Opening of Call for a Research Scholarship for Masters (BI)
One Research Grant Announcement (M/F)
Encontra-se aberto concurso para a atribuição de uma bolsa de investigação, no âmbito do projecto MORfood-Microencapsulation of Moringa Oleifera extracts and its application in functional foods to mitigate children malnutrition in developing countries, com a referência 541163254, financiado pela Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia e a Rede Aga Khan para o Desenvolvimento (AKDN), nas seguintes condições:
Scientific Area: Chemical Engineering
Admission requirements: Candidates who cumulatively meet the following two requirements may apply for this grant:
Requirement 1: To hold a Master's degree in Chemical Engineering or similar.
Note: If the degree has been awarded by a foreign higher education institution, it must comply with the provisions of Decree-Law No. 66/2018, of August 16, so in the act of application, it is mandatory to present a document proving that the qualification complies with the provisions of the aforementioned Decree-Law, or, alternatively, a document proving that the candidate has already started this process. All formalities established in Decree-Law No. 66/2018, of August 16, must be fulfilled until the time of signing the contract.
Requirement 2: To be a student enrolled in a doctoral course in the area of Chemical Engineering, or related areas, a requirement to be duly proven at the time of signing the contract.
OR
To be enrolled in a non-academic degree course integrated in the educational project of a higher education institution, developed in association or cooperation with one or more R&D units, a requirement to be duly proven at the time of signing the contract.
Note: "Courses that do not confer an academic degree" are considered to be the courses referred to in subparagraph e) of paragraph 3 of article 4 of Decree-Law no. 74/2006, of March 24, in its wording current, as long as they are developed in association or cooperation between the higher education institution and one or several R&D units, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph e) of Article 3 of the FCT Research Grant Regulation.
Although the recipient(s) must be enrolled in a course that does not confer an academic degree, it is not required at the time of application that the candidate has made this prior enrollment, and proof of enrollment must be carried out until the grant is contracted. Candidates are only required to meet the requirements to enroll in the training offer. If there are candidates already registered (including attending a course), they compete for the competition on an equal footing with those who are not registered.
In the case of masters who are enrolled in non-academic degree courses, the scholarship can only be awarded to those who do not exceed, with this scholarship contract, including possible renewals, an accumulated period of two years in that typology of the scholarship, followed or interpolated.
Plano de trabalhos: O projeto visa a produção de microcápsulas de compostos bioativos extraídos das folhas da Moringa Oleífera e a sua incorporação em alguns produtos alimentares para crianças em idade escolar que sofrem subnutrição. O plano de trabalhos inclui:
1) revisão do estado da arte;
2) caracterização química e nutricional das folhas de Moringa;
3) extração e separação dos compostos bioativos por processos de membranas e
4) testes de recetibilidade aos produtos baseados em análise sensorial.
Legislação e regulamentação aplicável: Estatuto do Bolseiro de Investigação (Lei No. 40/2004, de 18 de agosto, na redação atual); Regulamento de Bolsas de Investigação da Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. - em vigor.
Activity Outline: The project aims to produce microcapsules of bioactive compounds extracted from the leaves of Moringa Oleífera and their incorporation in some food products for school-age children who suffer from malnutrition. The work plan includes: 1) review of the state of the art; 2) chemical and nutritional characterization of Moringa leaves; 3) extraction and separation of bioactive compounds by membrane processes and 4) product receptiveness tests based on sensory analysis.
Legislation and regulations: Research Fellowship Statute (Law No. 40/2004, of August 18, as amended); Regulation of Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. - in effect.
Work place: The work will be carried out at the Research Center for Chemical Processes and Forest Products Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Coimbra, under the scientific supervision of Professors Licínio Manuel Gando de Azevedo Ferreira, Hermínio José Cipriano de Sousa and Doctor Mara Elga Medeiros Braga.
Grant duration: The grant will last for 12 months. The grant contract may be renewed for a maximum of 36 months. If being selected a student enrolled in a non-academic degree course integrated in the educational project of a higher education institution, developed in association or cooperation with one or more R&D units, and as determined in article 6 of the Research Grants Regulation of the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., this grant will not be renewed.
Stipend: The grant stipend amounts to 1.104,64€ according to the table of values of the grants awarded directly by FCT, I.P. in the Country (https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/valores). This monthly allowance will be paid at the end of the month, by bank transfer. To this amount is added the voluntary social insurance, if the candidate chooses to be awarded it, as well as the personal accident insurance. The value of the grant will not increase over the entire period of its duration.
Activity Regime: The granting of the scholarship does not create or entitle a legal-employment relationship, it is carried out under an exclusive dedication regime. The Scholarship Holder is granted the Scholarship Holder Status, in accordance with the provisions of the Research Grants Regulation of the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., in its current wording.
Selection procedure: A Curricular Evaluation (70%) and interview (30%) for the best four classified in the curriculum assessment. The curricular evaluation will be based on the following criteria:
1) CV absolute merit (80%);
2) English language competence (10%) and
3) Letter of interest (10%). The following criteria will be considered in the interview:
1) Communication and verbal expression (30%);
2) Analysis and critical thinking (30%) and
3) Motivation and interest in the project area (40%).
Formalization and submission of application: Applications must be sent by email to lferreira@eq.uc.pt e vasco@eq.uc.pt.
Pursuant to article 25 of Decree-Law No. 66/2018, of 16 August, "In situations where recognition of an academic degree or foreign diploma is a condition of eligibility for access to public support for research in science, technology and innovation, the competent national agencies for the attribution of the same must waive the verification of this requirement in the application stage for the support in question and proceed with the verification of this condition only in the contracting stage”. Candidates with academic degrees obtained abroad must present a certificate of registration of recognition in accordance with the applicable legislation.
Applications must include:
1) Curriculum Vitae of the candidate;
2) Motivation letter;
3) Copy of Licentiate and Master's Certificates;
4) Names and email addresses of two referral contacts;
5) Other relevant documents. In order to guarantee the reading of all documents, the preferred recording format is the Portable Document Format (.pdf).
Selection Jury:
- President: Professora Doutora Rosa Maria de Oliveira Quinta Ferreira,
Effective member: Professor Doutor Licínio Manuel Gando de Azevedo Ferreira,
Effective member: Professor Doutor Hermínio José Cipriano de Sousa.
Deadline for applications: The call is open between 12/21/2021 and 01/11/2022.
Publication Date: 20/12/2021
Application deadline: 11/01/2022
Additional information: The results of the evaluation will be announced within 90 working days from the deadline for submission of applications, by sending a communication to candidates via email. After the results are announced, the candidates will be notified so that, if they wish, they can give their opinion during a preliminary hearing within a maximum period of 10 working days after that date. After this period, the selected candidates will have to declare, in writing, their acceptance and communicate the date of the effective beginning of the scholarship. Unless you present a reasonable justification, the lack of a declaration within the aforementioned period is equivalent to a waiver of the scholarship. In case of resignation or withdrawal of the selected candidate, the candidate who is immediately best ranked will be notified.