FCT opens Call Studentships for Doctorates “DOCTORATES 4 COVID-19”

The Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), in collaboration with the Agency for Clinical Research and Biomedical Innovation (AICIB), will open applications tomorrow (April 8) for Call "DOCTORATES 4 COVID-19" Call , for the award of 50 PhD Studentships . This Call open in the context of the new SARS CoV2 coronavirus and Covid-19 disease and is aimed at obtaining new knowledge that will enable the creation of skills to respond to this and future pandemics, resulting in effective prevention measures, better healthcare, and effective support for citizens.

The 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 topics:

– epidemiology and risk factors for infection and severe disease caused by the virus;
– human-animal interaction, mechanisms of resistance and interspecies transmission of the virus, and the risk of pandemics;
– prevention and preparedness strategies for new epidemics, including vaccines;
– innovative approaches, including new methods and technologies, for the diagnosis of the disease;
– characterization of viral infection mechanisms;
– characterization of the host's cellular and serological immune response to viral infection, 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 from April 8 to May 14, 2020 (5:00 p.m., Lisbon time), and must be submitted on the MyFCT portal.

The Call to all candidates who meet the eligibility requirements or who are enrolled in a doctoral program. Studentships awarded on an annual basis and Studentships renewable for up to a maximum of 48 months. Research activities may be carried out in any environment that promotes scientific activities, namely higher education institutions, R&D units, Associate Laboratories, Collaborative Laboratories, Technology Interface Centers, 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 several measures and activities launched by FCT in the fight against Covid-19, namely: the Call “RESEARCH 4 COVID-19”, the Call R&D projects AI 4 COVID-19: Data Science and Artificial Intelligence in Public Administration, the portal“Science 4 COVID-19”, the increase in the capacity of RCTS – Science, Technology, and Society Network, which supports internet connections for the teaching and research community, the reinforcement of the capacity of services that ensure distance learning and teleworking in the academic and scientific community (Colibri, NAU, Educast, Videocast), and the creation of a page on the FCT website that gathers all the information that is being issued, directly or indirectly related to this pandemic situation.

More information on the Call 4 COVID-19” page.