Portuguese version: https://repositorio.inesctec.pt/editais/pt/AE2026-0283.pdf

CALL FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS (AE2026-0283)

INESC TEC is now accepting grant applications to award 1 Research Grant (BI) within the scope of the Multiannual Funding of R&D Units 2025-2029, with the reference UID/50014/2025, Funded by national funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), I.P.

1. GRANT DESCRIPTION

Type of grant: Research Grant (BI)

General scientific area: COMPUTER SCIENCE

Scientific subarea: Informatics

Grant duration: 3 months, starting on 2026-11-04 with the possibility of being renewed for a maximum term of one year, in cases where the grant has been awarded to students who are enrolled in non-award courses, or up to two years, in the cases of students enrolled in a master's degree.

Scientific advisor: Ricardo Gonçalves Macedo

Workplace: INESC TEC, Braga , Portugal

Maintenance stipend: 1090.98, according to the table of monthly maintenance stipend for FCT grants (https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM_atu…), paid via bank transfer. Grant holders may be awarded potential supplements, according to a quarterly evaluation process (Articles 19, 21 and 22 of the Regulations for Grants of INESC TEC and Annex II), up to a maximum limit of 50 of the monthly maintenance stipend.

INESC TEC supports costs with registration, enrolment or tuition fees, during the grant duration, under the terms established in the internal document: "Payment of Tuition fees to grant holders" (https://www.inesctec.pt/pagamento-propinas-bolseirosEN)

The grant holder will benefit from health insurance, supported by INESC TEC.

2. OBJECTIVES:

The main goal of this grant is to improve the performance and utilization of computational resources in key-value storage systems, typically used to store large datasets (RocksDB, LeanStore, TreeLine). Specifically, the work to be developed should propose a new design and implement a proof-of-concept prototype of a key-value storage system that leverages remote and disaggregated storage devices. The proposed solution should also consider caching algorithms for remote scenarios and reduce write amplification.

3. BRIEF PRESENTATION OF THE WORK PROGRAMME AND TRAINING:

Responsibilities under the grant:;
- Design of a key-value storage system that takes advantage of remote and disaggregated storage devices, including persistent memory devices, NVMe SSDs, and SATA SSDs.;
- Implementation of a prototype of the previous system and design of caching algorithms for remote devices and minimize write amplification.;
- Experimental evaluation of the developed prototype using realistic workloads.;
The tasks described in this work plan require the application and development of concepts and techniques from Computer Engineering, which are typically addressed in the core curriculum of the Integrated Master's Degree in Computer Engineering or the Master's Degree in Computer Engineering.;

4. REQUIRED PROFILE:

Admission requirements:
BSc Degree in Informatics Engineering or BSc Degree in Informatics Engineering Sciences
The awarding of the fellowship is dependent on the applicants' enrolment in study cycle or non-award courses of Higher Education Institutions.

Preference factors:
- Experience with different key-value store systems, including RocksDB, BlobDB, Keigo, LeanStore, and TreeLine.;
- Solid knowledge of heterogeneous storage stacks.;
- Experience with the C++ programming language

Minimum requirements:
Proven experience in the design and implementation of key-value store systems, supported by technical evidence (code repositories, projects, prototypes).
Experience in writing scientific papers.
Solid knowledge of the key-value separation organization model.
Solid knowledge of operating systems.
Solid knowledge of distributed systems.

5. EVALUATION OF APPLICATIONS AND SELECTION PROCESS:

Selection criteria and corresponding valuation: the first phase comprises the Academic Evaluation (AC), based on the criteria referred to in Article 12 of the Regulations for Grants of INESC TEC, while the second phase comprehends the Individual Interview (EI).
All factors are evaluated on a scale of 0 to 100, taking into account the applicants' merit, suitability and conformity with the preference factors.
The weight of the AC factors are as follows: Academic Qualifications (FA, 70), Scientific Publications (PC, 10), Experience (EX, 10) and Motivation Letter (CM, 10).
Candidates who score less than 50 points in the AC average will be considered excluded on absolute merit. The top five candidates approved on absolute merit will be qualified for the individual interview. The Final Grade (CF) is obtained by the weighted average of AC (80) and EI (20).

DISABILITY INCENTIVE

Candidates who present a degree of disability equal to or greater than 90% will benefit from an incentive (20) in the score of the CV Assessment.
Candidates who present a degree of disability equal to or greater than 60% and less than 90% will also benefit from an incentive (10) in the score of the CV Assessment.
Said score may, in these cases, exceed 100 points.
Candidates must demonstrate the degree of disability during the application, namely through the submission of the Multi-Purpose Medical Certificate of Disability, issued in accordance with Decree-Law no. 202/96, of October 23 - currently in effect.

The Selection Jury is composed of the following members:
President of the Jury: Ricardo Gonçalves Macedo
Full member: João Tiago Paulo
Full member: Tânia Esteves
Substitute member: Cláudia Vanessa Brito

Release of results and prior hearing: the results of the selection process, as well as the terms and procedures for prior hearing, will be released to the applicants by email, under the terms referred to in Article 13 of the Regulations for Studentships and Fellowships of INESC TEC.

6. FORMALISATION OF APPLICATIONS:

Application Documents:
1. Motivation letter;
2. Curriculum Vitae (must include the list of previous fellowships, their type, beginning and end dates, funding entities and host institutions);
3. Certificate or diploma degree;
4. Proof of enrollment in a degree awarding study cycle or in a non degree awarding Higher Education program.
- The proof of enrollment may be presented just during the grant hiring stage.
5. Signed declaration stating the infringement of the grant holder's duties (article 14, no. 4)
6. Documental evidence to support the country of residence, residence permit or other legally equivalent document, in cases where the applicant is a foreigner or non-resident in Portugal - valid until the beginning of the grant.
7. Other supporting documents relevant to the final assessment.

Failure to deliver the required documents within the 90-day period after the date of the notice of the conditional awarding of the grant implies its cancellation.

Application period: From 2026-10-01 to 2026-10-15

Submission of applications: the application will be formalised by submitting the form available in the Work With Us section of INESC TEC website.

7. BINDING LEGISLATION AND REGULATION

The hiring process shall comply with the current legislation regarding the Research Grant Holder Statute, approved by Law no. 40/2004 of August 18, in its current wording, as well as by the Regulations for Grants of INESC TEC and for https://files.dre.pt/2s/2019/12/241000000/0009100105.pdfFCT Grants Regulation in force.

For more information, please check the Regulations for Grants of INESC TEC and relevant annexes at www.inesctec.pt/bolsas