Announcement for the attribution of a Research Grant - 1 Vacancy

A call is now open for the attribution of one (1) Research Grant within the scope of the project “neXt Sense - Safety Connected and Automated Vehicles”, ref. 179491, co-financed by FEDER, through the Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalization (POCI) - COMPETE 2020, under Portugal 2020, in the terms of the “Aviso de Abertura de Concurso n.º 11/SI/2021” as defined in paragraph a) of no.1 of article 62nd of “Regulamento Específico do domínio da Competitividade e Internacionalização (RECI)” Ordinance No. 57 -A/2015, of February 27th, in order to execute, develop and participate in the research and development project indicated above.

Scientific area: Computer Science

Specific Scientific Area: Informatics Engineer, Biomedical Engineer (Medical Informatics) or related areas

Recipient category: The open position is intended for candidates holding a master's degree who, on the date of their hiring, prove their enrollment in one of the following courses:

- PhD (in the area or area related to the request in the notice);

- Master's/Integrated Master's (another master's degree in the area or related area to the one requested in the notice);

- Non-conferring degree course, integrated in the educational project of the institution, developed in association or cooperation with one or several R&D units (eg: postgraduate studies, advanced studies, specialized training).

Requirement for granting the fellowship:

• The applicants may apply without prior registration in the course for which the research grant 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 research grants 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 research grants, issued by the academic services of the Higher Education Institution, indicating, respectively, the academic year or its duration (star and term).
• Enrollment in non-certified courses (without curricular units) will not be considered as proof of enrollment.

Candidates profile: candidates must have, at the time of application, a Master's degree in Informatics Engineer, Biomedical Engineer (Medical Informatics) or related fields.

a) Candidates, mandatorily, should also have knowledge in:

- Machine Learning, Programming, Deep Learning and Computer Vision;

b) Priority will be given to candidates with experience in:

- Participation in research projects.

Applicants eligibility: Applicants must comply with the eligibility conditions laid down in article 9 of the Research Grants Regulation of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (2019).

Workplan and objectives to be achieved: The work plan is included in the Subprogram SP1 - "Micro-systems technology (MEMS) for automotive sensors", in Activity 3, in the profile " MSc Ciências de Computadores - Novo #1", which corresponds to the initial period established for the research scholarship, to be added in eventual renewals, in a specific document (work plan). This plan consists in studying and developing software applications and TinyML classifiers to increase the range of applications in which the proposed MEMS sensors can be used. Development of the first proofs of concept, writing technical progress reports on the activities undertaken as part of the project; Preparation and specification of Artificial intelligence models; Design and implementation, training and validation of the AI models; Validation, verification, evaluation and benchmarking of the TinyML classifiers; Integration, construction and validation of the laboratory prototype;. Writing technical progress reports on the activities undertaken as part of the project; Writing and submission of scientific papers for publication in Journal Citation Report (JCR) journals.

The evaluation of the work carried out will be verified through the results obtained and expressed in the activities report, which will be elaborated by the researcher.

This research context and methodological approach is adequate for the realization of the master's dissertation, in the case of candidates enrolled in 2nd cycle courses, such as Masters or Integrated Masters, or in Doctoral Courses, for the development of the doctoral thesis.

Applicable legislation and regulations: Research Fellowship Holder Statutes, approved by Law no. 40/2004 of August 18, in its current version published by Decree-Law no. 123/2019 of august 28; Regulation of Scientific Research Fellowships of the University of Minho (RBIC), published in “Diário da República”, 2nd series, no. 119, through dispatch no. 6524/2020 of 22-06-2020, ratified by ratification declaration no. 447/2021 of 22-06-2021 and Regulation of Research Studentships and Fellowships (RBI) of the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. - in force. https://www.fct.pt/financiamento/programas-de-financiamento/bolsas/.

Host/Contracting institution and scientific supervision: The workplan will be carried out in Centro Algoritmi of School of Engineering of University of Minho, located in the Gualtar Campus under the scientific supervision of Doctor José Manuel Ferreira Machado, Associate Professor at Informatics Department University of Minho.

Research Grant duration: The grant will take place for a period of 12 months, with a provisional starting date on the July of 2023. The research grant contract can be eventually renewable for additional periods up to:

• 2 years: Master students;
• 4 years: PhD students.

Under no circumstances may research grants exceed the maximum duration of the project and/or the applicable legislation.

Remunerationof the research grant: The remuneration (Monthly Maintenance Allowance), accordingly with the remuneration values published by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT I.P.) in the country, is the following:

• PhD students: 1199,64 euros
• Masters enrolled in non-conferring courses that do not award an academic degree: 1199,64 euros
• Master and integrated master students: 930,98 euros

Annex I – Monthly Stipends Values for the maintenance allowances of the FCT Regulation for Research Studentships and Fellowships) and Annex II of the Regulation of Scientific Research Fellowships of the University of Minho (RBIC), published in “Diário da República”, 2nd series, no. 119, through dispatch no. 6524/2020 of 22-06-2020, ratified by ratification declaration no. 447/2021 of 22-06-2021, according to the applicable regulation. (https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM_2023.pdf).

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

Other benefits: Reimbursement of Voluntary Social Insurance (Social Security contributions), corresponding to the 1st Echelon of the IAS (Indexante dos Apoios Sociais - Index of Social Support), 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: the Jury is composed by the following elements:

President of the jury: Doctor José Manuel Ferreira Machado, Associate Professor with Habilitation at Informatics Department University of Minho.

Effective Member: Doctor António Carlos da Silva Abelha, Assistant Professor at Informatics Department at University of Minho.

Effective Member: Doctor Hugo Daniel Abreu Peixoto, Assistant Researcher at Centro ALGORITMI at University of Minho.

Substitute Member: Doctor Paulo Jorge Freitas Oliveira Novais, Full Professor at Informatics Department at University of Minho.

Substitute Member: Doctor Victor Manuel Rodrigues Alves Assistant Professor at Informatics Department at 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 the applications will focus on the Candidate's Merit (MC), applying as the only selection method the personal curriculum vitae, valued on a scale of 0 to 20 values:

A. Curricular Evaluation, with a weighting of 40%:

A1: Final course average, with a weighting of 60%.

A2: Relevance of the training area in the work plan (according to the reference table), with a weighting of 30%.

A3: Motivation letter and/or recommendation letters, with a weighting of 10%.

B. Consolidated Knowledge in Computer Engineering, Machine Learning, Programming, Deep Learning and Computer Vision, with a weighting of 60%:

B1: Consolidated knowledge of Machine Learning, with a weighting of 20%;

B2: Knowledge of Edge Computing, Computer Vision, ML Model Fusion, Continuous Learning, with the weighting of 50%;

B3: Programming skills (C/C++/Java/Python), namely using GPU systems, with a weighting of 20%;

B4: Knowledge of Distributed Systems, with a weighting of 10%.

The relevance of the training area will be evaluated according to the table established in the criteria definition minute, previously drawn up.

Final classification formula: The final classification of the candidates that complete the procedure will be expressed on a scale from 0 to 20 points and will result from the arithmetic weighted average of the quantitative classifications obtained in each selection method, according to the following formula:

CM = (A*0,4) + (B*0,6)

where: A = (A1*0,6) + (A2*0,3) + (A3*0,1)

and: B = (B1*0,2) + (B2*0,5) + (B3*0,2) + (B4*0,1)

The jury may resort to interviews for selection of the three (3) candidates with the best classification. In case the jury proceeds to interviews, the selection methods change to the following ones:

A. Curricular Evaluation, with a weighting of 40%:

A1: Final average of the course, with a weighting of 60%.

A2: Relevance of the training area in the work plan (according to the reference table), with a weighting of 30%.

A3: Motivation letter and/or recommendation letters, with a weighting of 10%.

B. Consolidated Knowledge in Computer Engineering, Machine Learning, Programming, Deep Learning and Computer Vision, with a weighting of 30%:

B1: Consolidated knowledge of Machine Learning, with a weighting of 20%;

B2: Knowledge of Edge Computing, Computer Vision, ML Model Fusion, Continuous Learning, with the weighting of 50%;

B3: Programming skills (C/C++/Java/Python), namely using GPU systems, with a weighting of 20%;

B4: Knowledge of Distributed Systems, with a weighting of 10%;

C. Interview, with a weighting of 30%:

C1: Interpersonal Skills, with the weighting of 30%.

C2: Demonstrated knowledge in the project area, with a weighting of 30%.

C3: Motivation, with a weighting of 30%.

C4: Language skills, with a weighting of 10%.

The final classification of the candidates that complete the procedure will be expressed on a scale from 0 to 20 points and will result from the arithmetic weighted average of the quantitative classifications obtained in each selection method, according to the following formula:

CM = (A*0,4) + (B*0,3) + (C*0,3)

where: A = (A1*0,6) + (A2*0,3) + (A3*0,1)

and: B = (B1*0,2) + (B2*0,5) + (B3*0,2) + (B4*0,1)

and: C = (C1*0,3) + (C2*0,3) + (C3*0,3) + (C4*0,1)

Candidates who obtain a valuation lower than 9,50 values ​​in the average of any of the selection methods are considered excluded from the final valuation.

The jury reserves the right not to award the research grant if candidates with the appropriate profile are not presented to the tender.

The academic degrees and diplomas documents, or their respective recognition when awarded by foreign higher education institutions are not mandatory in the application phase, being replaced by a declaration of honour of the candidate with the contents of academic results. The documents of academic qualification or respective recognition will be required in the contracting phase and must attest facts that occurred on a date prior to the application. In situations of divergence between the information contained in the declaration and the documentation submitted for contracting the grant, only the information contained in the latter will be consider. If the documents proving the ownership of the academic degree and diploma, or the respective recognition under the terms of Decree-Law No. 66/2018, of August 16, do not correspond to the classifications awarded in the evaluation of the academic path, which can change the candidate's ranking, the fellowship won’t be contracted.

The degree recognition must include the respective conversion of the final classification obtained in the foreign qualification, to the Portuguese classification scale. Candidates who do not comply with these terms, when there is a selection method in which the final grade of the course is indicated as an evaluation criterion, the jury will assign a classification of 0 (zero) values ​​in that component.

In the application stage, when a declaration of honor is presented in replacement of degree recognition by a Portuguese higher education institution, and the degree recognition process has not yet been completed, the indication of the final grade of the academic degree will not be admitted as evidence for evaluation, when there is a selection method in which the final course grade is indicated as an evaluation criterion. Thus, in this situation, or when presenting only a certificate of qualifications from a foreign institution, the jury will assign a classification of 0 (zero) values ​​in the aforementioned selection method.

Disclosure of results: The provisional results of applications, based in the selection panel minutes, will be sent to applicants by email, within a maximum period of 90 working days from the term of submission of applications, pursuant to article 12 of the RBI of FCT.

If case of unfavorable results, the candidates have a period of 10 working days to comment, if desired, in a prior hearing to interested parties, pursuant to articles 121 and 122 of the Code of Administrative Procedure (DL no. 4 / 2015 of January 7th).

Complaint and appeal procedures: The final results of the evaluation will be published through an ordered list, by final grade obtained, posted in a visible and public place of the host unit, as well as by email to all applicants, enclosing for that purpose, the minutes of the jury deliberations.

The selected candidate must inform its willingness to accept the grant, in writing. In case of rejection, the fellowship will be awarded to the next candidate in the ordered list of applicants.

The final decision can be contested within 15 working days, by sending to the President of the jury the corresponding claim. Interested parties may also submit an optional hierarchical appeal, in the terms of the number 3 of article 13 of Regulation of Scientific Research Fellowships of the University of Minho (RBIC).

Application deadline and submission: The call for applications is open from June 22nd till July 06th of 2023.

Applications must be formalized, mandatorily, by sending an application letter accompanied by the following documents: Curriculum Vitae, qualifications certificates necessary for evaluating the requirements and selection criteria mentioned in the call or declaration of honor of the candidate (if applicable). Optionally, the candidate may send other documents considered relevant for the application.

The example of declaration of honor can be found in the call in Portuguese, accessible through the URL https://crossmappingthefuture.com/#jobopportunities.

The selected candidate must certify that he/she has a qualified digital signature until the contracting phase of the research grant. More information is available on the UMinho portal: https://www.uminho.pt/PT/Teletrabalho/Paginas/AssinaturaDigital.aspx or on the Portal: https://www.autenticacao.gov.pt/.

Applications must be sent by email to divulgacao.innovativecarhmi@eng.uminho.pt, indicating the reference of the call in “Subject”. Applications submitted by other means will not be accepted.

Failure to indicate the call reference, the lack of any of the documents required in the application, or sending/delivering it to a location other than the one indicated above, may imply its exclusion. The call reference should resemble something like NS/XXXX/YEAR.

Fellowship contractualization: The fellowship will be attributed by signing a fellowship contract between the University of Minho and the fellow, accordingly with the contract minute (annex IV of the Regulation of Research Fellowships of the University of Minho (RBIC), published in Diário da República, 2nd Série, no. 119, through dispatch no. 6524/2020 of 22-06-2020, ratified by ratification declaration no. 447/2021 of 22-06-2021, as indicated in 2.4 of the FCT document: “Rules for Granting and Management of Grants within the scope of R&D projects, including infrastructure projects, the multi-annual financing program for R&D units and other FCT financing instruments (Version 2021)”. https://former.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/docs/Normas_de_Atribuicao_de_Bolsas…

The contract may only be concluded after all the documentation required is collected, which must take place within a maximum period of 6 months [including evidences of master degree or its recognition in Portugal, under Decree-law no. 66/2018 of august 16th].

Once all the documentation has been received, the contracting entity has a period of 60 working days to conclude the research grant contract. Once received, the fellow must return the contract duly signed within 15 working days.

The activities under the fellowship contract can only began after proper authorization by the contracting entity.

Term and cancellation of fellowship contracts: Without prejudice to the other causes provided the fellowship regulations (FCT and UMinho) and in the Statute of the Research Fellow, the fellowship ends with the completion of the work plan, as well as with the expiration date for which it was granted or renewed.

At the end of the fellowship, the grantee is obligated to present a Final Report of the work carried out, in accordance with the objectives and evaluation criteria defined with the scientific advisor, within 30 working days after the end of the research grant.

The final report must be prepared in accordance with Annex I of the Scientific Research Fellowships Regulation of the University of Minho (RBIC), published in Diário da República, 2nd Série, no. 119, through dispatch no. 6524/2020 of 22-06-2020, ratified by ratification declaration no. 447/2021 of 22-06-2021.

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