Research Grant - Edital BI-ISISE-UMINHO-EASYWALL-18500-1

Universidade do Minho - ISISE, Portugal

Updated: about 2 months ago

Deadline: 24 Mar 2025

6 Mar 2025
Job Information

Organisation/Company: Universidade do Minho - ISISE
Department: ISISE
Research Field: Engineering » Civil engineering
Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)
Positions: Master Positions
Country: Portugal
Application Deadline: 24 Mar 2025 - 23:00 (Europe/Lisbon)
Type of Contract: Not Applicable
Job Status: Not Applicable
Offer Starting Date: 7 Mar 2025
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?: Other EU programme
Reference Number: COMPETE2030-FEDER-01491400
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?: No

Offer Description

A call is open to award 1 research grant within the R&D Project "EasyWall - Development of an innovative EPS-RC multifunctional sandwich panel solution for fast, efficient and sustainable construction", project no. 18500, operation code COMPETE2030-FEDER-01491400, co-funded by the Program for the Innovation and Digital Transition (COMPETE 2030), PORTUGAL 2030 and European Union, in the following conditions:

RESEARCH FIELD: Civil Engineering or related fields.

CANDIDATES PROFILE / CANDIDATE ADMISSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Mandatory requirements

In order to apply, the candidates must possess:

A Master's degree in the field of Civil Engineering, or related fields;
Applicants must comply with the eligibility conditions laid down in article 9 of the Research Grants Regulation of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (2019).

At the time of the respective hiring, candidates must prove that they are enrolled in one of the following courses:

PhD in the field of Civil Engineering, or related fields;
In a Course that do not confer an academic degree, in the area or area related to that requested in the tender (e.g.: postgraduate studies, advanced studies, specialized training).

Preferential factors:

Knowledge on reinforced concrete and/or composite materials, optimization of structures, structural design;
English language proficiency.

Requirement for granting the fellowship:

The applicants may apply without prior registration in the course for which the fellowship is open. The requirement to enroll in a degree course or non-academic degree course will be verified on the date of contracting the fellowship.
Only fellowships whose selected applicants present a valid proof of enrollment in a degree course or non-academic degree course will be contracted, according to the type of the fellowship, indicating the academic year or its duration (start and term).

APPLICATION / ADMISSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

The call is open from 07/03/2025 to 24/03/2025 (23:00 – Europe/Lisbon).

Applications must be sent exclusively by e-mail to jose.sena-cruz@civil.uminho.pt , with the subject “Edital BI-ISISE-UMINHO-EASYWALL-18500-1”, with the following documents:

Elements of the National Identity Card/Citizen Card/Passport/Visa/Title of Residence;

Curriculum Vitae of the candidate, in Portuguese or in English;

Certificates of the academic degree(s) required, specifying the final grading (mandatory) and, if possible, the grades obtained in all the attended curricular units, or, alternatively, the candidate's declaration of honor that the degree was obtained until the end of the term of application;

Motivation letter, in Portuguese or in English.

Failure to comply with the deadline for submitting the application, such as failure to submit or late submission of the application and the documents referred to in points 2) and 3), determines the exclusion of the application.

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

In the case of a degree granted by a foreign higher education institution, and in order to ensure the application of the principle of equal treatment to candidates holding foreign and national academic degrees, it is mandatory to recognize the degree and convert the respective final grading to the Portuguese grading scale. The academic degrees and diplomas documents, or their respective recognition when awarded by foreign higher education institutions are not mandatory in the application phase, being replaced by a declaration of honor of the candidate with the contents of academic results. The documents of academic qualification or respective recognition will be required in the contracting phase and must attest facts that occurred on a date prior to the application. In situations of divergence between the information contained in the declaration and the documentation submitted for contracting the grant, only the information contained in the latter will be consider. If the documents proving the ownership of the academic degree and diploma, or the respective recognition under the terms of Decree-Law No. 66/2018, of August 16, do not correspond to the classifications awarded in the evaluation of the academic path, which can change the candidate's ranking, the fellowship won’t be contracted.
Applicants with degrees obtained abroad must present proof of recognition of qualifications in Portugal and conversion of the final classification obtained in them to the Portuguese classification scale or declaration under the terms indicated in the previous point. Candidates who do not comply with one of these provisions, the Selection Panel will assign “0” in the respective criteria. Candidates will be evaluated on the remaining parameters.
Only candidates who have completed the required qualification by the end of the application period will be admitted. If they do not yet have the official degree certificate, a declaration of honor from the candidate stating that he/she has completed the qualifications required by the end of the application period, will be accepted. At the time of the respective hiring the candidate must present the official degree certificate.

DURATION OF THE RESEARCH GRANT

The research grant will last for 12 months, with a provisional starting date in April 2025.

The grant may be renewed until the maximum predicted in the project and/or applicable legislation, if it is necessary to complete the academic degree or to carry out activities that are essential for the conclusion of the project.

If the grant is awarded to candidates enrolled in a course that does not confer an academic degree, the grant cannot be renewed.

WORK PLAN AND OBJECTIVES

The work plan aims to consolidate the grant holder's scientific training through involvement in research work, carrying out the following R&D activities:

Activity A1 - Definition of functional requirements and technical specifications. Objectives: to establish the fundamental specifications for the development of the EPS/BA sandwich panel for structural applications; Results/evaluation criteria: technical reports identifying the requirements for product development, methodologies and test protocols for product validation, and advantages of using the structural solution.
Activity A2 - Materials research and characterization of sandwich panel components. Objectives: study and selection of the materials that make up the EPS/BA panel and their physical and mechanical characterization; Results/assessment criteria: technical reports identifying the selection of materials, describing the methodologies and test protocols for characterizing the materials, as well as the respective results.
Activity A3 - Design and development of the multifunctional structural system. Objectives: research and development of the EPS block and multifunctional optimization of the panel. Results/assessment criteria: technical reports resulting from the development of the EPS block, the development of the numerical models and describing the studies based on genetic algorithms used for the structural optimization of the EPS/BA sandwich panel solution.
Activity A4 - Characterization of the structural system and demonstration project. Objectives: characterization of the prototypes developed on the basis of the results of the previous activities and characterization and validation of the numerical results, development of theoretical variations of the panel developed for different levels of demand and geometry, allowing a more comprehensive use of the proposed solution, and materialization of a pilot project. Results/evaluation criteria: technical reports resulting from the structural characterization of the prototypes and full-scale demonstrations of the prototypes developed.
Activity A5 - Promotion and dissemination. Objectives: initiatives to promote and disseminate the results of the project; Results/evaluation criteria: report on the promotion of results, publication of articles in congresses and journals.

HOST INSTITUTION AND SCIENTIFIC SUPERVISION

The work will be carried out at ISISE - Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering - Civil Engineering Department, School of Engineering of the University of Minho, located at Azurém (Guimarães), under the scientific supervision of Doctor José Manuel de Sena Cruz.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

The evaluation of the applications will focus on the merit of the candidate, by applying the following criteria on a scale of 0 to 5 points:

Candidate's Merit – CM (100%):

Criterion A - Motivation letter, with a weighting of 20%;
Criterion B - Academic path (Final classification obtained in the Master), with a weighting of 40%;
Criterion C - Personal curriculum (considering professional and scientific background), with a weighting of 40%:
- Sub‐criterion C1 - Relevant professional experience – 20%
- Sub‐criterion C2 - Publications – 80%

The final classification of the Candidate’s Merit (CM) will be obtained by applying the following formula:

CM = (A*0,20) + (B*0,40) + (((C1*0,20) + (C2*0,80))*0,40)

Candidates with CM less than 3.5 points are immediately excluded.

The jury may choose to conduct an Interview to the four best ranked candidates in the list of the CM.

Interview – INT (40%):

Criterion E1 - Motivation, with a weighting of 30%;
Criterion E2 - Technical knowledge required to carry out the work plan, with a weighting of 30%;
Criterion E3 - Overall assessment, with a weighting of 40%.

The Jury also decided on the valuation of the Interview, according to the following levels:

Excellent – 5 points;
Good – 4 points;
Satisfactory – 3 points;
Unsatisfactory – 2 points;
Poor – 1 point.

The final classification of the Interview (INT) will be obtained by applying the following formula:

INT = (E1*0,30) + (E2*0,30) + (E3*0,40)

The final classification (FC) of Candidate’s Merit (CM) and Interview (INT) will be obtained by applying the following formula:

FC = (CM*0,60) + (INT*0,40)

The Selection Panel reserves the right not to award the research grant in the competition based on the evaluation results of the applicants and their suitability for the project objectives.

SELECTION PANEL

The Selection Panel is composed by the following elements:

President: Doctor José Manuel de Sena Cruz, Associate Professor with Habilitation of the Civil Engineering Department, ISISE, School of Engineering, University of Minho.
Effective members: Doctor Miguel Ângelo Dias Azenha, Associate Professor with Habilitation of the Civil Engineering Department, ISISE, School of Engineering, University of Minho, and Doctor Maria Isabel Brito Valente, Assistant Professor of the Civil Engineering Department, ISISE, School of Engineering, University of Minho.
Substitute members: Doctor Vitor Manuel do Couto Fernandes da Cunha, Assistant Researcher, ISISE, School of Engineering, University of Minho, and Doctor Joaquim António Oliveira Barros, Full Professor of the Civil Engineering Department, ISISE, School of Engineering, University of Minho.

If the President of the Selection Panel is unavailable, he/she shall be replaced by the first effective member. The first substitute member will replace the effective member.

The Selection Panel, including the President, undertake the commitment to respect a set of responsibilities essential to the evaluation process, such as the duties of impartiality, of stating any potential situations of conflict of interest and confidentiality.

COMUNICATION OF RESULTS

The evaluation results, based on minutes, will be sent to the candidates by e-mail, in accordance with article 12 of the Regulation of Research Studentships and Fellowships of the FCT.

If the result is not in favor of the applicant, he/she has a period of 10 working days to comment the results, if he/she wishes it so, in the context of a prior hearing with the interested parties, under the terms of article 121 and 122 of the Administrative Procedure Code (DL nº 4 / 2015 of January 7).

COMPLAINT AND APPEAL PROCEDURES

The final results of the evaluation will be sent by email to all candidates, enclosing for that purpose, the minutes of the Selection Panel deliberations.

The selected candidate must indicate, in writing, the intention to accept the grant.

The final decision can be contested, having 15 working days for this purpose, by sending to the President of the Selection Panel the corresponding claim. Interested parties may also submit an optional hierarchical appeal, addressed to the Pro-Rector for Scientific Projects and Research Management of the University of Minho, according to no. 6 of article 12 of the Regulation of Research Studentships and Fellowships of the FCT.

REQUIREMENTS FOR FINAL AWARDING OF THE GRANT

Research grant contracts are signed with the University of Minho, accordingly with the contract minute (annex IV of the Regulation of Research Fellowships of the University of Minho).At the time of hiring, the following documents must be sent:

National Identity Card/Citizen Card/Passport/Visa/Title of Residence;
Copy of the certificate of the academic degree;
Presentation of the certificate of recognition of foreign academic degree and conversion of the respective final grading into the Portuguese grading scale, if applicable;
Document proving enrollment in the Doctoral Program or in a Course that does not confer an academic degree, identified in this application;
Science ID;
NIB/IBAN (document of the Bank with the name of the candidate);
Tax Identification Number (NIF);
Digital mobile key (digital signature).

The contract may only be concluded after all the documentation required is collected, which must take place within a maximum period of 6 months.Once all the documentation has been received, the contracting entity has a period of 60 working days to conclude the scholarship contract. Once received, the fellow must return the contract duly signed within 15 working days.

MONTHLY MAINTENANCE ALLOWANCE

The Monthly Maintenance Allowance corresponds to the basic value of 1259,64 euros per month, according to the table of grants of FCT, I.P. in the country (Table of monthly maintenance allowances for the FCT I.P. Research Grant Regulation: https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM_atualizacao-2024.pdf ).

Payments are made by bank transfer on the 23rd of each month to the account identified by the grant holder.

OTHER BENEFITS

Reimbursement of the Voluntary Social Insurance, corresponding to the 1st tier of the contribution base (for grants of 6 months or more) and Personal Accident Insurance.

EXCLUSIVITY REGIME

The grantee will perform the activities under exclusivity, as foreseen in article 5º of the Research Fellow Statutes and applicable regulations.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR GRANT RENEWAL

Grant may be renewed for additional periods, if this information is provided in “DURATION OF THE RESEARCH GRANT" and in the contract. This additional period may not exceed the regulatory limits or the end of the project.

The renewal of the grant always depends on a petition submitted by the grant holder, on a date prior to the end of the grant contract, accompanied by the following documents:

report issued by the supervisor(s) and by the host entity(ies) on the follow-up of the grant holder's work and the evaluation of his/her activities;

updated document proving compliance with the exclusive dedication regime;

document proving the renewal of enrollment in the study cycle leading to an academic degree or of a course that does not confer an academic degree. If, at the time of the renewal, the grant holder has already obtained the degree or completed the course, the contract may still be renewed if in its clauses it is specified that the renewal, in these situations, is intended to carry out activities that are indispensable for the completion of the project.

TERM AND CANCELLATION OF GRANT CONTRACTS

At the end of the grant, the grantee is obliged to present a Final Report of the work carried out, in accordance with the objectives and evaluation criteria defined with the scientific advisor, within 30 days after the end of the grant.

The Final Report must be prepared in accordance with Annex I of the Scientific Research Fellowships Regulation of the University of Minho (RBIC), published in Diário da República, 2nd Série, no. 119, through dispatch no. 6524/2020 of 22-06-2020, ratified by ratification declaration no. 447/2021 of 22-06-2021.

APPLICABLE LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS

Research Fellowship Holder Statutes, approved by Law no. 40/2004 of August 18, in its current version published by Decree-Law no. 123/2019 of august 28; Regulation of Scientific Research Fellowships of the University of Minho (RBIC), published in “Diário da República”, 2nd serie, no. 119, through dispatch no. 6524/2020 of 22-06-2020, ratified by ratification declaration no. 447/2021 of 22-06-2021 and Regulation of Research Studentships and Fellowships (RBI) of the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. - in force.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

You can find the Portuguese version of the application, templates for the declaration of honor, contract and final report at:

https://isise.net/dissemination/recruitment/

Where to apply

E-mail: jose.sena-cruz@civil.uminho.pt

Requirements

Research Field: Engineering » Civil engineering
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Mandatory requirements:

In order to apply, the candidates must possess:

A Master's degree in the field of Civil Engineering, or related fields;
Applicants must comply with the eligibility conditions laid down in article 9 of the Research Grants Regulation of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (2019).

At the time of the respective hiring, candidates must prove that they are enrolled in one of the following courses:

PhD in the field of Civil Engineering, or related fields;
In a Course that do not confer an academic degree, in the area or area related to that requested in the tender (e.g.: postgraduate studies, advanced studies, specialized training).

Specific Requirements