Bachelor's Research Fellowship (BI - Lic)

Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Dep. Of Chemistry and Biochemistry of the University of Évora

Bachelor's Research Fellowship (BI - Lic) - 1 VACANCIES

27 of October of 2026

A call for tenders is open for Bachelor's Research Scholarship (BI) within the scope of the project PhytoMPs Phytoremediation of microplastics present in treated urban wastewater: dynamic removal and fate, with reference 15133_PhytoMPs, financed by national funds through COMPETE2030-FEDER-00879500.

Scientific area: Chemistry and Biochemistry

Admission requirements:

1. Candidates must have a Bachelor's degree in the fields of Chemistry, Environment, Biochemistry, Environmental Chemistry.
2. Knowledge and experience in separation, identification and characterization of microplastics, namely in morphological characterization by optical microscopy and molecular characterization by infrared microspectroscopy.
3. The attendance of a master's degree and, in particular, the completion of a dissertation within the scope of the work to be developed will be valued.
4. Curricular and extracurricular training in the fields of microplastic identification, water analysis, liquid phase adsorption, experience in research, publications, participation in congresses and others will also be considered.
5. Training in the use of some specific techniques for identifying microplastics will be valued.
6. Motivation to work on the preparation and characterization of effluent samples from a WWTP will be valued.
7. The ability to work in a team will be valued.
8. Good knowledge of the English language in the oral, reading and writing aspects will be valued.

As set forth FCT Research Scholarship Regulation No. 950/2019 of December 16, 2019, article 3 and 6, candidates for BI (Bachelor's ResearchScholarship) must comply as a rule condition for the award of the scholarship, the effective inclusion in study cycles leading to the attribution of academic degrees or in courses not leading to an academic degree. Courses that do not confer an academic degree correspond to the courses provided for in subparagraph e) of paragraph 3 of article 4 of Decree-Law No. 74/2006 of 24 March and must be developed in a higher education institution in association with at least one R&D unit, including a course plan in one or several research areas of the unit.

Work plan:

1. Collection, physicochemical characterization of wastewater samples before and after their treatment by phytoremediation.
2. Filtration of wastewater samples, before and after phytoremediation treatment, to retain the microplastics present.
3. Digestion of the organic matter present in the filters, before and after phytoremediation treatment, to detect microplastics present.
4. Characterization of the microplastics present, through a binocular magnifying glass, in order to determine the abundance, shape and color.
5. Textural identification of MPs using SEM.
6. Identification of MPs by FTIR and micro-FTIR for the determination of chemical composition.

Applicable legislation and regulations: The granting of the Research Scholarship will be carried out upon the signing of a contract between the University of Évora and the scholarship holder, according to the version in Annex I, pursuant to the Research Scholarship Statute (Law no. 40/2004 of August 18, as amended) and considering the provisions of other applicable legislation and regulations, namely, the Research Grant Regulations of the University of Évora (published by Order no. 8131/2024, of July 22, 2024), and the Research Grant Regulations of the Science and Technology Foundation, I.P. (Regulation no. 950/2019, of July 22, 2024). º 8131/2024, of July 22, 2024), https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/2s/2024/07/140000000/0035300366.pdf and in the Research Grants Regulations of the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. (Regulation no. 950/2019, of December 16, as amended).

Place of work: The work will be developed at laboratories of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Landscape, Environment and Planning and Hercules of the University of Évora, under the general coordination of the Rector of the University of Évora and the scientific guidance of the Professor Dr. Isabel Pestana da Paixão Cansado, Sofia Capelo e Catarina Miguel, who must draw up an opinion on the final activity report of the scholarship (Annex II), according to the draft in Annex III.

Duration of the scholarship(s): The scholarship will have a duration of six months, starting on December of 2026. The scholarship contract may be renewed up to (ex.) a maximum of six months or until the end of the funding project's budget allocation, always taking into account the maximum duration for each type of scholarship, in accordance with Article 14 of the Research Grant Regulations of the University of Évora.

Amount of monthly maintenance allowance: The amount of the scholarship corresponds to € 1090,98 according to the table of scholarships awarded directly by FCT, I.P. in Portugal (https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM-2026.pdf), payments being made monthly, by check or bank transfer.

Selection methods: The selection methods to be used will be the following:

A - Curricular evaluation (A1 - final grade and A2 - grade of the UCs considered relevant to the project);

B - Knowledge and experience in separation, identification and characterization of microplastics, namely in morphological characterization by optical microscopy and molecular characterization by infrared microspectroscopy.

C - Scientific production

D - Motivation letter

The respective evaluation will correspond to a classification defined by the following formula: Final classification = (0.45 x A1) + (0.125 x A2) + (0.25 x B) + (0.125 X C) + (0.05 X D)

Composition of the Selection Jury:

President: Profª Drª. Isabel Pestana da Paixão Cansado

1º Member: Profª Drª. Sofia Capela

2º Member: Inv. Drª Catarina Miguel

1º Supplement: Prof. Dr. José Eduardo Castanheiro

2º Supplement: Inv. Dr. Paulo Mourão.

Advertising/notification of results: The final results of the evaluation will be publicized, through an ordered list alphabetically, posted in a visible and public place at the department of Chemistry and biochemistry of the Évora University, being the candidate (a) approved notified through email.

To ensure the right of prior hearing of interested parties, the Final Classification project will be announced by any written means to all interested parties.

After communicating the provisional list of the results of the evaluation, candidates have a period of 10 working days to express their opinion in a preliminary hearing of interested parties. Based on the final ranking list, a reserve selection list will be drawn up, to be used for the possible recruitment of new scholarship holders within the scope of this project, up to the duration of the scholarship, which may be used in the eventuality of the first ranked candidate withdrawing, failing to present the mandatory documentation, or in the event of the scholarship holder canceling their scholarship early. In the eventuality that none of the candidates demonstrates the profile required to carry out the work plan, the jury reserves the right not to award the scholarship.

Application deadline and submission of applications: The tender is open 29 of October to 12 of November of 2026 and the results of the selection will be published by 16 of November of 2026.

Applications must be formalized, obligatorily, by sending an application letter with the following documents: Curriculum Vitae, certificate of qualifications, reference or recommendation letters and other supporting documents considered relevant).

For the purposes of application, the evidence may be replaced by a declaration of honor signed by the candidate, but the failure to demonstrate that evidence, in the contracting phase, possession of the required degree on the deadline for application or the non-presentation of proof of enrollment in the study cycle or non-degree course, for scholarships with this component, imply the cancellation of the candidate's application.

Academic degrees obtained in foreign countries require registration by a Portuguese Institution in accordance with Decree-Law no. 66/2018, of August 16 and Ordinance No. 33/2019, of January 25th.

The presentation of the certificate is mandatory for the signing of the contract. More information can be obtained at: https://www.dges.gov.pt/pt/pagina/recognition?plid=374

Applications must be sent by email to:

Prof. Isabel Pestana da Paixão Cansado
Dep. Of Chemistry and Biochemistry of the University of Évora
email: ippc@uevora.pt

Where to apply

E-mail: ippc@uevora.pt

Requirements

Research Field: Chemistry » Biochemistry
Education Level: Bachelor Degree or equivalent

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: Universidade de Évora
Country: Portugal
State/Province: Évora
City: Évora
Postal Code: 7000-803
Street: Largo dos Colegiais, 2

Contact

State/Province: Alentejo
City: Évora
Website: https://www.uevora.pt/investigar/Oportunidades-de-Investigacao/concursos-bolsas-id
Street: Largo dos Colegais, nº. 2
Postal Code: 7000-803
E-Mail: ippc@uevora.pt