Research Fellowship (BI) – Art and Botany in the Atlantic Space

Offer Description

1. Admission Requirements:

Applicants must hold a Master's degree in Fine Arts or a related field.

2. Candidate Profile

i. Academic background in Fine Arts;

ii. Active artistic practice;

iii. Interest in practice-based artistic research;

iv. Ability to articulate artistic creation and research;

v. Organisational and communication skills;

vi. Interest in contemporary art, visual culture and studio practices.

3. Preferred Requirements:

i. Experience in organising scientific and artistic publications;

ii. Knowledge of editorial preparation;

iii. Experience with academic submission procedures;

iv. Experience in exhibition production and installation;

v. Skills in documenting artistic processes;

vi. Knowledge of digital image editing and processing;

vii. Skills in document management and information organisation.

4. Eligibility of Applicants

4.1. Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements set out in Article 9 of the FCT Research Fellowship Regulation, Regulation No. 950/2019, published in the Portuguese Official Gazette (Diário da República), Series II, No. 241, of 16 December, amended by Regulation No. 643/2021, published in the Portuguese Official Gazette, Series II, No. 135, of 14 July, and amended and republished in Annex through Notice (extract) No. 412/2026/2, published in the Portuguese Official Gazette, Series II, No. 4, of 7 January.

4.2. Academic degrees awarded by foreign higher education institutions must be recognised by a Portuguese institution in accordance with Decree-Law No. 66/2018, of 16 August, and Ordinance No. 33/2019, of 25 January. Presentation of the recognition certificate is mandatory for the signing of the fellowship contract.

5. Project's Summary

Art and Botany in the Atlantic Space: Plants, Flowers and Pigments as a Strategy for Artistic Research (Arte e Botânica no Espaço Atlântico: Plantas, Flores e Pigmentos como Estratégia de Investigação Artística)

The present project proposes an articulation between contemporary art and botany, focusing on the use of plants, flowers and pigments as catalysts for interdisciplinary artistic practices. Based on the collection, study and use of endemic plant species from Portugal and Brazil, the project aims to develop creative practices that approach colour as a sensitive material, a physical phenomenon and a symbolic expression. The project seeks to reflect on the ways in which we experience and translate the vegetal world within the field of visual arts. The project further aims to create an “imagined garden”, a sensitive curatorship of chromatic, symbolic and narrative relationships between plant species from the two territories. The proposal includes artistic residencies, workshops, seminars, digital repositories and exhibitions, contributing to the artistic and scientific training of students and researchers. It aligns with the objectives of CIEBA by promoting international collaboration, the production of artistic and scientific knowledge, and ecological awareness through art.

6. Work Plan

6.1. Support for Field Research

i. Logistical preparation of fieldwork;

ii. Systematic photographic recording;

iii. Organisation and cataloguing of data;

iv. Preparation of technical data sheets.

6.2. Support for Artistic Experimentation

v. Preparation of laboratory materials;

vi. Documentation of artistic processes;

vii. Organisation of inventories;

viii. Systematisation of results.

6.3. Curatorial and Exhibition Support

ix. Production and installation of exhibitions;

x. Support for artistic residencies;

xi. Organisation of exhibition documentation;

xii. Liaison with institutional partners.

6.4. Scientific Dissemination

xiii. Organisation of content for publications;

xiv. Digital image processing;

xv. Preparation of reports and scientific communications;

xvi. Updating of the project's digital platforms.

6.5. Management and Monitoring

xvii. Support for schedule management;

xviii. Organisation of meetings;

xix. Support in the preparation of the final technical-scientific report

7. Workplace and Duration of the Fellowship

7.1. The work will be carried out at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Lisbon, located at Largo da Academia Nacional de Belas-Artes, 1249-058 Lisbon, integrated in the CIEBA Research Centre, under the scientific supervision of Diana Costa, Assistant Professor in the disciplinary area of Painting, notwithstanding any travel inherent to the performance of the aforementioned duties.

7.2. The fellowship contract shall last for 6 months, with an expected starting date within 15 working days following the publication of the final ranking list of candidates. The fellowship contract may not be renewed.

8. Monthly Fellowship Allowance:

8.1. The fellowship amount corresponds to €1,359.64, according to the table of fellowship values directly awarded by FCT, I.P. in Portugal (see more at https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM-2026.pdf).

8.2. This amount is supplemented by the voluntary social security contribution corresponding to the first contribution level, should the fellow choose to receive it, as well as personal accident insurance.

9. Selection of Applicants

9.1. Candidates shall be selected through curriculum assessment, taking into consideration the following criteria:

i. Academic qualifications and academic/professional trajectory (20%);

ii. Experience in artistic research and scientific/artistic production (30%);

iii. Experience in curatorship, exhibition production and project management (30%);

iv. Motivation letter and suitability to the work plan (20%). (20%).

9.2. The Selection Committee may, if deemed necessary, invite approved candidates to an interview. In such case, the interview shall have a maximum weighting of 30%, added to the score obtained in the first stage of selection, which shall correspond to 70%.

10. Deadline and Submission of Applications

10.1. The call is open for a period of 15 working days following the publication of this notice. Applications must be sent by email to concursos.investigacao@belasartes.ulisboa.pt, with the subject line: BI – Projeto Arte e Botânica no Espaço Atlântico, applications must include:

i. Curriculum Vitae;

ii. Degree certificate;

iii. Artistic portfolio (maximum 15 pages);

iv. Declaration on honour stating that, with the execution of the fellowship contract in question, the applicant will not exceed a cumulative period of one year in this type of fellowship, consecutive or interpolated, and has not previously benefited from any other research fellowship directly or indirectly funded by FCT;

v. Motivation letter;

vi. Prior consent declaration for the use of electronic means;

vii. Any other supporting documents considered relevant (e.g., spoken and written English proficiency).

10.2. In the case of academic degrees awarded by foreign higher education institutions, applicants must provide proof of recognition of those degrees in accordance with Decree-Law No. 66/2018, of 16 August, or, in the absence of such recognition at the time of application, a declaration on honour stating that recognition will be obtained before the fellowship contract is signed if selected.

11. Publication of Results

Under Article 12 of the FCT Research Fellowship Regulation, the evaluation results shall be published through a ranked list according to final classification on the website of the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Lisbon, within a maximum period of 90 working days after the application deadline, and successful candidates shall be notified by email.

Following the communication of the provisional results, candidates shall have a period of 10 working days to comment, if they wish, within the framework of the prior hearing of interested parties provided for in Articles 121 and following of the Code of Administrative Procedure. The final decision must be taken within a maximum period of 60 working days following the conclusion of the prior hearing procedure.

The final decision may be challenged through a complaint within 15 working days or an appeal to the highest executive body of the funding entity within 30 working days, both following the respective notification.

12. Selection Committee

President of the Jury:

Dr Diana Costa (IR), Assistant Professor, Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Lisbon

Full Members:

Dr Jociele Lampert, Full Professor, UDESC – Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil;

Dr Margarida Prieto, Integrated Researcher, CIEBA – Research Centre for Fine Arts and Artistic Studies, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Lisbon.

Alternate Members:

Dr Susana Pires, Integrated Researcher, CIEBA – Research Centre for Fine Arts and Artistic Studies, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Lisbon;

Dr Teresa Palma Rodrigues, Integrated Researcher, CIEBA – Research Centre for Fine Arts and Artistic Studies, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Lisbon.

13. Applicable Legislation and Regulations

Law No. 40/2004 of 18 August (Research Fellow Statute), as amended, and the FCT Research Fellowship Regulation, Regulation No. 950/2019, published in the Portuguese Official Gazette (Diário da República), Series II, No. 241, of 16 December, amended by Regulation No. 643/2021, published in the Portuguese Official Gazette, Series II, No. 135, of 14 July, and amended and republished in Annex through Notice (extract) No. 412/2026/2, published in the Portuguese Official Gazette, Series II, No. 4, of 7 January.

Where to apply

E-mail: concursos.investigacao@belasartes.ulisboa.pt

Requirements

• Research Field: Arts » Fine arts
• Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
• Research Field: Arts » Fine arts

Work Location(s)

• Number of offers available: 1
• Company/Institute: Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Lisbon
• Country: Portugal
• State/Province: Lisbon
• City: LISBOA
• Postal Code: 1249-058
• Street: LARGO ACADEMIA NACIONAL DE BELAS ARTES

Contact

• State/Province: Lisboa
• City: Lisboa
• Website: https://www.belasartes.ulisboa.pt/
• Street: Largo da Academia Nacional de Belas-Artes
• Postal Code: 1249-058
• E-Mail: concursos.investigacao@belasartes.ulisboa.pt
• Phone: +351213252100