New Scientific Employment Diploma

The recent publication of a new legal regime for hiring doctoral graduates(Decree-Law 57/2016, of August 29) aims to stimulate scientific and technological employment in all areas of knowledge, promote the rejuvenation of institutions and enhance the value of scientific research, technological development, management and communication of science and technology (enshrined in Council of Ministers Resolution 32/2016, of June 3).

With the publication of this law, the entities of the National Scientific and Technological System (SCTN) now have a new mechanism to encourage the hiring of PhD researchers, with a view to integrating them into the entities of the SCTN, as well as in its many partnerships and collaborative forms with the economic and productive, social or cultural fabric.

Employment contracts will thus become the normal form of employment for doctoral graduates who carry out scientific activities within the scope of research projects and units, with the award of post-doctoral Studentships being reserved for advanced post-doctoral training activities, namely in the early stages after completion of the doctorate and in accordance with the terms of the Statute of the Scientific Research Fellow.

The FCT has received a number of questions from the scientific community about the application of Decree-Law 57/2016, in particular about the transitional rule. Following these questions, and also the text "Stimulus to Scientific Employment - Implementation Plan", authored by the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education and available on the Government Portal, the FCT publishes the answers to the main questions it has received.

The questions/answers now published are organized according to the individual situation of the researchers, in order to better respond to the requests received by the FCT. This information is not a substitute for consulting Decree-Law 57/2016, which is now the legal framework governing the hiring of doctoral graduates as part of the stimulus to scientific employment. The list of questions/answers will be updated as new issues arise.

FAQs page - Stimulus to Scientific Employment (updated on 31.10.2016)

For further clarification, please contact FCT at infoDL57-2016@fct.pt.