Research Grant (BL04/2026)

(BL04/2026)

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH GRANTS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF R&D PROJECTS AND INSTITUTIONS

A Research Scholarship for students on non-degree-awarding courses

COMPETE2030-FEDER-02288900

A call for applications is now open for the award of a Research Grant under the Terraprima – Serviços Ambientais project entitled “AVALON – Assessing, Optimising and Remunerating for Sustainability in Ruminant Systems” (COMPETE2030-FEDER-02288900), co-funded by the COMPETE2030 programme, under the following conditions:

Scientific Area:
Environment and Energy.

Eligibility requirements: 

In accordance with the provisions of Article 6 of the FCT Research Grants Regulation (Reg. No. 950/2019), applicants must hold a master’s degree and, at the time of appointment, be enrolled on a non-degree-awarding course forming part of the educational programme of a higher education institution, carried out in association or cooperation with one or more R&D units.

Academic qualifications obtained in foreign countries must be registered by a Portuguese institution, in accordance with Decree-Law No. 66/2018 of 16 August and Ministerial Order No. 43/2020 of 14 February. Presentation of the certificate is mandatory for the contract to be signed. Further information is available at https://www.dges.gov.pt/pt/pagina/reconhecimento?plid=374.

Work plan:
The activities to be carried out by the research fellow fall under task T2.1 (Global-Scale Assessment), specifically the assessment of trajectories for global human activity (notably economic growth) that are compatible with the ‘planetary boundaries’, taking energy into account.

Applicable legislation and regulations:
Law No. 40/2004 of 18 August (Statute of the Scientific Research Fellow), as amended by Decree-Law No. 123/2019 of 28 August; FCT Research Fellowship Regulations, available at https://arquivo.pt/wayback/20240119164852mp_/https://former.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/docs/RegulamentoBolsasFCT2019.pdf and https://dre.pt/application/file/a/127230968.

Place of work:
The work will be carried out at Terraprima – Serviços Ambientais, at its premises in the Centro de Negócios do Porto Alto, Fracção S, Avenida das Nações Unidas, no. 97, 2135-199 Samora Correia; at Associação do Instituto Superior Técnico para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento, at Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon; at Quinta da França (Covilhã) and at Terraprima’s network of agricultural holdings. The work plan will be supervised by Prof. Tiago Domingos and Researcher João Santos.

Duration of the fellowship:
The research fellowship will last for 12 months, with a planned start date in September 2026.

Monthly maintenance grant amount:
The grant amounts to €1,359.64 per month, in accordance with the scale of grants awarded directly by FCT, I.P. in Portugal (https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM-2026.pdf). The method of payment is at the fellow’s discretion: bank transfer or cheque. The fellow’s Voluntary Social Security contributions will be reimbursed (up to the amount corresponding to the first bracket).

Selection methods:
The following selection methods will be used:

1) Assessment of the curriculum and academic and scientific background (80%), broken down as follows:

1. Master’s degree classification (20%, scored from 1 to 20, converted proportionally);
2. Relevance of the Master’s thesis and/or publications (30%, scored from 1 to 20) – preference will be given to theses on energy-economic modelling, in particular the use of exergy-based production functions, integrated assessment models (e.g. GHKT), and the ability to calibrate models in MATLAB/R. The presentation of results at international conferences or the existence of articles in preparation or under review will be considered an additional merit factor;
3. Technical and interdisciplinary skills (30%, scored from 1 to 20) – the following will be assessed:

• Proficiency in programming tools (MATLAB, R, Stata, Git);
• Experience with energy databases;
• Interdisciplinary training;
• Participation in scientific networks and summer schools in the field;
• Previous experience in research projects.

2) Possible individual interview (20 per cent, applicable only if the Selection Panel deems it necessary to break a tie or to clarify aspects of the CV) – scored from 1 to 20, focusing on motivation, knowledge of the research proposal and the ability to communicate scientific ideas in English.

Composition of the Selection Panel:

• Chair: Professor Tiago Domingos;
• Members: Researcher João Santos and Engineer Nuno Rodrigues.
• Alternate: Eng. Ivo Gama.

Method of publication/notification of results:
All candidates will be notified of the Final Assessment Result by email.

Application deadline and how to submit applications:
The call for applications is open from – 10 August 2026 to 14 August 2026.

Applications must be submitted by sending the following documents:
i) Research Grant Application Form (available at https://www.terraprima.pt/pt/download/88/60994);
ii) Curriculum Vitae;
iii) academic qualifications certificate;
iv) proof of enrolment on a non-degree course (only at the time of appointment);
v) letter of motivation;
vi) a sworn statement confirming that, upon signing the grant contract in question, the applicant has not exceeded a cumulative period of two years on this type of grant, whether consecutive or non-consecutive.

These documents should be sent by email to ambiental@terraprima.pt