23 Sep 2026
Job Information
- Organisation/Company: University of Aveiro
- Department: CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials
- Research Field: Physics; Engineering » Materials engineering; Engineering » Chemical engineering
Offer Description
A tender is hereby opened for the award of 1 (one) Starting Research Grant (SRG) under project Heat2Battery - "All in One: Harvesting of waste heat with solid thermal battery", № 101184347 of CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, under the following conditions:
1. Scientific Area: Physics, Materials Science and Engineering, Physics Engineering, Chemical Engineering
2. Financing Source: European Union's Horizon Europe EIC - Heat2Battery № 101184347
3. Admission Requirements:
3.1 3. Students enrolled in master
3.2. 2. Bachelors in: Physics, Materials Science and Engineering, Physics Engineering, Chemical Engineering
4. Other Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree in Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biotechnology, or Engineering Physics, with a final grade of 15/20 or higher.
Basic knowledge of battery materials, ionic conductors, and the mechanisms of ion and electron transport in solids and across interfaces. Experience in electrical characterization, scanning probe microscopy, particularly measurements of local electrical or electrochemical properties, will be considered an asset. Python programming for data analysis and measurement automation, and finite-element modelling will also be valued. Proven proficiency in spoken and written English.
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 10 of the Scientific Research Grant Regulations of the University of Aveiro. (The SRG(s) cannot be awarded to those who have already benefited from research grants awarded under the Research Fellow Statute.
6. Work plan: The student will develop and test a software workflow for adaptive scanning probe microscopy (SPM) of materials relevant to thermal batteries. The goal is to identify regions with distinct local electrical responses and concentrate measurements where they provide the most useful information about electronic and ionic transport. During months 1–3, the student will review relevant SPM methods, establish baseline measurements at room temperature, and define a data structure that links each measurement to its position, temperature, applied bias, and acquisition conditions. During months 4–6, the student will develop Python tools for instrument control, data acquisition, visualisation, and quality checks. These tools will support adaptive selection of measurement points based on features observed in initial scans. During months 7–9, the workflow will be tested on selected materials at elevated temperatures. Spatial maps and local measurements acquired under different temperatures and electrical conditions will be combined into multidimensional datasets. The student will assess measurement stability and repeatability and analyse how the local response varies across grains, interfaces, and other microstructural features. During months 10–12, the student will refine the scanning strategy, compare the resulting data with conventional raster scans, and prepare a documented software workflow and a research report. The expected outcomes are a working adaptive measurement procedure and a reproducible method for acquiring and analysing multidimensional SPM data relevant to local electronic and ionic transport.
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 / Physics Department of the University of Aveiro, under the scientific supervision of Doctor Denis Alikin.
9. Duration of the grant(s): The grant duration will be 12 months, starting in November 2026, until the end of the funding period, but may in no case last more than one year, according to the terms of no. 3 of article 10 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 €701,12 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.
11. Selection methods: The selection methods to be used will be the following: curriculum vitae assessment with the respective value of 100%.
12. Composition of the Selection Jury: Chair: Dr. Denis Alikin, Auxiliary Researcher at CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials. Full members: Dr. Andrei Kavaleuski, Principal Researcher at CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials, and Dr. Paula Cristina Vieira Barbosa, Auxiliary Researcher at CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials.
Alternate members: Dr. Alexander Tselev, Principal Researcher at CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials., and Dr. Ana Luísa Silva, Principal Researcher at CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials
13. Deadline for applications (not be less than 10 working days) and how to submit applications: The call is open from 24-09-2026 to 08-10-2026, 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 denis.alikin@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 31-10-2026 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.
Where to apply
E-mail: denis.alikin@ua.pt
Requirements
- Research Field: Physics — Education Level: Bachelor Degree or equivalent
- Research Field: Engineering » Materials engineering — Education Level: Bachelor Degree or equivalent
- Research Field: Engineering » Chemical engineering — Education Level: Bachelor Degree or equivalent
Additional Information
Website for additional job details: https://www.ciceco.ua.pt/files/edital_pt_heat2battery.pdf
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available: 1
- Company/Institute: University of Aveiro
- Country: Portugal
- State/Province: Aveiro
- City: Aveiro
- Postal Code: 3810-193
- Street: Campus Universitário de Santiago
Contact
- City: Aveiro
- Website: http://www.ciceco.ua.pt
- Street: CICECO, Campus Universitario de Santiago
- Postal Code: 3810-193
- E-Mail: ciceco@ua.pt
- Phone: 965895955