Ref: IA2015-03-BI

The Centro de Investigação em Astronomia/Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto (CAUP) opens a call for up to 2 research fellowships (Bolsa de Investigação – Mestre) in the field of stars and star formation at the Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço (IA).

The position is offered in the context of the project UID/FIS/04434/2013 with financial support provided by the FCT/MEC through national funds and co-funded by FEDER under the PT2020 agreement, when applicable.

The Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço (IA) assembles more than two-thirds of all active researchers working in Space Sciences in Portugal, and is responsible for an even greater fraction of the national productivity in international ISI journals in this area. The research and development effort at the IA includes most of the topics at the forefront of research in Astrophysics and Space Sciences, complemented by work on instrumentation and systems with potential use in Astronomy and Astrophysics. Excellent candidates wiling to pursue a research work plan for a PhD in a topic close to the ones listed below, are invited to apply.

The positions, with a maximum duration of 3 years, must be renewed every year based on outcome of the work done. The call is open in the fields of stars and star formation, and the fellowships are to be started from the 1st of October 2015. The fellowship renewal is pending on a favorable interim evaluation of the project UID/FIS/04434/2013.

The fellowship contract will comply with the 'Regulamento de Bolsas e Investigação da Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia' existing and 'Lei nº 40/2004, de 18 de Agosto (Estatuto do Bolseiro de InvestigaçãoCientífica)'. According to the rules of the FCT, the monthly allowance will be €980 (tax free) and will be paid monthly by bank transfer (preferred). Funds for traveling (conferences, collaborations, observing missions) are also available. The work plan is to be carried out in IA, either in the Porto or Lisbon offices, under the supervision (or co-supervision) of an IA researcher.

Research work plan
The successful candidates are expected to pursue research on topics relevant to the long-term strategy of IA in the thematic line “Towards a Comprehensive Study of Stars”, including topics on:

• Physical characterization of the physics in star forming regions; Study of populations of proto and young stars; Early evolution towards the main-sequence – characterization and modelling of disks and winds; Observational characterization and theoretical modelling of very low mass stars;
• Main sequence stars – the physics and observational characterization of stars with and without planets; Development and implementation of seismic probes of stellar physics; Theoretical and observational determination of the role of mixing, magnetic fields, rotation or stellar activity in main-sequence evolution;
• Evolution beyond the main sequence – seismic and spectroscopic characterization of sub-giants and red-giants; Improving the age determination of low mass stars with models and observations; Global parameters and seismic characterization of stellar populations (including clusters and/galactic groups).

The students will be required to enrol on a PhD program at the IA host Universities, either University of Porto or University of Lisboa. The possible yearly renewal of the fellowship will take into account the successful completion of the PhD program milestones as well as on the overall performance of the fellow in the research and academic work, to be reviewed in the annual PhD evaluation session.

Application
The application, to be submitted using the web form below, should include the following information:

• Cover letter with a brief description of the candidate's experience and motivation;
• Curriculum Vitae (up to 4 pages) including, if available, a complete list of scientific publications with a brief description (up to 3 lines) of the candidate's contribution to each publication;
• A complete list of academic units (for University level courses – undergraduate and graduate) completed or to be completed before the start of the fellowship, and respective grades;
• Name and contact details (position, email, address) of two referees, available to provide information about the candidate (to be contacted if considered necessary to clarify the information provided in the remaining documents).

Applications will be accepted from the 1st to the 24th of July 2015.

Selection criteria and evaluation
The applicant must have completed a master degree before the start of the fellowship. Only applications from candidates having an adequate background in Astronomy, Physics, Mathematics, or other relevant domains, will be considered.

The curricular evaluation of the candidates will be done based on:

• Cover letter (10%)
• CV, including degrees, marks and contents of curricular units completed (60%)
• Relevance and success of previous research experience (30%)

A short-list of candidates will be defined in the first stage of the evaluation based on the submitted documents and the criteria mentioned above. The short-listed applicants will be required to attend an interview for the second stage of the evaluation (by teleconference or videoconference if needed).

Awarding of the contract
Following the second stage of evaluation, whose result will be taken into account in the final mark, the contracts will be offered according to the ordering proposed by the selection committee.

The positions will be granted only if suitable candidates are found (at least with a minimum of 60% in the first step and a minimum of 80% after the second step).

For inquires please contact Dr. Mário Monteiro or any of the senior researchers of the Thematic Line on Stars.

Selection Committee
Mário J. P. F. G. Monteiro
Margarida S. Cunha
Jorge F. Gameiro
João J. G. Lima
José Afonso

Publication Date
27th May 2015