Research Studentships (PhD students) - (BL180/2026-IST-ID)

Associação do Instituto Superior Técnico para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento _IST-ID; Portugal; On-site; EUR 11,000 - 18,000; Full time

Job summary

Associação do Instituto Superior Técnico para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento _IST-ID, through CERIS – Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability, offers a 6-month research fellowship for PhD students in the LIVStab project. The work will involve lab characterization, durability assessment, and recycling of mortars, under supervision of IST-ID staff.

The position begins January 2027 and can be renewed up to 8 months in total; admission requires enrollment in a PhD program and

Qualifications

• Enrollment in a PhD program
• Selection methods include CV evaluation and interview
• Experience in earth construction materials and products is favorable

Responsibilities

• Contribute to scientific reports and manuscripts for publication
• Co-supervise Master’s students involved in the project
• Assist in organizing scientific dissemination and outreach activities

Education

PhD enrollment

Job description

Organisation/Company Associação do Instituto Superior Técnico para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento _IST-ID Department DRH Research Field Engineering » Civil engineering Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Master Positions Application Deadline 20 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon) Country Portugal Type of Contract Not Applicable Job Status Not Applicable Offer Starting Date 9 Nov 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number UID/6438/2025 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Applications are open for 1 Research Studentship for PhD students, within the framework of project “LIVStab - Fungal growth control for bio-stabilized building solutions”, BASE-UID/6438/2025, of CERIS – Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability of Instituto Superior Técnico, financed by national funds through FCT/MCTES and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), under the Partnership Agreement PT2030

Workplan:The work plan will begin at the end of Task 1 (T1) of the project, which will deliver 3 alternatives (fungus + biomass) for the formulation of earthen mortars, developed in collaboration with the postdoctoral researcher in Agricultural Sciences.

Task 2 (T2) will be dedicated to the production and evaluation of the designed construction materials. In its first phase (T2.1), the three selected mortars will undergo laboratory characterization in accordance with the German standard for earthen mortars (DIN 18947:2024) and standardized testing methods applicable to mortars (EN 1015-11:2019; EN 14146:2004; EN 1015-12:2016; EN 1015-10:1999; ISO 12571:2021; ISO 12572:2016; EN 15801:2009; EN 16322:2013). By the end of T2.1, a complete characterization of the 3 selected formulations (Milestone 1, M1) will be available, and the best-performing stabilized formulation will be selected (Milestone 2, M2) for the second phase of T2. The second phase of Task 2 (T2.2) will focus on the durability assessment of the mortar formulation selected at the end of T2.1 (M2) through natural ageing. For this purpose, a pilot case study involving a full‑scale (1:1) indoor or outdoor application will be implemented, together with a corresponding monitoring campaign.

Task 3 (T3) will begin following the completion of T2.1 and will focus on the recycling of the crushed mortars produced during that phase. New mortars will be developed using recycled materials, thereby avoiding their disposal at the end of their service life. These second‑life mortars will be fully characterized, both with and without further bio‑stabilization. The evaluation of the properties of the recycled, stabilized and unstabilized formulations will follow the same protocol adopted in T2.1 and will aim to demonstrate the recyclability and reusability of bio‑stabilized mortars without loss of functional performance (i.e., without downcycling). By the end of T3, Milestone 3 (M3) will provide a comprehensive assessment of the recyclability of mycelium‑stabilized earthen mortars.

The PhD student will be expected to actively contribute to the preparation of scientific reports and manuscripts for publication in international peer‑reviewed journals. The student may also co‑supervise Master's students involved in the project and support the organization of scientific dissemination and outreach activities within the scope of the project.

Duration:The research fellowship(s) will have the duration of 6 months. It’s expected to begin in January 2027 and may be eventually renewed up to the maximum of 8 months, including the duration of the initial contract.

Admission Requirements: To be enrolled at a PhD

Admission Requirements: To be enrolled at a PhD

Selection process

Selection methods: The selection method will be the Curriculum Vitae evaluation. The jury may call the best‑selected candidates for an individual interview. In this case, the curriculum evaluation and the individual interview (in‑person or online) will have a weighting factor of 75% and 25%, respectively. Candidates with previous background in earth construction materials and products will be favored,with preference given to those with specific expertise in earth mortars.If none of the candidates demonstrate a suitable profile, the studentship will not be awarded.

Announcement/ notification of the results: The final evaluation results will be communicated to all applicants by email.

Deadlines and procedures of complaint and appeal. A complaint may be lodged from the final decision within 10 working days, or an appeal to the Executive Board of IST-ID within 15 working days, both counted from the respective notification

Additional comments

Legislation and Regulations:Statute of Scientific Research Fellow, approved by Law nr. 40/2004, of August 18, as worded by Decree‑Law nr. 123/2019, of August 28; FCT Regulation for Research Studentships and Fellowships, available on https://dre.pt/application/file/a/127230968 .

Workplace:The work will be developed at CERIS – Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability, Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment of Instituto Superior Técnico, and the CERIS NOVA HUB at NOVA School of Science and Technology, under the joint scientific supervision of Dr. Alessandra Ranesi and Professors Paulina Faria and Rafaela Cardoso. Displacements to CERIS UCoimbra HUB at IteCons may be needed.