Offer Description
Offer description:
The University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD) opens a call for one (1) Research grants (students enrolled in an integrated master’s, master’s, doctorate or course that does not lead to an academic degree, Article 6, Regulation No. 950/2019 of the FCT), in the frame of the R&D project WaterFlow R&D – WATERFLOW – Sensor network for mapping water stress in vineyards, BI/UTAD/44/2025, supported by the Promote the Future of the Interior Programme of the “la Caixa” Foundation, in collaboration with BPIRede de Sensores|PL23-00015 – Waterflow, Projeto-Piloto Inovadores with the financial support 2023 edition of Programa Promove Apoiado pelo Programa Promove da Fundação “la Caixa”, em colaboração com o BPI e com a Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), under the following conditions:
Reference:
BI/UTAD/44/2025
Scientific area/research field:
Engineering
Researcher profile:
First Stage Researcher (R1)
Admission requirements:
- Proven training or experience in the areas of electronics, sensors and wireless communication*;
- Ability to work in the field and integrate into a research team in an agricultural environment (vineyard)*;
- Experience in external partnerships in an academic context;
- Spoken and written knowledge of the English language;
- Student enrolled or eligible to enrol in a Master’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering, or in a non-degree course, in accordance with the FCT Research Grant Regulations (RBI No. 950/2019)*
* mandatory requirement
Work plan:
The candidate will carry out R&D activities within the scope of the WaterFlow project, namely:
1) Survey of technical requirements and specifications of the necessary sensors; review of literature on water stress monitoring and similar solutions;
2) Support in the acquisition and testing of sensors and communication modules (LoRaWAN) in a laboratory environment; development of the first prototypes;
3) Pilot installation of the sensor network in one of the plots of the Douro Demarcated Region; testing of communication, energy autonomy and reliability of the data collected;
4) Calibration of sensors in the field and systematic data collection; preliminary data processing and validation with conventional methods of water stress measurement;
5) Support in integrating data with Machine Learning algorithms, in collaboration with the data science team; start of predictive model development;
6) Validation of the water stress mapping model with real data; comparative analysis and optimisation suggestions;
7) Final activity report, participation in the drafting of technical/scientific articles and support in communicating the project results to stakeholders;
Applicable legislation and regulations:
Law N.º 40/2004, of 18 August (Statute of Scientific Research Fellow), amended by DL 123/2019 of 28 August; FCT, IP Research Grant Regulation, approved by Regulation N.º 234/2012, published in the II Series of the Diário da República of June 25, 2012, amended and republished by Regulation No. 326/2013, published in the II Series of the Diário da Republic of July 27, 2013, amended by Regulation No. 339/2015, published in the II Series of the Diário da República of June 17, 2015 and Law No. 71/2018 (State Budget Law for 2019) and by Regulation No. 950/2019, published in the II Series of the Diário da República of December 16, 2019, and the Regulation of Research Grants of the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro – Dispatch RT.36/2011, of July 6, of Mr. Rector, published in Diário da República by Order No. 9157/2011 (II Series), of July 19 in its current wording.
Workplace:
The work will be developed at School of Sciences and Technology (ECT) of the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, under the scientific guidance of Professor Antonio Valente
Duration of scholarship:
The fellowship will last for 12 months, expected to start in September 2025. The scholarship contract may be renewed, under the terms of the FCT Research Grant Regulation (no. 950/20219).
Note:
If the grant is awarded to students enrolled in a course that does not confer an academic degree, the contract cannot exceed a total duration of 12 months.
Monthly maintenance allowance amount:
The scholarship amount corresponds to 1.040,98€ according to the table of scholarships awarded directly by the FCT, I.P. in the country (https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/valores). The period of payment of the scholarship is monthly and through bank deposit, check or another equivalent method.
Selection Methods:
The selection methods to be used are as follows: Suitability of academic and scientific profile to the work plan, Experience in technological development and fieldwork, Motivation and ability to integrate into a multidisciplinary team, and Interview, with respective weightings of 25%, 25%, 20% and 30%.
Composition of the Selection Jury:
Chair – ANTÓNIO LUÍS GOMES VALENTE ,Professor from the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro
Effective Member – SALVIANO FILIPE SILVA PINTO SOARES, Professor from the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro
Effective Member – Dra. JOANA RIBEIRO, ADVID (Association for the Development of Viticulture in the Douro Region)
Form of advertising/notification of results:
The final results of the evaluation will be publicized through a ranked list posted on the UTAD Campus Online Page (http://www.campus.utad.pt/bolsasinvestigacao/candidaturas ), with the candidate being approved notified via email.
Based on the final ranking list, a reserve list will be drawn up, valid for the maximum duration of the project funding this grant or the maximum duration of the grant provided for in Article 3rd , nº 2, of the Statute of Scientific Research Fellow, Law no. 40/2004, of 18th August, revised by Decree-Law no. 123/2019, of 28th August (whichever comes first), which will be used for the possible recruitment of new grant holders within the scope of this project or in the event of the first-placed candidate withdrawing. If none of the candidates demonstrates that they have the profile indicated to carry out the work plan, the jury reserves the right not to award the scholarship to the competition.
If the decision to be taken is unfavourable to the granting of the requested scholarship, the candidates have a period of 10 working days, after the aforementioned disclosure, to express their opinion, if desired, in a prior hearing, under the terms provided for in the Code of Administrative Procedure.
Application deadline and form of submission of applications:
The tender is open from08-08-2025 to 22-08-2025.
Applications must be formalized, obligatorily, by sending an application form accompanied by the following documents: Curriculum Vitae [proving the above-mentioned requirements]; Indication of the following data: citizen card number, tax identification number – TIN, date of birth, mobile phone number and email address; motivation letter; declaration of honour (to be requested by email to bolsasinvestigacao@utad.pt) and documentary evidence of the requested requirements.
The application must be made through the UTAD Campus Online Page, in the Research Grants section, following the instructions:
• Access the UTAD Campus Online Page: www.campus.utad.pt and select the Research Grants option. Or go directly to www.campus.utad.pt/bolsasinvestigacao/lista .
• Select the scholarship you intend to apply for.
• When selecting the “Apply” option, you will be redirected to the application page where you must complete and submit the respective form.
Equality of opportunities:
The candidate has the right to equal opportunities and treatment, and may not be privileged, benefited, prejudiced, deprived of any right or exempt from any duty due, in particular, to 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 convictions and union membership.
Where to apply
Website: http://www.campus.utad.pt/bolsasinvestigacao/candidaturas
