Research Grant — R&D activities via EURAXESS

Offer Description

Offer description:

The University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD) opens a call for one (1) Research Grant (students enrolled in an integrated master’s degree, master’s degree, doctorate or non-degree course Article 6, FCT Regulation no. 950/2019), in the frame of the R&D project I-ReWater – Gestión sostenible de los recursos hídricos en la agricultura de regadío en el espacio SUDOE (S1/2.5/E0136), BI/UTAD/128/2025, financed by Financed by the Interreg-Sudoe Program 2021-2027, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), under the following conditions:

Reference:

 BI/UTAD/128/2025

Scientific area/research field:

Agricultural Sciences

Researcher profile:

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Admission requirements:

1. be qualified with a degree in Agronomic Sciences or Biological Sciences or related areas*;
2. Preferential requirements: a scientific and professional curriculum that reveals a profile perfectly suited to the activity to be developed. In particular, the following are considered to be preferential requirements:
3. a) At the deadline for submitting applications, hold a degree in the scientific area or areas for which the competition is open*;
4. b) Proven experience, through publications in internationally refereed scientific journals, in the scientific areas for which the competition is open,
5. c) Proven command of the English language (oral and written);
6. d) Immediate availability to work at UTAD (in Vila Real) and to travel to the field*.
7. Experience in research projects involving field work with agricultural crops
8. Driving license*;
9. Applicant enrolled, or eligible to enroll, in a degree-granting program or in a non-degree program, in compliance with the provisions of Article 6 of the FCT Research Fellowship Regulations (No. 950/2019).

* mandatory requirement

Work plan:

The candidate will carry out R&D activities within the scope of the I-ReWater project, namely:

1) installation of sensors in the soil and on the plant;

2) Monitoring the physiological response of the olive tree to different deficit irrigation strategies and ApR water;

3) Collecting samples of soil, irrigation water and plant organs;

4) Data collection and statistical treatment;

5) Evaluation of plant dendrometry parameters;

6) Evaluation of production and quality components;

7) Writing the project report;

7) Writing technical and scientific articles;

8) Actions to disseminate the project;

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 the Agronomy Department of the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, under the scientific guidance of Professor Doctor Anabela Afonso Fernandes Silva

Duration of scholarship:

The fellowship will last for three months, and it´s expected to start on February 2026. The scholarship contract may be renewed, and the total duration may not exceed 12 months.

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 €1040,98 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 will be as follows: 

curricular assessment and interview to assess the skills required for the job (EAC), with a respective score of 70% and 30%.

Composition of the Selection Jury:

Chair – ANABELA AFONSO FERNANDES SILVA

Effective Member – BERTA MARIA DE CARVALHO GONÇALVES MACEDO 

Effective Member – JOSÉ CARLOS ESTEVES GOMES LARANJO

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.

In the event that the selected scholarship holder withdraws, the final ranking list of candidates in this competition may be used to replace them. 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 from 12-01-2026 to 23-01-2026.

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.utad.pt