31-07-2019
Call for applications to PhD Scholarships
in the framework of the
Doctorate in Biomedical Engineering: NOVA Instrumentation for Health (NOVA I4H)
The Doctorate Program Biomedical Engineering: NOVA Instrumentation for Health (NOVA I4H) was selected in 2015 in the framework of the FCT PhD Programs with Industry Call opened by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia IP (FCT, IP). It was awarded with 24 PhD scholarships for a total of 4 editions (one edition comprises 4 years).
In the framework of that Call, it is up to the Directive Board of the Program (or a Selection committee chosen by this Board) to select the students to whom these scholarships funded by FCT IP will be awarded. The scholarship-contracts will be concluded directly with FCT.
Hence, under the terms set in the Estatuto do Bolseiro de Investigação Científica approved by Law 40/2004 of 18 August, in its present wording, and the Regulamento de Bolsas da Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, the NOVA I4H Directive Board opens a call for the selection of recipients of
7 INDIVIDUAL PhD SCHOLARSHIPS
The scholarships are one year long, renewable for up to a total of 4 years, and cannot be awarded for periods of less than six consecutive months.
Applicants: Doctoral degree scholarships are intended for individuals who meet the requirements set forth in Article 30, number 1, of Decree-Law 74/2006, of 24 March, amended by Decree-Law 107/2008, of 25 June, and Decree-Law 230/2009, of 14 September, and who wish to develop research work leading to a doctoral degree in Biomedical Engineering, in the framework of NOVA I4H, starting in the academic year 2019/2020.
Scientific Area: Biomedical Engineering
Academic background: The applicants must have a Master Degree in Biomedical Engineering or in other Engineering and Science fields with strong affinity to Biomedical Engineering such as Physical Engineering or Electrical Engineering, with a final grade of at least 14/20 (in the case of Integrated Master degrees, this grade is calculated for the last two years of the single cycle) and a grade in the Master thesis of at least 16/20. Candidates must also have good command of English.
Monthly allowance: The amount of this allowance will be the same as the Doctoral degree grants attributed directly by FCT for a PhD in Portugal (http://alfa.fct.mctes.pt/apoios/bolsas/valores).
Period of the Call: The call is open from 1 August to 30 September 2019.
Applications: The individual applications should be submitted by sending an electronic message to ml.oliveira@fct.unl.pt . The candidates have to submit the filled application form available at http://sites.fct.unl.pt/doutoramento-engenharia-biomedica/, the CV, a letter of motivation and the transcript (in Portuguese or English) of records relative to their university degrees. In the application form, the candidates have to rank their preferences (up to a maximum of 3) in terms of thesis projects. The PhD thesis projects have to be chosen among those offered by NOVA I4H and listed at http://sites.fct.unl.pt/doutoramento-engenharia-biomedica/. Before considering the application, the candidates have to be accepted by the supervisor of each of the chosen projects.
In the case of academic degrees and diplomas awarded by a foreign higher education institution, for the purposes of admissibility of the application, proof of registration of recognition of the foreign academic degree is optional. However, failure to submit this document does not allow the jury to assign a grade in the School Curriculum Assessment of the candidate. For the purpose of contracting the scholarship, when it is eventually awarded, the presentation of proof of recognition of these degrees and the conversion of the final classification obtained in them to the Portuguese classification scale is mandatory.
The recognition of foreign academic degrees and diplomas as well as the conversion of the final classification to the Portuguese classification scale may be required at any public higher education institution or at the Directorate General for Higher Education (http://www.dges.gov.pt). The legal regime applicable to the recognition processes, required after January 1, 2019, is that approved by Decree-Law no. 66/2018 of 16 August. The legal regime applicable to the recognition processes, required before January 1, 2019, is that provided for in Decree-Law no. 341/2007, of October 12 and regulated by Administrative Rule no. 227/2017, of 25 July, or alternatively, the one established by Decree-Law no. 283/83, of 21 June, in the case of the recognition modality is that of equivalence.
Evaluation Process and Criteria: The evaluation of applications shall be done by the Selection Committee, according to the process set out in the meeting of NOVA I4H Directive Board on 10 September 2015.
Candidates will be ranked according to the Final Candidate Grade (FCG) given by FCG=0.7 x CAG + 0.3 x CPG, where CAG and CPG stand for Academic Candidate Grade and Candidate Profile Grade, respectively.
The CAG is given by CAG =0.65 x DG + 0.35 x AG, where DG and AG stand for Degree Grade and Adequacy Grade, respectively.
The DG is calculated considered the following criteria:
1st cycle’s grade (3 first years of an integrated masters program): 30%;
2nd cycle’s grade (2 final years of an integrated masters program): 30%;
Master thesis’ grade: 40%;
The AG is obtained considered the following list:
Biomedical Engineering: 20
Physics Engineering, Physics, or Electrical Engineering: 18
Biotechnology, Bioengineering Health Technology or Computer Science: 16
Biomedical Sciences, Medicine, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering or Biochemical Engineering: 15
Biochemistry, Molecular Cell Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biology or Materials Sciences: 13
Other degrees: 10
The CPG is obtained considering the academic/scientific experience, professional experience CV, letter of motivation, reference letters and interview, as well as publications and congress presentations.
The assignment of project to the candidates will be done following the ranking position of the candidate; the first candidate’s choice will be the one assigned if still available, contingent on the agreement of the supervisor(s).
Announcement of results: The results of the evaluation will be sent to the candidates by e-mail. If the decision is not favorable for the award of a grant, the applicant has a period of 10 working days, after receiving notice of the decision, in which to contest the decision, if she/he so wishes, in a prior hearing, as provided for in the Código do Procedimento Administrativo. Any appeal to the final decision must be brought before the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. within 15 working days after the notification. All applicants will be informed of the final outcome of their application by e-mail.
Complementary information: The Program directive board reserves the right to not filling all vacancies open in the present call.
Funding: The scholarships awarded awarded under this call for proposals will be financed by funds from the State Budget of the Ministry of Education and Science and, where eligible, from European Social Fund funds through the Operational Programs for the 2014-2020 programming period of Portugal 2020, the Operational Program of Human Capital, the Regional Operational Program of the North, the Center or Alentejo, in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Specific Regulation.
