FCT opens Call for doctoral research Studentships "DOCTORATES 4 COVID-19"

The Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), in collaboration with the Agency for Clinical Research and Biomedical Innovation (AICIB), opens applications tomorrow (April 8) for the "DOCTORATES 4 COVID-19" Call for 50 PhD research Studentships . This Call is open in the context of the new SARS CoV2 coronavirus and the Covid-19 disease and is geared towards obtaining new knowledge that will enable skills to be created for responses to this and future pandemics and that will translate into efficient prevention measures, better healthcare and effective support for citizens.

FCT thus encourages the development of R&D projects and activities that contribute to increasing the capabilities of Portuguese science in the areas of virology and epidemiology. Applications will be considered in any scientific area with projects that contribute to increasing knowledge in the following areas:

- epidemiology and risk factors for infection and severe disease by the virus;
- human-animal interaction, mechanisms of resistance and interspecies transmission of the virus, and the risk of pandemics;
- prevention strategies and preparation for new epidemics, including vaccines;
- innovative approaches, including new methods and new technologies, for diagnosing the disease;
- characterization of the mechanisms of viral infection;
- characterization of the host's cellular and serological immune response to infection by the virus, the impact of age and comorbidities;
- development of new therapies and new therapeutic approaches, including life support and personal protective equipment to combat the disease;
- repercussions of viral infection on maternal and newborn health;
- psychological impact and behavioral changes associated with the pandemic.

Applications for the Call will run from April 8 to May 14, 2020 (17:00 Lisbon time), and must be submitted on the MyFCT portal.

The Call is aimed at all candidates who meet the conditions for enrollment, or who are enrolled, in a study cycle to obtain a doctoral degree. The duration of the Studentships is annual and renewable up to a maximum of 48 months. Research activities can be carried out in any environment that promotes scientific activities, namely higher education institutions, R&D units, Associate Laboratories, Collaborative Laboratories, Technology Interface Centres, State Laboratories and other public research institutions, hospitals and healthcare units, other public administration entities, private non-profit institutions or companies recognized as being of scientific interest.

This Call is in addition to various measures and activities launched by the FCT to combat Covid-19, namely: the "RESEARCH 4 COVID-19" Call , the Call for R&D projects AI 4 COVID-19: Data Science and Artificial Intelligence in Public Administration, the "Science 4 COVID-19" portal, increasing the capacity of the RCTS - Science, Technology and Society Network, which supports the internet connections of the teaching and research community, strengthening the capacity of the services that ensure distance learning and teleworking in the academic and scientific community (Colibri, NAU, Educast, Videocast) and also the creation of a page on the FCT website that brings together all the information that is being issued, directly or indirectly related to this pandemic situation.

More information on the "DOCTORATES 4 COVID-19"Call page.