Research fellowship

Offer Description

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE AWARD OF A RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP

Title: Research Fellowship; 1 vacancy

Reference: 14/ECUM/CCT/2026 – ICT 2025-2029

A call for applications is now open for the attribution of one grant of research within the scope of the I&D project Earth Sciences Institute (ICT), UID/04683/2025, financed by national funds through Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia – FCT, under the following conditions:

Scientific Area: Geology

Recipient category: Holders of a Master’s degree in Geology or related areas.

The research grant (BI) is intended for carrying out R&D activities by students that will be enrolled in a doctoral degree programme.

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, issued by a Higher Education Institution, indicating, respectively, the academic year or its duration (start and term).

Applicants’ eligibility: Candidates who meet the conditions set out in Article 9 of the Research Grant Regulations, No. 950/2019, of 16-12-2019, of FCT I.P. are eligible.

Nationals or citizens of other European Union member states, third-country nationals, stateless persons, and citizens with political refugee status are eligible to apply for this competition.

Candidate eligibility requirements:

Applicants must hold a Master’s degree in Geology or related areas.

Workplan and objectives to be achieved:

The selected candidate will carry out R&D activities within the strategic framework of ICT, with the aim of strengthening their scientific skills. Five work plans are available, and applicants must select only one in their application. These work plans are aligned with the activity plan and strategy of ICT–UMinho and correspond to the following topics with the main objetives:

Work Plan 1. Geochemical dynamic between organic and inorganic phases in mining-legacy systems

Characterize sediments and water from freshwater systems affected by uranium mining activities; Characterize organic and inorganic fractions of sediments and host minerals, including the assessment of preservation state and geochemical associations; Identify uranium-bearing phases and associated geochemical processes; Investigate water-sediment interaction processes, environmental conditions and temporal evolution; Proposal of a conceptual hydrogeological model for uranium mine pit-lakes.

Work Plan 2. Nature-Based Solutions in Mine Water Treatment: Soil–Plant–Water Interactions and Contaminant dynamics

Characterize the composition of mine waters, identifying the main contaminants and the processes controlling their mobility; Investigate biotic and abiotic interactions in nature-based treatment systems, focusing on the mechanisms responsible for the retention, transformation, and removal of metals and metalloids; Present proposals for optimizing the performance of nature-based solutions.

Work Plan 3. Surface–Groundwater–Soil Interactions in degraded Areas – The role of waste as contamination reservoirs

Physical, mineralogical and geochemical characterization of water, soils and residual materials in degraded areas, identifying phases hosting Potentially Toxic Elements; Identification of hydrogeochemical processes controlling the mobility and/or retention of contaminants and interactions; Assessment of mechanisms on retention, transformation and release of Potentially Toxic Elements in soil–water systems from degraded areas; Development of models for the hydrogeochemical system and its implications for the management and restoration of degraded areas.

Work Plan 4. Urban Soil Quality and Regulatory Compliance under the EU Soil Monitoring Directive: An Integrated Risk-Based Framework for Microplastic and Contaminant Assessment in Urban Ecosystems of the Minho Region

Characterize the occurrence, spatial distribution, and composition of microplastics in urban soils to identify sources and critical areas across different land uses; Experimentally investigate the interactions between microplastics and co-occurring contaminants to assess their effect on contaminant mobility and soil quality; Assess the main human and environmental exposure pathways to microplastics and associated contaminants through source-pathway-receptor conceptual models adapted to different urban land use scenarios; Develop an integrated monitoring framework to assess soil quality based on risk and to support compliance with the European Soil Monitoring Directive and the sustainable management of urban soils.

Work Plan 5. Guidelines for the management of Geodiversity and Geological Heritage in UNESCO Global Geoparks

Analysis of guidelines for the management of natural heritage in protected areas; Characterization and evaluation of geosite management practices, based on qualitative and quantitative criteria, and their alignment with action plans implemented in UNESCO Global Geoparks; Assessment of ecosystem services provided by geodiversity in UNESCO Global Geoparks; Development of management guidelines (conservation, valorization, and monitoring) for geological heritage in UNESCO Global Geoparks.

Applicable legislation and regulations: Research Fellow Statute (EBI), approved by Law nº. 40/2004 of August 18, in its current wording and FCT Research Fellowship Regulation, approved by Regulation nº 950/2019, published in the Diário da República, 2nd series, of December 16, 2019, in its current wording, and Scientific Research Fellowship Regulation (RBIC) of the University of Minho, approved by order nº 4998/2025, published in the Diário da República, 2nd series, nº 81, of April 28, 2025 Amended and republished through amendment statement no. 634/2025/2, published in the Official Gazette, 2nd series, no. 132, of July 11.

Host/Contracting institution and scientific supervision: The workplan will be carried out in the Earth Sciences Centre / ICT-Pole UMinho, School of Sciences of University of Minho, located at Campus de Gualtar, under the scientific supervision of the follow lecturers/researchers and coordination of Isabel Margarida Horta Ribeiro Antunes (Earth Sciences Centre, ECUM).

Work Plans

Work Plan 1. Geochemical dynamic between organic and inorganic phases in mining-legacy systems

Supervisor: Carolina Maria Flores Marcelo Fonseca, Assistant Professor at the Department of Earth Sciences, School of Sciences, University of Minho; Isabel Margarida Horta Ribeiro Antunes, Associate Professor with Habilitation at the Department of Earth Sciences, School of Sciences, University of Minho

Work Plan 2. Nature-Based Solutions in Mine Water Treatment: Soil–Plant–Water Interactions and Contaminant dynamics

Supervisor: Fátima Patrícia Silva Soares Gomes, Assistant Researcher at the Earth Sciences Centre, School of Sciences, University of Minho; Isabel Margarida Horta Ribeiro Antunes, Associate Professor with Habilitation at the Department of Earth Sciences, School of Sciences, University of Minho

Work Plan 3. Surface–Groundwater–Soil Interactions in degraded Areas – The role of waste as contamination reservoirs

Supervisor: Isabel Margarida Horta Ribeiro Antunes, Associate Professor with Habilitation at the Department of Earth Sciences, School of Sciences, University of Minho; Teresa Maria Fernandes Valente, Associate Professor with Habilitation at the Department of Earth Sciences, School of Sciences, University of Minho

Supervisor: Amélia Paula Martins Marinho Dias Reis, Assistant Professor with Habilitation at the Department of Earth Sciences, School of Sciences, University of Minho; Fátima Patrícia Silva Soares Gomes, Assistant Researcher at the Earth Sciences Centre, School of Sciences, University of Minho

Work Plan 5. Guidelines for the management of Geodiversity and Geological Heritage in UNESCO Global Geoparks

Supervisor: Paulo Jorge Silva Pereira, Assistant Professor at the Department of Earth Sciences, School of Sciences, University of Minho

Fellowship duration: The grant will take place for a period of 36 months, with a provisional starting date on the September of 2026, non-renewable.

Amount of the research grant: The amount of the grant corresponds to 1 359,64 €/month, according to the table of values of the Research scholarship of the University of Minho, updated annually, as decided by the Management Board.

Payment is made on the 23rd of each month, through bank transfer to the Bank Identification Number of the fellow identified in the contratualization process.

Other benefits: Reimbursement of Voluntary Social Insurance, if the candidate chooses to receive it, corresponding to the 1st level of discounts (for research grants with a total duration 6 months or higher) 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.

Selection panel:

President: Pedro Manuel de Matos Pimenta Simões, Assistant Professor, Department of Earth Sciences | Earth Sciences Centre, School of Sciences, University of Minho;

Effective member: Luís Miguel Barros Gonçalves, Assistant Professor, Department of Earth Sciences | Earth Sciences Centre, School of Sciences, University of Minho;

Effective member: Raphael de Vicq Ferreira da Costa, Invited Assistant Professor, Department of Earth Sciences | Earth Sciences Centre, School of Sciences, University of Minho;

Substitute member: Ana Marta Vasques Gonçalves, Invited Assistant Professor, Department of Geosciences, Environment and Spatial Planning, Institute of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto;

Substitute member: Diamantino Manuel Ínsua Pereira, Full Professor, Department of Earth Sciences | Earth Sciences Centre, School of Sciences, University of Minho;

The first effective member will substitute the President of the selection panel in case of impediment, being nominate the first substitute member in the place of the first effective member.

Criteria and procedures for applications assessment and selection: The evaluation of applications will be based on the Candidate’s Merit (75%) and Interview (25%)

Applicant Merit (MC), eligible applications will be scored on a scale from 1 to 5 according to the following evaluation criteria:

Criterion A: Applicant Merit (MC) – Curriculum assessment, with a weight of 75%:

Subcriterion A1 – Academic qualifications, with a weight of 40% (of which 80% corresponds to the final Master’s grade and 20% to the final Bachelor’s grade):

•Master’s degree in Geology or related areas, with a final grade ≥ 18: 5 points;

•Master’s degree in Geology or related areas, with a final grade ≥ 16 and < 18: 4 points;

•Master’s degree in Geology or related areas, with a final grade ≥ 14 and < 16: 3 points;

•Master’s degree in Geology or related areas, with a final grade ≥ 12 and < 14: 2 points;

•Master’s degree in Geology or related areas, with a final grade ≥ 10 and < 12: 1 point.

•Bachelor’s degree in Geology or a related field, with a final grade ≥ 18: 5 points;

•Bachelor’s degree in Geology or a related field, with a final grade ≥ 16 and < 18: 4 points;

•Bachelor’s degree in Geology or related areas, with a final grade ≥ 14 and < 16: 3 points;

•Bachelor’s degree in Geology or related areas, with a final grade ≥ 12 and < 14: 2 points;

•Bachelor’s degree in Geology or related areas, with a final grade ≥ 10 and < 12: 1 point.

Subcriterion A2 – Participation in research projects and activities, relevant to the topic to be developed, with a weight of 20%;

Subcriterion A3 – Scientific output and its relevance to the topic to be developed, with a weight of 15%;

Subcriterion A4 – Training and professional experience relevant to the topic to be developed, with a weight of 15%;

Subcriterion A5 – Motivation letter and letters of recommendation, with a weight of 10%.

The MC score is calculated according to the following formula:

MC = (A1 x 0.40) + (A2 x 0.20) + (A3 x 0.15) + (A4 x 0.15) + (A5 x 0.10)

Only candidates who obtain a score equal to or higher than 3 points in Criterion A will be admitted to the second phase of the evaluation process, which consists of an interview scored on a scale from 1 to 5 (Criterion B).

Criterion B: Interview, with a weight of 25%:

The following subcriteria will be considered in the interview evaluation:

B.1: Interpersonal skills (25%)

B.2: Knowledge demonstrated in the scientific area of the call (25%)

B.3: Motivation (25%)

B.4: Language skills (25%)

The Interview score (E) will be calculated using the following formula:

E = (B.1 × 0.25) + (B.2 × 0.25) + (B.3 × 0.25) + (B.4 × 0.25)

The interview may be conducted remotely via a digital platform.

For the purpose of awarding the grants, candidates will be ranked according to the weighted average of the scores obtained in each of the two criteria, calculated as follows:

Final score = (A × 0.75) + (B × 0.25)

In the event of a tie, candidates will be ranked based on the scores obtained in each evaluation criterion, in the following order of precedence: Criterion A (Applicant Merit) and Criterion B (Interview).

Note: Candidates holding degrees obtained abroad must provide proof of recognition of their qualifications in Portugal and conversion of the final classification to the Portuguese grading scale, or a declaration as previously indicated. Candidates who fail to comply with one of these requirements will be assigned a score of “0” for their Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree. They will, however, be evaluated in the remaining criteria.

Application deadline and submission: The call for applications is open for a period of 10 working days from the date of publication of the announcement on the Euraxess portal.

Applications must be submitted by email to bolsas@ecum.uminho.pt, indicating the reference of the call in the subject line: 14/ECUM/CCT/2026 – ICT 2025–2029, as well as the selected work plan (e.g. 14/ECUM/CCT/2026 – ICT 2025–2029 | Work Plan 1). Only applications submitted within the established deadline and including the following documents will be considered:

a) Candidate’s updated Curriculum Vitae;

b) Certificates of the academic degrees obtained or, if applicable, the candidate’s declaration of honor that he/she has completed the degrees required in the notice by the application deadline.

For degrees obtained abroad, the record of recognition of the academic degrees and record of the conversion of the respective final classification to the Portuguese classification scale must be presented, or, alternatively, a declaration of honor from the candidate.

This declaration must attest to facts that occurred prior to the application. In the event of a discrepancy between the information contained in the declaration and the documentation submitted for the purposes of contracting the scholarship, only the information contained in the latter will be considered. If it is found that the documents proving the academic degree and diploma, or their recognition under the terms of Decree-Law n.º 66/2018, of August 16, do not correspond to the classifications awarded in the assessment of the academic career and may consequently alter the candidate’s ranking, the scholarship will not be contracted;

c) Certificate listing the grades obtained in all completed course units;

d) Motivation letter indicating the reasons for applying, the work plan the candidate intends to develop, and how their academic and/or professional experience supports the development of the selected topic;

e) Two letters of recommendation.

The application and all supporting documents, including the motivation and recommendation letters, must be written in Portuguese or English.

Form of publication/notification of results: The results of the evaluation are published in a single list based on the final score obtained and sent by email to all candidates, attaching, for this purpose, the minutes of the jury’s deliberations, within a maximum period of 90 working days from the deadline for submission of applications.

Candidates will be informed, at a preliminary hearing, in accordance with Articles 121 and 122 of the Administrative Procedure Code, of the likely outcome of the final decision, and may comment within 10 working days from the date of notification.

An appeal may be lodged against the final decision within 15 working days, or an appeal may be lodged with the highest executive body of the funding entity within 30 days, both after the respective notification (Article 12(nº6) of the FCT Research Grant Regulations).

Within 10 working days of notification of the grant award, the applicant must declare their acceptance in writing. In case of non-acceptance, the next highest ranked applicant will be notified immediately.

Fellowship contractualization: The scholarship is awarded through the signing of a contract between the University of Minho and the scholarship recipient, in accordance with point 2.4 of the Rules for the Award and Management of Scholarships https://www.fct.pt/wpcontent/uploads/2022/03/Normas_de_Atribuicao_de_Bolsas_2021.pdf and the draft contract in Annex II of the University of Minho’s Scientific Research Scholarship Regulations.

The contract can only be signed after receipt of all the documentation required for the type of scholarship, which must occur within a maximum period of 6 months, including proof of academic degrees or diplomas, as well as enrollment in non-degree study cycles or courses, as applicable.

Once all the documentation has been received, the contracting entity has 60 working days to sign the scholarship contract. Once received by the scholarship holder, the contract must be returned, duly signed, within 15 working days.

Term and cancellation of fellowship contracts: Without prejudice to the other grounds laid down in the University of Minho’s Scientific Research Scholarship Regulation and in the Research Fellow Statute, the scholarship will cease on completion of the contracted work plan, as well as on expiry of the period for which it was granted or renewed.

The final report must be submitted to the scientific advisor, in accordance with the defined objectives and evaluation criteria, no later than 60 working days after the end of the scholarship and must be drawn up in accordance with Annex I of the Regulations of the University of Minho.

Non-discrimination and equal access policy: Universidade do Minho actively promotes a policy of non-discrimination and equal access, so that no candidate may be privileged, benefited, harmed or deprived of any right or exempt from any duty due, namely, to ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, economic situation, education, social origin or condition, genetic heritage, reduced working capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological convictions and trade union membership.

Declaration of Honor

Academic qualifications

I, (full name), candidate for the vacancy for the award of a (type of scholarship), within the scope of the project (name or reference of the project), published on the Euraxess portal, with the reference (ref. notice), declare on my honor that I have completed the academic degree of (academic degree), qualifying for the type of scholarship in the competition, namely the course (designation), by the (University conferring the degree), on the date XX/XX/XXXX, with a final average of XXXXX values on the YY scale.

As it is not possible for me to present proof of qualifications until the end of the competition, I declare that I undertake to present the aforementioned certificate at the moment of the scholarship contract, in the event that I am selected for the vacancy in the competition.

As this is true, I hereby date and sign this declaration.

(Place), (date).

__________________________

(full name)

NOTE: The declaration may only attest to facts that occurred prior to the application.

In the event of a discrepancy between the information contained in the declaration and the documentation submitted for the purpose of contracting the scholarship, only the information contained in the latter will be taken into account.

Declaration of Honor

I, (full name), bearer of identification document number (XXXX), candidate for a research grant (type of grant), within the scope of the project (name or reference of the project), published on the Euraxess portal, with the reference (ref. call for proposals), declare on my honor that (I have not received any research grants to date / I have received the following research grants) under the Research Grant Holder Statute.

University

Financing Entity

Project

Type of Grant

Duration

Start

Term

As this is true, I hereby date and sign this declaration.

(Place), (date).

__________________________

(full name)