진학프로석·박사 채용 접수 플랫폼

A tender is open for the attribution of 2 Research Fellowships within the scope of the R&D project/institution “VALOR2FUELS – “Valorização catalítica sustentável de CO2 e de resíduos plásticos em combustíveis usando solventes alternativos”/LAQV, with the ref. 2024.17945.PEX, funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. through national funds (PIDDAC) (OE), under the following conditions:

1. Scientific Area:

Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, or related areas.

2. Recipients profile/category:

Mandatory requirements:

a) Academic background in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, or related areas (*1);

b) Candidates must be enrolled in a Master’s degree or in a non-academic degree course integrated in an educational project of a Higher Education Institution in the academic year 2025/2026 (*2).

(*1) – (Supporting documents proving the award of academic degrees and diplomas, or their recognition when awarded by foreign higher education institutions, are not required at the application stage and may be replaced by a declaration of honor from the candidate).

(*2) – (Documents proving this status must be submitted no later than the grant contracting stage and may, prior to that, be replaced by a declaration under commitment of honor).

3. Work Plan:

The work plan is based on the development and characterization of different ionic liquids (ILs) or eutectic systems (ESs) (position 1) and metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) (position 2), which will be used respectively in the two positions covered by this call.

In this context:

a) One grant position will focus on the development of ionic liquids based on suitable combinations of methylimidazolium, tetra-alkylammonium, or tetra-alkylphosphonium cations with different counter-anions. Protic organic cations will also be synthesized, as well as protonated or alkylated organic superbases (e.g., TMG, DBU, and DBN). These cations will be combined with fluorinated anions (triflate, bistriflimide, and alkyl-fluoroalkanes), sulfonates and sulfates (mesylate, hydrogen sulfate, methyl sulfate, ethyl sulfate), carboxylates (acetate, lactate, formate), and amino acid-derived anions. In addition, hydrophilic and hydrophobic eutectic systems (ESs) will be prepared by combining organic salts with alcohols, terpenes (menthol, thymol), short- and long-chain acids (octanoic, decanoic, dodecanoic), glycols (PEG, PPG), and natural compounds.

b) The other grant position will focus on the development of metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) such as Ru, Fe, Cu, Co, Ni, Ag, and Pd, using established methodologies, including in situ preparation in ILs and ESs while ensuring colloidal stabilization. Special attention will be given to controlling the size, morphology, and stability of MNPs under different reaction conditions (temperature, pressure, light, and electrical potential). Methods such as chemical reduction, sputtering, electron beam irradiation, laser ablation in solution, physical vapor deposition, and electrodeposition will be explored, prioritizing more sustainable approaches. The preparation of bimetallic nanoparticles will also be assessed, with special emphasis on the catalytic valorization of CO₂.

In both positions, detailed chemical characterization of ILs, ESs, and MNPs will be required using FTIR, NMR, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis, complemented by thermal analyses (DSC, TGA). Microscopy techniques (SEM, TEM) and DLS will be used for morphological characterization and nanoparticle size distribution analysis.

4. Applicable legislation and regulations:

Law No. 40/2004, of August 18, amended and republished by Decree-Law No. 202/2012 of August 27 (Statute of the Scientific Research Fellow) and amended by Decree-Law No. 233/2012 of October 29, by Law No. 12 /2013 of 29 January, by Decree-Law No. 89/2013, of 9 July and Decree-Law No. 123/2019, of 28 August; Regulation of Research Grants of NOVA.id.FCT – Association for Innovation and Development of FCT; Regulation of Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. in force (https://files.dre.pt/2s/2019/12/241000000/0009100105.pdf).

5. Workplace:

The work will be carried out at the Department of Chemistry of the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa (NOVA FCT) under the scientific supervision of Professor Dr. Luís Branco, with the contracting entity being the NOVA.id.FCT – Association for Innovation and Development of FCT.

6. Fellowship duration:

The scholarship will last for 5 months, starting on April 2026.

7. Monthly maintenance allowance amount:

The amount of the scholarship corresponds to €1.040,98, based on the table of values for scholarships awarded directly by FCT, I.P. in the country, with payment made monthly by bank transfer.

8. Selection criteria:

The selection methods will be as follows:

a) Curriculum evaluation (score from 0 to 20): Weighting 50%

b) Motivation letter (score from 0 to 20): Weighting 30%

c) Experience in the area of Ionic Liquids, Eutectic Solvents and nanoparticle systems (score from 0 to 20): Weighting 20%

Final score: 50%xA+30%xB+20%xC

Any candidates who does not obtain a minimum final score of 15 points, according to the jury’s evaluation based on the selection criteria, will not be hired.

9. Composition of the Selection Jury:

President – Professor Dr. Luís Branco, DQ-NOVA FCT

Efective Jury Member – Dr. José Esperança, LAQV/REQUIMTE-NOVA FCT

Efective Jury Member – Dr. Sandra Gago, LAQV/REQUIMTE-NOVA FCT

Substitute Jury Member – Dr. Andreia Santos, CENIMAT-NOVA FCT

Substitute Jury Member – Dr. Patrícia Reis, LAQV/REQUIMTE-NOVA FCT

10. Form of advertising/notification of results:

The evaluation results proposed by the jury will be notified, up to 90 days after the deadline for the submission of applications, by email, of the results proposed by the jury, with access to the minutes and the final ranking list.

After notification, candidates will have 10 working days to comment on the draft decision (prior hearing of interested parties, under the terms of the Code of Administrative Procedure). The final decision will be taken after the expiry of the prior hearing period, again notified to all candidates by e-mail. Of this final decision the candidates can file a complaint within 15 working days (to the e-mail address used for the notification), or an hierarchical appeal, within 30 working days, addressed to NOVA.ID.FCT's Board through the address coord1@novaidfct.pt.

11. Application deadline and form of application submission:

The contest is open from 12th to 25h March, 2026.

Documentation to be provided in the application: Applications must be formalized, obligatorily, by sending the following documents:

i. Curriculum Vitae;

ii. Motivation letter;

iii. Copy of academic degree certificates obtained (indicating the final grade – for each cycle or integrated cycle – and grades of curricular units), or a declaration of honor containing the same information as described in point 2;

iv. Proof of enrollment in a Master’s degree or in a non-academic degree course integrated in an educational project of a Higher Education Institution in the academic year 2025/2026, or a declaration of honor containing the same information as described in point 2.

Procedure of submission of applications: Applications must be sent by email to l.branco@fct.unl.pt, with the subject “#NOVAID-B466 – Application VALOR2FUELS Project”.

Documentation to be provided at the time of contracting: Proof of recognition of foreign academic degrees and conversion of the respective final grades to the Portuguese grading scale (if applicable), and proof of enrollment in a non-academic degree course integrated in an educational project of a Higher Education Institution in the academic year 2025/2026.

12. Drafts:

The templates for: i) fellowship contract, ii) final report to be submitted by the fellow, iii) final report to be submitted by the scientific supervisor, and iv) declaration under oath of honor, can be found on the NOVA.id.FCT website.