One Research Initiation Fellowship (BII) in the field of galaxiesRef: IA2025-05-BII
The
Centro de Investigação em Astronomia/Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto (CAUP) opens a call for
one Research Initiation Fellowship (BII) in the field of Astronomy/Astrophysics – galaxies 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 Astronomy/Astrophysics in Portugal, integrating researchers from the universities of Porto, Lisbon and Coimbra, and is responsible for a major fraction of the national productivity in international ISI journals in the field of Space Sciences. Research and science communication at IA include topics and instrumentation at the forefront of research in Astronomy/Astrophysics and Space Sciences.
The position is offered in the context of the project “
Dark matter and metals in galaxies (DarkMAGE)”, funded by Portuguese funds through FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (reference PTDC/FIS-AST/4862/2020), under the following conditions:
1.- Scientific area: Astronomy and Astrophysics.
2.- Requirements for admission: The applicants must:
a) not exceed with this contract, including the possible renovations, an accumulated period of one year in this type of fellowship, continuously or with interruptions;
b) 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 skills and qualifications: - Having completed the first year of a bachelor degree.
- Experience with galaxy formation simulations and MUSE data analysis.
4.- Contracting requirements: Presentation of the following documents at the time of signing the fellowship agreement:
a) 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.
b) Proof of enrolment in a professional higher technical course, a bachelor degree, an integrated master or a master degree.
5.- Work plan: The grantee will undertake a study of the Antlia B faint dwarf galaxy based on data from the MUSE-Faint survey.
6.- Legislation framework: The fellowship contract will comply with:
- Law n.º 123/2019, of 28th August 2019 - ''Estatuto do Bolseiro de Investigação'' (Research Grant Holder Statute) in force [https://dre.pt/dre/legislacao-consolidada/lei/2004-58216179]
- Regulation n.º 950/2019, of 16th December 2019 - ''Regulamento de Bolsas e Investigação da Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia'' (Regulation of Fellowship of Research) in force [https://files.dre.pt/2s/2019/12/241000000/0009100105.pdf]
- "CAUP's Fellowship Regulation" (available at www.astro.up.pt/documentos/CAUP-RegulamentoBolsas.pdf).
The fellow's functions are carried out under a scheme of exclusive dedication, in accordance with the terms established in the article 5 of Research Grant Holder Statute (Estatuto do Bolseiro de Investigação).
7.- Monthly allowance: According to the FCT table values [https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Tabela_valores_SMM_2025.pdf], the monthly allowance will be € 651,12 (tax free) and will be paid monthly by bank transfer.
The fellow will have a personal accident insurance. They can also exercise the right to social security by joining the voluntary social insurance scheme, if not covered by any other social protection scheme, under the terms of the Código dos Regimes Contributivos do Sistema Previdencial de Segurança Social, as stipulated in article 10 of the Research Grant Holder Statute (Estatuto do Bolseiro de Investigação).
8.- Place of work: The work will be carried out at CAUP (in the Porto node of the Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço), Rua das Estrelas, 4150-762, under the scientific supervision of Jarle Brinchmann
9.- Fellowship duration: The fellowship should preferentially start in June 2025 and has a duration of 3 months. The end of the fellowship cannot exceed the end of the project (31 August 2025).
10.- Application: The application, to be submitted through the web form indicated below, should include the following information:
a.) Cover letter with a brief description of the candidate's experience and motivation.
b.) Detailed Curriculum Vitae describing the academic path and research experience (up to 4 pages with at least 10pt font size).
c.) List of completed curricular units with the respective grades.
The documents that prove the entitlement of academic qualifications or diplomas can be dismissed during the application period and replaced by a signed declaration of honour. If not provided during the application process, these documents must nevertheless be submitted when signing the contract.
In the event that the degree was awarded by a higher education institution outside of Portugal, that degree must comply with the provisions of Decree-Law n.º 66/2018 of 16th August 2018 (approves the legal regime for the recognition of foreign higher academic degrees) and Ministerial Order n.º 43/2020 of 14th February which changes the Ministerial Order n.º 33/2019 of 25th January, and all formalities established therein must be complied with up to the date of signing the contract.
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. They can also check information on the website of the University of Porto: https://sigarra.up.pt/up/en/WEB_BASE.GERA_PAGINA?p_pagina=1005819.
11.- Deadline: This call for applications will remain open from the 09 of May until the 23 of May 2025.
12.- Selection criteria and evaluation: The evaluation of the applications will be performed based on:
a.) (15%) Cover letter with a brief description of the candidate's experience and motivation.
b.) (55%) CV, considering the degree and previous academic training, including grades of completed curricular units and the relevance of that training to the topic of the call.
c.) (30%) Relevance of previous research experience.
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:Jarle Brinchmann (Chair)
Catarina Lobo
Polychronis Papaderos
Ana Afonso (alternate)
14.- Awarding of the contract: Following the evaluation process, the fellowship will be offered according to the ordered list proposed by the selection committee. The position will be granted only if suitable candidates are identified. Only candidates with a minimum grade of 70% will be accepted. All the candidates will be notified by e-mail, sent by the call holder, with the final classifications and the selection meeting minutes and/or evaluation grids enclosed.
15.- Time limits for the appeal procedure: Candidates have 10 working days, after the date of announcement of the results, to pronounce on the decision through e-mail to jobs@iastro.pt and to the Chair of the Selection Committee [jarle@astro.up.pt]. Appeals against the final decision may be submitted to the Executive Board of CAUP (direcao@lists.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, undermined or deprived of any right or exempted from any duty, namely, due to ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, civil status, family situation, economic situation, origin or social condition, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic disease, nationality, ethnicity or race, country or territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological beliefs, or trade union affiliation.
Publication date: 09 May 2025
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