Job Information
- Organisation/Company: Centro de Engenharia Biológica da Universidade do Minho
- Department: Engenharia Biológica
- Research Field: Engineering » Chemical engineering; Engineering » Materials engineering; Biological sciences » Biological engineering; Chemistry
Offer Description
ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE AWARD OF A RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP
Research Fellowship (1 vacancy)
CEB-BI-51-2026
A call for applications is now open for the attribution of one research grant within the scope of the R&D project, PEC4CROP - “Photo-electrocatalytic device for urea fertilizer production using carbon dioxide and nitrate”; (Reference: 2024.13380.PEX) in the Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, financed by national funds through FCT, under the following conditions:
Scientific Area: Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Biological Engineering, Chemistry, 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 enrolment in one of the following courses:
- Non-degree course.
Requirement for granting the fellowship:
- The applicants may apply without prior registration in the course for which the fellowship is open. The requirement to enrol in a non-degree course will be verified on the date of contracting the fellowship.
- Only fellowships whose selected applicants present a valid proof of enrolment in a non-degree course issued by a Higher Education Institution will be contracted, according to the type of the fellowship, indicating its duration (start and term).
Applicants’ eligibility: Candidates who meet the conditions set out in Article 9 of the Research Grant Regulations, No. 950/2019, of 16-12-2019, of FCT I.P. are eligible.
Nationals or citizens of other European Union member states, third-country nationals, stateless persons, and citizens with political refugee status are eligible to apply for this competition.
Candidate admissibility requirements:
Mandatory requirements:
- Have a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Biological Engineering, Chemistry, or related areas.
- Not to exceed, with the execution of the scholarship contract in question, including possible renewals, a cumulative period of two years, consecutive or intermittent, of a research grant intended for graduates or master's degree holders enrolled in a non-degree awarding program.
Preferential factors:
- Experience in the synthesis and characterization of ZnO and CuO nanoparticles.
- Experience with analytical techniques such as HPLC and GC.
- Experience in contaminant removal processes.
Workplan and objectives to be achieved:
Urea plays a fundamental role as a nitrogen-rich fertilizer essential for optimizing crop yields and sustaining global food production. Currently, urea is predominantly synthesized through the Bosch-Meiser industrial process, which relies on the reaction of carbon dioxide (CO₂) with ammonia (NH₃) under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions. While effective, this traditional approach is energy-intensive and heavily dependent on fossil fuels, leading to significant carbon emissions and environmental concerns. Consequently, the development of greener and more sustainable urea production methods is imperative.
The PEC4CROP project aims to develop highly porous ZnOx/CuOy-based catalysts capable of utilizing light and electrical activation to drive efficient and sustainable urea synthesis. Its key objectives include enhancing faradaic efficiency for urea formation through optimized catalyst design; reducing energy consumption by leveraging solar-driven PEC processes, and improving selectivity and stability, minimizing undesired by-products.
To achieve the main goal, the methodology to be used will involve:
- Fabrication of ZnOx, CuOy and ZnOx/CuOy photocathodes: It is proposed to use anodization of zinc, copper and brass (Cu-Zn alloy) to fabricate highly porous ZnOx and CuOy electrodes, as well as ZnOx/CuOy hybrid materials, respectively. This will allow optimizing their structural and electronic properties for enhanced catalytic performance.
- Photo-electrocatalytic experiments: Photocatalytic, electrocatalytic, and photo-electrocatalytic experiments will be conducted on each developed material to elucidate potential synergies between light and electricity in catalyst activation in the urea production from nitrate and carbon dioxide. In fact, only two manuscrips were reported on the photo-electrocatalytic urea production.
- Urea production efficiency studies: Photo-electrocatalytic urea production will be systematically quantified to assess catalyst efficiency, selectivity, and reaction kinetics. Analytical quantification of urea will be carefully taken to guarantee result fiability.
- Stability and durability studies: Photo-chronoamperometry studies will be performed on the most promising catalysts and conditions to evaluate long-term stability and durability under operational conditions.
Applicable legislation and regulations: Research Fellow Statute (EBI), approved by Law nº. 40/2004 of August 18, in its current wording and FCT Research Fellowship Regulation, approved by Regulation nº 950/2019, published in the Diário da República, 2nd series, of December 16, 2019, in its current wording, and Scientific Research Fellowship Regulation (RBIC) of the University of Minho, approved by order nº 4998/2025, published in the Diário da República, 2nd series, nº 81, of April 28, 2025 Amended and republished through amendment statement no. 634/2025/2, published in the Official Gazette, 2nd series, no. 132, of July 11.
Host/Contracting institution and scientific supervision: The workplan will be carried out in the Centre of Biological Engineering of University of Minho, located in the University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, in Braga, under the direction of Doctor Nuno Miguel Dias Cerca, coordinator of the host entity, and whose scientific guidance will be the responsibility of the Doctor Maria José Bastos Pires de Lima and Professor Nuno Miguel Fernandes Reis.
Fellowship duration: The grant will take place for a period of 6 months, with a provisional starting date in October 2026.
The fellowship grant may eventually be renewed within the limits established for each type of scholarship and cannot exceed the maximum duration of the project and if the project is extended.
Renewal conditions: BI research fellowships can be renewed for additional periods until they reach:
- 1 year, when it has been awarded to bachelors or masters enrolled in non-academic degree study cycles (they can only be awarded to those who do not exceed, with the conclusion of the scholarship contract in question, including possible renewals, an accumulated period of two years, consecutive or interpolated);
Amount of the research grant: The amount of the grant corresponds to 1359,64 €/month, according to the table of values of Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, I.P.) grants in the country and the table of values of Scientific Research Grants of the University of Minho, updated annually by decision of the Management Board.
Payment is made on the 23rd of each month, through bank transfer to the Bank Identification Number of the fellow identified in the contracting process.
Other benefits: Reimbursement of Voluntary Social Security (Social Security contributions), corresponding to the 1st level of discounts (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:
President:
Maria José Bastos Pires de Lima, Invited Assistant Researcher, at the Centre of Biological Engineering at the University of Minho.
Effective members:
Ana Isabel Ferreira Barbosa, Invited Principal Researcher, at the Centre of Biological Engineering at the University of Minho and
Maria Manuela Salgado da Costa Amaro, Senior Technician at the Centre of Biological Engineering at the University of Minho.
Substitute members:
Nuno Miguel Fernandes Reis, Affiliated Professor, at the Department of Biological Engineering at the University of Minho and
Ana Patrícia Ferreira Torres Castanheira, Senior Technician at the Centre of Biological Engineering at the University of Minho.
The first effective member or the second effective member in the event of the first member’s inability, will substitute the President of the selection panel in case of impediment, with these members being replaced by the designated substitute members.
Criteria and procedures for applications assessment and selection: The applications assessment will focus on the candidate's Merit, following evaluation criteria, valued on a scale of 0 to 5 values and will include an interview for the first 3 classified candidates.
Applicant Merit - AM (60%):
A1 - Academic path (considering the classifications of academic degrees), with a weighting of 30%.
A2 - Personal curriculum (considering professional and scientific background), with a weighting of 60%.
A3 – Motivation letter, with a weighting of 10%.
Interview – INT (40%):
B1 - Interpersonal competences, with a weighting of 30%.
B2 - Demonstrated knowledge in the area of the competition, with a weighting of 30%.
B3 – Motivation, with a weighting of 20%.
B4 – Language skills, with a weighting of 20%.
The final classification of the applicant’s merit will be achieved through the following formula:
FC = (A1 x 0,30 + A2 x 0,60 + A3 x 0,1) x 0,6 + (B1 x 0,3 + B2 x 0,3 + B3 x 0,2 + B4 x 0,2) × 0,4
Candidates with a score of less than 2.5 points in the FC criterion will be excluded.
Notes:Applicants with degrees obtained abroad must present proof of recognition of qualifications in Portugal and conversion of the final classification obtained in them to the Portuguese classification scale or declaration under the terms indicated in the previous point. Candidates who do not comply with one of these provisions, the selection panel will assign “0” in the grade of the graduation and/or master course. Candidates will be evaluated on the remaining parameters.
Application deadline and submission: The call for applications is open for a minimum period of 10 working days after the notice publication. Applications must be submitted by email to bolsas@ceb.uminho.pt, indicating the reference of the call - CEB-BI-51-2026-, in Subject. Only applications submitted within the established deadline and accompanied by the following documents will be accepted:
- Candidate’s updated curriculum vitae.
- Certificates of all the academic degrees obtained or, if applicable, the candidate's declaration of honour that he/she has completed the degrees required in the notice by the application deadline (Annex I).
For degrees obtained abroad, the record of recognition of the academic degrees and record of the conversion of the respective final classification to the Portuguese classification scale must be presented, or, alternatively, a declaration of honour from the candidate.
This declaration must attest to facts that occurred prior to the application. In the event of a discrepancy between the information contained in the declaration and the documentation submitted for the purposes of contracting the scholarship, only the information contained in the latter will be considered. If it is found that the documents proving the academic degree and diploma, or their recognition under the terms of Decree-Law n. º 66/2018, of August 16, do not correspond to the classifications awarded in the assessment of the academic career and may consequently alter the candidate's ranking, the scholarship will not be contracted.
- Statement proving that meets the conditions for the grant typology, according to the application requirements (annex II).
- Motivation letter.
Form of publication/notification of results: The results of the evaluation will be published through an ordered list by final grade obtained on the site of the Centre of Biological Engineering of UMinho (https://empregoceb.wordpress.com/) or 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, within a maximum period of 90 working days from the deadline for submission of applications.
Candidates are informed, at a preliminary hearing, in accordance with Articles 121 and 122 of the Administrative Procedure Code, of the likely outcome of the final decision, and may comment within 10 working days of this notification.
An appeal may be lodged against the final decision within 15 working days, or an appeal may be lodged with the highest executive body of the funding entity within 30 days, both after the respective notification (Article 12(nº6) of the FCT Research Grant Regulations).
Within 10 working days of notification of the grant award, the applicant must declare their acceptance in writing. In case of non-acceptance, the next highest ranked applicant will be notified immediately.
Constitution of a selection reserve list: The applicants ranked in the next positions on the ordered list will be included in a selection reserve list, which can be used until 30/11/2026.
Fellowship contractualization: The fellowship is awarded through the signing of a contract between the University of Minho and the scholarship recipient, in accordance with point 2.4 of the Rules for the Award and Management of Scholarships https://www.fct.pt/wpcontent/uploads/2022/03/Normas_de_Atribuicao_de_Bolsas_2021.pdf and the draft contract in Annex II of the University of Minho's Scientific Research Scholarship Regulations.
The contract can only be signed after receipt of all the documentation required for the type of scholarship, which must occur within a maximum period of 6 months, including proof of academic degrees or diplomas, as well as enrolment in non-degree study cycles or courses, as applicable.
Once all the documentation has been received, the contracting entity has 60 working days to sign the scholarship contract. Once received by the scholarship holder, the contract must be returned, duly signed, within 15 working days.
Term and cancellation of fellowship contracts: Without prejudice to the other grounds laid down in the University of Minho's Scientific Research Scholarship Regulation and in the Research Fellow Statute, the scholarship will cease on completion of the contracted work plan, as well as on expiry of the period for which it was granted or renewed.
The final report must be submitted to the scientific advisor, in accordance with the defined objectives and evaluation criteria, no later than 60 working days after the end of the scholarship and must be drawn up in accordance with Annex I of the Regulations of the University of Minho.
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.
ANNEX I
Declaration of Honor
Academic qualifications
I XXXXXX (Full name), applicant to the research fellowship vacancy under the R&D project PEC4CROP - “Photo-electrocatalytic device for urea fertilizer production using carbon dioxide and nitrate”; (Reference: 2024.13380.PEX) in the Centre of Biological Engineering, financed by national funds through FCT, with the reference CEB-BI-51-2026, declare on my honour to have completed the academic degree of XXXXX(academic degree), qualifying for the type of scholarship in the competition, namely the course XXXXXXX (name of the course), concluded in the University of XXXX, on the XX/XX/XXXX (conclusion date), with the final grade of XX values on the YY scale.
As it is not possible for me to present proof of qualifications until the end of the competition, I declare that I undertake to present the aforementioned certificate until the date of the contracting phase of the fellowship contract, in the event that I am selected for the vacancy in the competition.
As this is true, this declaration will be dated and signed by me.
(Place), (date).
____________________
(Full name)
ANNEX II
Declaration of Honor
History of Research Grants
I, XXXXXXX (Full name), bearer of identification document number XXXXXXX, applicant to the research fellowship vacancy under the R&D project PEC4CROP - “Photo-electrocatalytic device for urea fertilizer production using carbon dioxide and nitrate”; (Reference: 2024.13380.PEX) in the Centre of Biological Engineering, financed by national funds through FCT with the reference CEB-BI-51-2026, hereby declare that until now have never received any research grant under the Research Fellow Statute.
Or
have received the following research grants under the research fellowship statutes.
(fill in as appropriate):
University
Financing Entity
Project
Type of fellowship/Reference
Duration (Months)
Start
Term
As this is true, this declaration will be dated and signed by me.
(Place), (date).
____________________
(Full name)
1. The declaration can only certify facts that occurred on a date prior to the application. In situations of discrepancy between the information contained in the declaration and the documentation submitted for the purpose of contracting the fellowship, only the information contained in the latter will be considered.
Where to apply
E-mail: bolsas@ceb.uminho.pt
Requirements
Research Field: Engineering » Chemical engineering
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Research Field: Engineering » Materials engineering
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Research Field: Biological sciences » Biological engineering
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Research Field: Chemistry
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications: Details are described in the "Offer Description" section
Specific Requirements: Details are described in the "Offer Description" section
Internal Application form(s) needed
- 1_Minuta Edital Bolsa_EN_FCT (2025)_PEC4CROP_vf.pdf (English, 453.74 KB - PDF)
- 1_Minuta Edital Bolsa_PT_FCT (2025)_PEC4CROP_vf.pdf (English, 441.63 KB - PDF)
Additional Information
Benefits: Details are described in the "Offer Description" section
Eligibility criteria: Details are described in the "Offer Description" section
Selection process: Details are described in the "Offer Description" section
Additional comments: Details are described in the "Offer Description" section
Website for additional job details: http://empregoceb.wordpress.com/
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available: 1
- Company/Institute: University of Minho
- Country: Portugal
- State/Province: Braga
- City: Braga
- Postal Code: 4710-057
- Street: Campus de Gualtar
Contact
- City: Braga
- Website: http://www.ceb.uminho.pt/
- Street: Campus de Gualtar
- Postal Code: 4710-057
- E-Mail: bolsas@ceb.uminho.pt
- Phone: 253604400
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