NOTICE N.º 021/2023

OPEN CALL FOR RESEARCH GRANT APPLICATION WITHIN THE TERMS LAID DOWN OF THE REGULATIONS FOR RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALGARVE

TITLE:  1 Research Grant Master

It is now open a call for 1 Research Grant (Master) within the project 2022.07519.PTDC (10ID00207) - BigSeed- BIG opportunities in a small SEED: Valorization of carob by-products into novel hydrogels for sustainable agriculture, financed through national funds registered in the FCT budget and, when eligible, co-financed by Community funds, under the following conditions:

Research Field:Agricultural Sciences

Admission Requirements: Candidates must have a Master's degree in the area of Biological Engineering, Biotechnology, Biological Sciences, Chemistry and related areas.

Work Plan:

- Development of sustainable methods for the dissolution of the seed husk and manipulation of the carob germ protein;

- Synthesize new LBG derivatives in order to obtain biopolymers with adjustable charge, molecular weight and solubility;

- Develop and characterize new formulations of hydrogels combined with new derivatives of locust bean gum, locust bean germ protein, dissolved seed husk, and other biopolymers;

- Evaluation of the performance of new hydrogels (retention and release of water and/or fertilizing agents) in the development and growth of model plants.

Applicable legislation and regulations: Statute of the Scientific Research Fellow, approved by Law nº 40/2004, of August 18, in the current wording conferred by Decree-Law nº 123/2019, of August 28 and the Regulation of Research Grants of the University of Algarve (https://files.dre.pt/2s/2021/10/210000000/0013700149.pdf) and the Regulation for Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology (https://www.fct.pt/apoios /bolsas/docs/RegulamentoBolsasFCT2019DR.pdf).

Working place: The work will be developed at the Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development from the University of Algarve, under the supervision of Professor Anabela Maria Lopes Romano.

Duration of the grant: The grant will have a contract of 6 months duration, beginning in April 2023. The scholarship contract can be renewed until the end of the project.

Value of monthly maintenance allowance: The monthly maintenance allowance corresponds to 1199.64 euros. The maintenance allowance will be paid monthly by bank transfer.

Selection criteria will be as follows: In accordance with nº2 of article 11º of the FCT Research Grants Regulation, the evaluation of the applicant’s merit will focus on the following criteria (80 % of the final score): A1-Academic, scientific and/or professional path (e.g., academic qualifications, curricular path in which the publication of scientific articles, presentation of communications and participation in project teams are valued), 70%; A2- and laboratory experience in the area of Biological Engineering, Biotechnology, Biological Sciences, Chemistry or similar areas (30%).

The evaluation process may include one interview, with all or some candidates selected by the panel, weighing a maximum of 20% of the total score.

The tender jury shall comprise the following members:

- Anabela Romano (President);

- Bruno Filipe Figueiras Medronho (Effective member);

- Sandra Marisa Gomes Gonçalves (Effective member);

- Hugo Manuel Matias Duarte (Substitute member)

Publication and notification of the results:

The final results will be communicated to the applicants by e-mail to the addresses indicated by each candidate.

Deadline for applications and submission forms: The call is open from 16/03/2023 to 29/03/2023.

Applications must be accompanied by the following documents:

Official identification document (simple copy or legal equivalent). If you have a nationality other than Portuguese, you should present a residence permit, permanent residence certificate or long-term resident status, valid on the scholarship start date, any of which may be replaced, in its absence, by a declaration of commitment. However, one of the previous must be delivered at the contracting phase, under penalty of forfeiture of the granting of the scholarship;

Copy of the qualification certificates of the academic degrees held, specifying the final classification and, if possible, the classifications obtained in all subjects taken.

If the doctorate has been awarded by a foreign higher education institution, it must conform to the rules established in Decree-Law no. 66/2018 of August 16, and all required formalities must be complied with up to the date of termination deadline for submission of the application. If the completed process is not found by the end of the application deadline, the candidate must prove that he / she has requested the recognition of the degree.

Curriculum Vitae;

Passport or identification card for European applicants (copy);

Taxpayer Identification Number (NIF), if you have a nationality other than Portuguese, it must be submitted during the scholarship contracting phase, under penalty of forfeiture of the scholarship award;

Other documents considered important.

The Application Request, dated and signed, must be addressed to the President of the Evaluation Panel (https://www.ualg.pt/sites/default/files/documentos/2021-07/anexo-iii-requerimento-para-candidatura-bolsaen20210707.pdf) for the following address: Anabela Romano, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, (NOTICE N.º 021/2023) or via email to aromano@ualg.pt. If the Application Request is sent by email, the applicant must duly express his/her consent that all notifications regarding this application are sent to the email address given.

-Supporting documents stating that the applicant gathers all the requirements for this grant, namely the enrolment certificate in an awarding degree study cycle or in a postgraduate course;

-Supervisor Declaration taking the responsibility for the Work plan supervision, according to article 5º-A of the Statute of Scientific Research Fellow, as well as assuring the necessary conditions for the development of the work plan and in compliance with article 13 º of the Statute of Scientific Research Fellow;

-Declaration of the Grant acceptance;

-Declaration of commitment stating the exclusivity regime

Complaints and Appeal Deadlines and procedures

On the decision for granting the Research Grant, candidates may, if they wish, comment on the hearing of interested parties, within 10 working days, under the terms provided for in the Administrative Procedure Code.

From the practice or omission of any act of the evaluation panel, candidates can complain to the body, within 10 working days.

The final decision of the evaluation panel can be appealed to the Rector within 15 working days after the respective notification.

Scholarship contract

With the applicant(s) selected, and after receiving all the required documentation, a scholarship contract will be signed in accordance with the attached model.

Assessment of the scholarship holder(s)

At the end of each period of duration of the scholarship contract, the activity developed by the scholarship holder(s) is evaluated by the supervisor, by applying the following criteria, in accordance with the attached model:

a) Compliance with the work plan (80%)

b) Interest and motivation in developing the work plan (20%)

The University of Algarve reserves the right to cancel this application procedure if by any means the contract celebration with the funding entity is not established.

University of Algarve, 10 March 2023

Scientific Coordinator

     Professor Doutor Anabela Romano