(BL03/2023)

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE ATTRIBUTION OF SCHOLARSHIPS IN THE SCOPE OF R&D PROJECTS AND INSTITUTIONS

A research grant for a master's or integrated master's student

There is an open call for applications for a Research Grant under the Terraprima – Serviços Ambientais project "GreenBeef: Towards carbon neutral Angus beef production in Portugal" (POCI-01-0247-FEDER-047050), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the POCI - Competitiveness and Internationalization Operational Programme (COMPETE 2020) and the POR Lisboa 2020 - Lisbon Regional Operational Programme, under the following conditions:

Scientific Domain: Environment.

Admission Requirements: 

In compliance with article 6 of the FCT Research Grants Regulations (Reg. no. 950/2019), the applicant must be enrolled in an integrated master's or a master's degree.

Work plan: The activities to be developed by the fellow include: 1. field work for extensive soil sample collection in selected farms; 2. analyse the results of laboratory analysis for the amount of Organic Carbon (done by a contracted laboratory); 3. evaluate the effectiveness of different practices in carbon sequestration.

This work is part of the project "GreenBeef: Towards carbon neutral Angus beef production in Portugal" (https://www.terraprima.pt/pt/projecto/27), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the POCI - Competitiveness and Internationalisation Operational Programme (COMPETE 2020) and POR Lisboa 2020 - Lisbon Regional Operational Programme.

Legislation and applicable regulations: Law no. 40/2004, of 18 August (Statute of the Scientific Research Grant Holder), as amended by Decree-Law no. 123/2019, of 28 August; FCT Research Grant Regulations, available at https://dre.pt/dre/legislacao-consolidada/lei/2004-58216179 and https://dre.pt/application/file/a/127230968.

Work place: The work will be developed in the Porto Alto office of Terraprima – Serviços Ambientais, in Instituto Superior Técnico and in the farms where the soil samples will be collected, under the scientific supervision of Eng. Paulo Canaveira and Eng. Nuno Filipe Ribeiro Rodrigues.

Duration of the grant: The grant will have a duration of 3 months, starting in March 2023. The grant contract may be renewed up to a maximum of 12 months of total duration (not exceeding the end of the project, if it is extended). When the academic degree or diploma is awarded during the duration of the scholarship contract, it may be concluded under the contractual terms established.

Amount of monthly maintenance allowance: The amount of the grant corresponds to 875,98 € per month, according to the table of values of grants awarded directly by FCT, I.P. in the country (https://former.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/valores.phtml.pt), and the mode of payment is at the option of the grant holder by Bank Transfer/Check. Terraprima will reimburse the grant holder for payment of Voluntary Social Security (up to the amount corresponding to the 1st level).

Selection methods:

1) Curricular assessment: 75%, of which:

a. 20% awarded for the classification in the Undergraduate Degree (1st Cycle) (points 1 to 20);

b. 20% attributed to demonstrable knowledge of environmental engineering (score from 1 to 20); 

c. 30% attributed to the experience in carbon accounting methods and strategies for its reduction (score from 1 to 20);

d. 5% to the experience of publication of scientific articles in journals or communications in national or international conferences (score from 1 to 20).

2) Individual interview (in case of a tie in the curricular evaluation): 25% (score from 1 to 20). This interview will evaluate the motivation and sensitivity for the planned activities and the availability to develop their activities in the places foreseen in the work plan.

Composition of the Selection Board:

• Chairman: Prof. Tiago Domingos;
• Members: Eng. Paulo Canaveira and Eng. Nuno Rodrigues;
• Substitute: Eng. Ivo Gama.

Form of publication/notification of results: All candidates will be notified of the Final Result of the Evaluation by e-mail.

Deadlines and procedures for prior hearing, complaint and appeal: after communication of the provisional list of evaluation results, the candidates have a period of 10 working days to, if they wish, make their comments during a prior hearing of interested parties, under the terms of articles 121 and following of the Administrative Procedure Code. The final decision will be issued after the analysis of the statements presented during the prior hearing of interested parties. From the final decision a complaint can be made to the Jury of the competition or an appeal can be made to the Directorate of Terraprima within 15 working days counting from the respective notification.

Application deadline and submission of applications: The competition is open from 16 to 21 February 2023 (inclusive).

Applications must be submitted with the following documents: i) Research Grant Application Form (available at https://www.terraprima.pt/pt/download/88/60994 ), ii) Curriculum Vitae; iii) proof of enrolment in a Master's Degree or Integrated Master's Degree programme; iv) letter of motivation. These documents should be sent to the following e-mail address ambiental@terraprima.pt.