Offer Description
A tender is hereby opened for the award of 1 (one) Research Grant (RG) under project DESignSX, "Hydrophobic Eutectic Solvents for Tailored Metal Separation and Recycling", Horizon — ERC-2023-STG— [contact details available in the full listing] of CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, under the following conditions:
1. Scientific Area: Chemical Engineering and related areas.
2. Financing Source Project Horizon — ERC-2023-STG— 101116461
3. Admission Requirements:
3.1. Students enrolled in doctorate
3.2. Study Area: Chemical Engineering
4. Other Requirements: Previous experience in membrane synthesis and characterization, metal separation and recovery, and computational simulation (thermodynamic software such as COSMO-RS).
5. Eligibility: Applicants are eligible if they comply with paragraph a) of no.1 of article 2, of the Research Fellow Statute in the wording given by Decree-Law no. 123/2019, of August 28th, and also the provisions of article 9 of the Scientific Research Grant Regulations of the University of Aveiro.
6. Work plan: The grant will investigate the incorporation of hydrophobic eutectic solvents (DES) within functionalised membrane support towards the improved solvent extraction separation of critical metals. DES are binary low-melting liquid mixtures with promising potential as an alternative to existing petroleum-derived organic solvents. However, the application of DES in solvent extraction separations has so far been limited in large part due issues surrounding their physical properties, namely viscosity. To overcome this limitation, this grant aims to combine advanced membrane modification strategies with optimized solvent extraction systems in hybrid flowsheets. The work will explore greener solvent systems and functionalized membranes used either as standalone units or integrated as membrane contactors.
7. Applicable legislation and regulations: Research Fellow Statute, as amended by Decree-Law No. 123/2019, of August 28th; Scientific Research Grant Regulation of the University of Aveiro, Regulation No. 292/2020, published in Diário da República No. 61, Series II, of March 26th; Decree-Law No. 66/2018, of August 16th (Legal regime of recognition of academic degrees and diplomas of higher education awarded by foreign higher education institutions).
8. Workplace: The work will be carried out at CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials of the University of Aveiro, under the scientific supervision of Doctor Nicolas Gislain Schaeffer and Professor Doctor Pedro Carvalho.
9. Duration of the grant(s): The grant duration will be 12 months, starting in November of 2026, and may be renewed for additional periods, up to the maximum limit of approved funding. Under no circumstances shall it exceed the limits defined in nos. 5 and 6 of article 9, of Regulation no. 292/2020, of February 28th, published in Diário da República, no. 61, Series II, of March 26th (Scientific Research Grant Regulation of the University of Aveiro).
10. Amount of monthly maintenance allowance: The amount of the grant corresponds to €1.359,64, according to the table of values of monthly maintenance allowances, set out in Appendix III of the Scientific Research Grant Regulation of the University of Aveiro, subject to any updates that may occur and are applicable. The fellow may also be reimbursed for the amount corresponding to the Voluntary Social Security, in case of adherence to this plan.
The candidate will also receive a monthly supplement of up to €229,20 the amount of which is stipulated in Rectoral Decree Nº. 58 - REIT/2022 of the University of Aveiro and will be covered by the University of Aveiro's own revenue.
11. Selection methods: The selection methods to be used will be the following: curriculum vitae assessment with the respective value of 70% assigned to the average of the last academic degree obtained and 30% for relevant experience of R&D in the area of the grant. The jury reserves the right to not assign the Research Grant if no candidates reach the minimum score of 15 points in a scale of 0 to 20 points.
12. Composition of the Selection Jury: President: Dr Nicolas Schaeffer; Permanent members: Professor Dr. Pedro Carvalho and Prof. Dra. Sónia Patrícia Marques Ventura.
Alternate members: Dr. Filipe Hobi Bordon Sosa and Dra. Ana Maria da Conceição Ferreira Takahashi.
13. Deadline for applications (not be less than 10 working days) and how to submit applications: The call is open from 14-09-2026 to 30-09-2026, and only applications submitted within the deadline will be admitted.
Applications must be formalized by sending a letter of application accompanied by the following documents: Curriculum Vitae, certificate of qualifications, declaration of honor and other supporting documents deemed relevant. They shall also indicate the e-mail address to which by such indication they accept to be notified for all purposes within this procedure.
Applications should be sent by e-mail to nicolas.schaeffer@ua.pt.
14. Form of publication/notification of results: The results of the evaluation shall be made public no later than 60 working days after the closing date for submission of applications and shall be notified to the applicants. The candidates are informed, in a prior hearing, under the terms established in the Code of Administrative Procedure, of the probable meaning of the final decision, and may, within 10 working days of this notification, express their opinion on this decision.
The final results may be appealed to the Rector, to be submitted within 10 working days from the respective notification.
15. Tender duration: The final ranking list of candidates will be valid until 30-10-2026 for the purpose of constituting a reserve list for selection.
Obs:
The proof of enrolment must be made available until the contract is awarded, and the candidate may attach a declaration of honor to confirm that they meet the requirements for enrolment in an integrated master's degree, master's or doctoral program or in a course that does not confer an academic degree.
If the qualification has been conferred by a foreign higher education institution it must be recognized by a Portuguese higher education institution, under the terms of the provisions of article 25 of Decree-Law no. 66/2018, of August 16th, which approves the legal regime of recognition of academic degrees and diplomas of Higher Education, attributed by foreign higher education institutions, and of paragraph e) of no. 2 of article 4 of Decree-Law no. 60/2018, of August 3rd, and any formalities established therein must be fulfilled by the date of the hiring act.
Requirements
Research Field: Engineering » Chemical engineering
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Additional Information
Website for additional job details: https://www.ciceco.ua.pt/files/11111edital_pt_designsx.pdf
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: University of Aveiro
Country: Portugal
State/Province: Aveiro
City: Aveiro
Postal Code: 3810-074
Street: Campus Universitário de Santiago
