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Job Information
- Organisation/Company: Universidade de Coimbra
- Department: Earth Science Department
- Research Field: Environmental science » Earth science
- Researcher Profile: Recognised Researcher (R2)
- Positions: PhD Positions
- Application Deadline: 25 Sep 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon)
- Country: Portugal
- Type of Contract: Temporary
- Job Status: Full-time
- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - ERC
Offer Description
The University of Coimbra opens a call for one Invited Researcher Position, in the framework of the European Research Council project “FINGERprinting cold subduction and Plate Tectonics using key minerals (Finger-PT)” (reference: 101117053), funded by the European Union through Horizon Europe - in the following conditions:
Scientific area: Earth Sciences
Skills/Qualifications: Doctoral degree in Geology or equivalent
Work plan/Objectives:
Plate Tectonics (PT) is a well-established framework of moving plates made of oceanic and continental lithosphere. The main driving force of this system is the slab pull, a force imposed as the older and colder subducting plate sinks into the asthenosphere at convergent boundaries, producing Low Temperature/High Pressure (LT-HP) metamorphic rocks. Although our understanding about PT has improved in the last decades, there are major unknowns remaining, namely when and how its onset took place, a highly controversial topic. The record of LT-HP metamorphic rocks becomes continuous only from 850-750 Ma onwards, but recent evidence of these rocks at 2100-2000 Ma suggests a similar Tectonic regime operated at this time as well. An outstanding question arises: did Plate Tectonics, as we know it today, begin to operate only 850Ma ago or did this change take place much earlier but disappeared as the result of a preservation bias affecting LT/HP rocks? FINGER-PT is testing this hypothesis using detrital minerals in sedimentary rocks that can track older LT-HP. Building on the project’s progress, the candidate will use key minerals that can retain pressure, temperature, and age (P-T-t) information, and apply thermobarometric tools combined with mineral inclusion work to evaluate the P-T-t record of detrital minerals found in key samples.
The project relies on a strong background on geochemistry and petrology or heavy mineral sedimentary provenance analysis. The selected candidate will:
- Prepare samples (some to be sampled, and other that are already available in Coimbra) using standard methods of rock crushing and mineral separation;
- Prepare and conduct at least one sampling campaign;
- Conduct extensive lab work applied to detrital minerals found in siliciclastic rocks and metasandstones, including scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and LA-ICP-MS/MS.
- Present their work at conferences, and submit their research work to well-reputed journals in the scientific field
- Collaborate with team members, including postgraduate students, and support the research activities in the i-Geochronos Lab (Funded by the ERC).
The candidate will find all the equipment in the Lab facilities required to undertake the project at the Earth Sciences Department of the University of Coimbra. Additional analyses will be covered with the grant (e.g. microprobe, SIMS). Support to attend international conferences will also be granted. The Earth Sciences Department, with 29 lecturers, offers a BSc in Geology, five MSc courses and a PhD degree in Geology, with opportunities for teaching and supervising. The FINGER-PT research group currently includes the PI, two technical staff members, one postdoctoral researcher and one PhD student, as well as a group of international collaborators. The University of Coimbra and the Faculty of Science and Technology offer support through research grant offices to researchers who wish to apply to competitive funding schemes, and therefore the researcher will be able to receive appropriate training, depending on their interests and career development plans.
Eligibility criteria
Candidates of any nationality are invited to apply, given they understand that international candidates will need to submit a PhD degree recognition before signing a researcher contract. (https://www.dges.gov.pt/en/pagina/degree-and-diploma-recognition)
In addition, if a selected candidate requires a visa, they must ensure their visa application takes place within four months after the initial offer is made.
Benefits:
The candidate will be hired by the University of Coimbra for a period up to 24 months, under a full-time work contract, working exclusively for the project during contract compulsory working hours.
- Salary (monthly salary more holidays and Christmas allowance);
- Social security tax;
- Food allowance.
The gross salary offered on the basis of 14 months to the researcher will be adjusted to their expertise, either as assistant (2384,37€/month) or senior researcher (2690,07€/month). The net income will be lower, since deductions related to income tax, social contributions, and other costs will apply.
Location: Earth Science Department, University of Coimbra
Scientific orientation: Inês Pereira
Selection methods: Curricular evaluation (60%) + interview (40%) (only for the top 5 academic evaluations)
Selection criteria:
Curricular evaluation
- Publications (peer-reviewed articles, conference abstracts, and books/book chapters) (30%)
- Grants/Fellowships/Scholarships (as PI) (10%)
- Collaboration in research projects (5%)
- Student supervision/mentoring (5%)
- Technical/Analytical skills (appropriate to the project, discriminate level of expertise) (20%)
- Cover letter (20%)
- Recommendation letter (10%)
Interview
- Ability of communicate (20%)
- Interpersonal and soft skills (20%)
- Knowledge, capacity and motivation to conduct the research work (60%)
Jury responsible for selection:
Inês Pereira
Emilie Bruand
Mahyra Tedeschi
Formalization of application:
CV, PhD diploma*, selection of 3 most relevant publications, with DOI links and justification, letter of introduction explaining how they are the best fit to the position, one letter of recommendation from previous supervisor/collaborator.
The CV should be organized according to the selection criteria listed above.
* If at the time of application submission, the candidate does not yet hold the PhD degree but has the defense/viva date, the application can be considered. An offer can only be made if by that time a PhD diploma can be provided.
Applications submission: erc_fingerpt@dct.uc.pt
Submission of applications: Applications should be submitted until the 25 of September 2026.
Additional information: The position is to start in January 2027. Negotiable.
Where to apply
E-mail: erc_fingerpt@dct.uc.pt
Requirements
- Research Field: Environmental science » Earth science
- Education Level: PhD or equivalent
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: University of Coimbra
Country: Portugal
Contact
City: Coimbra
Street: Rua Larga
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