Call for Proposals Open Call Individual Scientific Employment 2017’

The FCT announces the opening of Call "Stimulus for Individual Scientific Employment 2017," which aims to provide individual funding for 500 contracts for PhD researchers in all scientific areas. Applications will be accepted until February 16, 2018.

All PhD holders of any nationality or stateless persons, with a background in any scientific field, who wish to carry out their scientific research or technological development activities in Portugal, integrated into R&D units funded by the FCT, are eligible to apply.

The following reference categories are considered:

a) Junior researcher: PhD with limited postdoctoral research experience or no scientific background after obtaining a PhD in the scientific field to which they are applying.

b) Assistant researcher: PhD for more than 5 years, with relevant curriculum in the scientific area to which they are applying, without the requirement to demonstrate scientific independence.

c) Principal investigator: PhD for more than 5 years, with a relevant curriculum in the scientific area to which they are applying, demonstrating scientific independence in the last 3 years.

d) Coordinating researcher: PhD for more than 5 years, holder of the title of qualified or associate professor, with a high-merit curriculum in the scientific area to which they are applying, demonstrating scientific independence and evidence of leadership in the scientific area to which they are applying.

In their application, to be submitted electronically in English, candidates must indicate the host institutions where they will carry out their research. In turn, the host institutions must associate themselves with the respective applications.

The evaluation, to be carried out by an international panel of recognized merit, will focus on the candidate's background and proposed research plan, which must be in line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The selected researchers are directly hired by the identified host institution, through funding from FCT.

The Call for Individual Scientific Employment 2017’ is one of the new funding mechanisms provided for in the Scientific Employment Regulation, launched by FCT this year, which aims to systematically strengthen scientific employment in the SCTN, increasing employment opportunities for PhD holders and securing scientific employment after graduation. Through a diversified framework of support for scientific employment, it ensures the reduction of precariousness in scientific research, institutional rejuvenation, and the attractiveness of the national territory for science and technology.

In 2018 and 2019, new Calls proposals will be opened for the ‘Individual Scientific Employment Stimulus’ program.