One Research Fellowship for PhD student in the field of Astronomical Spectroscopy

Ref: IA2024-11-BI-D

The Centro de Investigação em Astronomia/Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto (CAUP) opens a call for one Research Fellowship in the field of Astronomy/Astrophysics - Astronomical Spectroscopy at the Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço (IA).

The Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço (IA) is the most prominent Research Unit in the field of Astronomy/Astrophysics in Portugal, integrating researchers from the universities of Porto, Lisbon and Coimbra, and is responsible for a major fraction of the national productivity in international ISI journals in the field of Space Sciences. Research and science communication at IA include topics and instrumentation at the forefront of research in Astronomy/Astrophysics and Space Sciences.

The position is offered in the context of the project “Spectroscopy of Planetary Atmospheres”, co-funded by the Heising-Simons Foundation and Bard College.

1.- Scientific area: Astronomy and Astrophysics.

2.- Requirements for admission: The applicants must have completed a degree in Astronomy/Astrophysics or a related discipline. They must also comply with the requirements to be enrolled in a PhD Program at the Porto University or Lisbon University at the time of the start of the fellowship. Only applications from candidates having an adequate background in Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, or other relevant domains, will be considered.

3.- Additional skills and qualifications: Beyond a physics or astrophysics background, a strong candidate will have skills in chemistry, computer science, or science communication. Preference will be given to candidates with a masters degree or equivalent research experience.

4.- Contracting requirements: Presentation of the following documents at the time of signing the fellowship agreement:
- Presentation of the diploma or certificate of the last academic degree completed.
- Proof of enrollment in a PhD program at one of these universities: Porto or Lisbon.

5.- Work plan: This graduate program will focus on the interpretation and/or simulation of atmospheric spectra, working on fundamental spectroscopy (e.g., theoretical chemistry), astrobiology (e.g., biochemistry, origins of life), atmospheric modelling (e.g.,  photochemistry, radiative transfer models), astronomical observations (e.g., telescope proposals, data processing), or, ideally, a combination of the above.

6.- Legislation framework: The fellowship contract will comply with:
-    Law n.º 123/2019, of 28th August 2019 - ''Estatuto do Bolseiro de Investigação'' (Research Grant Holder Statute) in force [https://dre.pt/dre/legislacao-consolidada/lei/2004-58216179]

-    Regulation n.º 950/2019, of 16th December 2019 - ''Regulamento de Bolsas e Investigação da Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia'' (Regulation of Fellowship of Research) in force [https://files.dre.pt/2s/2019/12/241000000/0009100105.pdf]

-    "CAUP's Fellowship Regulation" (available at www.astro.up.pt/documentos/CAUP-RegulamentoBolsas.pdf).

The fellow's functions are carried out under a scheme of exclusive dedication, in accordance with the terms established in the article 5 of Research Grant Holder Statute (Estatuto do Bolseiro de Investigação).

7.- Monthly allowance: According to the FCT table values [https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM_atualizacao-2024.pdf], the monthly allowance will be €1.259,64 (tax free) and will be paid monthly by bank transfer.

The fellow will have a personal accident insurance. They can also exercise the right to social security by joining the voluntary social insurance scheme, if not covered by any other social protection scheme, under the terms of the Código dos Regimes Contributivos do Sistema Previdencial de Segurança Social, as stipulated in article 10 of the Research Grant Holder Statute (Estatuto do Bolseiro de Investigação).

Registration, enrollment or tuition fees components are paid directly by CAUP to the University (Porto or Lisbon) where the fellowship holder is enrolled in the PhD program.

8.- Place of work: The work will be carried out at CAUP (in the Porto node of the Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço), Rua das Estrelas, 4150-762, under the scientific supervision of Clara Sousa Silva and other members of the planets research team.

9.- Fellowship duration: The fellowship should preferentially start until November 2024 and has an initial duration of 12 months, with a total duration up to 04 years contingent on successful yearly renewals.

The renewal is subject to a positive evaluation of the research plan within the doctoral program, and the demonstration of enrollment in the study cycle leading to the PhD degree.

10.- Application: The application, to be submitted through the web form indicated below, should include the following information:

   a.) Cover letter with a brief description of the candidate's experience and motivation.
   b.) Detailed Curriculum Vitae describing the academic path and research experience (up to 4 pages with at least 10pt font size).
   c.) List of completed curricular units with associated grades.
   d.) Diploma or certificate of the last academic degree completed.
   e.) Name and contact details (position, email, address) of up to two referees, who will be available to provide information about the candidate (these will be contacted at the Selection Committee's discretion).

The documents that prove the entitlement of the academic qualifications or diplomas can be dismissed during the application period and replaced by a signed declaration of honour. If not provided during the application process, these documents must nevertheless be submitted when signing the contract.

In the event that the degree was awarded by a higher education institution outside of Portugal, that degree must comply with the provisions of Decree-Law n.º 66/2018 of 16th August 2018 (approves the legal regime for the recognition of foreign higher academic degrees) and Ministerial Order n.º 43/2020 of 14th February which changes the Ministerial Order n.º 33/2019 of 25th January, and all formalities established therein must be complied with up to the date of signing the contract.

Applicants are advised to check the website of the Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES) for further information: https://www.dges.gov.pt/en/pagina/degree-and-diploma-recognition. They can also check information on the website of the University of Porto: https://sigarra.up.pt/up/en/WEB_BASE.GERA_PAGINA?p_pagina=1005819.

11.- Deadline: This call for applications will remain open from the 30th of July until the 15th of September 2024.

12.- Selection criteria and evaluation: Only complete applications will be admitted for evaluation. The evaluation of the applications will be performed based on:

(i) – Curricular evaluation
   a.) (20%) Cover letter with a brief description of the candidate's experience and motivation.
   b.) (55%) CV, considering the degree and previous academic training, including grades of completed curricular units and the relevance of that training to the topic of the call.
   c.) (25%) Relevance of previous research experience.

An ordered list of candidates will be defined by the Selection Committee based the information presented in the submitted documents and the criteria mentioned above. If deemed necessary, the designated referees may be asked to provide reference letters, which will be taken into account in the evaluation of points b.) and c.) of the selection criteria.

Candidates with minimum grade of 75% in the curricular evaluation, up to a maximum of 5 candidates, are then selected for an interview, which will be held via Zoom.

(ii) - Interview: The interview will be used to obtain clarifications concerning aspects related to the CV and research experience presented in the application, as well as to evaluate the candidate's profile in face of the aspects referred in points 2, 3, and 5.

The final evaluation grade will be a weighted average between the two components, where the curricular evaluation weighs 70% and the interview 30%.

13.- Selection Committee:
Clara Sousa Silva (Chair)
Nuno Santos
Olivier Demangeon
Elisa Delgado Mena (alternate)

14.- Awarding of the contract: Following the evaluation process, the fellowship will be offered according to the ordered list proposed by the selection committee. The position will be granted only if suitable candidates are identified. Only candidates with a minimum final grade of 75% will be accepted. All the candidates will be notified by e-mail, sent by the call holder, with the final classifications and the selection meeting minutes and/or evaluation grids enclosed.

15.- Time limits for the appeal procedure: Candidates have 10 working days, after the date of announcement of the results, to request an appeal to the decision through e-mail to jobs@iastro.pt and to the Chair of the Selection Committee [clara@astro.up.pt]. Appeals against the final decision may be submitted to the Executive Board of CAUP (direcao@lists.astro.up.pt) within 15 working days after the notification date.

16.- Non-discrimination and equal access: CAUP promotes a policy of non-discrimination and equal access, thus no applicant may be privileged, benefited, undermined or deprived of any right or exempted from any duty, namely, due to ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, civil status, family situation, economic situation, origin or social condition, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic disease, nationality, ethnicity or race, country or territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological beliefs, or trade union affiliation.

Publication date: 30 July 2024

The period for application submission has ended for this opportunity.