FEUP|1 PhD Researcher|Projeto FP4-Rail4EARTH2 - INVTERM_FEUP_26.6

FEUP; Portugal; In loco; EUR 24.000 - 29.000; Tempo pieno

Descrizione del lavoro

FEUP invites applications for an Entry-Level PhD Researcher position within the Rail4EARTH2 project. The role focuses on ground-borne vibration modelling, prediction, and assessment, with potential teaching duties.

The appointment lasts up to 14 months, subject to project funding and regulatory limits. The candidate should hold a PhD in Civil Engineering (or related) and demonstrate experience in AI techniques, numerical modelling, and English-language publications in Scopus/WoS journals.

Competenze

• PhD in Civil Engineering or related field with up-to-date research in soil dynamics and wave propagation.
• Strong background in numerical modelling and AI applications.
• Evidence of international publications in English in Scopus/WoS-indexed journals.

Mansioni

• Carry out R&D activities within Project FP4-Rail4EARTH2 in civil engineering.
• Contribute to ground-borne vibration modelling and mitigation tasks.
• Assist in teaching and training activities related to the research area.

Conoscenze

Soil dynamics

AI techniques

Numerical modelling

English publications

Formazione

PhD in Civil Engineering

Strumenti

MATLAB

Python

Descrizione del lavoro

Organisation/Company FEUP Department Human Resources Division Research Field Engineering » Civil engineering Engineering » Other Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 10 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon) Country Portugal Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

NOTICE OF OPENING OF AN INTERNATIONAL SELECTION PROCEDURE FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF AN ENTRY-LEVEL PhD RESEARCHER AT THE FACULTY OF ENGINEERING OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PORTO –

(Fixed-term employment contract of uncertain duration)

By order dated 25/09/2026, of the Dean of FEUP, Professor Rui Artur Bártolo Calçada, it was decided to open an international selection procedure for one position of Entry-Level PhD Researcher, within the scope of ProjectFP4-Rail4EARTH2 – “Europe’s Rail Flagship Project 4 - Sustainable and green rail systems (Phase 2) “, with the Grant Agreement number 101324053,funded by the European Commission, under theHorizonte Europe Framework Programme, within the Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-Rail), under an Fixed-term employment contract of uncertain duration, as required by law, pursuant to Article 6(1)(b) of the RJEC, ex vi Article 18(2) of Decree-Law No. 57/2016 of 29 August, as currently worded, the Labour Code, approved by Law No. 7/2009 of 12 February, as currently worded, Regulatory Decree No. 11-A/2017 of 29 December, Regulation No. 849/2026 of 07/07 - Regulation on Research, Science and Technology Staff of the University of Porto (hereinafter referred to as the Regulation), and other applicable legislation, and shall remain in force only for the period necessary to carry out the tasks defined in the project and identified below, whose expected duration is 14 months, never exceeding the maximum limit of six years.

The Entry-Level PhD Researcher shall, in general terms, perform the activities provided for in Article 8(2)(a) of Regulation No. 849/2026 of 7 July. Specifically, the Entry-Level PhD Researcher will carry out R&D activities within ProjectFP4-Rail4EARTH2, falling within the scientific area of Civil Engineering , contributing to the following project activities provided for in the application:

Task 4.1 - Ground-borne vibration modelling and mitigation (Subtask 4.1.2 – Vibration modelling and prediction)

Task 4.5 – Practical assessment of WP4 results in terms of exposed people.

The researcher to be hired may also provide occasional collaboration in teaching and training activities in the research area.

The present notice is published pending the signature of the Grant Agreement of the project, therefore, for this reason and for reasons of interest of the institution, by means of a duly reasoned act, this selection process may be terminated until before the notification of the selection minutes to the applicants, within the scope of the hearing of the interested parties.

1. Workplace

The workplace is located at the Department of Civil and Georesources Engineering of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), as well as at any other locations where the duties for which the employee is hired need to be performed, including locations intended for the respective professional training.

2. Remuneration

The gross monthly base remuneration is €2,408.11, corresponding to the 1st remuneration position, level 3, under an exclusive dedication regime, of the remuneration table set out in Annexes I and II to Regulation No. 849/2026 of 7 July, plus holiday and Christmas allowances, as well as meal allowance, under the terms and in the amounts applicable to employees holding a public employment relationship.

3. Admission requirements

3.1 General admission requirement:

National, foreign and stateless citizens holding a PhD degree* in the scientific area of Civil Engineering (or in scientific areas related to that for which the selection procedure is opened), awarded no more than 5 years ago, and holding a scientific and professional curriculum demonstrating a profile suited to the activity to be performed, may apply to this selection procedure.

*If the PhD degree was awarded by a foreign higher education institution, it must be recognised by a Portuguese higher education institution, pursuant to Article 25 of Decree-Law No. 66/2018 of 16 August, which approves the legal framework for the recognition of academic degrees and higher education diplomas awarded by foreign higher education institutions, and Article 4(2)(e) of Decree-Law No. 60/2018 of 3 August, with any formalities established therein having to be completed by the date on which the employment contract is entered into.

3.2. Specific admission requirements

For the purposes of determining the profile suited to the activity to be performed, the following are specific requirements:

• a) Demonstrate consolidated and relevant experience in the project area, documented by lead authorship of scientific articles published in English in international journals indexed in Scopus/WoS, reporting work developed in the scope of soil dynamics, with a particular focus on applying artificial intelligence techniques.
• b) candidates must have skills and previous experience inadvanced numerical modelling of ground-borne vibrations and wave propagation problems due to railway traffic and/or construction activities; structural dynamics analysis; programming skills in Matlab and Python; development and implementation of numerical, analytical and/or machine learning tools.

4. Selection methods

Pursuant to Article 29 of Regulation No. 849/2026 of 7 July and Article 5 of the RJEC, the following selection methods shall apply:

• a) Assessment of the candidates’ scientific and curricular background (APCC) (90%)
• b) Professional Selection Interview (EPS) - (10%), to be applied to candidates approved in the assessment of the scientific and curricular background.

5. Assessment of Scientific and Curricular Background (APCC) (90%)

5.1. The assessment of the scientific and curricular background shall focus on the relevance, quality and up-to-dateness of the following criteria:

• a) Scientific, technological, cultural or artistic output from the last five years considered most relevant by the candidate;
• b) Applied or practice-based research activities carried out over the last five years and considered by the candidate to have the greatest impact;
• c) Knowledge transfer and dissemination activities carried out over the last five years, particularly in the context of promoting scientific culture and practices, considered most relevant by the candidate;
• d) Management activities in science, technology and innovation programmes, or experience in observing and monitoring the scientific and technological system or higher education, in Portugal or abroad.

5.2. The period referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be calculated by reference to the 5 (five) years immediately preceding the closing date for applications.

5.3. The five-year period referred to in the preceding paragraph may be extended by the Selection Committee, at the candidate’s request, where scientific activity has been suspended for socially protected reasons, namely parental leave, prolonged serious illness, and other legally protected situations of unavailability for work (in which case the candidate must indicate the requested assessment period and attach documentary evidence of the grounds invoked).

5.4. In applying the criteria referred to in point 5.1., the following parameters shall be assessed, with the weighting factors indicated:

5.4.1. Scientific and Professional Background (PCP) (5%)

• PCP1. Professional research experience in the scientific area(s) of the selection procedure) (100%).

5.4.2. Scientific, Technological, Cultural or Artistic Output (PCTCA) (90%):

• PCTCA1. Participation in international research projects in the area of the project, as well as scientific production, specifically, having international publications in high-ranked peer-reviewed journals related to the project. The list of publications must be included in the curriculum with a clear indication of the statistical analyses used, along with the candidate’s role in implementing them. (70%);
• PCTCA2. Development of collaborations with international researchers and periods of study or research abroad) (20%);
• PCTCA3. Duly documented teaching in degree-awarding study cycles (bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral) and in continuing education courses) (10%).

5.4.3. Knowledge Transfer and Dissemination Activities (AEDC) (5%):

• AEDC1.Authorship and co‑ownership of patents, ownership registrations of intellectual property rights over software, methods, and mathematical models (30%).
• AEDC2. Review of scientific articles (20%);
• AEDC3. Organisation of scientific events (20%);
• AEDC4. Participation in national and international scientific events, peer‑reviewed and by invitation (20%);
• AEDC5. Experience in scientific supervision at different levels (internships, master’s, doctorates) (10%).

5.5. The final APCC score is obtained using the following formula: APCC = (0.05 x PCP) + (0.90 x PCTCA) + (0.05 x AEDC).

6. Professional Selection Interview (EPS) (10%)

6.1. Candidates who obtain a score equal to or higher than 80 points, provided that such score is awarded by all members of the Selection Committee in the assessment of the scientific and curricular background (APCC), shall be admitted to the interview stage.

6.2. The Professional Selection Interview (EPS) shall have a maximum duration of one hour and is intended exclusively to clarify aspects related to the research carried out by the candidates.

6.3. The assessment criteria for the Professional Selection Interview (EPS) shall be as set out below, with the weighting factors indicated:

• EPS1. Scientific quality and clarity of the presentation of the research work carried out, including the methodology and the results obtained (60%).
• EPS2. Responsiveness and technical mastery demonstrated in clarifying questions raised by the panel regarding the research presented (40%).

6.4. The score for the Professional Selection Interview (EPS) is obtained using the following formula: EPS = EPS1 + EPS2.

7. Final Score

7.1. The Final Score (CF) of the Assessment of Scientific and Curricular Background (APCC) and Professional Selection Interview (EPS) shall be obtained using the following formula: CF = (0.9*APCC) + (0.1