Other Research Position / B-0063-25 – Research Grant (BI) – 16/06/2025 – MORE4WATER – Water4All/0007/2022
IREF: B-0063-25
Research Position:
Important note: This is a summarized English version of the full original announcement written in Portuguese. The content in English is provided for the convenience of non-Portuguese speakers. However, only the full Portuguese version has official value for the evaluation and selection process.
| Title: B-0063-25 – Research Grant (BI) – 16/06/2025 – MORE4WATER – Water4All/0007/2022 |
| Funding Reference Number: Water4All/0007/2022 |
| Summary: A research position for one Research Grant (“Bolsa de Investigação“) is open at Instituto de Telecomunicações, in the scope of the Project MORE4WATER – Combined monitoring and forecast for a sustainable management of water resources and timely adaptation to drought. This project is funded by FCT/MCTES through national funds and when applicable co-funded EU funds under the Water4All/0007/2022 project reference. MORE4WATER aims to develop a novel technology that uses measurement systems for improving the forecast of water availability and, consequently, the management and governance strategies of Water distribution and transmission Networks (WNs) and Irrigation Systems (ISs). This technology allows for drastically reducing the impact of water drought and will prepare for the next generation of WNs and ISs which must be more monitored, more controlled, more efficient, sustainable, and “smart”, in line with the UN Agenda 2030 and the EU Green Deal. A Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) will be designed and deployed capable of collecting, preprocessing and transmitting all the relevant measurement data. Connectivity with the Internet will be guaranteed, to enable both remote management of the sensor nodes and developments oriented towards citizen science, so that an app running on a smartphone may be used by end-users and other stakeholders to signal exceptional events and eventually provide feedback. The app will also make non-sensitive data available for validation and re-use purposes. This capability may be exploited to provide additional information, enhancing the assessment of phenomena using sensor fusion and artificial intelligence algorithms. The WSN will be configured and optimized to monitor WNs and ISs, depending on the identified case studies and scenarios. The network nodes will be battery-operated, self-powered, and cost-effective devices. An additional objective is the capability of monitoring exceptional events, that translates into continuously collecting data at a sampling rate of 1 ksample/s for at least 2 days. Node synchronization will be accomplished using GPS modules and timestamping the acquired values. Data security will be achieved by using proper encryption and authentication methods, preventing unauthorized access to the WSN, and malicious activities such as data tampering. System level requirements related to reliability, usability, security, and maintainability will be included in the design and realization process. The selected candidate will be involved in the hardware validation and update, firmware validation and update to maintain the complete WSN system capable of autonomous operation. In addition, the candidate will overview system operation and required modifications/upgrades. |
| Scientific Area: Basic Sciences and Enabling Technologies |
| Group: Instrumentation and Measurements – Lx |
| Admission Requirements: Research grants are intended: – for students enrolled in a degree-conferring course to carry out R&D activities with the aim to consolidate their scientific training through the development of research work leading to the attainment of the respective academic degree or completion of the course (integrated or not in R&D projects). – for students enrolled in courses that do not confer an academic degree but which are integrated in an educational project of a higher education institution and are developed in association or cooperation with one or several R&D units. In what concerns the admission requirements for this research grant in particular: – The accepted candidate must have completed an MSc. degree in Electronics Engineering or Electrical and Computer Engineering and be enrolled in a PhD program in Electronics Engineering or Electrical and Computer Engineering or enrolled in a non-Degree program; – Experience in the development of hardware and firmware of embedded measurement systems with multiple sensors and their integration with cloud platforms; – Proficiency in the development and debugging of firmware for the ESP32 processor; – High level English language is appreciated, and Portuguese language is required. |
| Work Objectives: – Analyze current hardware setup, develop upgraded versions resulting from field tests. – Analyze current system firmware, develop upgraded versions resulting from field tests. – Support the system field tests during installation and operation. – Overview system operation and deliver the required system modifications/upgrades. – Produce supporting documentation throughout the project/system development. |
| Applicable legislation: A fellowship will be celebrated according to “Estatuto do Bolseiro de Investigação”, Law no. 40/2004, dated on 18th of August (Status of Scientific Research Fellow – https://dre.pt/dre/legislacao-consolidada/lei/2004-58216179), in its actual redaction, by Fellowship Regulation of Fundação para Ciência e Tecnologia (https://files.dre.pt/2s/2019/12/241000000/0009100105.pdf), according to Reg. 950/2019, dated on 16th of December, and also by “Regulation of Instituto de Telecomunicações’ fellowships”. |
| Place of work: The work will be developed at the premises of Instituto de Telecomunicações – Lisboa, under the supervision of Professor Pedro Ramos. |
| Duration: 5 months, with the possibility of renewal (according to the regulations defined by FCT). Start date: August 1st, 2025 or soon thereafter. |
| Monthly salary: 1309,64€ according to the table of grant amounts awarded directly by FCT for positions held in Portugal (https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Tabela_valores_SMM_2025.pdf) / according to the table of grant amounts awarded directly by Instituto de Telecomunicações. The payment will be made by bank transfer. |
| Selection criteria: C1 (20%) Academic courses grades and degreesC2 (30%) Experience in the design and optimization of embedded measurement systemsC3 (30%) Experience in the design and prototyping of systems for sensors in embedded measurement systemsC4 (20%) Candidate interview for motivation assessment Each criteria, and the final classification F will be evaluated in a scale (0-20). The candidates will be ordered according to: F = C1 x 20% + C2 x 30% + C3 x 30% + C4 x 20% In case of a tie, the tied candidates will be ordered according to C1, then C2… The Jury has the right to not admit any of the candidates that applied for this position whenever they consider that no candidate meets the minimum requirements for the position. |
| Jury: Prof. Pedro Miguel Pinto Ramos, Instituto Superior Técnico (President of the jury)Prof. Luís Filipe Soldado Granadeiro Rosado, Instituto Superior TécnicoProf. Fernando Manuel Tim Tim Janeiro, Universidade ÉvoraProf. Pedro Manuel Brito da Silva Girão, Instituto Superior Técnico (Substitute) |
| Communication of the results: Results will be published at the Instituto de Telecomunicações, Lisboa. The selected candidate will be notified by email. After the notification of the results, candidates have 10 working days if they wish to contest the decision. |
| Required Documents: – Cover letter explaining the interest in the position and relevant background; – Detailed Curriculum Vitae with transcripts, – Copy of the relevant certificates (Copy of the Degree Certificate(s), if applicable); – Proof of enrollment (or proof of acceptance) in a higher education course or declaration of honour confirming that complies with the conditions to enroll in the required/preferable higher education course. NOTE: The proof of enrollment in a higher education course must be made until the contract is signed. Apply online clicking on the “Apply Now” button in this form https://www.it.pt/Positions/OtherResearchPosition/8195 E-mail submissions will not be considered. (The cover letter and the CV are mandatory documents in the online application platform) All the selection process is conducted through the IT web portal. No actions outside this platform are valid. |
| Application Period: 17-06-2025 to 01-07-2025 |
| Assistance: Send Email |
| Published on: 16-06-2025 |
