Doctoral Studentships in a non-academic environment

The FCT has opened an expression of interest for hosting doctoral students in non-academic institutions under the Call for PhD Research Studentships in all Scientific Fields 2023, whose Notice of the Call is open to the public. Notice of the Call(General Application Line and Non-Academic Application Line) is now available and the respective applications will take place between March 1st and 31st.

The list of non-academic organizations that responded to the expression of interest is now available for consultation, and is constantly being updated.

In this Call, work plans drawn up in close coordination with non-academic organizations, which should host the scholarship holders for a considerable part of their work leading to a doctoral degree, are particularly important.

The various host configurations made possible by this line should include at least one non-academic host institution and one academic host institutionas well as a scientific advisor from each of these institutions.

What is meant by academic and non-academic entities?

• All national and international entities that produce and disseminate knowledge are considered academic, including public and private higher education institutions, R&D units, Associate Laboratories, as well as other private non-profit institutions whose main purpose is R&D activities.  
• Non-academic host institutions are all entities not included in the academic environment, as described above. For example, this includes Companies, Collaborative Laboratories, Technology and Innovation Centers and other Interface Centers, Public Administration entities, State Laboratories, Hospitals, Museums, Libraries, Regulatory Entities or third sector entities. In the case of R&D units or Associate Laboratories that are also Technology and Innovation Centers, the classification of academic entity prevails.

What are the advantages for a PhD student?

• Doctoral students will have the opportunity to receive advanced training in areas of major relevance, both to the academic fabric and to business, cultural and public administration organizations, among others, increasing employment opportunities after the doctorate;
• They will be scientifically guided by an interdisciplinary team;
• The student will be able to take advantage of international stays and participate in national and international events, offering the necessary contacts to develop professionally in the area of their work plan.

What are the advantages for non-academic organizations?

• Non-academic organizations (NAEs) will be able to host researchers with a high scientific profile and at the forefront of research, who will be able to contribute to solving the specific problems of these organizations, which are scientifically relevant or have a significant level of innovation.
• ENAs will be able to attract talent and train their teams, improving their competitiveness and internationalization.
• They will be able to develop a strategic project for the organization, in close collaboration with an academic organization.
• The teams set up in this area could be instrumental in drawing up future funding proposals at international, national and regional level.
• Involving a commitment to co-supervise the execution of the work plan in the respective host institutions, this financing instrument involves no costs for the entities that join the program, whether academic or non-academic.

What are the advantages for academic bodies?

• To solidify and boost collaborations and the transfer of knowledge and technology to the business community and/or public administration sectors;
• Offering diversified training in science, technology and innovation.
• Nuclear interdisciplinary and intersectoral teams for the submission of scientific projects to national and international funding agencies.

I'm a non-academic organization. How do I find a potential candidate?

• Entities wishing to benefit from this public policy to promote and mobilize scientific research in non-academic environments, and are looking for a suitable candidate, are invited to submit their expression of interest proposal using this form (click here). The information entered will then be published on the FCT website, thus reaching potential candidates. All applications will be assessed competitively. Applicants may submit applications for this line of funding in other areas and with other entities that are not included in the list updated with this expression of interest. This expression of interest is optional.
• You can contact an academic organization and/or potential students directly, expressing your interest in hosting a doctoral student and addressing the specific problem of the research to be carried out.

I'm a potential candidate. How do I find a non-academic host institution?

• You can consult the list of non-academic organizations (see here) that have expressed their interest in hosting a doctoral student and discuss potential work plans with the contact point presented;
• You can contact a non-academic organization that interests you directly;
• You should contact a potential academic supervisor directly and jointly agree a work plan with a non-academic organization.

How to apply?

• Applications are submitted by the student, with the support of at least one academic and one non-academic entity;
• Applications are submitted under the national Call for PhD Studentships 2023, in the specific line of Studentships in a non-academic environment. For details, see the Call page.
• Applications must be submitted between March 1 and 31, 2023.

For more information and a full list of recurring questions, please see the Call page.