Notice for the Awarding of Scholarships within R&D Projects and Institutions (BI_WP17-01/2026)

Scientific Area: Materials and/or equivalent areas.

Eligibility Requirements:

1. Knowledge of materials;
2. Knowledge of CAD modelling;
3. Knowledge of manufacturing technologies and processes;
4. Previous participation in research or technological development projects will be valued.
5. Compliance with the provisions of Article 5 of the FCT Research Grant Regulations (Reg. no. 950/2019):
   • Not exceeding, with the execution of the respective grant contract, including possible renewals, a cumulative period of one year under this type of grant, consecutive or interpolated;
   • Not having previously benefited from any other research grant directly or indirectly funded by FCT.

Only grants whose selected candidates present valid proof of completion of the degree-awarding or non-degree-awarding course, according to the type of grant under competition, issued by the academic services of the Higher Education Institution, will be contracted. Academic degrees obtained abroad must be registered by a Portuguese institution, in accordance with Decree-Law no. 66/2018, of 16 August, and Ordinance no. 33/2019, of 25 January. Submission of the certificate is mandatory for contract signature. More information may be obtained at: https://www.dges.gov.pt/pt/pagina/reconhecimento?plid=374

Work plan and objectives: The work plan focuses on studying the mechanical behaviour of depressurisation valves for satellite protective fairings, with particular emphasis on materials and manufacturing processes. The work aims to analyse how geometry, structural flexibility, manufacturing methods, and material selection influence mass reduction, performance, and reliability.

The approach will be predominantly numerical, based on CAD modelling, structural analysis, and optimisation. Analysis and optimisation studies will be carried out to identify the lightest and most robust configuration, contributing to advances in the state of the art in materials and manufacturing techniques for aerospace components.

Applicable legislation and regulations: Law no. 40/2004, of 18 August (Statute of the Scientific Research Grant Holder), as amended by Decree-Law no. 123/2019, of 28 August; FCT Research Grant Regulations, available at https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/docs/RegulamentoBolsasFCT2019.pdf and https://dre.pt/application/file/a/127230968.

Workplace: The work will be carried out at CEiiA – Centre for Engineering and Product Development, located at Avenida Dom Afonso Henriques, 1825, Matosinhos, under the scientific supervision of Doctor John Meyer.

Duration of scholarships: The grant will have a duration of 6 months, with an expected start date of 16 November 2026.

Evaluation and selection criteria and procedures: The selection method to be used will be composed of the Candidate’s Merit, on a scale from 0 to 20 points:

Candidate’s Merit – CM (100%):

a. Curricular Evaluation, with a weighting of 100%;

a.1) Academic Training, with a weighting of 50%;

a.2) Eligibility Requirements, with a weighting of 45%;

a.3) Motivation Letter, with a weighting of 5%.

The final classification of the Candidate’s Merit (CM) will be obtained by applying the following formula:

CM = (a.1 × 0.50) + (a.2 × 0.45) + (a.3 × 0.05)

Candidates with a score below 10 points in the Curricular Evaluation component will not be admitted. The jury reserves the right not to award the grant if no candidates meeting the eligibility requirements apply.

Selection Committee composition: The jury is composed of the following members: Rui Magalhães (President), Miguel Fernandes (First effective member), Henrique Candeias (Second effective member), Sandra Melo (First alternate member) and Rui Vieira (Second alternate member). In the event of impediment of the Chair, he/she shall be replaced by the first effective member, and the first alternate member shall be appointed to replace the effective member.

Form of Publicity/Notification of Results: All candidates will be notified by email of the Final Evaluation Result, substantiated in minutes, and sent to the candidates within a maximum period of 90 working days from the end of the application submission period, in accordance with Article 12 of the FCT Research Grant Regulations.

Application Deadline and Submission Method: The call is open for a period of 10 working days. Applications must be formally submitted, mandatorily, by sending an application letter accompanied by the following documents (if applicable): i) Curriculum Vitae; ii) Academic Certificate; iii) Motivation Letter; iv) Scientific Publications.

Applications must be submitted via the address: https://smrtr.io/C4MvX, indicating the competition reference in the subject line. Applications submitted through other means will not be accepted. Failure to indicate the competition reference, missing required documents, or submission to a different address than the one indicated above may result in exclusion. In case of doubt, candidates should contact pessoas@ceiia.com.

Monthly maintenance allowance and protection: The monthly grant amount corresponds to €1.090,98/month, in accordance with the table of values for grants directly awarded by FCT, I.P. in Portugal (https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM-2026.pdf). Payment is made by the last working day of each month via bank transfer to the grantee’s IBAN provided during the contracting process. Grant holders who are not covered by any social protection scheme may opt into the Voluntary Social Security Scheme, corresponding to the 1st contribution bracket. Grant holders are entitled to Personal Accident Insurance.

Exclusivity Regime: The performance of duties as a grant holder is carried out under an exclusivity regime, in accordance with Article 5 of the Statute of the Research Grant Holder and applicable research grant regulations.

Complaint and Appeal Procedures: The selected candidate must express in writing (by email) the intention to accept the grant. In case of non-acceptance, the grant will be awarded to the next candidate in the final ranking order. A complaint against the final decision may be submitted within 15 working days, addressed to the Chair of the Jury.

Grant Contracting: The granting of the scholarship is formalized through the signing of a contract between CEiiA and the grant holder, in accordance with the contract template referred to in point 2.4 of the “Rules for the Award and Management of Grants within R&D Projects, including infrastructure projects, the multiannual funding program for R&D units and other FCT funding instruments (2021 Version)”. The contract may only be signed after receipt of all documentation required according to the type of grant, which must occur within a maximum period of three months (including proof of academic degree ownership). After receipt of all documentation, the contracting entity has a period of 30 working days to execute the grant contracts. Once received by the grant holder, the contract must be returned duly signed within 15 working days. Grant contracts may only commence after due authorization by the contracting entity

Termination and Cancellation of Grant Contracts: Without prejudice to the other grounds provided for in the applicable research grant regulations (FCT) and in the Statute of the Research Grant Holder, the grant shall terminate upon completion of the contracted work plan, as well as upon expiry of the period for which it was awarded or renewed. At the end of the grant, the grant holder is required to submit the Final Report of the work carried out, in accordance with the objectives and evaluation criteria defined with the supervisor, within 30 working days following the end of the grant. This documentation must be submitted to the supervisor, who shall forward it to the competent entities.

The Final Report must be submitted in electronic format and shall include the activities carried out and the results obtained, including communications, publications and scientific outputs resulting from the activity performed, together with their respective URLs, and must be accompanied by the supervisor’s opinion, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 24 of the Research Grant Regulations, Regulation no. 950/2019 of 16 December 2019, of the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P.”

Non-Discrimination and Equal Access Policy: CEiiA promotes a policy of non-discrimination and equal access. Therefore, no candidate may be privileged, benefited, prejudiced or deprived of any right or exempted from any duty on the grounds of ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family situation, economic situation, education, social origin or condition, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological convictions or trade union membership.