the nearest unit following the following rule: when the decimal place is equal to or greater than 5, it will be rounded up; when the decimal place is less than 5, the value will be kept.

In the case of calculating the simple arithmetic average between the undergraduate degree and the master's degree, the notes on the certificates will be considered (even if they present decimals) and the rounding will be carried out after obtaining the result of such average.

In order to apply the scores provided above, it is mandatory to submit the following documents:

·         Certificate of qualifications for academic degrees, specifying the final classification and, if possible, the classifications obtained in all subjects taken. In “post-Bologna” training, the candidate must present the certificates of the 1st and 2nd cycle of studies or, if it is not a two-stage training, the integrated master's certificate. In the “pre-Bologna” training, the candidate must present the bachelor’s and master's certificates.

·         In the case of academic degrees awarded by foreign higher education institutions, and in order to guarantee the application of the principle of equal treatment to candidates who hold foreign and national academic degrees, it is mandatory to recognize these degrees and convert the respective final classification to the Portuguese rating scale.

Notes about the application of this conversion:

a)       The final average of “bachelor+masters”, in a pre- or post-Bologna course, results from the simple arithmetic average of the final grade obtained in the 1st cycle ([180 ECTS credits)]/bachelor’s and the final grade obtained in the 2nd cycle ([90-120 ECTS credits)]/Master’s, by applying the following formula: final average = (final bachelor’s grade + final master’s grade) : 2

b)      In the case of integrated masters awarded by institutions that do not issue certificates discriminating the final grades of 1st and 2nd cycles, the final grade in the certificate of the study cycle [300 to 360 credits (ECTS)] is considered.

c)       In the case of presenting an integrated master's certificate [300-360 credits (ECTS)] and a pre-Bologna or 2nd cycle master's degree, the final classification of the integrated master's will mandatorily be considered.

d)      In the case of submission of only bachelor's or master's certificate(s), the above mentioned converted classifications apply.

e)      When candidates present more than one equivalent bachelor’s degree and/or master's degree (equivalent number of ECTS credits), it is up to the evaluation panel to decide which academic degree(s) is/are most suitable to the work plan and which must, therefore, be counted in the calculation of the academic training classification (sub-criterion A1). For example, if a candidate presents a bachelor's certificate and more than a master's certificate, the panel should consider the master's that best fits the work plan. However, if a candidate presents integrated master's and 2nd cycle study certificates (without a bachelor’s or 1st cycle of studies certificate), the panel will have to consider the integrated master's degree in the calculation of the academic training classification, as previously indicated. The evaluation panel should consider the other course(s) presented by the candidate in the assessment of sub-criterion A2, valuing his/her curriculum vitae. In either case, the methodology decided and applied by the panel must be explained in the respective evaluation reports and in the minutes.

Converting qualitative ratings:

Excelent / Very Good with Distinction / Distinction and Praise/ Magna Cum Laude / Summa Cum Laude – 18 values

Very good / Passed with Distinction / Good with Distinction / Cum Laude – 16 values

Good / Approved / Unanimously Approved – 14 values

Suficient – 12 values

Important notice for candidates with degrees issued by foreign higher education institutions:

·         Candidates with diplomas issued by foreign higher education institutions may apply and will be evaluated using the same criteria as candidates with diplomas issued by Portuguese institutions, provided that they present, in the application, proof of recognition of academic degrees and conversion of final classification for the Portuguese classification scale under the terms of the applicable legislation.

·         Applicants with recognized foreign diplomas (or whose recognition has been requested by the end of the application period) but without proof of conversion of the grade to the Portuguese classification scale will be evaluated with a minimum rating of 1,5 (one and a half) values ​​in sub-criterion A1, if they present only a Bachelor's degree; with a classification of 1 (one) value, if they only have a Master's degree; and with a minimum classification of 2,5 (two and a half) values, if they have a Bachelor's and Master's degree. The same applies to candidates with Portuguese diplomas without specifying the final classification, qualitative or quantitative.

·         The studentship contracts will only be signed after the presentation of proof of recognition of academic degrees and conversion of the final classification.

Applicants whose application is scored with a final grade lower than 3,8 values are not eligible for studentship granting.

6. BONUSES

N/A.

7. EVALUATION

The evaluation panel of the candidates is composed of the following elements:

·      Giovanni Damele, IFILNOVA (panel coordinator);

·      Dima Mohammed, IFILNOVA

·      Nuno Fonseca, IFILNOVA

·      Paolo Stellino, IFILNOVA

·      Pietro Gori, IFILNOVA

·      Susana Cadilha, IFILNOVA

(substitute)

The evaluation panel will evaluate the applications according to the criteria presented in this call, weighting the evaluation elements.

All panel members, including the coordinator, are committed to a set of responsibilities essential to the evaluation process, such as the duties of impartiality, declaration of any potential conflict of interest, and confidentiality. At all times during the evaluation process, confidentiality is fully protected and ensured in order to guarantee the independence of all opinions produced.

Panel members, including the coordinator, cannot be supervisors or co-supervisors of candidates with applications submitted to the competition.

For each application, the panel will produce a final evaluation sheet where the arguments that led to the scores assigned to each of the evaluation criteria and sub-criteria are presented in a clear, coherent, and consistent manner.

Minutes of the evaluation panel meetings shall be produced under the responsibility of all its members.

The minutes and their annexes must obligatorily include the following information:

·         Name and affiliation of all members of the evaluation panel;

·         Identification of all excluded applications and respective justification;

·         Methodology adopted by the panel for particular cases;

·         Final evaluation sheets for each candidate;

·         Provisional ranking and seriation list of candidates, in descending order of final ranking, of all applications evaluated by the panel;

·         CDI statements from all panel members;

·         Possible delegations of vote and competencies due to justified absence.

8. COMMUNICATION OF RESULTS

The results of the evaluation are communicated via e-mail to the e-mail address used by the candidate to submit the application.

9. DEADLINES AND PROCEDURES FOR PRIOR HEARING, CLAIM, 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. A complaint may be lodged against the final decision within 15 working days, or alternatively an appeal may be lodged within 30 working days, both counting from the respective notification. Candidates who choose to file a complaint must address their appeal to the member of the FCT Board of Directors with delegated authority. Candidates who choose to file an appeal must address their appeal to the FCT Board of Directors.

10. REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTSHIP GRANTING

Research grant contracts are entered into directly with FCT. The following documents must be submitted, when the grant is awarded, for contracting purposes.

a)       Copy of the civil, fiscal and, when applicable, social security identification document(s);

b)      Copy of the certificates of the academic degrees held;

c)       Presentation of the record of recognition of the foreign academic degrees and conversion of the respective final classifications to the Portuguese classification scale, if applicable;

d)      Work plan;

e)      Proof of enrolment and registration in the PhD;

f)        Statement from the supervisor(s), declaring their acceptance to coordinate and supervise the work plan, in accordance with article 5-A of the Research Grant Holder Statute;

g)       g) Document proving the candidate's acceptance by the institution where the research activities will take place, guaranteeing the necessary conditions for its good development, as well as the fulfillment of the duties provided for in article 13 of the Research Fellowship Statute

h)      Updated document proving the exclusivity dedication regime;

The granting of the scholarship is still dependent on::

·         the fulfillment of the requirements foreseen in this call;

·         the results of scientific evaluation;

·         the absence of unjustified non-compliance of the fellowship holder during previous directly or indirectly FCT funded fellowships;

·         FCT budget availability.

Failure to submit any of the documents needed to complete the grant contracting process within 6 months of the date of communication of the decision to award the grant conditionally will result in the expiration of the grant and the termination of the process.

11. FUNDING

Studentship payment will start after the signed contract is returned to FCT, which should happen within 15 working days after its delivery.

The grants awarded under this call will be financed by FCT with funds from the State Budget and, when eligible, with funds from the European Social Fund, to be made available under the PORTUGAL2020 program, namely through the Regional Operational Program of the North (NORTE 2020), the Regional Operational Program of the Center (Centro 2020) and the Regional Operational Program of the Alentejo (Alentejo 2020), according to the regulations established for this purpose.

12. STUDENTSHIP ALLOWANCE

A monthly maintenance allowance is granted to the fellows in accordance with the table in Annex I of the RBI.

The studentship may also include additional allowances, according to RBI’s Article no. 18 and the values indicated in its Annex II.

All studentship holders have a personal accident insurance related to the research activities, which FCT will support.

All studentship holders who are not beneficiaries of any social protection regime have the right to register for social security through the voluntary social insurance regime, under the terms of the Contributory Scheme of the Social Security System. FCT will ensure the charges resulting from contributions under the terms and the limits provided in Article Nr. 10 of the EBI.

13. PAYMENTS OF STUDENTSHIP ALLOWANCE

Payments due to the studentship holder will be made by bank transfer to the account he/she identifies. The payment of the monthly maintenance allowance will be made on the first working day of each month.

Payments of the registration, enrollment and tuition components shall be made by FCT directly to the national institution where the grant recipient is enrolled or enrolled in the doctoral program.

14. TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR RENEWAL OF STUDENTSHIP

The renewal of the studentship is always subject to a request submitted by the grant holder within 60 working days prior to the renewal date, accompanied by the following documents:

a) opinions issued by the supervisor/s and the host institution/s on the monitoring of the grant holder's work and the evaluation of his/her activities;

b) updated document proving compliance with the regime of exclusive dedication;

c) document proving renewal of enrollment in the study cycle leading to a doctoral degree.

15. INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY OF THE GRANTED FUNDING

In all R&D activities directly or indirectly funded by the grant, namely in all communications, publications and scientific creations, as well as theses, carried out with the support provided by the grant, mention should be made of financial support from the FCT and the European Social Fund, namely through the Regional Operational Program of the North (NORTE 2020), the Regional Operational Program of the Center (Centro 2020) and the Regional Operational Program of the Alentejo (Alentejo 2020). To this end, the insignia of the FCT, the MCTES, the ESF and the EU shall be inscribed on the documents referring to these actions, in accordance with the graphic standards of each operational program.

Dissemination of results of research funded under the RBI shall comply with the rules for open access of data, publications and other research results in force at the FCT.

In all grants, and particularly in the case of actions supported by EU funding, namely from the ESF, monitoring and control actions may be carried out by national and EU bodies, in accordance with the applicable legislation in this area. The grant recipients are required to cooperate and provide the requested information, which includes surveys and evaluation studies in this area, even if the grant has already ended.

16. POLICY OF NON-DISCRIMINATION AND EQUAL ACCESS

FCT promotes a policy of non-discrimination and equal access, whereby no applicant shall be privileged, benefited, prejudiced, or deprived of any right or exempt from any duty on the basis of ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, family situation, economic situation, education, origin or social condition, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological convictions, or union membership.

17. APPLICABLE LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS

The Call is governed by this Opening Notice, by the FCT Research Grant Regulations, approved by Regulation No. 950/2019, published in the II Series of the DR of 16 December 2019, by the Research Grant Holder Statute approved by Law No. 40/2004, of 18 August, as amended, and by all other applicable national and EU legislation.