Research Assistant (MA)

a. Scope

The Observatory Masculinities.pt aims to strengthen research and action on masculinities from a feminist perspective in the current scientific and institutional contexts, contributing to the development of programs that transform gender conceptions and the analysis and construction of public policies and interventions based on empirical research with social impact and promoting close relations between science and civil society.

Successful applicant will sign a labour contract to carry out a plan of research activities in the field of non-violent masculinities, intergenerational transmission of violence, and gender-transformative approaches developed by CES, to answer the objectives and work plan of the Observatory Masculinities.pt projects coordinated by CES:

1. EMiNC 2.0 - OAK Mainstreaming Male Caregiving in ECD (ISSA PA-26/06).

   The purpose of the Project – Fatherhood Collab - is to help professionals include fathers in early childhood care and promote shared caregiving through a dedicated Fatherhood & Early Years Center in Europe and beyond.

   EMiNC 2.0 is guided by three core objectives:

   1. Strengthen professional capacity: Equip early childhood professionals with the skills, tools, and confidence to engage fathers meaningfully in nurturing care.
   2. Shift norms and narratives: Promote shared caregiving by expanding evidence-based campaigns, research, and public dialogue.
   3. Ensure sustainability and scale: Establish the Fatherhood & Early Years Collaborative as a lasting platform for learning, collaboration, and knowledge generation.

   EMiNC 2.0 is funded by OAK Foundation, and coordinated by ISSA. It started on July 1, 2026, and will end on December 31, 2028.

2. MenCare – MenCare Global Fatherhood Campaign is a global initiative co-coordinated by EQUIMUNDO: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice, Sonke Gender Justice, Observatory Masculinidades.pt/Centre for Social Studies, REDMAS, Latin America and AÇEV. CES is a Council Member, currently Regional Coordinator for Southern Europe, through the masculinidades.pt - Observatory. CES coordinated the State of the World's Fathers 2026 study for Portugal, will organize a final MENCARE Meeting in Europe in 2026, and will be part of the Global MenCare ChangeMakers in Australia, December 2027.

b. Scientific field

Social and Human Sciences – All areas

c. Work plan, tasks

The selected research assistant is expected to support the research and dissemination activities within the projects mentioned in a. Particularly the research assistant is expected to:

1. Contribute to relevant research undertaken under the projects's scope, namely literature reviews, participation in scientific and technical activities, conducting interviews and focus groups, producting and analysing qualitative and quantitative information, processing and analysing the data collected, collaboration in the writing of scientific articles, among others.
2. Participate in the projects's meetings and assisting in the interaction with partners, as well as participating in CES internal team meetings;
3. Be part of the team of trainers during intervention phases of both projects;
4. Collaborate in the sustainability of the projects, and participate in dissemination, communication and exploitations activities of the projects and the Observatory masculinidades.pt.

d. Applicable Legislation and Regulations

The hiring will be governed by the Labour Code approved by Law no.7/2009 of February 12, as currently worded.

e. Work place

The tasks will be performed at the Centre for Social Studies facilities in Coimbra or other locations when necessary for the good implementation of the work plan, under the scientific supervision of the Observatory coordinators, Tatiana Moura and Inês Amaral.

f. Duration of the contract

The employment contract will be a temporary position (termo incerto), the total duration of which may not exceed four years (Paragraph 5, Article 148 of the Labor Code), and with an expected start date in December 2026.

Contract is fulltime under exclusive dedication. The contract has the maximum duration of the work plans of the projects abovementioned.

g. Application dates

Call opens on: October 22, 2026

Call closes on: November 5, 2026 (23h59 Lisbon time)

After November 5 applications will not be considered for evaluation.

h. Application process

Applications must include:

1. Presentation/Motivation letter in English (max. 2pages);
2. Full Curriculum Vitae;
3. Copy of qualification certificates and other relevant documents for eligibility purposes. If, for the duration of the applications period, the applicant does not have proof of recognition of the academic degree by the Portuguese Higher Education System (Law DL66/2018), s/he must send a declaration of honour ensuring to deliver the recognition of the degree within 30 days after the communication of the results, if selected.

Applications should be sent by email to concursos@ces.uc.pt until the final deadline, and will be valid only after a reading receipt is sent. Applications must include a clear indication of the reference of this call (CES/22/2026-RA-Masculinities).

Requirements

Research Field: Other

Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent

i. Preferred selection criteria and their weighing:

1. Previous experience in research-action oriented projects with a feminist focus on masculinities and gender transformative approaches (30%);
2. Affinity of the candidates’ individual path with the projects’ themes (20%);
3. Experience in supporting the implementation of national and EU Research projects (20%);
4. Previous experience in qualitative and participatory methodologies (10%);
5. Strong organizational skills, including the ability to manage priorities and tight deadlines (10%);
6. Be fluent in Portuguese and English (10%).

Languages: English — Level: Excellent

Languages: Portuguese — Level: Excellent

Additional Information

j. Monthly Salary

The monthly salary will be 1.450,00 Euros gross (plus months 13 and 14) and meal daily allowance.

k. Mandatory requirements

1. Hold an MA degree in Social Sciences.
2. Applicants with an academic degree and diploma issued by a foreign Higher Education Institution must present proof of recognition of the academic degree by the Portuguese Higher Education System, (law DL66/2018). Any candidate without the recognition of the degree(s) will be admitted to the competition, but during the evaluation process the selection panel, cannot:
   1. recognise the candidate's grades and assess according to the possession of such grades;
   2. give equivalence to, or validate, the grade of her/his degree;
   3. use that note or its conversion as an evaluation parameter.

In case of selection, the contract can only be signed after the recognition of the academic degree by the Portuguese authorities, under the terms of the Law-decree n66/2018, August 16. The selected candidate must deliver the recognition of the degree within 30 days after the communication of the results. After the 30 days, the jury may decide to 1. either extend the deadline for the candidate to prove the recognition; 2. assign the fellowship to the second place; 3. or not award position.

l. Selection process

The selection of the candidate will be made based on the curricular evaluation and, in case of a close evaluation among best candidates, the jury may decide to carry out interviews in person or remotely. When applying the two methods of selection, curricular evaluation and interview, each will have a weighing of 10% in the final classification.

In the interview, in order to clarify aspects related to the curriculum and previous experience, the jury will evaluate the candidate's ability to integrate into the project, motivation and interest, and communication and verbal expression in English and Portuguese.

The jury reserves the right to not select any applicants for the positions, if applications do not meet the necessary standards and/or profiles in terms of absolute merit.

m. Selection panel

• Tatiana Moura (President)
• Inês Amaral (permanent member)
• Cristiano Gianolla (permanent member)
• Ana Cristina Santos (substitute member)
• Fernando Fontes (substitute member)

n. Communication of Results

All candidates will receive the results by email. The meeting minutes of the selection panel will become available publicly. After communicating the results, applicants have 10 working days to present a redress to the evaluation and the result by email.

o. Additional Information

Equality of opportunities:

CES abides by the national law that regulates the prevention, prohibition and fighting against discrimination on the grounds of racial and ethnic identity, colour, nationality, family background, and territory of origin (Law nº 93/2017, August 23).

Data protection:

By submitting your application, you are agreeing with the use of your personal data by CES administrative services for the sole purpose of the current call, namely to be contacted directly by CES services and allow the communication of results as in point n. of this call. CES abides by the principles of GPDR.

Contact:

Centro de Estudos Sociais
Colégio S. Jerónimo, Apartado 3087
3000-995 Coimbra, Portugal
concursos@ces.uc.pt

Website for additional job details: https://ces.uc.pt/pt/agenda-noticias/emprego-bolsas-estagios

Work Location

Number of offers available: 1

Company/Institute: Centro de Estudos Sociais

Country: Portugal

City: Coimbra

Postal Code: 3000-432

Street: Colegio S. Jeronimo, Praça D Dinis