Offer Description
The CRIA – Centre for Research in Anthropology (UID/04038/2025), through its branch at Iscte – University Institute of Lisbon, hereby opens a call for applications for the award of one (1) research studentship, hereinafter referred to as Pioneer Research Studentships (BI) for Doctoral Studies, in the field of Anthropology, under the FCT Regulation for Studentships and Fellowships(RBI) and the Research Fellowship Holder Statute(EBI).
The studentship will be funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the Collaboration Protocol between FCT and Iscte – University Institute of Lisbon, within the framework of the PIONEER Alliance, for the funding of the Multiannual Plan of Research Scholarships for Doctoral Students (hereinafter referred to as the Protocol). The Protocol aims to strengthen the creation of synergies and the sharing of research environments between Iscte and the partner universities of the Alliance.
1. SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS
The call is open from 1 April 2026 (08:00, Lisbon time) to 23 September 2026 (23:59, Lisbon time).
Applications and all supporting documents required in this Notice of the Call must be submitted exclusively via the platform: https://recrutamento.iscte-iul.pt/jobs
Each applicant may submit only one application; submitting more than one will result in the cancellation of all applications submitted.
Providing false statements or committing acts of plagiarism by candidates will result in immediate cancellation of the application, without prejudice to any additional sanctions.
2. TYPE AND DURATION OF THE STUDENTSHIP
The Pioneer Research Studentship (BI) for Doctoral Studies is intended to fund R&D activities carried out by students enrolled in a doctoral programme at Iscte, aiming to consolidate their scientific training through the development of research work leading to the award of a PhD degree by Iscte, in the R&D areas covered by CRIA – Centre for Research in Anthropology.
The research activities leading to the PhD degree will take place at the CRIA–Iscte branch, which will host the selected Studentship holder. The research must align with the strategy and activity plan of this R&D Unit and be carried out within the scope of the following associated Doctoral Programme, under a joint supervision regime, involving a supervisor at Iscte and another from a university participating in the PIONEER initiative:
- PhD Programme in Anthropology Iscte / NOVA FCSH, jointly offered by Iscte – School of Social Sciences and NOVA Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities.
The studentship is normally granted for one year, renewable up to a maximum of four years (48 months). It may not be awarded for a period shorter than three consecutive months.
This is an abroad (mista) studentship, and the period spent at the foreign host institution may not exceed 24 months.
3. STUDENTSHIP RECIPIENTS
The Pioneer Research Studentship (BI) for Doctoral Studies is intended for applicants who are enrolled, or able to enrol, in the Doctoral Programme identified in section 2 of this Notice at Iscte and who wish to undertake research activities leading to the award of a PhD degree at the CRIA–Iscte branch.
4. ADMISSIBILITY
Applicants’ admissibility requirements
The following individuals may apply to this call:
- Portuguese citizens or citizens from other member-states of the European Union.
- Citizens from third-party states.
- Stateless individuals.
- Citizens holding a political refugee status
To apply for a Research Studentship (BI) for Doctoral Studies, the applicant must:
- Hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Anthropology or related fields.
- To live in Portugal permanently and habitually at the start of the work plan period abroad (applies to both national and foreign applicants).
- Not to have benefited from any PhD studentship or PhD in Industry studentship directly funded by FCT, regardless of its duration.
- Not to hold a PhD degree.
Application admissibility requirements
The following documents are mandatory and must be attached to the application, otherwise it will not be admitted:
- Details of the applicant’s identity card/citizen card/passport;
- Applicant’s Curriculum Vitae;
- Degree certificates (Bachelor’s and Master’s), specifying the final grade and, if possible, the marks obtained in all completed courses; or, alternatively, a declaration of honour from the candidate stating that they completed the bachelor’s or master’s degree by the end of the application deadline;
- Record of recognition of academic degrees awarded by foreign higher education institutions and record of the conversion of the final grade to the Portuguese grading scale, or, alternatively, a declaration of honour from the candidate stating that they obtained recognition of the foreign degree by the end of the application deadline.
- Research project proposal, including:
a) Project title
b) Abstract (max. 150 words)
c) Keywords
d) State of the art (max. 500 words)
e) Objectives and potential contribution to Anthropology (max. 300 words)
f) Methodology (max. 300 words)
g) Detailed description and work plan (max. 1000 words)
h) Ethical issues (max. 500 words)
i) Bibliography (max. 30 references)
j) Alignment with CRIA’s strategic plan and research areas (max. 300 words)
k) Timeline - Motivation letter, clearly stating the reasons for applying, availability for full-time dedication, motivation for pursuing a PhD, and any relevant additional elements
- Two letters of recommendation, attesting to the relevance and scientific merit of the proposed research project; at least one must be written by a higher-education faculty member or career researcher.
All documents, including motivation and recommendation letters, may be written in Portuguese or English.
In the case of academic degrees awarded by foreign higher education institutions, and in order to ensure the application of the principle of equal treatment for candidates holding foreign and national academic degrees, it is mandatory that such degrees be formally recognised and that the respective final classification be converted to the Portuguese grading scale.
The recognition of foreign academic degrees and diplomas, as well as the conversion of the final classification to the Portuguese grading scale, may be requested at any public higher education institution, or at the Directorate‑General for Higher Education (DGES, in the case of automatic recognition only). Regarding this matter, it is recommended that candidates consult the DGES website at: http://www.dges.gov.pt.
Only candidates who have completed the study cycle leading to a bachelor’s or master’s degree by the end of the application deadline will be admitted. If they do not yet have their official certificate of completion, a declaration of honour from the candidates stating that they have completed the required qualifications for the purposes of the call by the end of the application deadline will be accepted. The award of the studentship is conditional upon the submission, at the contracting stage, of the official documents proving the academic qualifications held.
5. WORK PLAN
The work plan for the Pioneer Research Studentship (BI) for Doctoral Studies aims at the development of scientific research within the research groups of CRIA – Centre for Research in Anthropology (https://cria.org.pt/pt), at the Iscte branch, in connection with the mission of the PIONEER Alliance (https://pioneer-alliance.eu/about-pioneer/mission-statement/), specifically in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 – Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, namely in the following areas:
Urban sustainability and resilience / Sustentabilidade e resiliência urbana
- Environmental impacts of urban development / Impactos ambientais do desenvolvimento urbano
- Environmental well-being and quality of life / Bem-estar ambiental e qualidade de vida
- Transformative public policies / Políticas públicas transformadoras
- Risk mitigation and climate change adaptation / Mitigação de riscos e adaptação às alterações climáticas
Urban transitions and democratic governance / Transições urbanas e governação democrática
- Urban transition processes / Processos de transição urbana
- Futures of well-being and social justice / Futuros do bem-estar e justiça social
- Citizen participation and urban democracy / Participação cidadã e democracia urbana
- Institutional and social enablers of change / Fatores institucionais e sociais de mudança
Vulnerability, health and crisis management / Vulnerabilidade, saúde e gestão de crises
- Urban vulnerable groups / Grupos urbanos vulneráveis
- Equity in access to health and urban services / Equidade no acesso à saúde e aos serviços urbanos
- Innovative urban health solutions / Soluções inovadoras em saúde urbana
- Crisis, risk and disaster management / Gestão de crises, riscos e desastres
6. EVALUATION CRITERIA
Evaluation considers the merit of the applicant and the merit of the research project.
Eligible applications will be scored on a scale of 0 to 20 in each of the following evaluation criteria:
- Criterion A – Merit of the candidate, on a scale of 0 to 20 points, with a weight of 50%. The assessment of the candidate’s merit will consider four sub‑criteria, each scored on a scale of 0 to 20 points, with the weights indicated below:
- Final classification of the bachelor’s degree, weighted at 10%;
- Final classification of the master’s degree, weighted at 10%;
- Motivation for undertaking the PhD and the research project, weighted at 20%;
- Relevance of the scientific and professional curriculum vitae, weighted at 10%.
- Criterion B – Merit of the research project and its alignment with the host research unit, on a scale of 0 to 20 points, with a weight of 50%. The project will be evaluated according to six equally weighted sub‑criteria, each scored on a scale of 0 to 20 points:
- Clarity in the definition of the research objectives;
- Quality of the description of the state of the art;
- Adequacy of the research methodologies;
- Originality of the project and its potential contribution to knowledge in the field of Anthropology;
- Feasibility of the project’s development and implementation plan;
- Alignment of the project with the host research unit.
For the purpose of deciding on the awarding of studentships, candidates will be ranked according to the weighted average of the scores obtained in each of the two criteria, calculated using the following formula:
Final Score 𝑭𝒊𝒏= (0,5× 𝑨) + (0,5× 𝑩)
For tie-breaking purposes, candidates will be ranked based on the scores awarded under each of the evaluation criteria, in the following order of precedence: Criterion A, followed by Criterion B.
Candidates whose application receives a final score below 15 points are not eligible for a studentship.
Important notice for candidates holding diplomas issued by foreign higher education institutions: Candidates with diplomas issued by foreign higher education institutions may apply and will be assessed according to the same criteria as candidates with diplomas issued by Portuguese institutions, provided that they submit, at the application stage, proof of the recognition of their academic degrees and of the conversion of the final classification to the Portuguese grading scale, in accordance with the applicable legislation.
Candidates with recognised foreign diplomas who do not submit proof of the conversion of the final classification to the Portuguese grading scale will be assessed with the minimum score of ten points for the recognised academic degree(s).
In all cases, studentship contracts with candidates holding diplomas issued by foreign institutions will only be concluded upon presentation of proof of academic degree recognition and of the conversion of the final classification, as indicated above.
7. EVALUATION PANEL
The evaluation panel is composed of:
- Diniz Lopes, Iscte (full member, panel chair)
- Filipe Reis, Iscte (full member)
- Miguel Vale de Almeida, Iscte (full member)
- Ruy Blanes, Iscte (alternate)
- Vera Lazzaretti, Iscte (alternate)
The evaluation panel will assess the applications in accordance with the evaluation criteria set out in this Notice of the Call, considering all relevant assessment elements.
All panel members, including the chair, undertake to comply with a set of responsibilities that are essential to the evaluation process, such as the duties of impartiality, the declaration of any potential conflicts of interest, and confidentiality. At all stages of the evaluation process, confidentiality is fully protected and ensured in order to safeguard the independence of all opinions produced.
For each application, the panel will prepare a final evaluation report clearly, coherently, and consistently presenting the arguments that led to the scores assigned to each of the evaluation criteria. The minutes and their annexes must include, at a minimum, the following information:
- Name and affiliation of all members of the evaluation panel;
- Identification of all excluded applications and the respective justification [where applicable];
- Methodology adopted by the panel for cases considered exceptional [where applicable];
- Final evaluation reports for each candidate;
- Provisional ranking list of candidates, in descending order of the final score, for all applications assessed by the panel;
- CDI Declarations from all panel members;
- Any delegations of vote and authority due to justified absence [where applicable].
8. RESULTS DISCLOSURE
Results will be communicated by e-mail to the address used by the applicant during submission.
9. DEADLINES AND PROCEDURES FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, CLAIMS AND APPEALS
After notification of provisional results, applicants have 10 working days to respond under the hearing of interested parties (Articles 121 et seq. of the Administrative Procedure Code).
The final decision will be issued after the analysis of the statements submitted during the prior hearing of interested parties. A complaint may be lodged against the final decision within 15 working days, or, alternatively, an appeal may be filed within 30 working days, both counted from the date of the respective notification. Candidates who choose to submit a complaint must address their statement to the member of the FCT Board of Directors with delegated authority. Candidates who choose to submit an appeal must address it to the FCT Board of Directors.
10. REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTSHIP GRANTING
Research studentship contracts are signed directly with FCT.
To contract the studentship, the following documents must be submitted by the applicant:
- A copy of the civil, tax and, where applicable, social security identification documents;
- A copy of the degree certificates for the academic qualifications held;
- Proof of the recognition of foreign academic degrees and the conversion of their respective final classifications to the Portuguese grading scale, where applicable;
- The work plan;
- A document proving enrolment and registration in the Doctoral Programme identified in this Notice of the Call;
- A declaration from the Iscte supervisor(s) assuming responsibility for supervising the work plan, pursuant to Article 5‑A of the Research Fellowship Holder Statute (template provided by FCT);
- A document issued by the institution where the research activities will take place, confirming acceptance of the candidate, guaranteeing the conditions necessary for their proper development, and ensuring compliance with the duties set out in Article 13 of the Research Fellowship Holder Statute (template provided by FCT);
- An updated document attesting compliance with the exclusive dedication regime (template provided by FCT).
The award of the studentship is furthermore contingent upon:
- compliance with the requirements set out in this Notice of the Call;
- the result of the evaluation;
- the absence of any unjustified breach of duties by the studentship holder under a previous FCT‑funded studentship contract, whether directly or indirectly;
- the budgetary availability of FCT.
Failure to submit any of the documents required to complete the studentship contracting process within 6 months from the date of notification of the conditional award decision shall result in the expiry of the said award and the closure of the process.
11. FUNDING
The payment of the studentship begins after the return, by the candidates, of the duly signed studentship contract, which must occur within a maximum period of 15 working days from the date on which it is received. The studentship awarded under this call will be funded by FCT with funds from the State Budget and, when eligible, with funds from the European Social Fund, through the Demography, Qualifications and Inclusion Programme (PDQI), in accordance with the regulatory provisions established for this purpose.
12. STUDENTSHIP COMPONENTS
A monthly maintenance allowance is granted to the studentship holder, in accordance with the table in Annex I of the RBI. The studentship may also include additional allowances, according to RBI’s Article no. 18 and the values established in its Annex II.
All studentship holders benefit from personal accident insurance for research activities, supported by FCT.
All studentship holders who do not benefit from any regime of social protection have access to social security by enrolling the voluntary social insurance regime, under the terms of the Código dos Regimes Contributivos do Sistema Previdencial de Segurança Social. FCT will ensure the charges resulting from contributions under the terms and with the limits established in Article no. 10 of the EBI.
13. PAYMENT OF STUDENTSHIP ALLOWANCE
Payments due to the studentship holder are made by bank transfer to the account indicated by the studentship holder. The monthly maintenance allowance is paid on the first working day of each month. Payments relating to the components covering enrolment, registration or tuition fees are made by FCT directly to the national institution where the studentship holder is enrolled or registered for the doctoral programme.
14. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STUDENTSHIP RENEWAL
The renewal of the studentship depends on the submission by the studentship holder, within 60 working days prior to the renewal start date, of the following documents:
- a. Declaration issued by the supervisor(s) and by the host institution(s) concerning the work plan development and the evaluation of the respective activities.
- b. Updated document proving compliance with the regime of exclusive dedication.
- c. Declaration attesting the enrolment at Iscte – University Institute of Lisbon in the study cycle leading to the PhD degree.
15. FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
In all R&D activities directly or indirectly funded by the studentship, namely in all communications, publications and scientific outputs, including theses, produced with the support provided by the studentship, the financial support of FCT and of the European Social Fund, in particular through the Demography, Qualifications and Inclusion Programme (PDQI), must be explicitly acknowledged. For this purpose, the insignia of FCT, MCTES, the ESF and the EU must be included in all documents relating to these actions, in accordance with the graphic standards of each operational programme.
As a rule, the dissemination of research results financed under the RBI must comply with the rules of open access to data, publications and other research results in force in the FCT.
In all studentships, and particularly in the case of actions supported by EU financing, namely from the FSE, monitoring and control actions may be carried out by national and EU entities in accordance with the applicable legislation in this matter. Grantees and contracting institutions must provide all the required information, including answering surveys and evaluation studies in this area, even in the case when the studentship has already ceased.
16. NON-DISCRIMINATION AND EQUAL ACCESS POLICY
FCT promotes a policy of non-discrimination and equal access. Therefore, no applicant may be privileged, benefited, harmed, or deprived of any right or exempted from any duty. This includes ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, family situation, economic situation, education, origin or social condition, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic disease, nationality, ethnicity or race, land of origin, language, religion, political or ideological beliefs or trade union affiliation.
17. APPLICABLE LEGISLATION AND REGULATION
The Call is governed by this Notice of the Call, by the FCT Regulation for Studentships and Fellowships (RBI), in the consolidated version incorporating the amendments approved on 10 December 2025 by the FCT Board of Directors and in force from 25/12/2025, by the Research Fellowship Holder Statute (EBI), approved by the Law no. 40/2004, of 18th of August, in its current version, and by other applicable national and European legislation.
[i] The presentation of these documents may optionally be substituted by the in-person presentation in the contracting institution, which will keep all the elements needed for the validation and execution of the contract, including the numbers of personal identification, taxation and social security, as well as the respective dates of expiry.
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