RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT

in the framework of the project “PLASMUS -Sustainable carbon-free, plasma-enriched ammonia combustion technology”, Project n.º 16065, financed by FEDER and supported by national funds of Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), I.P., operation codes in “Balcão dos Fundos”: COMPETE2030-FEDER-00721300”, Reference: UBI/PLASMUS/01-2025

A call is open for the allocation of one research fellowship for MSc, PhD student or a graduated students enrolled in a non-academic degree course (BI), Reference: UBI/PLASMUS/01-2025, funded by project “PLASMUS -Sustainable carbon-free, plasma-enriched ammonia combustion technology”, Project n.º 16065, financed by FEDER and supported by national funds of Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), I.P., operation codes in “Balcão dos Fundos”: COMPETE2030-FEDER-00721300”, to be held at the Centre for Mechanical and Aerospace Science and Technologies (C-MAST) of the University of Beira Interior (http://www.aerospace.ubi.pt/), under the following conditions:

1. Research Field: Mechanical Engineering, Computational Mechanical Engineering and Electromechanical Engineering.

2. Objectives: Develop research activities related to the PLASMUS project, including numerical simulation and experimental study of plasma-assisted combustion using dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuators. The research grant is intended to fund the scholarship holder's carrying out of research activities in line with attendance at doctoral or non-academic degree courses. The activities will take place at the Centre for Mechanical and Aerospace Sciences and Technologies (C-MAST), which will be the scholarship holder's host institution, without prejudice to the work being carried out in collaboration between more than one institution.

3. Requirements for admission and hiring:

- Hold a Master's degree in the scientific area of Mechanical Engineering, Computational Mechanical Engineering or Electromechanical Engineering and meet the conditions to be enrolled in a cycle of studies to obtain the PhD degree or enrolled in a non-degree course at the University of Beira Interior;

- And have knowledge on computational fluid dynamics simulation;

- And have proven experience in working with dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuators and combustion modelling;

- Have solid knowledge of English (spoken and written), particularly with the ability for oral communication in an academic context with experts.

The proof of enrolment in the non-degree conferring course must be made, mandatorily, before the signature of the contract.

BIs awarded to MSc who attend courses that do not confer an academic degree can only be granted for a maximum period of one year.

BIs awarded to MSc who are enrolled in courses that do not confer an academic degree can only be awarded to those who do not exceed, with the conclusion of the fellowship contract in question, including any renewals, the accumulated period of two years in this type of fellowship, followed or interpolated.

4. Work plan:

1) Review of the state of the art of non-premixed combustion of ammonia and also enhanced plasma combustion using plasma actuators; 2) Design and simulation of a non-premixed burner integrated with plasma actuators for ammonia and methane combustion; 3) Preparation of reports describing the results, conclusions and recommendations; 4) Writing of complete documents for work dissemination and scientific articles.

The work plan is necessarily part of the research area of Mechanical Engineering, Computational Mechanical Engineering and Electromechanical Engineering, which are part of C-MAST's own organization. Scientific guidance will be the responsibility of an integrated member of C-MAST.

5. Applicable legislation and regulations:

Research Fellowship Holder Statute, approved by Law No. 40/2004, of 18 August, in its current wording (amended by Decree-Law No. 123/2019, of 28 August); Regulation for Research Studentships and Fellowships of the Foundation for Science and Technology (Regulation No. 950/2019) published in the Diário da República, 2nd series, No. 241, 16 December 2019; Regulation for Research Fellowships of the University of Beira Interior - RBIUBI (Regulation No. 100/2020) published in the Diário da República, 2nd series, n.º 27 February 2020.

6. Work location: The work will be developed at the C-MAST - Centre for Mechanical and Aerospace Sciences and Technology, Calcada Fonte do Lameiro, 6201-001 Covilhã, under the scientific supervision of Professor Doctor José Carlos Páscoa Marques, Full Professor, DEM|C-MAST, UBI.

7. Fellowship duration and conditions: The fellowship is opened for 31 months, starting on October 2025. The activity is in regime of exclusive dedication in accordance with the RBIUBI. 

8. Benefits: A monthly maintenance allowance will be granted in accordance with the Annex I of the RBIUBI, with the amount of 1 309,64 € according to the updated values that can be consulted at https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas. The fellowship holder will have a personal accident insurance and can choose to be covered by the voluntary social insurance. These values will be added to the amount of monthly maintenance allowance.

9. Eligibility criteria:

The selection methods to be used will be based on the following parameters and on a scale of 0 to 20: A - final degree average; B - Demonstration of proven knowledge in computational fluid dynamics simulation and proven experience in working with dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuators and combustion modelling; C - assessment of the Curriculum Vitae, with particular emphasis on the existence of scientific publications (published or under review) related with the position topics. The selection parameters will be assigned the following weighting: 0.3 × A + 0.4 × B + 0.3 × C; referred to as the "curriculum classification".

Interview with the 3 candidates with the best classification, which can be carried out by videoconference.

The final ranking of candidates will be made on a scale from 0 to 20 with the following weighting: 0.6 × “curricular classification” + 0.4 × “interview classification”.

The jury reserves the right not to award any of the Research Grants in competition depending on the result of the evaluation of the applications and their suitability to the research objectives of C-MAST.

9.1. Preferred elements for selection:

Demonstration of proven knowledge in computational fluid dynamics simulation and proven experience in working with dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuators and combustion modelling. Curriculum Vitae appropriate to the objectives of the work plan.

10. Selection Committee: Applications will be assessed by a panel as follows:

President: Professor Doctor Frederico Miguel Freire Rodrigues, Assistant Professor, DEM|C-MAST, UBI.

Members: 

Professor Doctor João Pedro Nunes Pereira, Assistant Researcher and Invited Assistant Professor, DEM|C-MAST, UBI,

Professor Doctor José Carlos Páscoa Marques, Full Professor, DEM|C-MAST, UBI.

Alternative member: Doctor Luís Carlos Carvalho Pires, Assistant Professor, DEM, UBI.

11. Documents for application: 

The candidates should present:

. Motivation letter;

. Detailed Curriculum Vitae;

. Certificate(s) of completion of the previous degree(s);

. Other documents considered relevant; 

. Registration of recognition of academic degrees awarded by foreign higher education institutions and record of the conversion of the respective final classification to the Portuguese classification scale, or, alternatively, declaration of honour of the candidate in how he obtained the recognition of the foreign degree equivalent to that of graduate or master until the end of the application deadline;

. Declaration of honor from the candidate stating that he/she meets the conditions for being award the scholarship according to Article 6 of the RBIUBI.

12. Deadline and receipt of applications: The call is open from 14th July until 23:59 on 25th July 2025. Applications should be addressed to Doctor Frederico Miguel Freire Rodrigues, president of the scientific committee, to the e-mail fmfr@ubi.pt.

13. Publication/notification of results: The final results of the evaluation process will be published in a sorted list, by the final classification obtained, and posted in a visible and public place of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Beira Interior. The candidate(s) will be notified of the decision by e-mail.

14. Complaint and Appeal Procedures: After communication of the provisional lists of the results in the different phases of the selection process (Admission and Exclusion, Curricular Evaluation and Interview), the candidates have 10 working days to pronounce their disagreement, under the terms of article 121 and the Código do Procedimento Administrativo. If any allegations are presented, the final decision will be issued after the analysis of the statements presented during the prior hearing of interested parties. After the statutory deadline of 10 working days, the proposal for the final classification and ranking of the candidates becomes definitive.

The proposal for the final ranking of the candidates will constitute a reserve list for selection for a period of 45 days.