Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço

6 Research Initiation Fellowships (BII) in the field of Astronomy/Astrophysics

Ref: IA2022-17-BII

The Centro de Investigação em Astronomia/Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto (CAUP) opens a call for six (6) research initiation fellowships (Bolsas de Iniciação à Investigação - BII) in the field of Astronomy/Astrophysics at the Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço (IA).

The Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço (IA) is the most prominent research unit in the field of Astrophysics in Portugal, integrating researchers from the University of Porto, Lisbon and Coimbra, and is responsible for a major fraction of the national productivity in international ISI journals in this area. The research and development efforts at the IA include most of the topics at the forefront of research in Astrophysics and Space Sciences, complemented by work on instrumentation and systems with potential use in Astronomy and Astrophysics.

The positions are offered in the context of the funding of the research unit, funded by Portuguese funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) through the project UIDP/04434/2020, under the following conditions:

1.- Scientific Area: Astronomy and Astrophysics

2.- Requirements for admission: The applicants must:

a) comply with the requirement to enroll at a professional higher technical course, at a bachelor degree, at an integrated master or master degree;

b) not exceed with this contract, including the possible renovations, an accumulated period of one year in this type of fellowship, continuously or with interruptions;

c) not have previously benefited from any other research fellowship (of a different type) funded directly or indirectly by FCT, given under the terms of the Estatuto do Bolseiro de Investigação e Regulamento de Bolsas de Investigação.

Only applications from candidates having an adequate background in Astronomy, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Sciences, or other relevant domains, will be considered.

3.- Additional optional skills and qualifications: Having completed the first year of a bachelor degree.

4.- Contracting requirements:

a) Proof of enrolment at an academic degree course;

b) Declaration of honour that the applicant does not exceed with this contract, including the possible renovations, an accumulated period of one year in this type of fellowship, continuously or with interruptions, and has not held any other fellowship (of a different type) directly or indirectly funded by FCT, attributed under the terms of the Estatuto do Bolseiro de Investigação e Regulamento de Bolsas de Investigação.

5.- Work plan: The successful candidates are expected to carry out research on projects in Astronomy and Astrophysics related to the research groups in IA (http://iastro.pt/research/index.html). Proposed work plans will be made available to successful candidates.

6.- Legislation framework:
The fellowship contracts will comply with Decree-Law nº 123/2019 de 28 de Agosto - ''Estatuto do Bolseiro de Investigação'' in force [https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/estatutobolseiro] and Regulamento nº 950/2019 de 16 de Dezembro de 2019 - ''Regulamento de Bolsas e Investigação da Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia'' in force [https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/regulamento.phtml.pt], and CAUP Fellowship Regulation (available at www.astro.up.pt/documentos/CAUP-RegulamentoBolsas.pdf).

The fellowship holders' functions are carried out under a scheme of exclusive dedication, in accordance with the terms established in the Research Fellowship Holder's Statute (Estatuto do Bolseiro de Investigação). For more information, see in particular article 5 - Performing Duties [https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/estatutobolseiro].

7.- Monthly allowance: According to the FCT table values [http://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/valores], the monthly allowance will be €486,12 (tax free) and will be paid monthly by bank transfer.

The fellowship holders will have a personal accident insurance.

8.- Place of work: The work will be conducted at either the Porto or Coimbra nodes of Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço, under the scientific supervision of one or more members of the IA research team.

9.- Fellowship duration: Each position has a duration of 4 months, starting preferentially no later than the 1st of February 2023.

10.- Application: The application must be submitted through the web form indicated below, and it must include the following information/documentation:

a) Cover letter with a brief description of the candidate's motivation;

b) Curriculum Vitae, including a separate list of the completed curricular units with the respective marks;

c) Diploma or certificate of the completed degrees^(*) or proof of enrollment at an academic degree course.

11.- Deadlines: This call for applications is open from the 28th of November to the 19th of December 2022.

12.- Selection criteria and evaluation: The evaluation of the candidates will be based on the documents submitted, considering the following criteria:

a) Cover letter (20%);

b) Curriculum Vitae (80%).

An ordered list of candidates will be defined by the selection committee based on the submitted documents and the criteria mentioned above.

13.- Selection Committee:
Lara Sousa (IA/CAUP; Chair)
Teresa Barata (IA/University of Coimbra; effective member)
Francisco Lobo (IA/University of Lisbon; effective member)
Jorge Martins (IA/CAUP; effective member)
Israel Matute (IA/University of Lisbon; effective member)
Ângela Santos (IA/CAUP; effective member)
Bachar Wehbe (IA/University of Lisbon, effective member)
Jarle Brinchmann (IA/CAUP; alternate member)
Margarida Cunha (IA/CAUP; alternate member)

14.- Awarding of the contract: Following the evaluation process, the fellowships will be offered according to the ordering list proposed by the selection committee. The positions will be granted only if suitable candidates are identified. Only candidates with a minimum grade of 60% will be accepted. All the candidates will be notified by e-mail, sent by the call holder.

15.- Time limits for the appeal procedure: The candidates have 10 working days, after the date of announcement of the results of the candidates’ evaluation, to pronounce on the decision through the e-mail jobs@iastro.pt and to the Chair of the Selection Committee (Lara.Sousa@astro.up.pt). Appeals against the final decision may be submitted to the Executive Board of CAUP (direcao@astro.up.pt) within 15 working days after the notification date.

16. - Non-discrimination and equal access: CAUP promotes a policy of non-discrimination and equal access, thus no applicant may be privileged, benefited, damaged or deprived of any right or exempted from any duty by reason of ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family situation, economic situation, origin or social condition, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic disease, nationality, ethnicity or race, land of origin, language, religion, political or ideological beliefs, or trade union affiliation.

^(*) Note 1: In the event that the degree was awarded by a foreign higher education institution, that degree must comply with the provisions of Decree-Law no. 66/2018, of 16th August (approves the legal regime for the recognition of foreign higher academic degrees), and all formalities established therein must be complied with up to the date of hiring.

Applicants are advised to check the website of the Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES) for further information: https://www.dges.gov.pt/en/pagina/degree-and-diploma-recognition. Also can check information on the website of University of Porto: https://sigarra.up.pt/up/en/WEB_BASE.GERA_PAGINA?p_pagina=1005819.

Publication date:
25 November 2022

The period for application submission has ended for this opportunity.