- Hold an academic degree of Bachelor in the scientific area of Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, or related fields, and meet the requirements to be enrolled in a study cycle leading to a Master’s degree (or in a Non-degree programme);

- Demonstrate experience in scientific research, with the ability to synthesise information, solve problems, and work collaboratively;

- Possess experience and/or knowledge in the development, manufacture, and characterisation of reinforced and nano-reinforced polymer composites;

- Possess experience and/or knowledge in the development and characterisation of polymer composites with self-healing properties;

- Possess knowledge of materials modelling and numerical simulation;

- Present a suitable profile for carrying out work with a strong experimental component, as well as knowledge of techniques such as tensile and flexural mechanical testing, electromechanical (piezoresistive) testing, SEM, DSC, FTIR and TGA;

- Have a strong command of spoken and written English.

The proof of enrolment in a master’s degree or non-degree conferring course must be made, mandatorily, before the signature of the contract.

BIs awarded to graduates who attend courses that do not confer an academic degree can only be granted for a maximum period of one year.

BIs awarded to graduates who are enrolled in courses that do not confer an academic degree can only be awarded to those who do not exceed, with the conclusion of the scholarship contract in question, including any renewals, the accumulated period of two years in this type of scholarship, followed or interpolated.

If the required academic degree has been conferred by a foreign higher education institution, the requirements of Decree-Law 66/2018, of 16th August and Ministerial Order no. 33/2019, of 25th January, shall be obeyed. The presentation of a recognized certificate of the Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral degree is mandatory for signature of the contract. More information can be obtained at: https://www.dges.gov.pt/en/pagina/degree-anddiploma-recognition.

A monthly maintenance allowance will be granted in accordance with the Annex I of the RBIUBI, with the amount of 1,090.98 €, based on the updated values, which can be consulted at https://www.fct.pt/financiamento/programas-de-financiamento/bolsas/. The fellowship holder will have a personal accident insurance and can choose to be covered by the voluntary social insurance. These values will be added to the amount of monthly maintenance allowance. 

- Hold an academic degree of Bachelor in the scientific area of Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, or related fields, and meet the requirements to be enrolled in a study cycle leading to a Master’s degree (or in a Non-degree programme);

- Demonstrate experience in scientific research, with the ability to synthesise information, solve problems, and work collaboratively;

- Possess experience and/or knowledge in the development, manufacture, and characterisation of reinforced and nano-reinforced polymer composites;

- Possess experience and/or knowledge in the development and characterisation of polymer composites with self-healing properties;

- Possess knowledge of materials modelling and numerical simulation;

- Present a suitable profile for carrying out work with a strong experimental component, as well as knowledge of techniques such as tensile and flexural mechanical testing, electromechanical (piezoresistive) testing, SEM, DSC, FTIR and TGA;

- Have a strong command of spoken and written English.

The proof of enrolment in a master’s degree or non-degree conferring course must be made, mandatorily, before the signature of the contract.

BIs awarded to graduates who attend courses that do not confer an academic degree can only be granted for a maximum period of one year.

BIs awarded to graduates who are enrolled in courses that do not confer an academic degree can only be awarded to those who do not exceed, with the conclusion of the scholarship contract in question, including any renewals, the accumulated period of two years in this type of scholarship, followed or interpolated.

If the required academic degree has been conferred by a foreign higher education institution, the requirements of Decree-Law 66/2018, of 16th August and Ministerial Order no. 33/2019, of 25th January, shall be obeyed. The presentation of a recognized certificate of the Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral degree is mandatory for signature of the contract. More information can be obtained at: https://www.dges.gov.pt/en/pagina/degree-anddiploma-recognition.

The selection of candidates will be based on a merit evaluation, considering academic background, relevant experience, and overall suitability for the project. The final score will be calculated on a scale from 0 to 20, based on three weighted criteria: A) Academic Qualifications; B) Relevant Experience and Technical Skills, and C) Motivation and Performance in the In-Person Interview. 

A) Academic Qualifications: emphasis will be placed on the relevance and final classification of the candidate’s academic degrees. An increase of up to 2 points (on a scale from 0 to 20) may be applied, taking into account preferred academic training and Course Units in areas such as Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Polymer Engineering, or other related fields. 

B) Relevant Experience and Technical Skills: technical skills and prior experience in experimental work related to the manufacturing and characterisation of piezoresistive polymer composites will be valued. Participation in research projects or internships shall also be considered, as well as involvement in dissemination activities, scientific and technological entrepreneurship initiatives, and idea competitions in thematic areas aligned with the project, together with the production of scientific publications and communications in the fields of multifunctional materials, piezoresistive sensors, and self-healing materials.

C) Motivation and Performance in the In-Person Interview: will consider the quality and alignment of the motivation letter with the project’s objectives, as well as the candidate’s clarity, technical understanding, and communication skills demonstrated during the interview. 

Only the three highest-ranked candidates, as assessed under items A and B, shall be admitted to the in-person interview, item (C). 

The final score will be calculated using the formula: Final Score = (A, Academic Qualifications × 0.3) + (B, Relevant Experience and Technical Skills × 0.3) + (C, Performance in the In-Person Interview× 0.4).

Candidates must obtain a minimum score of 15 points to be considered eligible. In the case of a tie, preference will be given to the candidate with the highest score in Relevant Experience and Technical Skills (B).

Applicable legislation and regulations: 

Research Fellowship Holder Statute, approved by Law No. 40/2004, of 18 August, in its current wording (amended by Decree-Law No. 123/2019, of 28 August); Regulation for Research Studentships and Fellowships of the Foundation for Science and Technology (Regulation No. 950/2019) published in the Diário da República, 2nd series, No. 241, 16 December 2019; Regulation for Research Fellowships of the University of Beira Interior - RBIUBI (Regulation No. 100/2020) published in the Diário da República, 2nd series, n.º 27 February 2020.

Complaint and Appeal Procedures: 

After communication of the provisional lists of the results in the different phases of the selection process (Admission and Exclusion, Curricular Evaluation and Interview), the candidates have 10 working days to pronounce their disagreement, under the terms of article 121 and the Código do Procedimento Administrativo. If any allegations are presented, the final decision will be issued after the analysis of the statements presented during the prior hearing of interested parties. After the statutory deadline of 10 working days, the proposal for the final classification and ranking of the candidates becomes definitive.

The proposal for the final ranking of the candidates will constitute a reserve list for selection for a period of 3 (three) months.