Research Grant - RG_34_DEM_TEMA_2026_I-ReTiSLeaks

Aveiro University; Portugal; On-site; EUR 14,000 - 17,000; Full time

Job summary

A research grant is opened at Aveiro University for the Center for Mechanical Technology and Automation (TEMA) to work on intelligent operation and real-time integration for water leak detection. The project seeks candidates with a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mathematics or related fields, with strong English and Portuguese skills.

The position runs for six months, starting December 2026, with potential renewal.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mathematics or related fields.
• Minimum Master's degree completion and enrollment in a program as specified by the grant.
• Advanced knowledge of English and Portuguese required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement computational methodologies for water distribution system optimization.
• Integrate machine learning models and adaptive MPC controllers as part of the project work plan.
• Work at the Center for Mechanical Technology and Automation (TEMA) under supervision at Aveiro University.

Skills

Advanced English

Research experience

Education

Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master's degree in Computer Engineering

Master's degree in Mathematics

Job description

Organisation/Company Aveiro University Department Mechanical Engineering Department Research Field Engineering » Mechanical engineering Engineering » Computer engineering Mathematics » Applied mathematics Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Master Positions Application Deadline 17 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon) Country Portugal Type of Contract Not Applicable Job Status Not Applicable Hours Per Week 40 Offer Starting Date 1 Dec 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

A tender is hereby opened for the award of one Research Grant(s) (RG) in the scope of R&D projects I-ReTiS Leaks -Intelligent operation and real-time integration for water leak detection, COMPETE2030-FEDER-00823400, for the Center for Mechanical Technology and Automation (TEMA) of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Aveiro (reference nº 16946) under the following conditions:

1. Scientific Area: Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mathematics and its applications, and related fields.

2. Funding Source: Foundation for Science and Technology/MCTES, I.P., through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the European Union, via the Innovation and Digital Transition Programme (COMPETE 2030), within the scope of the project COMPETE2030-FEDER-00823400 (Ref.: 16946).

3. Admission Requirements:

3.1. 4. Masters enrolled in courses that do not confer academic degree integrated in the educational project of a higher education institution.

3.2. 2. Master's Degree in: Mechanical Engineering, Sustainable Energy Systems, Computer Engineering, Mathematics, or related fields.

The proof of registration/enrolment must be carried out until the contract, and the candidate may attach a declaration of honor stating that he meets the requirements for enrolment in a doctorate or in a course that does not confer an academic degree.

If the master's qualification has been conferred by a foreign higher education institution, it must be recognized by a Portuguese higher education institution, under the terms of article 25 of Decree-Law No. 66/2018, of 16 August, which approves the legal regime for the recognition of academic degrees and higher education diplomas awarded by foreign higher education institutions, and paragraph e) of paragraph 2 of article 4 of Decree-Law no. 60/2018, of 3 August, and all the formalities established therein must be fulfilled on the date of the contracting act.

4. Other Requirements: Minimum Master's degree completion average of 12 points; advanced knowledge of English, advanced knowledge of Portuguese and holders of a scientific and professional curriculum that reveals a profile suitable for the activity to be developed.

5. Eligibility: Applicants are eligible if they comply with paragraph a) of no.1 of article 2, of the Research Fellow Statute as amended by Decree-Law no. 123/2019, of August 28th, as well as nos. 1 and 2 of article 6 of the Research Grant Regulations of the Foundation for Science and Technology.

6. Work plan: The main objective of the project is to develop and implement a computational methodology capable of automatically and efficiently managing a water distribution system (WDS), i.e., (i) finding the optimal operation of any water distribution network, transforming it into a smart system, but also (ii) taking into account the energy supplied by renewable energy sources (RES), dynamic tariffs (DP) from the electricity supplier and offers for the electricity market regulation reserve (EMRR), minimising the operating costs of the WDS. In this project, cost efficiency comes from the complete integration/combination of (i) efficient operational control of the WDS and (ii) the DP/RES energy market, i.e., the efficiency of the water-energy nexus.

The main objective of this grant is to develop methodologies that enable WDS to optimise its operational management, considering the RES-DP energy bionomy, and contribute to a smart digital twin. This methodology can be found through: (1) Machine learning models, which characterise the behaviour of the water distribution system, in particular models based on reinforcement learning, and (2) Adaptive MPC controllers with a time horizon. This work plan requires basic programming skills, in particular in the Python language, and knowledge of water supply systems.

7. Applicable legislation and regulations: Statute of Scientific Research Grant Holder, as amended by Decree-Law no. 123/2019, of August 28th; Regulation no. 950/2019, of November 29th, published in Diário da República, no. 241, Series II, of December 16th (FCT, I.P. Research Grants Regulation); Decree-Law no. 66/2018, of August 16th (Legal regime for recognition of academic degrees and diplomas of higher education awarded by foreign higher education institutions).

8. Workplace: The work will be carried out at Center for Mechanical Technology and Automation (TEMA) of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Aveiro, under the scientific supervision of Professor Doctor António Gil Andrade Campos.

9. Duration of the grant(s): The grant duration will be 6 months, starting in December of 2026, and may be renewed for additional periods of 6 months up to the maximum limit of approved funding. Under no circumstances shall it exceed the limits defined in nos. 3, 4 and 5 of article 6, of Regulation no. 950/2019, of November 29th, published in Diário da República, no. 241, Series II, of December 16th (Research Grants Regulation of FCT, I.P.).

10. Amount of monthly maintenance allowance: The amount of the grant corresponds to €1.359,64, according to the table of monthly maintenance allowance amounts set out in Annex I of Regulation no. 950/2019, subject to any updates that may be applicable, under the terms of no. 2 of article 18 of Regulation no. 950/2019, of November 29th, published in Diário da República, no. 241, Series II, of December 16th (Research Grants Regulation of FCT, I.P.). The fellow may also be reimbursed for the amount corresponding to the Voluntary Social Security, in case of adherence to this plan.

11. Selection methods: The selection methods to be used will be the following: Curriculum assessment, where the following knowledge will be evaluated: (1) Basic academic qualifications and respective final grade point average (40%); (2) Proven knowledge in the areas of hydraulic water supply systems, software development for engineering and optimisation applications, and machine learning methods, for one of the scholarships (30%); (3) Experience in research activities within the scientific area of the application (30%), with the respective value of 40%, 30% and 30%, respectively. If necessary, interviews will be conducted to assess the merits of the candidates. Candidates with grades below 12 and without any knowledge in the scientific area of the application will be excluded from the competition.

12. Composition of the Selection Jury: The selection panel will be composed of the Chair, Dr António Gil d’Orey de Andrade-Campos, Full Professor; Members: Dr Ana Luísa Oliveira Reis, Researcher; Dr Marlene Gomes Brás, Researcher; and Alternate Members: Dr João Alexandre Dias de Oliveira, Assistant Professor; and Dr Pedro André Dias Prates, Assistant Professor.

The call is open from November 04, 2026 to November 17, 2026, and only applications submitted within the deadline will be admitted.

14. Form of publication/notification of results: The final results of the evaluation will be published through an ordered list (alphabetically, by final mark obtained or other) posted on the University's website, within 90 working days after the final date of submission of the application, and the successful candidate will be notified by email. For the purposes of prior hearing of interested parties, the deadline of 10 working days is set, as provided for in the Code of Administrative Procedure. At the end of the period for hearing the interested parties, and in the absence of any response from them, the list of candidates will become final. Candidates may lodge a complaint against the final decision within 15 working days, or appeal to the maximum executive body of the funding entity within 30 working days after notification of the final decision, in accordance with the provisions of article 12 of the Research Grants Regulation of the Foundation for Science and Technology.

15. Tender duration: The final ranking list of candidates will be valid until January 31, 2027 for the purpose of constituting a reserve list for selection.

The models of the grant contract and of the final report to be prepared by the grant holder and the supervisor are available at Research fellows - sgrh - Universidade de Aveiro (ua.pt).

Requirements

Research Field Engineering » Mechanical engineering Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field Engineering » Computer engineering Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field Mathematics » Applied mathematics Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Languages PORTUGUESE Level Excellent

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Research Field Engineering » Mechanical engineeringEngineering » Computer engineeringMathematics » Applied mathematics Years of Research Experience 4 - 10

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute TEMA-Depart. of Mechanical Engineering - University of Aveiro Country Portugal State/Province Aveiro City Aveiro Postal Code 3810 - 193 Street CAMPUS UNIVERSITÁRIO DE SANTIAGO Geofield