16 Sep 2026
Job Information
Organisation/Company: Fundação Gaspar Frutuoso
Research Field: Other
Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)
Positions: Bachelor Positions
Application Deadline: 30 Sep 2026 - 23:59 (Atlantic/Azores)
Country: Portugal
Type of Contract: Other
Type of Contract Extra Information: Research Grant (BI)
Job Status: Full-time
Hours Per Week: 35
Offer Starting Date: 1 Nov 2026
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme
Reference Number: 010/BI/2026
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description
The Fundação Gaspar Frutuoso, F.P., is announcing a call for applications for one (1) Research Fellowship (BI) for a bachelor’s degree holder enrolled in a master’s program, as part of the microGASP research project—Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Plastic Pollution: The Azores as a Beacon of Ecological Transition at the Space-Ocean Interface, Ref. 2025.04688.AZO, funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P.
1. Purpose of the Activity:
The fellow’s duties will include participating in the research activities of the microGASP project, including fieldwork in marine and coastal environments; assisting with laboratory activities; preparing and implementing experimental protocols and procedures; conducting laboratory and field experiments with plastics and microplastics, including the use of gas flux chambers; preparing, processing, and characterizing samples; and organizing, processing, analyzing, and interpreting environmental and experimental data.
The fellow will also participate in the preparation and communication of scientific results, in science outreach and public engagement activities, as well as in scientific collaboration with the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) within the scope of the project’s planned activities.
2. Academic Field: Marine and Environmental Sciences
3. Admission Requirements:
3.1 Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Marine Biology, Marine Sciences, Environmental Sciences, or related fields.
3.2 Enrollment in a master’s program in Marine Sciences, Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences, or related fields;
3.3 Training and experience in:
a) Research in the field of marine pollution by plastics and/or microplastics, including the preparation, processing, and laboratory analysis of samples, and experience with microplastic characterization techniques, preferably using FTIR spectroscopy;
b) Fieldwork in a marine environment, including participation in sampling campaigns and/or environmental surveys, and experience in the collection, organization, processing, and analysis of environmental data, preferably using R/RStudio software;
c) Scientific communication and outreach, including experience presenting scientific work/results and/or participating in science communication, environmental education, or public engagement activities in the field of marine sciences;
d) Scientific publications, conference presentations, and/or experience in scientific communication and outreach, including participation in activities related to communicating scientific projects, producing content for social media, public engagement initiatives, lectures, or other outreach initiatives in the scientific field covered by this call for applications.
3.4. Proficiency in spoken and written English, essential for carrying out the project’s activities;
3.5. Ability to work as part of a team, including in multidisciplinary settings and in the context of international scientific collaboration.
4. Applicable legislation and regulations: Statute of the Scientific Research Fellow, approved by Law No. 40/2004 of August 18, amended and republished by Decree-Law No. 202/2012 of August 27, by Decree-Law No. 89/2013 of July 9, by Decree-Law No. 233/2012 of October 29, and by Law No. 12/2013 of January 29, and amended by Decree-Law No. 123/2019 of August 28, as currently in force (https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/estatutobolseiro) and the FCT, I.P. Research Grant Regulations, as currently in force (https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/RBi_Republicado_2025.pdf).
5. Work Location: The work will be carried out primarily at the facilities of the Institute of Marine Sciences – OKEANOS, University of the Azores, Horta Campus, under the scientific supervision of Dr. Catharina Pieper, and may include periods of theoretical, practical, and laboratory work at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), United Kingdom, as part of the scientific collaboration and activities planned under the microGASP project.
6. Duration of the fellowship: The fellowship will last for 6 months, with the possibility of renewal for the duration of the respective project task, on an exclusive basis, in accordance with the FCT’s regulations on advanced human resources training and pursuant to Article 5 of the Research Fellow Statute.
7. Monthly living allowance: The scholarship amount is €1,090.98, in accordance with the schedule of amounts for scholarships awarded directly by FCT, I.P. in Portugal (https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/regulamento.phtml.pt), published in Annex I of the Research Fellowship Regulations of the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), issued by Decree-Law No. 350/2019, of December 16. The grant will be paid monthly by bank transfer. In addition to this amount, Voluntary Social Security, corresponding to the first tier, will be added if the applicant chooses to enroll in it, as well as personal accident insurance.
8. Selection Methods: The selection methods to be used are as follows: review of academic records, accounting for 100% of the total score. If the Selection Committee deems it necessary, an interview may be conducted in the event of a tie between the candidates ranked in the top two positions according to the order determined by the previous criterion. In this case, the final score will include the curriculum vitae evaluation (as described above), accounting for 90%, and the interview, accounting for 10%. If none of the candidates meets the required profile (overall score below 50%), the scholarship will not be awarded.
9. Composition of the Selection Committee: The Committee is composed of Dr. Catharina Pieper, Chair; and full members Dr. Freya Radford and Dr. Clara Loureiro.
10. Publication/Notification of Results: The final evaluation results will be published in a list ranked by final score, and candidates will be notified via email. The provisions of the Code of Administrative Procedure apply to this competition, and if the decision is unfavorable, candidates have 10 business days to file an appeal.
11. Application Deadline and Submission Procedure:
The call for applications is open for 10 business days following the publication of the announcement.
Applications must be submitted by sending the following documents:
a) Application addressed to the Chair of the Selection Committee;
b) Letter of Motivation;
c) Curriculum Vitae, dated and signed;
d) Copy of legal identification and taxpayer identification documents;
e) Copy of academic transcript, including a list of grades obtained;
Holders of academic degrees awarded by foreign institutions of higher education must have the academic degree required in this Call for Applications recognized in accordance with Decree-Law No. 66/2018, of August 16. Recognition of the aforementioned degree must be obtained by the deadline for signing the contract, if the candidate selected for an eligible position obtained the academic degree required in this Call for Applications abroad;
f) A copy of proof of enrollment and registration in the academic program required in this Call for Applications;
The supporting documents must be obtained by the deadline set for the application period.
g) Other documents that the applicant considers relevant for the evaluation of their academic record, including letters of recommendation and documents attesting to experience in the areas mentioned in section 3.3 of this notice.
Applications must be sent exclusively to the email address catharina.pieper@gmail.com, addressed to the Chair of the Selection Committee, Dr. Catharina Pieper, with a copy to the Gaspar Frutuoso Foundation (silvia.f.martinho@uac.pt), citing the scholarship competition reference number (010/BI/2026).
Where to apply
E-mail: catharina.pieper@gmail.com
Requirements
Research Field: Other
Education Level: Bachelor Degree or equivalent
Additional Information
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: OKEANOS – Instituto de Investigação em Ciências do Mar
Country: Portugal
City: Horta
Postal Code: 9901-862
Contact
City: Ponta Delgada
Website: https://fgf.uac.pt/pt-pt
Street: Rua da Mãe de Deus
Postal Code: 9500-321
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