Offer Description
1 Research Initiation Grant (M/F)
A Call is open for applications for a Research Initiation Grant within the framework of Project “NEWATER- Natural based and low Energy consumption unconventional solutions for the management of water sources”, with the reference: Water4All/0002/2022 financed by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P through national funds, under the Water4All partnership, in the following conditions:
Scientific Area: Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering and related fields
Admission requirements:
– To be a student enrolled in a higher technical professional course, a bachelor’s degree, in an integrated master’s degree, or in a master’s degree, in the area of environmental engineering, chemical engineering or related areas, a requirement to be duly proven at the time of signing the contract.
Or
– To be holder of an academic degree (bachelor’s degree) enrolled in a non-academic degree course integrated in the educational project of a higher education institution, developed in association or cooperation with one or more R&D units, a requirement to be duly proven at the time of signing the contract.
If the degree has been awarded by a foreign higher education institution, it must comply with the provisions of the Decree-Law no. 66/2018, of august 16th, and any formalities established there must be fulfilled until the time of signing the contract.
In accordance with article 5º of the Regulation of Research Grants of Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P.:
- The scholarship can only be awarded to those who do not exceed, with this scholarship contract, including possible renewals, an accumulated period of one year in that typology of scholarship, followed or interpolated.
- The grant cannot be awarded to anyone who has already benefited from research grants directly or indirectly funded by FCT, awarded under the terms of Research Grant Holder Status.
Activity Outline: Simulation and design of an integrated approach to connect Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) with sustainable green hydrogen production via electrolysis, by utilizing H₂, O₂, and excess heat from electrolyzers, renewable energy sources (photovoltaic), and endogenous wastewater resources (water and sludge), paving the way toward energy neutrality. Modeling tools such as SuperPro Designer, CFD, and Aspen will be used.
Legislation and regulations: Law Nº. 40/2004, of 18th August, in its current wording (Statutes of Scientific Research Fellow) and Regulation of Research Grants of Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, in force ( https://www.fct.pt/financiamento/programas-de-financiamento/bolsas/ ) and Regulation of Research Grants of University of Porto, in force.
Work place: The work will be developed at the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), under the scientific supervision of Dr. Vítor Jorge Pais Vilar and Dr. Ricardo Jorge Nogueira dos Santos.
Grant duration: Initial duration of 06 months, with the predicted starting date in February 2026, on an exclusive basis, renewable, but not exceeding the project’s duration.
The eventual renewal of the scholarship will be carried out as determined in article 5º of the Research Grants Regulation of the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P.
If it is not possible to ensure the duration of 06 months estimated in the previous paragraph, this duration will be adjusted according to the end date of the project, and provided that the minimum duration of 1 consecutive month is guaranteed, in accordance with paragraph 3 of article 5 of the Research Grant Regulations of the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P.
Stipend: The grant stipend amounts to € 651,12€ according to the table of values of the grants awarded directly by FCT, I.P. in the Country (https://www.fct.pt/financiamento/programas-de-financiamento/bolsas/ ).
The payment will be made by bank transfer.
Selection procedure:
Curricular evaluation will focus on the merit of the candidate and the following criteria will be valued:
1. Academic training: Environmental Engineering or Chemical Engineering – 5 points; related areas – 3 points; other areas – 0 points.
2. Academic training classification: average equal or higher than 16/20 – 5 points; average equal to 15/20 – 4 points; average equal to 14/20 – 3 points; other – 0 points.
3. Laboratory experience named in the admission requirements – up to 5 points; laboratory experience in other areas – 3 points; no laboratory experience – 0 points.
The three best-ranked candidates, according to the above criteria, will be called for an interview. This will have an additional score of up to 5 points.
If the minimum score of 12 points is not reached by any of the candidates, the scholarship may not be awarded.
Selection Jury:
President: Dr. Vítor Jorge Pais Vilar
Effective member: Dr. Ricardo Jorge Nogueira dos Santos
Effective member: Dr. Catarina da Rocha Cruzeiro
Supplementary member: Dr. Maria Francisca da Costa Moreira
Supplementary member: Dr. Ana Isabel de Emílio Gomes
Advertisement of final decision: The results of the evaluation will be released to the candidates by email to the email address indicated in the application process.
Deadline for applications and form of presentation of the applications:
The call is open from 02/10/2025 to 15/10/2025(until 23h59m, GMT time).
Applications must be formalized by email to vilar@fe.up.pt and to recursoshumanos@fe.up.pt, clearly stating the reference FEUP-NEWater-BII-SIMULAÇÃO and including the following pdf documents: Motivation letter, Copy of certificates evidencing academic degree (referring to the course average – for each cycle or integrated cycle – and grades in the course units ) detailed Curriculum Vitae, Declaration on honor that the candidate fulfills the requirement contained in article 5 of the Regulation for Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. (model below) and other documents considered relevant by the applicant.
Declaration on honour
I, (identification of the scholarship holder), holder of the Citizen Card / Visa / Residence Permit no. , valid until , declare under honour, to be in the conditions of nos. 4 and 5 of article 5º of the Research Grants from FCT, IP – Regulation No. 950/2019, of 16 December.
Oporto, ___/___/_____
Signature
__________________________________
(scholarship holder)
Where to apply
E-mail: recursoshumanos@fe.up.pt
