CALL FOR RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP | AgriFlex

University of Coimbra opens a call for one research fellowship, in the framework of the  project “AgriFlex -Flexibility of energy consumption in agriculture for the energy transition” (reference: PRR-C05-i03-I-000214-LA11.2), financed by PRR – Recovery and Resilience Plan, I&D+I – Agro-energy transition,, in the following conditions:

Scientific area: Electrical and Computer Engineering, Energy for Sustainability, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering and Industrial Management, Informatics Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics or related fields..

Skills/Qualifications/Admission requirements: Master’s degree enrolled in a doctoral degree in the field of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Energy for Sustainability, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering and Industrial Management, Informatics Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics or related fields. The candidates should have knowledge concerning optimization and energy (preferential factors) .

Although the recipients must be enrolled in a cycle of studies leading to the attribution of an academic degree or in a course not conferring an academic degree, at the time of application it is not necessary for the candidate to have made such an enrollment, and proof of enrollment must be presented until the fellowship is contractualized. Candidates are only required to meet the requirements to enroll in the training offer. If there are candidates already enrolled (including attending a course), they compete on an equal footing with those who are not enrolled.

Work plan/Objectives: Research and design activities related to energy management for the agriculture sector will be developed. The work plan includes:

1. Literature analysis and assessment of the potential for energy flexibility in the agricultural sector.

2. Characterization of some productive and agricultural activities, including consumption profiles, and identification of user preferences.

3. Development of multi-objective optimization models for the activation of energy flexibility, management, and load control.

4. Performance evaluation of the developed models.

6. Writing of reports and scientific articles.

Regime: The attribution of the fellowship does not generate or entitle a relation of a legal-labour nature, and the fellowship is undertaken in an exclusive dedication regime. The fellowship holder is awarded the Fellowship Statute of the UC, in its current wording, according to the Research Fellowship Holder Statute , and according to the Regulation for Research Fellowships of the Foundation for Science and Technology, both in their current wording.

Location: Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Coimbra.

Duration: 12 months.

Renewal: Eventually Renewable.

Scientific orientation: Carlos Alberto Henggeler de Carvalho Antunes and Ana Raquel Gonçalves Soares .

Financial conditions: The amount of the fellowship is € 1259,64 corresponding to the monthly compensation stipulated in the FCT table (https://www.fct.pt/en/financiamento/programas-de-financiamento/bolsas/), plus social security (Seguro Social Voluntário, first level contributions) and  this amount adds the payment of the doctoral fee, in the maximum amount of €2,750.00, in the case of students enrolled in a doctoral course at the University of Coimbra, supported through its own income and personal accidents insurance. The payment will be made by bank transfer. This amount will not be increased during the entire period of the fellowship duration.

Selection methods: Curriculum evaluation – 60% and interview – 40% .

Selection criteria: The assessment of the curriculum evaluation will focus on the following  parameters:

Absolute merit of the curriculum vitae – 35%

Academic background – 35%

Publications in scientific journals and minutes – 15%

Adequacy of the candidate’s profile to the work plan to be developed – 15%

The assessment of the interview will focus on the following parameters:

Ability to express oneself and verbal fluency – 25%

Motivation and interest – 25%

Knowledge and profile appropriate for the functions to be developed – 50% .

Jury responsible for selection: Carlos Alberto Henggeler de Carvalho Antunes (President); Ana Raquel Gonçalves Soares (1st effective member); Marta Lopes (2nd effective member); Humberto Manuel Matos Jorge (1st alternate member); Álvaro Filipe Peixoto Cardoso de Oliveira Gomes (2nd alternate member).

Formalization of application: Applications must be formalized by sending a Letter of Motivation, Curriculum Vitae, Certificate of qualifications and Certificate of recognition academic degrees obtained abroad (if applicable).

The aforementioned Declaration must be formalized in a specific form on the apply.uc.pt platform.

Declaration on the honor of the candidate(s) with the indication of the fellowship(s) of the typology to which the contest was held and the respective duration(s).

Applicants with academic degrees obtained abroad will be required to present a Certificate of Recognition in accordance with applicable law. This document is mandatory only in the contractualization phase.

Applications submission: Applications must be submitted through https://apply.uc.pt/IT137-24-230 .

Submission of applications: Between 06/06/2024 and 20/06/2024.

Submission deadline date:   20/06/2024   .

Additional information: The evaluation results will be announced within 90 working days after the end of the applications submission deadline, by notifying the applicants via email. After the announcement of the results, candidates are considered automatically notified to, if they wish to do so, comment on the results on a preliminary hearing period within 10 days after that date. After this, the selected candidates will have to declare in writing their acceptance. Unless a justification worthy of consideration is presented, if the declaration is not submitted within the referred period, it is considered that the candidate waivers the fellowship. In case of resignation or withdrawal of the selected candidate, the next candidate with the highest evaluation score will be notified immediately.

Once the selection process is completed, the fellowship contract will be drawn up in accordance with the draft contract provided by the FCT.

After the contracted period, the fellowship holder and supervisor must prepare the final report in accordance with the respective assessment criteria that were established.

Pursuant to subparagraph h) of Article 9 of the Portuguese Constitution, the University of Coimbra, as employer, actively promotes a policy of equal opportunities between men and women in access to employment and professional development, and acts to prevent each and every kind of discrimination.

Therefore, no one can be privileged, benefited, harmed or deprived of any right or immune from any duty on account of, in particular, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender, marital status, family, economic situation, education, origin or social condition, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic or racial origin, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological beliefs and trade union membership.

Selection reserve list:  A selection reserve list will be constituted for a period of 6 (six) months.