ONE research grant for candidates with BSc degree with reference number BI|2022/306 is now available under the scope of project LAW-NLP

Public notice for research grant

LAW-NLP

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 research grant for candidates with BSc degree with reference number BI|2022/306 is now available under the scope of project LAW-NLP, funded by IMPRENSA NACIONAL-CASA DA MOEDA, and under the following conditions:

2 | DURATION

FIVE (5) months, starting in July 2022

- Renewable, if the candidate is enrolled in a MSc program - art. 6º, n.4 b)

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 – 2 years (included contract renewals)

- Renewable, if the candidate is enrolled in a non-degree programme – art. 6º, n. 4 a)

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://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/docs/RegulamentoBolsasFCT2019.pdf )

    

3. INESC-ID Lisboa Grant Regulations

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

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 875.98€ 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/apoios/bolsas/docs/Tabela_de_Valores_SMM_2022.pdf and shall be rendered through a monthly bank transfer to an account held by the grantee.

5 | OBJECTIVES/WORKPLAN

LAW-NLP aims to explore the use of natural language processing to help users understand and identify relevant Portuguese laws that apply to their situation. To that end, the applicant will explore the use of Neuro-Symbolic approach to create a system capable of answering natural language questions about the legality of performing an action. It uses Abstract Meaning Representation for Natural Language understanding and Knowledge Graph reasoning to infer the possibility of legally performing such action.

6 | SCIENTIFIC SUPERVISION

The activity will be supervised by João Miguel de Sousa de Assis Dias, External Collaborator at INESC-ID and Assistant Professor at Universidade do Algarve and Pedro Alexandre Simões dos Santos Researcher at INESC-ID and Associate Professor at IST .

INESC ID will integrate the grantee in the research team of the scientific advisors.

7 | ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The candidates should have BSc in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or related areas.

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

1. a MSc programme – art. 6º, n.1

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

or

2. a non-degree programme – art. 6º, n. 2

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

Preferential factors:

The candidate is expected to have experience in the following skills/areas:

• Knowledge-Graphs
• Abstract Meaning Representation.
• Symbolic and sub-symbolic models.
• NLP applied to the Portuguese Law

8 | EVALUATION CRITERIA AND COMMITEE

The selection will be according to the following criteria:

1. Academic record of the candidate (including performance in related courses, publication record and past experience in research) and relevance of the research areas and work experience of the candidate with respect to the objectives (60%);

2. Personal reference (10%);

3. Portuguese language level (20%);

4. English language level (10%).

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

Jury

Name

Professional Status

Institutions

President

João Miguel de Sousa de Assis Dias

External Collaborator / Assistant Professor

INESC-ID / UALG

Member

Jorge Manuel Evangelista Baptista

Researcher / Associate Professor

INESC-ID / UALG

Member

Pedro Alexandre Simões dos Santos

Researcher / Associate Professor

INESC-ID / IST

Substitute member

Bruno Emanuel da Graça Martins

Researcher / Associate Professor

INESC-ID / IST

Substitute member

Maria Luísa Torres Ribeiro Marques da Silva Coheur

Researcher / Associate Professor

INESC-ID / IST

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

Applications are formalised by sending an email to rh@inesc-id.pt with the documents stated bellow and in pdf form.

The application email should clearly state the reference of the research grant and project.

10.1

Single copy of official academic degree certificate in the required education level

a) In the application submission, the candidates from portuguese education institutions may replace the copy of official academic degree certificate by a declaration of honour stating that they have the required academic degree.

• It is mandatory for the approval of the fellowship contract that the selected candidate presents a single copy of the official academic degree certificate, required in education level

b) In the application submission, the candidates from foreigner education institutions may replace the copy of official academic degree certificate by a declaration of honour stating that they have the required academic degree.

• It is mandatory for the approval of the fellowship contract that the selected candidate presents a single copy of the official diploma recognition, required in education level

• For more information about diploma recognition:

https://www.dges.gov.pt/en/pagina/degree-and-diploma-recognition

10.2

Detailed list of grades (pdf form);

10.3

Proof of enrolment required on 7 a) or 7 b) (pdf form);

In the application submission, the candidates may replace the proof of enrolment by a declaration of honour stating that they are/will be enrolled required in 7 a) or 7 b)

• It is mandatory for the approval of the fellowship contract that the selected candidate presents an official copy of the enrolment, required in 7 a) or 7 b)

10.4

Detailed curriculum vitae (pdf form);

10.5

Motivation letter explaining the interest in the position (pdf form);

11 | Application Dates

From

To

20-06-2022

01-07-2022