4 Sep 2026
Job Information
- Organisation/Company: Instituto de Ciência e Inovação em Engenharia Mecânica e Engenharia Industrial
Offer Description
A call is open for the award of one (1) Research Initiation Fellowship (BII) for students enrolled in Mechanical Engineering programmes, within the scope of the project GradJoint – Photopatterned Gradient Adhesives for Soft–Stiff Joints, funded by the MIT Portugal Program (MPP 2026 Seed Funds) with financial support from FCT/MCTES, under the following conditions:
Scientific area: Mechanical Engineering, Physics Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Informatics Engineering or related fields
Work plan: Multi-scale modelling of adhesive flow and cure and its coupling to the modulus-field optimisation problem: preparation, verification and application of the project's numerical tools.
1. Duration and Terms:
Duration of 4 months, starting in September 2026, potentially renewable up to the extent permitted by the relevant regulations. The granting of the scholarships does not generate or entitle a legal-labour relationship, it is exercised under an exclusive dedication regime, and the Scholarship holder is granted the Scholarship Holder Status, in accordance with the Regulation for Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., both in their current wording.
2. Activity objective:
GradJoint aims to establish design rules for gradient adhesive architectures, produced by photopatterning a thiol-ene-epoxy resin, that maximise the strength and stretchability of joints between dissimilar materials (glass, polycarbonate, acrylic, silicone and polyurethane). The work combines MIT's expertise in photochemistry and multimaterial manufacturing with the experience of INEGI's Advanced Joining Processes Unit (AJPU) in structural adhesive joints and in the simulation of adhesive flow and cure.
This fellowship belongs to Aim 2 of the project, which predicts the two-dimensional modulus field resulting from photopatterning — including the diffusive blurring of designed gradients — and couples that prediction to an optimiser that minimises peak interfacial stresses. The fellowship starts in the first month of the project, before experimental data are available: this initial period is intended for training the holder in AJPU's numerical tools and for preparing and verifying the computational chain, so that it can be applied immediately to the first experimental datasets.
The candidate is expected to contribute to the following tasks:
- Review of the state of the art in adhesive flow and cure modelling, photopolymerisation kinetics, and optimisation of property fields in adhesive joints.
- Familiarisation with AJPU's micro-scale flow-and-cure simulator: code structure, governing equations, input parameters, execution and post-processing of baseline cases.
- Verification of the implementation through test cases with analytical or reference solutions, and documentation of the corresponding results.
- Construction of parametric finite element models of adhesive joints with spatially varying modulus fields, and evaluation of the resulting stress distributions.
- Development of the computational chain that converts a prescribed two-dimensional modulus field into the corresponding property assignment in the finite element model, including the interface with the optimiser.
- Preliminary sensitivity study of the peak interfacial stress to the shape of the gradient, on idealised substrate pairs.
- Preparation of the calibration procedure and of the import formats for the experimental data, as these become available.
- Documentation of the code, test cases and results, using version control.
3. Scientific supervision:
Dr. Beatriz Simões. The work will be carried out in INEGI or FEUP facilities in Porto.
4. Admission requirements:
The scholarship is intended for Bachelor's or Master's students in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Physics Engineering, Chemical Engineering or related fields.
5. Academic Qualifications:
Academic background in Mechanical Engineering, Physics Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Informatics Engineering or related fields.
The following are considered preferential conditions for the evaluation of candidates:
- Programming experience in Python, MATLAB, Fortran or C++.
- Experience with commercial finite element software, preferably Abaqus, including script-based automation.
- Knowledge of continuum mechanics, hyperelasticity or viscoelasticity.
- Notions of numerical optimisation and of parameter fitting to experimental data.
- Familiarity with numerical methods for partial differential equations.
- Use of version control systems (Git) and good code documentation practice.
- Analytical thinking, autonomy and effective time management.
- Ability to work in a team and in an international collaboration environment.
- Proficiency in English, written and spoken.
6. Academic degrees obtained in foreign countries shall be registered by a Portuguese institution, according to the DL 66/2018, of August 16th, and the Ordinance nr. 33/2019, of January 25th. It is mandatory to present the certificate to sign the contract.
More information is available on: https://www.dges.gov.pt/pt/pagina/reconhecimento.
7. Monthly allowance:
The scholarship amount corresponds to € 701,12 according to FCT (https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM-2026.pdf) The scholarship payment will be made by bank transfer.
8. Applicable Legislation:
Research Fellow Statute, approved by Law No. 40/2004 of August 18th, in the current wording published by Decree-Law No. 123/2019 of August 28; Regulation of Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. in force (Regulation No. 950 / 2019 of 16 December).
10.Selection methods/criteria:
The selection process initially consists of a curriculum evaluation according to the mentioned criteria. This evaluation results in the selection of candidates that go on to the interview phase. The final assessment is calculated based on a weight of 60% of the curriculum assessment and 40% of the interview. The selection criteria are as follows: academic background, qualifications, adequacy between the candidate's profile and the fellowship's objectives, motivation and relevant experience for the project in question, in accordance with the admission requirements described above.
The jury reserves the right not to fill the place in the competition, if it deems that there are no candidates who meet its requirements.
11. Composition of the evaluation panel:
Dr. Beatriz Simões (President), Dr. Lucas da Silva (Vowel), Dr. Ricardo Carbas (Vowel). Dr. Eduardo Marques (Alternate Vowel).
12. Publication/notification of results:
The final results of the assessment will be sent by email.
After being notified, candidates have 10 working days to submit a formal rebuttal by email (gestao.pessoas@inegi.up.pt).
13. Submission of applications:
Applications must include the following documents:
- Motivation letter, stating the adequacy of the curriculum to the position.
- Curriculum vitae, in which the candidate's education in the areas mentioned in item 5 of this announcement should be clearly stated.
- Certificate of qualifications.
- Proof of enrollment for the 2026/2027 academic year.
14. Expressions of interest should be sent between the 4 of September and 18th september 2026 through the official INEGI website www.inegi.pt in Work in INEGI by pressing Apply R&D Initiation Activity Fellowship _ Reference number: BII UPAL 40/2026.
15. Scholarship Support Centre:
The support centre for scholarship holders works from Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 12 pm, at the People Management Services.
Where to apply
Website: https://inegi.pt/pt/
Requirements
- Research Field: Engineering » Mechanical engineering — Education Level: Bachelor Degree or equivalent
- Research Field: Engineering » Other — Education Level: Bachelor Degree or equivalent
- Research Field: Mathematics » Applied mathematics — Education Level: Bachelor Degree or equivalent
Specific Requirements
13. Submission of applications:
Applications must include the following documents:
- Motivation letter, stating the adequacy of the curriculum to the position.
- Curriculum vitae, in which the candidate's education in the areas mentioned in item 5 of this announcement should be clearly stated.
- Certificate of qualifications.
- Proof of enrollment for the 2026/2027 academic year.
14. Expressions of interest should be sent between the 4 of September and 18th september 2026 through the official INEGI website www.inegi.pt in Work in INEGI by pressing Apply R&D Initiation Activity Fellowship _ Reference number: BII UPAL 40/2026.
- Languages: ENGLISH — Level: Excellent
- Languages: PORTUGUESE — Level: Excellent
Additional Information
Selection process
13. Submission of applications:
Applications must include the following documents:
- Motivation letter, stating the adequacy of the curriculum to the position.
- Curriculum vitae, in which the candidate's education in the areas mentioned in item 5 of this announcement should be clearly stated.
- Certificate of qualifications.
- Proof of enrollment for the 2026/2027 academic year.
14. Expressions of interest should be sent between the 4 of September and 18th september 2026 through the official INEGI website www.inegi.pt in Work in INEGI by pressing Apply R&D Initiation Activity Fellowship _ Reference number: BII UPAL 40/2026.
Website for additional job details: https://careers.inegi.pt/jobs/bolsa-de-iniciacao-a-investigacao-bii-13dc2c73-096f-4c89-aa3c-984c7176c8e6
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available: 1
- Company/Institute: INEGI
- Country: Portugal
Contact
- City: Porto
- Website: http://www.inegi.pt/
- Street: Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 400
- Postal Code: 4200-465
- E-Mail: gestao.pessoas@inegi.up.pt
- Phone: 911182471
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