ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE AWARD OF A RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP
Title: Master's Research Fellowship - 1 vacancy
Reference: IPC/ADDiHealth/APJ/20/2026
A call for applications is now open for the attribution of one (1) research grants for a master's degree within the scope of the I&D project ADDiHealth FootWear - Additive intelligent Health Footwear, com a ref.ª NORTE2030-FEDER-03272000, financiado por ANI - Agência Nacional Inovação, no âmbito do Portugal 2030, programa operacional Programa Inovação e Transição Digital | Compete 2030, under the following conditions:
1. Scientific Area
Product Engineering or related areas.
2. Recipient category
Students enrolled in a doctorate or a non-degree course integrated into the pedagogical project of a higher education institution, with skills proven by a CV in Product Engineering or related areas.
3. Requirement for granting the fellowship
- The applicants may apply without prior registration in the course for which the fellowship is open. The requirement to enroll in a degree course or non-academic degree course will be verified on the date of contracting the fellowship;
- Only fellowships whose selected applicants present a valid proof of enrollment in a degree course or non-academic degree course will be contracted, according to the type of the fellowship, issued by a Higher Education Institution, indicating, respectively, the academic year or its duration (star and term).
4. Applicants' eligibility
Candidates who meet the conditions set out in Article 9 of the Research Grant Regulations, No. 950/2019, of [contact details available in the full listing], 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.
5. Candidate eligibility requirements
- a) Experience in scientific research projects and technological development.
- b) Proficiency in 3D modelling and generative design tools, particularly those applied to the design of complex geometries and structures.
- c) Experience in structural simulation and analysis for component performance optimisation.
- d) Knowledge of prototyping and evaluation of solutions developed using additive manufacturing technologies.
- e) Experience in product development, with a focus on ergonomics, comfort, and anatomical adaptation.
6. Workplan and objectives to be achieved
i) Conducting research activities aimed at the design and optimisation of innovative occupational footwear solutions for nursing professionals, including literature review, development of three-dimensional models and complex structures using generative design tools, exploration of additive manufacturing processes, and structural simulations to optimise component performance, comfort, and anatomical adaptation; ii) Supporting the prototyping and evaluation of the developed solutions, as well as the analysis of results, contributing to technology integration and the development of functional, ergonomic, and innovative footwear.
7. 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.
8. Host/Contracting institution and scientific supervision
The workplans will be carried out in the Institute of Polymers and Composites of the School of Engineering of the University of Minho, located in the Azurém Campus, Guimaraes, under the scientific supervision of Professor Álvaro Miguel Céu Gramaxo Oliveira Sampaio.
9. Fellowship duration
The grant will take place for a period of 12 months, with a provisional starting date on the November of 2026. The fellowship grant may, eventually, be renewed up to the maximum limit allowed by the project and/or applicable legislation.
10. Amount of the research grant
The amount of the grant corresponds to 1.359,64€/month, according to the table of values of the Research scholarship of the University of Minho, updated annually, as decided by 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 contratualization process.
11. Other components of the research grant
Define other components of the scholarships, as provided for in Article 18º of the FCT Research Scholarship Regulations (RBI).
12. Other benefits
Reimbursement of Voluntary Social Insurance, if the candidate chooses to receive it, corresponding to the 1st level of discounts (for research grants with a total duration 6 months or higher) and personal accident insurance.
13. Exclusivity regime
The grantee will perform the activities under exclusivity, as foreseen in article 5º of the Research Fellow Statutes and applicable regulations.
14. Selection panel
The Jury is composed of the President, Professor António José Vilela Pontes, Associate Professor with Aggregation of the Department of Polymer Engineering at the School of Engineering of the University of Minho and by effective vowels, Professors Professor Fernando Moura Duarte, Assistant Professor of the Department of Polymer Engineering at the School of Engineering of the University of Minho and Professor Álvaro Miguel Céu Gramaxo Oliveira Sampaio, Associate Professor of the School of Architecture of the University of Minho and the substitute members, Professors Maria da Conceição Jesus Rego Paiva, Associate Professor and Ana Vera Machado, Full Professor, all from the Department of Polymer Engineering at the School of Engineering at the University of Minho.
15. 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 (or another scale):
Applicant Merit - AM (100%):
- Academic path (considering the classifications of academic degrees), with a weighting of 50%;
- Personal curriculum (considering professional and scientific background), with a weighting of 40%;
- Motivation letter, with a weighting of 10%.
The final classification of the applicant's merit with the achieved through the following formula:
MC=(a*0,5) +(b*0,4) +(c*0,1)
Note: 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.
16. Application deadline and submission
The call for applications is open from October 26 to November 9, 2026.
Applications must be submitted by email to [contact details available in the full listing], indicating the reference number of the competition in the subject line. Only applications submitted within the established deadline and accompanied by the following documents will be accepted:
- a) Candidate's updated curriculum vitae;
- b) Certificates of the academic degrees obtained or, if applicable, the candidate's declaration of honor that he/she has completed the degrees required in the notice by the application deadline (not applicable to research initiation grants).
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 honor 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;
- c) Proof of experience in research projects;
- d) Letter of motivation.
17. Form of publication/notification of results
The results of the evaluation are published in a single list by final score obtained, posted in a visible and public place in the host unit, as well as by email to all candidates, attaching, for this purpose, the minutes of the jury's 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.
18. Fellowship contractualization
The scholarship 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 enrollment 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.
19. 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.
20. Non-discrimination and equal access policy
Universidade do Minho actively promotes a policy of non-discrimination and equal access, so that no candidate may be privileged, benefited, harmed or deprived of any right or exempt from any duty due, namely, to ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, economic situation, education, social origin or condition, genetic heritage, reduced working capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological convictions and trade union membership.
Declaration of Honor — Academic qualifications
I, (full name), candidate for the vacancy for the award of a (type of scholarship), within the scope of the project (name or reference of the project), with the reference (ref. notice), declare on my honor that I have completed the academic degree of (academic degree), qualifying for the type of scholarship in the competition, namely the course (designation), by the (University conferring the degree), on the date XX/XX/XXXX, with a final average of XXXXX 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 at the conclusion of the scholarship contract, in the event that I am selected for the vacancy in the competition.
As this is true, I hereby date and sign this declaration. (Place), (date). (full name)
NOTE: The declaration may only 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 purpose of contracting the scholarship, only the information contained in the latter will be taken into account.
Declaration of Honor
I, (full name), bearer of identification document number (XXXX), candidate for a research grant (type of grant), within the scope of the project (name or reference of the project), with the reference (ref. call for proposals), declare on my honor that (I have not received any research grants to date / I have received the following research grants) under the Research Grant Holder Statute.
University | Financing Entity | Project | Type of Grant | Duration | Start | Term
As this is true, I hereby date and sign this declaration. (Place), (date). (full name)
