Assistant Researcher, in the field of Hydraulics and Environment, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Offer Description

By order dated April 21, 2026, issued by the Vice-President of the Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal (IPS), Professor Carlos Manuel Severino da Mata the opening, for a period of fifteen business days starting from the date of publication of this notice on Bolsa de Emprego Público (BEP), international documentary selection process to fill a position within the special scientific research career— of Assistant Researcher, under an indefinite-term public employment contract.
This call for applications implements the provisions of Article 3, paragraph 4, of Law No. 55/2025 of April 28, which approved the Statute of the Scientific Research Career (SSRC), and Article 6, paragraph 5, of Decree-Law No. 57/2016 of August 29, as amended by Law No. 57/2017 of July 19, regarding the employment contract for the PhD-holding researcher associated with reference PTDC/ASP-PLA/30003/2017 — OLIVESIM.
Scientific Area: Hydraulics and Environment – Earth and Environmental Sciences, in the sub-areas of mathematical modeling of groundwater, water resource and aquifer management, risks of saltwater intrusion in aquifers, geophysics, geotechnics, and geosciences.
General admission requirements: Candidates must meet, by the application deadline, the requirements set forth in Article 17 of the LTFP, as currently in force..
Special admission requirements:a. Doctoral degree in the scientific field for which the call for applications is opened;b. Doctoral degree in scientific fields considered by the jury to be related to those for which the call for applications is opened;c. Doctoral degree in other fields, provided the candidate possesses a scientific track record considered relevant by the jury in the fields referred to in the preceding points.
Requirements for approval based on absolute merit: Admission of candidates is contingent upon their approval based on absolute merit, assessed through the merit of their overall curriculum in the scientific field of the competition, and also takes into account the fulfillment of the following requirements, cumulatively:

Where to apply

E-mail: bolsas.investigacao.dgp@ips.pt

Skills/Qualifications

General admission requirements: Candidates must meet, by the application deadline, the requirements set forth in Article 17 of the LTFP, as currently in force..
Special admission requirements:a. Doctoral degree in the scientific field for which the call for applications is opened;b. Doctoral degree in scientific fields considered by the jury to be related to those for which the call for applications is opened;c. Doctoral degree in other fields, provided the candidate possesses a scientific track record considered relevant by the jury in the fields referred to in the preceding points.

Specific Requirements

Requirements for approval based on absolute merit: Admission of candidates is contingent upon their approval based on absolute merit, assessed through the merit of their overall curriculum in the scientific field of the competition, and also takes into account the fulfillment of the following requirements, cumulatively:

Possess a minimum of five years of professional experience, following the attainment of a doctoral degree, in the sub-fields covered by the competition;
1. Have been the first or second author of at least four scientific articles published within the last six years—in the sub-fields covered by the competition—in journals indexed in Clarivate Analytics Web of Science or SCOPUS and classified as Q1 or Q2 quartile;
2. Have participated, as a member of a research team, in at least three research projects—at least one of which involved serving as principal investigator—whether completed or ongoing, funded through competitive national or international calls, within the scientific sub-areas of this call;
3. Have participated in at least two European cooperation projects focused on the development of research strategies, open science practices, and collaboration mechanisms within the framework of European university alliances.

Additional Information

Benefits

Type of employment relationship to be established: Indefinite-term public service employment contract, with a five-year probationary period, pursuant to Article 15 in conjunction with Article 17, paragraph 7, of the SSRC.
Remuneration: Pursuant to Article 26 of the SSRC, in conjunction with Decree-Law No. 408/89 of November 18 (as amended), the remuneration corresponds to index 195—situated between positions 53 and 54 of the unified salary scale..
Working conditions: Those stipulated in the ECIC and in the General Public Service Labour Law (LTFP), approved as an annex to Law No. 35/2014 of June 20, in its current version—and in the IPS Regulation applicable to career researchers.

Eligibility criteria

General admission requirements: Candidates must meet, by the application deadline, the requirements set forth in Article 17 of the LTFP, as currently in force.
Special admission requirements:a. Doctoral degree in the scientific field for which the call for applications is opened;b. Doctoral degree in scientific fields considered by the jury to be related to those for which the call for applications is opened;c. Doctoral degree in other fields, provided the candidate possesses a scientific track record considered relevant by the jury in the fields referred to in the preceding points.
Requirements for approval based on absolute merit: Admission of candidates is contingent upon their approval based on absolute merit, assessed through the merit of their overall curriculum in the scientific field of the competition, and also takes into account the fulfillment of the following requirements, cumulatively:
1. Possess a minimum of five years of professional experience, following the attainment of a doctoral degree, in the sub-fields covered by the competition;
2. Have been the first or second author of at least four scientific articles published within the last six years—in the sub-fields covered by the competition—in journals indexed in Clarivate Analytics Web of Science or SCOPUS and classified as Q1 or Q2 quartile;
3. Have participated, as a member of a research team, in at least three research projects—at least one of which involved serving as principal investigator—whether completed or ongoing, funded through competitive national or international calls, within the scientific sub-areas of this call;
4. Have participated in at least two European cooperation projects focused on the development of research strategies, open science practices, and collaboration mechanisms within the framework of European university alliances.
Selection method: The selection method to be applied to candidates admitted to the competition and approved on the basis of absolute merit is the evaluation of their curriculum vitae.

Selection process

Selection system:
1. Each jury member shall conduct a reasoned assessment of the applications in a written document—attached to the minutes of the respective meeting—stating the final score obtained by each candidate based on the evaluation criteria, parameters, and corresponding weighting factors (Evaluation Grid) set out in this notice.
2. The candidates’ final scores shall be expressed on a numerical scale of 0 to 100 points, calculated as the average of the scores awarded by each jury member.
3. The jury shall draw up a final ranked list of candidates in descending order of the quantitative scores obtained; candidates achieving a final score of 50 points or higher shall be considered approved.
Evaluation Grid:

CRITERIA

PARAMETERS

Max Points A

Valuation / Scoring

1.1 Research and Development Projects (max points: 27)

Principal investigator / Project leader of projects with evaluation and external funding, or other projects (namely European cooperation oriented towards the development of research strategies) with competitive funding.

10 pts per project

A. Scientific Performance – 70%

Project collaborator / team member of projects with evaluation and external funding, or other projects (namely European cooperation oriented towards the development of research strategies) with competitive funding.

5 pts per project

1.2 Scientific publications (max points: 25)

Scientific production: articles in indexed peer-reviewed journals as author or co-author.

5 pts per published article

Publication of books, book chapters, papers in peer-reviewed conference proceedings of which the candidate is author or co-author.

2 pts per publication

1.3 Technical-scientific organisation (max points: 10)

. Integrated member of a research unit evaluated by the AII with a minimum rating of GOOD.

0.5 pt per year

Collaborating member of a research unit evaluated by the AII with a minimum rating of GOOD.

0.25 pts per year

Member of scientific/organising committees of technical-scientific conferences.

0.5 pts per committee

Reviewing articles for indexed peer-reviewed scientific journals.

0.5 pts per review

1.4 Supervision/co-supervision of theses/dissertations/reports leading to an academic degree completed (max points: 5)

Completed PhD theses.

4 pt per PhD

Completed Master’s dissertations / internship reports / projects.

1 pt per Master’s

1.5 Participation in academic examination boards (max points: 3)

PhD, Master’s, Bachelor’s degree.

1 pt per PhD; 0.5 pt per Master’s; 0.25 pt per Bachelor’s

CRITERIA

PARAMETERS

Max Points B

Valuation / Scoring

B. Knowledge Transfer and Valorization- 15%

2.1 Authorship or co-authorship of prototypes, patents or models (max points: 5)

Authorship or co-authorship of prototypes, patents, software or models.

3 pts per authorship or co-authorship

2.2 Cooperation and linkage activities with the productive/business sector with external funding (max points: 5)

Provision of services; Consultancy / Research projects funded by industry.

3 pts per completed work

2.3 Science and Technology Outreach (max points: 3)

Invited lectures at international and national technical-scientific events and seminars.

2 pts per lecture

2.4 Knowledge management activities and promotion of open science practices (max points: 2)

Lectures, seminars and open science events; Science communication/outreach publications.

1 pt per activity

CRITERIA

PARAMETERS

Max Points C

Valuation / Scoring

C. Other Relevant Activities – 15%

3.1 Science Outreach and Communication to the General Public (max points: 1.5)

Lectures, seminars and open science events, science communication publications, participation in fairs, exhibitions, showcases or science weeks.

1 pt per activity

3.2 Cooperation activities (max points: 1.5)

Participation in European alliance activities connected to communities; Capacity building for open science; Participation in international mobility programmes / Cooperation activities with national and international sector associations.

1 pt per activity

3.3 Teaching experience (max points: 5)

Teaching in the scientific fields of Applied Geophysics and Physics; Student supervision in final Bachelor’s project / internship; Development of pedagogical/teaching materials; Pedagogical/Teacher training.

2.5 pts per pedagogical activity

3.4 Fieldwork experience (max points: 2)

Namely of a geophysical and hydrogeological nature.

1 pt per completed work

3.5 Activities for developing research and technological development project proposals for external funding (max points: 5)

Project proposals submitted for competitive funding.

3 pts per submitted proposal

Note: All parameters will be evaluated solely and exclusively within the specific area and sub-area for which the competition was opened.

Additional comments

Formalisation of applications: Applications are formalized by submitting a request addressed to the President of IPS, available on the Polytechnic of Setúbal website (www.ips.pt) under the tabs Conhecer > Organização > Divisão de Gestão de Pessoas > Recrutamento de Investigadores, and at the following link: https://ips.pt/conhecer/organizacao/gestao-pessoas/recrutamento/investigadores/
1. Preferably by email to the address bolsas.investigacao.dgp@ips.pt, no later than 11:59 PM on the final day of the application period. The application must be submitted as a single file—in PDF or ZIP format—containing all required documents, or alternatively, by providing a link to a file-sharing platform that allows access to the complete documentation. The email subject line and the attached file (or the provided link) must be clearly identified; failure to do so may result in the application not being considered;
The relevant service will confirm receipt of the application via the same channel.
By registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt, addressed to the President of IPS, to: Divisão de Gestão de Pessoas, Escola Superior de Tecnologia de Setúbal, Campus do IPS, Estefanilha, 2910-761, Setúbal, by the deadline established for the submission of applications—with the date stamped on the registration receipt serving as the date of dispatch for the purpose of meeting said deadline—in an envelope duly identified with the applicant’s name and the BEP vacancy code;
1. Delivered in person to the IPS People Management Division during office hours (10:00 AM–12:00 PM / 2:30 PM–4:30 PM) by the application deadline, in an envelope clearly marked with the applicant’s name and the BEP vacancy code.
The application must be accompanied by the following documentation:
1. Qualification certificates, proving that the candidate meets the requirements specified in this call for applications;
2. Other diplomas or certificates from the courses listed in the curriculum vitae, as well as other documents that facilitate the assessment of the candidates’ aptitude for performing the duties associated with the position of Assistant Researcher;
3. A detailed, dated, and signed version of the curriculum vitae, mandatorily organized in accordance with the evaluation grid and containing no confidential personal data (specifically parentage, marital status, residential address, or email and mobile/telephone contact details);
4. Another version of the curriculum vitae, organized in accordance with the absolute merit criteria defined for admission to the competition;
5. Works and proof of the scientific or professional activities mentioned in the curriculum vitae;
6. Scientific publications and/or other documents from the candidate that they consider relevant.
To facilitate the most appropriate classification of curricular elements, candidates must organize both versions of their curriculum vitae in accordance with the evaluation and absolute merit grids for admission approved by the selection panel, including appropriate hyperlinks connecting the items listed in both versions to the corresponding documents; failure to do so may result in the non-assessment of the elements within each item of the evaluation grid.
Failure to submit the works and proof of the activities mentioned in the candidate’s curriculum vitae shall result in those elements not being scored under the respective items of the evaluation grid.
Recognition of qualifications: Candidates holding qualifications obtained from foreign higher education institutions must provide proof of their recognition, in accordance with applicable legislation.
The application and all accompanying documents must be submitted in either Portuguese or English.
Candidates who fail to provide proof of meeting the admission requirements set forth therein are excluded from admission.
Notifications: Notifications shall be sent to the email address provided in the application form or, where such notification is not possible or appropriate, via one of the other notification methods provided for in the CAP, as currently amended.