Research Grant (BI) - Mooring and Anchoring Systems for Floating Offshore Wind Turbines

Offer Description

Portuguese version: https://repositorio.inesctec.pt/editais/pt/AE2026-0203.pdf

CALL FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS (AE2026-0203)

INESC TEC is now accepting grant applications to award 1 Research Grant (BI) within the scope of the OCEAN_FCT funded by National Funds through FCT - Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., project reference .

1. GRANT DESCRIPTION

• Type of grant: Research Grant (BI)
• General scientific area: ENGINEERING
• Scientific subarea: Mechanical engineering
• Grant duration: 12 months, starting on 2026-12-01 , with the possibility of being renewed for a maximum term of four years, in the cases of students enrolled in a PhD.
• Scientific advisor: Diogo Neves
• Workplace: INESC TEC, INESCTEC / FEUP , Portugal
• Maintenance stipend: 1359.64, according to the table of monthly maintenance stipend for FCT grants (https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM_atualizacao-2024.pdf), paid via bank transfer. Grant holders may be awarded potential supplements, according to a quarterly evaluation process (Articles 19, 21 and 22 of the Regulations for Grants of INESC TEC and Annex II), up to a maximum limit of 50 of the monthly maintenance stipend.

INESC TEC supports costs with registration, enrolment or tuition fees, during the grant duration, under the terms established in the internal document: "Payment of Tuition fees to grant holders" (https://www.inesctec.pt/pagamento-propinas-bolseirosEN)

The grant holder will benefit from health insurance, supported by INESC TEC.

2. OBJECTIVES:

The main objective of this PhD is to develop and validate innovative mooring and anchoring systems, with integrated structural monitoring, to increase reliability and reduce maintenance costs of floating offshore wind turbines. The specific objectives include:

• Investigate and develop new concepts of hybrid anchoring and smart mooring cables.
• Integrate structural sensors into mooring systems for real-time monitoring.
• Develop numerical models to simulate the dynamic behavior of mooring and anchoring systems under different environmental conditions.
• Analyze and optimize structural performance and predictive maintenance based on monitoring data.
• Validate the proposed solutions through laboratory tests and, if possible, in real environments.
• Contribute to the digitalization and increased reliability of offshore wind turbines.

3. BRIEF PRESENTATION OF THE WORK PROGRAMME AND TRAINING:

The PhD candidate's work plan aims to develop innovative mooring and anchoring solutions for floating offshore wind turbines, integrating advanced structural health monitoring (SHM) systems. The work includes research into new anchoring concepts adaptable to different soil types, the development of smart mooring cables with embedded sensors, and the integration of structural monitoring data for performance optimization and predictive maintenance. The plan also includes experimental validation in an ocean laboratory and, if possible, in collaboration with industrial partners. The work to be carried out will include experiments in an ocean laboratory, participation in structural monitoring campaigns, and training in advanced numerical simulation and data analysis tools. The candidate will also have a training and capacity-building period to be defined at SINTEF OCEAN in Trondheim (Norway). The supervisory team is composed of Filipe Manuel Rodrigues Leite Magalhães (FEUP) and Diogo Neves (INESCTEC), together with co-supervisors from INESCTEC and SINTEF Ocean (Norway), as outlined in the work plan.

4. REQUIRED PROFILE:

Admission requirements:
Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Ocean Engineering, Materials Engineering, Naval Engineering, or related fields, with a solid background in structural dynamics, finite element analysis, and material behaviour. Eligible applicants: Students who are enrolled, or who commit to enroll by the time of hiring, in a PhD degree-awarding study programme offered by a Higher Education Institution.
The awarding of the fellowship is dependent on the applicants' enrolment in study cycle or non-award courses of Higher Education Institutions.

Preference factors:
Preference will be given to candidates with experience in:

• Dynamic analysis of floating objects and moorings for offshore structures.
• Numerical modelling of offshore structures using software such as ANSYS, ABAQUS, OrcaFlex, OpenFAST, or similar.
• Knowledge of mooring and anchoring systems.
• Ability to analyze and interpret experimental and simulation data.

Minimum requirements:
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently and in multidisciplinary teams.
Excellent command of spoken and written English.

5. EVALUATION OF APPLICATIONS AND SELECTION PROCESS:

Selection criteria and corresponding valuation: the first phase comprises the Academic Evaluation (AC), based on the criteria referred to in Article 12 of the Regulations for Grants of INESC TEC, while the second phase comprehends the Individual Interview (EI).
All factors are evaluated on a scale of 0 to 100, taking into account the applicants' merit, suitability and conformity with the preference factors.
The weight of the AC factors are as follows: Academic Qualifications (FA, 50), Scientific Publications (PC, 20), Experience (EX, 20) and Motivation Letter (CM, 10).
Candidates who score less than 50 points in the AC average will be considered excluded on absolute merit. The top five candidates approved on absolute merit will be qualified for the individual interview. The Final Grade (CF) is obtained by the weighted average of AC (80) and EI (20).

DISABILITY INCENTIVE

Candidates who present a degree of disability equal to or greater than 90% will benefit from an incentive (20) in the score of the CV Assessment.
Candidates who present a degree of disability equal to or greater than 60% and less than 90% will also benefit from an incentive (10) in the score of the CV Assessment.
Said score may, in these cases, exceed 100 points.
Candidates must demonstrate the degree of disability during the application, namely through the submission of the Multi-Purpose Medical Certificate of Disability, issued in accordance with Decree-Law no. 202/96, of October 23 - currently in effect.

The Selection Jury is composed of the following members:
President of the Jury: Eduardo Silva
Full member: Diogo Neves
Full member: Filipe Manuel Rodrigues Leite Magalhães (FEUP)
Substitute member: Diana Viegas

Release of results and prior hearing: the results of the selection process, as well as the terms and procedures for prior hearing, will be released to the applicants by email, under the terms referred to in Article 13 of the Regulations for Studentships and Fellowships of INESC TEC.

6. FORMALISATION OF APPLICATIONS:

Application Documents:

1. Motivation letter;
2. Curriculum Vitae (must include the list of previous fellowships, their type, beginning and end dates, funding entities and host institutions);
3. Certificate or diploma degree;
4. Proof of enrollment in a degree awarding study cycle or in a non degree awarding Higher Education program.
   • The proof of enrollment may be presented just during the grant hiring stage.
5. Signed declaration stating the infringement of the grant holder's duties (article 14, no. 4)
6. Documental evidence to support the country of residence, residence permit or other legally equivalent document, in cases where the applicant is a foreigner or non-resident in Portugal - valid until the beginning of the grant.
7. Other supporting documents relevant to the final assessment.

Failure to deliver the required documents within the 90-day period after the date of the notice of the conditional awarding of the grant implies its cancellation.

Application period: From 2026-10-01 to 2026-10-15

Submission of applications: the application will be formalised by submitting the form available in the Work With Us section of INESC TEC website.

7. BINDING LEGISLATION AND REGULATION

The hiring process shall comply with the current legislation regarding the Research Grant Holder Statute, approved by Law no. 40/2004 of August 18, in its current wording, as well as by the Regulations for Grants of INESC TEC and for FCT Grants Regulation in force.

For more information, please check the Regulations for Grants of INESC TEC and relevant annexes at www.inesctec.pt/bolsas

Where to apply

Website: https://www.inesctec.pt/en/opportunity/AE2026-0203

Requirements

• Research Field: Engineering
• Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent

Specific Requirements

Academic qualifications: Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Ocean Engineering, Materials Engineering, Naval Engineering, or related fields, with a solid background in structural dynamics, finite element analysis, and material behaviour. Eligible applicants: Students who are enrolled, or who commit to enroll by the time of hiring, in a PhD degree-awarding study programme offered by a Higher Education Institution. .
Minimum profile: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently and in multidisciplinary teams., Excellent command of spoken and written English.
Preference factors: Preference will be given to candidates with experience in: -Dynamic analysis of floating objects and moorings for offshore structures. -Numerical modelling of offshore structures using software such as ANSYS, ABAQUS, OrcaFlex, OpenFAST, or similar. -Knowledge of mooring and anchoring systems. -Ability to analyze and interpret experimental and simulation data. .

• Research Field: Engineering
• Years of Research Experience: None

Additional Information

Benefits

Maintenance stipend: 1359.64 euros, according to the table of monthly maintenance stipend for FCT grants (https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM_atualizacao-2024.pdf), paid via bank transfer. Grant holders may be awarded potential supplements, according to a quarterly evaluation process (Articles 19, 21 and 22 of the Regulations for Grants of INESC TEC and Annex II), up to a maximum limit of 50% of the monthly maintenance stipend.

Costs attributable to INESC TEC may include registration, enrolment or tuition fee stipend, either directly or through reimbursement, during the grant duration.

The grant holder will benefit from health insurance, supported by INESC TEC.

Selection process

5. EVALUATION OF APPLICATIONS AND SELECTION PROCESS:

Selection criteria and corresponding valuation: the first phase comprises the Academic Evaluation (AC), based on the criteria referred to in Article 12 of the Regulations for Grants of INESC TEC, while the second phase comprehends the Individual Interview (EI).
All factors are evaluated on a scale of 0 to 100, taking into account the applicants' merit, suitability and conformity with the preference factors.
The weight of the AC factors are as follows: Academic Qualifications (FA, 50), Scientific Publications (PC, 20), Experience (EX, 20) and Motivation Letter (CM, 10).
Candidates who score less than 50 points in the AC average will be considered excluded on absolute merit. The top five candidates approved on absolute merit will be qualified for the individual interview. The Final Grade (CF) is obtained by the weighted average of AC (80) and EI (20).

DISABILITY INCENTIVE

Candidates who present a degree of disability equal to or greater than 90% will benefit from an incentive (20) in the score of the CV Assessment.
Candidates who present a degree of disability equal to or greater than 60% and less than 90% will also benefit from an incentive (10) in the score of the CV Assessment.
Said score may, in these cases, exceed 100 points.
Candidates must demonstrate the degree of disability during the application, namely through the submission of the Multi-Purpose Medical Certificate of Disability, issued in accordance with Decree-Law no. 202/96, of October 23 - currently in effect.

The Selection Jury is composed of the following members:
President of the Jury: Eduardo Silva
Full member: Diogo Neves
Full member: Filipe Manuel Rodrigues Leite Magalhães (FEUP)
Substitute member: Diana Viegas

Release of results and prior hearing: the results of the selection process, as well as the terms and procedures for prior hearing, will be released to the applicants by email, under the terms referred to in Article 13 of the Regulations for Studentships and Fellowships of INESC TEC.

Website for additional job details: https://www.inesctec.pt/en/opportunity/AE2026-0203

Work Location(s)

• Number of offers available: 1
• Company/Institute: INESC TEC
• Country: Portugal
• City: Porto
• Postal Code: 4200-465
• Street: Campus da Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias

Contact

• City: Porto
• Website: http://www.inesctec.pt
• Street: Campus da FEUP - Rua Dr. Roberto Frias
• Postal Code: 4200-465 Porto