Call for Applications for a Research Initiation Grant (BII) - SILFORE

Instituto Politécnico de Bragança; Portugal; On-site; EUR 7,800 - 8,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Seguro de acidentes pessoais

Job summary

Instituto Politécnico de Bragança procura um(a) Investigador(a) de Iniciação Científica (BII) no âmbito do projeto LIFE, com duração inicial de 3 meses e possibilidade de renovação até 6 meses.

A posição insere-se no Gabinete de Apoio a Projetos e envolve monitorização de dados de silvopastoralismo e redação de artigos científicos.

Qualifications

• Mestrado em ciência animal e doutoramento em Ciências Agrárias e Florestais (em curso).
• Experiência em análise de dados de solo e vegetação.
• Experiência de trabalho de campo na região do Parque Natural de Montesinho preferencial.
• Experiência em transformar dados em bases bibliográficas (Scopus, Web of Science).
• Proficiência em Português é eliminatória (nativo ou nível C1).

Responsibilities

• Compilar a metodologia de recolha de dados para monitorizar o projeto SILFORE.
• Desenvolver uma versão draft do guia metodológico para avaliar a resiliência de sistemas florestais.
• Redigir um artigo científico relacionado com serviços ecossistêmicos associados à pastagem.

Skills

Análise de dados de solo e vegetação

Experiência de campo

Fluência em Português (nativo/C1)

Education

Mestrado em ciência animal

Tools

Scopus

Web of Science

Job description

Organisation/Company Instituto Politécnico de Bragança Department Gabinete de Apoio a Projetos Research Field Agricultural sciences » Zootechnics Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Bachelor Positions Application Deadline 12 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon) Country Portugal Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 16 Nov 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? LIFE Programme Reference Number P580585 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

A call for applications is open for a Research Initiation Grant (BII) within the scope of the project “- For the conservation and management of resilient agroforestry systems based on silvopastoral management practices”, funded by the “EU LIFE Programme”, under the following conditions:

2. Admission Requirements

Candidates must hold a master's degree in animal science and be pursuing a PhD in Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, with experience in the analysis of soil and vegetation data. Preferably, they should have experience in fieldwork in the Montesinho Natural Park region and in methodologies for collecting and transforming data into bibliographic databases (Scopus, Web of Science). Proficiency in the Portuguese language is an eliminatory condition, so candidates must have as a native language, Portuguese, or possess a C1 level of Portuguese.

3. Work plan

1. Compile the data collection methodology for monitoring the SILFORE project;
2. Develop a draft version of the methodological guide for assessing the resilience of forest systems in the face of climate change using a silvopastoral use strategy;
3. Write a scientific article related to ecosystem services associated with grazing.

4. Objectives

Deepen knowledge about silvopastoral systems in northern Portugal. Familiarize yourself with the production of dissemination materials. Acquire skills in scientific writing.

5. Applicable legislation and regulations

Statute of the Scientific Research Fellow, approved by Law No. 40/2004, of August 18, in its current wording; FCT, I.P. Research Grant Regulations.

Regulation No. 522/2020, published in the Diário da República, 2nd series, No. 113, of June 12 – Research Grant Regulations of the Polytechnic University of Bragança.

6. Workplace and scientific supervision

The work will be carried out at the Higher School of Agriculture - Ligeo, under the scientific supervision of Marina Castro.

7. Duration of the grant

The grant will have an initial duration of 3 months, with a planned start date of 11/16/2026 (with the possibility of renewal for a maximum of 6 months, including the initial period).

8. Monthly Maintenance Allowance Amount

The grant amount corresponds to 701.12€, according to the table of grant values awarded by FCT, I.P. in the country.

Grant recipients will benefit from personal accident insurance and, if they are not covered by any social protection scheme, they may ensure the exercise of the right to social security by joining the voluntary social security scheme, under the terms provided for in the Code of Contribution Regimes of the Social Security System. The grant amount will be paid monthly by bank transfer.

9. Selection Methods and their respective valuations

The selection methods to be used will be curriculum evaluation based on the following elements:

• a) Quality of the CV and its suitability for the project in question (40%);
• b) Field experience (20%);
• c) Letter of Motivation (20%);
• d) Other curricular elements (20%).

If the curricular evaluation results in a tie or very close scores between the top candidates, an interview will be conducted, and in this situation, the final evaluation will consider the following weights: curricular evaluation (50%) and interview (50%).

10. Composition of the Selection Jury

Marina Castro

11. Method of publication/notification of results

The communications and final results of the evaluation will be published through the UPB application submission portal or, if necessary, by email notification.

The competition is open from 30/10/2026 to 12/11/2026.

14. Deadlines and procedures for complaints and appeals

If the decision to be made is unfavorable to the granting of the requested grant, candidates have a period of 10 working days, after the date of publication of the evaluation results, to express their opinion, if they wish, in a prior hearing, under the terms provided for in the Administrative Procedure Code.

An appeal against the final decision may be made to the Rector of UPB within 15 working days after the respective notification.

Applicants must hold a master's degree in the field of animal science (Msc) and be undergoing research training in the area of Silvopastoral Systems.

Academic degrees obtained in foreign countries require recognition by a Portuguese Institution in accordance with Decree-Law No. 66/2018, of August 16th and Ordinance No. 33/2019, of January 25th. The presentation of recognition is mandatory for the signing of the contract.

Additional Information

The grant amount corresponds to 701.12€, according to the table of grant values awarded by FCT, I.P. in the country.

Grant recipients will benefit from personal accident insurance and, if they are not covered by any social protection scheme, they may ensure the exercise of the right to social security by joining the voluntary social security scheme, under the terms provided for in the Code of Contribution Regimes of the Social Security System. The grant amount will be paid monthly by bank transfer.

Eligibility criteria

Candidates must hold a master's degree in animal science and be pursuing a PhD in Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, with experience in the analysis of soil and vegetation data. Preferably, they should have experience in fieldwork in the Montesinho Natural Park region and in methodologies for collecting and transforming data into bibliographic databases (Scopus, Web of Science). Proficiency in the Portuguese language is an eliminatory condition, so candidates must have as a native language, Portuguese, or possess a C1 level of Portuguese.

Selection process

The selection methods to be used will consist of a curricular evaluation based on the following elements: a) Quality of the CV and its suitability for the project in question (40%); b) Fieldwork experience (20%); c) Motivation letter (20%); d) Other curricular elements (20%). In the event that the curricular evaluation results in a tie or in very similar scores among the topranked candidates, an interview will be held. In that case, the final evaluation will be based on the following weighting: curricular evaluation (50%) and interview (50%).

Additional comments

Documents proving the ownership of academic degrees or diplomas, or enrollment in an academic degree or diploma, may be dispensed with during the application stage, being replaced by a declaration of honor by the candidate, and verification of this condition is mandatory during the grant contracting stage. Academic degrees obtained in foreign countries require recognition by a Portuguese Institution in accordance with Decree-Law No. 66/2018, of August 16th and Ordinance No. 33/2019, of January 25th. The presentation of recognition is mandatory for the signing of the contract.

Languages PORTUGUESE Level Mother Tongue

Languages ENGLISH Level Good