Research Grants (RG) – Zapify 2.0

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

A call is open for the award of 2 (two) Research Grants (RG) within the R&D project “Zapify 2.0: Development of Generative AI-Based Conversational Technologies for Online Customer Service”, reference Zapify 2.0, funded by the Norte Regional Programme 2021-2027 (NORTE 2030), through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), under the following conditions:

1. SCIENTIFIC AREA

Computer Engineering

2. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering or a related field and enrolment in a Master’s degree programme or in a non-degree course.

3. DURATION

Each grant will have a duration of 6 months, starting in November, and may be renewed up to the limit set out in the RBI-ISEP or until the end of the project, whichever occurs first.

4. ACTIVITY OBJECT / WORK PLAN

The grant holders will participate in ISEP's research and development activities within the Zapify 2.0 project, focusing on Artificial Intelligence applied to conversational systems. The work will include a review of the state of the art in Natural Language Processing, Large Language Models (LLMs), generative AI and machine learning; preparation, organisation and analysis of interaction data; definition of use cases and test scenarios; development and evaluation of models for conversation interpretation, identification of user patterns, preferences or intentions, and personalisation of interactions; experimentation with LLMs for the generation of contextualised responses; definition of metrics and comparative experiments; development of prototypes and integration of the models with project components; testing and analysis of results; documentation of code, experiments and results; and participation in technical meetings, reports, deliverables and dissemination activities. The aim is to contribute to the development and validation of AI solutions enabling more natural, relevant and personalised interactions in customer service and conversational commerce contexts.

5. APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS

Research Grant Holder Statute, approved by Law no. 40/2004, published in Official Gazette, Series I-A - no. 194 - 18th August 2004; Research Grant Regulations of the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia - FCT (Foundation for Science and Technology), approved by Regulation no. 950/2019, published in Official Gazette, Series II- Part C - no. 241 - 16th December 2019; Research Grant Regulations of ISEP approved by Regulation no. 495-A/2020, published in Official Gazette, Series II - no. 101 - 25th May 2020; Legal regime of recognition of academic degrees and diplomas of higher education awarded by foreign higher education institutions approved by Decree-Law no. 66/2018, published in Official Gazette, Series I - no. 157 - 16th August 2018; Decree-Law no. 60/2018, published in Official Gazette, Serie I - no. 149 - 3rd August 2018, which simplifies administrative procedures necessary for the pursuit of research and development activities, all in their current wording.

6. SCIENTIFIC ORIENTATION AND WORKPLACE

The work will be carried out at GECAD, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto (ISEP), under the scientific supervision of Professor Maria Goreti Carvalho Marreiros, PhD.

7. MONTHLY MAINTENANCE ALLOWANCE

Monthly amount of each grant: €1,090.98, paid by bank transfer (according to the FCT grant values table), supported through PAD no. C73776 and C74082.

8. SELECTION METHODS AND COMPOSITION OF SELECTION BOARD

The selection methods will be curricular assessment and interview, weighted 60% and 40%, respectively, both graded on a scale from 0 to 20. The curricular assessment will consider the following factors and weights:

• Academic background – 35%
• Knowledge and/or experience in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, NLP and/or LLMs – 30%
• Experience in projects, academic work or software development in the field – 35%

The interview will be assessed according to the following factors:

• Motivation for applying – 50%
• Understanding of the relevance of the project topic in the context of generative AI and conversational systems – 50%

The selection board will consist of:

• Professor Maria Goreti Carvalho Marreiros, Full Professor and Director of GECAD (Chair);
• Professor Luis Manuel da Silva Conceição, Assistant Professor (Member);
• Professor Diogo Emanuel Pereira Martinho, Assistant Professor (Member);
• Professor Joaquim Filipe Santos, Associate Professor (Alternate Member);
• Professor Antonio Constantino da Silva Martins, Associate Professor (Alternate Member).

9. FORM FOR SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS

Applications must be submitted by e-mail to mgt@isep.ipp.pt, with the following documents:

• Curriculum Vitae;
• Qualifications certificate/Document proving the title of the academic degree and diploma, the respective recognition when it has been awarded by foreign higher education institutions or document proving the recognition request;
• Proof of enrolment in a Master’s degree programme or in a non-degree course;
• Other supporting documents considered relevant.

If the qualification has been conferred by foreign higher education institution, it must comply with the provisions of Decree-law nº 66/2018, of August 16th, and any formalities established therein must be completed by the time of contracting.

10. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Applications will be accepted from 20 October to 2 November 2026.

11. FORM OF PUBLICATION / NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS

The results of the evaluation will be disseminated by e-mail, to the e-mail adress indicated in the application file.

12. COMPLAINTS AND REDRESS PROCEDURES

If the result is unfavourable, the candidates have a period of 10 working days, after the publication of the results of the evaluation of applications, to give their opinion, if they so wish, in a prior hearing of interested parties, under the terms in the Código de Procedimento Administrativo (Adminstrative Procedure Code).

The final decision referred to in the preceding numbers may be appealed to the ISEP Director within 15 working days of the respective notification.

13. SELECTION RESERVE

The ISEP reserves the right to use the candidates not selected, in order of seriation, for the recruitment of a grand holder within the scope of the same project due the withdrawal of the candidate initially selected.

Where to apply

E-mail: mgt@isep.ipp.pt

Requirements

• Research Field: Engineering » Computer engineering
• Education Level: Bachelor Degree or equivalent

Work Location(s)

• Number of offers available: 2
• Company/Institute: Instituto Superior de Engenharia
• Country: Portugal
• State/Province: Porto
• City: Porto
• Postal Code: 4249-015
• Street: Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431

Contact

• State/Province: Porto
• City: Porto
• Website: https://www.isep.ipp.pt
• Street: Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431
• Postal Code: 4249-015
• E-Mail: info-projetos@isep.ipp.pt, info-sp@isep.ipp.pt