1 PhD Scholarship - Project Water4all

UNIVERSIDADE DE ÉVORA; Portugal; On-site; EUR 12,000 - 16,000; Full time

Job summary

A Universidade de Évora oferece uma bolsa de doutoramento para uma posição de PhD no âmbito do projeto Water4all, com duração de 12 meses. A bolsa é cofinanciada pela União Europeia ao abrigo do Horizon Europe e tem início previsto em dezembro de 2026.

O selecionado desenvolverá a investigação intitulada "Valuing Mediterranean Riparian Forests: An Integrated Decision-Based Framework" integrando dimensões ecológicas, económicas, sociais e espaciais para apoiar a governação territorial, paisagens

Qualifications

• Mestrado em Geografia com foco em conectividade de rios.
• Conhecimento e experiência em métricas de conectividade aplicadas a rios.

Responsibilities

• Desenvolver a pesquisa de PhD sobre Valuing Mediterranean Riparian Forests.
• Conduzir avaliação económica e modelação GIS para priorização de áreas.
• Gerir o projecto segundo o plano de trabalhos e publicação de artigos.

Education

Mestrado em Geografia

Tools

GIS

Job description

Organisation/Company UNIVERSIDADE DE ÉVORA Department MED Research Field Agricultural sciences Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 6 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon) Country Portugal Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe Reference Number MED - Water4all- BD Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

University of Évora

Research Scholarship for PhD Scholarship - 1 Vacancy

29th of September of 2026

A call for tenders is open for 1 PhD Scholarship within the scope of the project Water4all, with reference "101060874", cofinanced by the European Union trough Horizon Europe Program, under the following conditions:

Scientific area: Agribusiness and Sustainability

Admission requirements: Master’s degree geography. Proven knowledge and experience in connectivity metrics application to river connectivity is particularly relevant.

Additional valued experience includes skills in:

• GIS application

As set forth FCT Research Scholarship Regulation No. 950/2019 of December 16, 2019, article 3 and 6, candidates for "BI" (Research Grants) must comply as a rule condition for the award of the scholarship, the effective inclusion in study cycles leading to the attribution of academic degrees or in courses not leading to an academic degree. Courses that do not confer an academic degree correspond to the courses provided for in subparagraph e) of paragraph 3 of article 4 of Decree-Law No. 74/2006 of 24 March and must be developed in a higher education institution in association with at least one R&D unit, including a course plan in one or several research areas of the unit.

Work plan:

The selected candidate will develop the PhD research on "Valuing Mediterranean Riparian Forests: An Integrated Decision-Based Framework for Territorial Management". The work will involve the design of a structured framework that analytically integrates ecological, economic, social, and spatial dimensions to support the restoration and conservation of riparian corridors within agricultural landscapes.

The research work will be developed as part of a structured doctoral programme and is expected to lead to the completion of a PhD in Agribusiness and Sustainability (Agronegócios e Sustentabilidade). The dissertation will follow a cumulative structure composed of four scientific articles, preceded by an introductory framework and followed by a synthesizing conclusion. It will produce academic publications and actionable policy/management tools to support evidence-based territorial governance, agroforestry schemes, and climate adaptation strategies in Mediterranean regions. From the outset, the work will be organised to ensure both scientific advancement and academic progression, producing results of relevance to regional stakeholders, policy makers, land managers, and the broader research community (e.g., EU GREEN partner institutions).

The work plan includes the following activities:

• Economic Valuation via Meta-Regression: Collection of secondary data from published valuation studies, hydrological assessments, and economic damage reports to perform a meta-regression analysis. This will enable the transfer of monetary values across comparable Mediterranean contexts using the avoided cost method, establishing the baseline economic foundation;
• Stakeholder Assessment and Fieldwork: Design, pilot-testing, and implementation of structured surveys and semi-structured interviews with farmers. Application of econometric models (such as logit models derived from choice experiments) to analyze farmers' Willingness to Accept (WTA) and identify the socioeconomic factors influencing land allocation for riparian restoration;
• Spatial Prioritization Modelling: Development of a GIS-based multi-criteria and network analysis framework for mainland Portugal. This model will integrate biophysical variables (vegetation condition, connectivity, erosion risk, land-use pressures) with the economic and social layers derived from the previous activities to weight and rank restoration hotspots;
• Case Study Cost-Benefit Integration: Execution of a grounded case study comparing the theoretical ecosystem service values (avoided costs) with real-world economic restoration expenditures (planting, maintenance, land opportunity costs), providing an empirical assessment of cost-effectiveness;
• Scientific Publication and Dissemination: Preparation and submission of four peer-reviewed scientific articles aligned with each research stage, alongside presentation of findings to local actors and policymakers;
• Doctoral Thesis Preparation: Thesis synthesis, compilation of chapters, and final dissertation writing as an integrated outcome of the research activities, leading to the PhD defence

Applicable legislation and regulations: The granting of the Research Scholarship will be carried out upon the signing of a contract between the University of Évora and the scholarship holder, according to the version in Annex I, pursuant to the Research Scholarship Statute (Law no. 40/2004 of August 18, as amended) and considering the provisions of other applicable legislation and regulations, namely, the Research Grant Regulations of the University of Évora (published by Order no. 8131/2024, of July 22, 2024), and the Research Grant Regulations of the Science and Technology Foundation, I.P. (Regulation no. 950/2019, of July 22, 2024). º 8131/2024, of July 22, 2024), https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/2s/2024/07/140000000/0035300366.pdf and in the Research Grants Regulations of the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. (Regulation no. 950/2019, of December 16, as amended).

Place of work: The work will be developed at MED of the University of Évora, under the general coordination of the Administrator of the University of Évora and the scientific guidance of the Professor Ana Isabel da Silva Mendes, who must draw up an opinion on the final activity report of the scholarship (Annex II), according to the draft in Annex III.

Duration of the scholarship(s): The scholarship will have a duration of 12 months, starting on December of 2026. The scholarship contract may be renewed up to a maximum of 48 months.

Selection methods: The selection methods to be used will be the following: curriculum evaluation and interview, with the respective valuation of 60% and 40%, respectively.

Composition of the Selection Jury:

Advertising/notification of results: The final results of the evaluation will be publicized, through an ordered list, by final grade obtained or otherwise posted in a visible and public place in MEDof University of Évora, being the candidate (a) approved notified through email.

To ensure the right of prior hearing of interested parties, the Final Classification project will be announced by any written means to all interested parties.

After communicating the provisional list of the results of the evaluation, candidates have a period of 10 working days to express their opinion in a preliminary hearing of interested parties. Based on the final ranking list, a reserve selection list will be drawn up, to be used for the possible recruitment of new scholarship holders within the scope of this project, up to the duration of the scholarship, which may be used in the eventuality of the first ranked candidate withdrawing, failing to present the mandatory documentation, or in the event of the scholarship holder canceling their scholarship early. In the eventuality that none of the candidates demonstrates the profile required to carry out the work plan, the jury reserves the right not to award the scholarship.

Academic degrees obtained in foreign countries require registration by a Portuguese Institution in accordance with Decree-Law no. 66/2018, of August 16 and Ordinance No. 33/2019, of January 25th.