PhD student (BID) (m/f)- BIOPOLIS 2025-14- UID/50027

27 Feb 2025
Job Information

Organisation/Company

ASSOCIAÇÃO BIOPOLIS

Research Field

Architecture » Other

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Positions

Other Positions

Country

Portugal

Application Deadline

14 Mar 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon)

Type of Contract

Not Applicable

Job Status

Not Applicable

Offer Starting Date

1 Apr 2025

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by a EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

 

Position: PhD Studentship (BID)

Reference:BIOPOLIS 2025-14

Scientific field: Architecture

Secondary Scientific Area: Urban planning, landscape architecture, or architectural engineering

 

 

A call is open for a PhD Studentship (BID; Reference BIOPOLIS 2025-14) within the scope of the Branda Científica de S. Bento do Cando, through the FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology, Research Unit Funding UID/50027, at the Biopolis/CIBIO Association, with the following conditions:

Admission requirements

Candidates must meet the requirements to enrol in a doctoral program in Portugal in integrated architectural, heritage, and landscape design. They should be regularly enrolled in a National Doctoral Programme and be available to join a multidisciplinary team of biologists, landscape architects, and architects focused on environmental and heritage (natural and built) issues.

The following may apply to this call:

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

- Citizens of third countries;

- Stateless persons;

- Citizens who are beneficiaries of political refugee status.

To apply, it is necessary:

- Hold a Bachelor's or Master's degree in architecture, or in fields closely related to architecture, such as urban planning, landscape architecture, or architectural engineering.

- Not to have previously received a PhD scholarship or an industrial PhD scholarship, regardless of its duration;

- Not hold a PhD degree.

It is mandatory, under penalty of disqualification, to include the following in the application:

1. Information about ID card/passport;

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV);

3. Academic degree certificates, indicating the final grade and, if possible, the final classification of the disciplines completed or a declaration of honour from the candidate stating that concludes the degree of bachelor or master by the end of the application deadline;

4. For foreign academic degrees it is mandatory to submit the recognition of such degrees and the conversion of the respective final grade to the Portuguese grading scale, or, alternatively, a declaration of honour from the candidate stating that concludes the degree recognition by the end of the application deadline;

5. Recommendation letters (two);

6. Motivation letter (maximum of one page);

7. Write the application and all related documents, including letters of motivation and recommendation, in Portuguese or English.

Regarding the admissibility criteria described above, note that:

- In the case of academic degrees awarded by foreign higher education institutions, and to guarantee the application of the principle of equal treatment to applicants holding foreign and national academic degrees, it is mandatory to recognize those degrees and to 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 Direção Geral do Ensino superior (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 .

- Only candidates who have completed the cycle of studies leading to a Bachelor's or Master's degree by the application deadline will be admitted. In case candidates do not yet have the certificate of degree completion, a declaration of honour from the candidates that they have completed the necessary qualifications for the competition by the application deadline will be accepted. The awarding of the scholarship is subject to the presentation, at the contracting stage, of the proof of academic qualifications.

Work plan and scientific supervision

The selected candidate will work in the Peneda-Gerês National Park, known for its varied geography, including valleys and mountains where local communities have adapted to the tough climate and terrain. These communities historically relied on transhumance-based agro-pastoral practices, migrating seasonally between summer “brandas” (mountain pastures) and winter “inverneiras” (settled villages). São Bento do Cando, a high-altitude branda in the Gavieira region, exemplifies this system. The landscape here reflects a deep interconnection between biodiversity and architecture. However, changes are disrupting the balance, with the abandonment of traditional practices leading to desertification and the loss of cultural and architectural heritage.

This study will explore the transformation of São Bento do Cando’s heritage by examining the relationship between landscape, architecture, and biodiversity. It aims to understand the factors driving these changes and to counter the erosion of both cultural and ecological knowledge. The research will identify the dynamics of intervention in the built environment, its causes, and the symbolic significance of the branda within the context of Peneda-Gerês.

The key goals of this work are:

To prevent the erosion of heritage and the loss of historical knowledge.

To explore solutions for maintaining and restoring the balance between human, natural, and cultural aspects of the landscape.

The research will follow an interdisciplinary methodology, combining both qualitative and quantitative analysis. 

This will include traditional methods like field observation, semi-structured interviews with locals, and consultations with experts in biology, architecture, ecology, and ethnography.

Fieldwork: Direct engagement with the São Bento do Cando community, including documentation through photos and sketches, gathering testimonies, and observing current practices to better understand the ongoing physical and social changes.

Archive Research: Reviewing historical documents to gather insights on the evolution of the branda, its importance in the broader Peneda region, and its transformation, especially in relation to built and natural heritage.

Meta-Ethnographic Approach: Analyzing qualitative data from fieldwork using a meta-ethnographic methodology to identify patterns of degradation and the cultural context of these changes. This approach will inform strategies for preserving heritage and restoring ecological balance.

Key Outcomes:

• Understanding the evolution and socio-cultural importance of São Bento do Cando’s landscape.
• Identifying degradation patterns and interventions that have contributed to heritage loss.
• Proposing strategies for sustainable heritage management and biodiversity preservation, promoting a harmonious relationship between local communities and the landscape.

The studentship will be supervised or co-supervised by researchers from the Research Centre for Biodiversity and Genetic Resources - Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology (CIBIO-InBIO) and by professors from the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto. 

Evaluation criteria

The evaluation will consider the merit of the candidate and his/her scientific background. The evaluation will consider the candidate's merit and scientific background based on the following criteria:

Criteria A (50%): Relevance of previous experience, including participation in projects, design work, data analysis, and scientific writing, particularly in areas related to the project.

Criteria B (25%): Professional background (CV, research career, publications, and relevant project-related experience).

Criteria C (25%): Motivation letter (1-page maximum).

Candidates will be ranked based on the weighted average of the scores in each criterion, calculated as follows:

Classification = (0.5 x A) + (0.25 x B) + (0.25 x C)

In case of a tie, the order of precedence for tie-breaking will be: Criteria A, Criteria C, and Criteria B.

Important notice for applicants with degrees issued by non-Portuguese higher education institutions:

Applicants with diplomas issued by non-Portuguese higher education institutions may apply and will be evaluated by the same criteria as applicants with diplomas issued by Portuguese institutions, provided that they present, at the time of their application, proof of recognition of academic degrees or proof of automatic recognition, as well as the conversion of the final grade to the Portuguese grading scale under the terms of the applicable legislation.

In any case, studentship contracts with applicants holding degrees issued by foreign institutions will only be signed upon presentation of proof of recognition of academic degrees and conversion of the final grade, as indicated above.

Candidates whose application is evaluated with a final classification of less than 70 are not eligible for the scholarship.

Evaluation panel

The evaluation panel is composed of the following members:

- Chair:  Henrique Pereira, Professor at iDiv - German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research Halle-Jena-Leipzig and Coordinator Researcher in the Research Centre for Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (CIBIO-BIOPOLIS)

- Teresa Marques, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto 

- Teresa Calix, Associate Professor and Vice-director of the Faculty of Architecture, University of Porto

The panel will evaluate all applications according to the evaluation criteria mentioned in this Notice of Call weighting the evaluation elements.

During the evaluation process, all panel members, including the coordinator, will comply with a set of responsibilities, such as the duty of impartiality, declaration of any conflicts of interest, and confidentiality. At all stages of the evaluation process, confidentiality is absolutely protected and ensured in order to guarantee the independence of the applications’ evaluations.

For each application, the panel will produce an evaluation form where the arguments that lead to the scores given for each of the evaluation criteria and sub-criteria are clearly, coherently, and consistently presented, and where any compensations are described.

Panel meetings must produce minutes for which each panel member is responsible. The minutes and annexes must contain the following information: 

- Name and affiliation of all panel members;

- Methodology adopted by the panel for cases considered particular;

- List of excluded applications and justifications;

- Final evaluation form for each applicant;

- Provisional score, ranked from the higher to the lower;

- Conflict of Interest Declarations (CDI) from all panel members;

 Dissemination of Results

Evaluation results are communicated to the applicant’s email address, or to another indicated by the applicant.

Deadlines for Preliminary Hearing, Claims and Appeals

Once the provisional list of evaluation results has been communicated, applicants may comment within 10 working days to the email hru@biopolis.pt .

Requirements for Studentship Granting

The studentship contract is signed directly with BIOPOLIS Association.

The following documents are of mandatory submission for the studentship contract:

a) Copy of the documents of personal identification, tax number and, if applicable, social security;

b) Copy of the academic degree certificates;

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

d) Work Plan;

e) Document proving the acceptance and enrolment in the 3rd-degree cycle in the higher education institution which will grant the PhD;

f) Supervisor(s) statement declaring the responsibility for supervision of the work plan, as established in Article no. 5-A of the Statute for Research Fellowships

Studentship Allowance

The studentship holder is awarded a monthly maintenance subsidy, according to the table of RBI’s Annex I, explicitly in the amount of 1259.64 euros.

The studentship includes payment of university fees, according to RBI’s Article no. 19 and values indicated in its Annex II.

All studentship holders benefit from personal accident insurance for research activities, supported by the BIOPOLIS Association.

All studentship holders who are not covered by any social protection regime can use the right to social security through the voluntary social security regime, under the terms of the Contributory Scheme of the Social Security System. BIOPOLIS Association will assume the charges resulting from contributions under the terms and within the limits set out in Article 10 of the EBI.

Payment of Studentship Allowance

Payments due to the studentship holder are made by bank transfer to the account previously indicated. Payment of the monthly maintenance allowance is made on the last working day of each month.

Payments for registration, enrolment or tuition fees are made by the BIOPOLIS Association directly to the national institution where the studentship holder is enrolled.

Terms and Conditions of Studentship Renewal

The renewal of the studentship always depends on the holder’s submission, within 60 working days prior to the renewal starting date, of the following documents:

Declarations issued by the supervisor(s) and by the host institution(s) attesting the work plan development and the evaluation of corresponding activities;

Written report attesting the work plan development and corresponding activities.

Information and Publicity of the Granted Funding

All R&D activities directly or indirectly financed by the studentship holder, namely in all communications, publications and scientific creations, as well as the thesis, must include funding support referred to BIOPOLIS Association and Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia. For this purpose, BIOPOLIS Association and UID/50027 insignias must be inscribed in the documents referring to these actions, in accordance with the graphic standards of the Community support program.

The disclosure of research results financed under the RBI must comply with the open access guidelines, publications, and research results in force at the BIOPOLIS Association.

Non-discrimination and Equal Access Policy

The BIOPOLIS Association promotes a non-discrimination and equal access policy, so that no candidate may be privileged, benefited, prejudiced, or deprived of any right or exempt from any duty on the grounds of, in particular, ancestry, age, sex, 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 beliefs and trade union membership.

Applicable Legislation and Regulation

The present Call is governed by this Notice of the Call, the FCT Regulation of Research Fellowships, approved by Regulation no. 950/2019, published in the Series II of the DR, of 16th December; by the Research Fellowship Holder Statute, approved by Law No. 40/2004, of 18th August, in the current version, and by other applicable national and European legislation

 

Expected starting date: 1st April 2025

Duration

48 months

Applications period

The application period is open between 28/02/2025 and 14/03/2025 (24:00 GMT). Applications are formalized at the email address https://www.cibio.up.pt/en/jobs/ .

Where to apply

Website

https://www.cibio.up.pt/en/jobs/

Requirements

Research Field

Architecture » Other

Education Level

Bachelor Degree or equivalent

Research Field

Architecture » Other

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Internal Application form(s) needed
Edital_PhDstudent_S. Bento do Cando_PT_vRA.pdf
English
(222.03 KB - PDF)
Download
Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

ASSOCIAÇÃO BIOPOLIS

Country

Portugal

State/Province

Rua Padre Armando Quintas N.º 7

City

Vairão

Postal Code

4485-661

Street

Vairão - Vila do conde

Contact

State/Province

VILA DO CONDE

City

VAIRÃO

Website

https://www.cibio.up.pt/en/jobs/

Street

RUA PADRE ARMANDO QUINTAS N7

Postal Code

4485-661

E-Mail

ana.campos@biopolis.pt

Phone

252660411

STATUS: EXPIRED

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