ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE AWARD OF A RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP 10/ECUM/CFUM/2024 – AuraProject Research Fellowship - 1 vacancy

5 Apr 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Universidade do Minho

Department

Escola de Ciências

Research Field

Other

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Portugal

Application Deadline

19 Apr 2024 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

35 hours

Offer Starting Date

5 Apr 2024

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

A call for applications is now open for the attribution of 1 one grant of Research Grant (BI) within the scope of the R&D project &D UM/8357- Auraproject-Visual function, retinal activity and choroidal changes with different myopia control ophthalmic lenses in young adults, financed by Zhuhai Fitlens Medical Technology Co, under the following conditions:

 

Scientific Area: Optometry and Vision Sciences

 

Recipient category: Research grant (BI) intended for R&D activities by students enrolled in the Master's Degree in Advanced Optometry requirement for granting the scholarship:

 

Requirement for granting the fellowship:

• Hold a bachelor's degree in the scientific area of Optometry and Vision Sciences and are attending the Master's Degree in Advanced Optometry, which is the minimum admission requirement;
• The applicants may apply without prior registration in the course for which the fellowship is open. The requirement to enroll in a degree course or non-academic degree course will be verified on the date of contracting the fellowship;
• Only fellowships whose selected applicants present a valid proof of enrollment in a degree course or non-academic degree course will be contracted, according to the type of the fellowship, issued by the academic services of the Higher Education Institution, indicating, respectively, the academic year or its duration (star and term).
• Enrollment in non-certified course (without curricular units) will not be considered as proof of enrollment

 

Candidates profile:

• Have experience in collecting data on vision parameters such as ocular biometry, corneal topography, refractive assessment and ocular health;
• Knowledge of methods for controlling the progression of myopia, contact lens fitting and follow-up;
• Experience in assessment using ocular electrophysiology techniques;
• Analysis of vision quality using objective, subjective and psychophysical methods;
• Good proficiency in English.

 

Applicants eligibility: Applicants must comply with the eligibility conditions laid down in article 9 of the Research Grants Regulation of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (2019).

 

Workplan and objectives to be achieved:

Currently, peripheral defocusing ophthalmic lenses are one of the main tools used by eye care professionals to control the progression of myopia. Although their optical characteristics have already been perfectly described and the effectiveness of their use is widely recognized, there is a gap in knowledge about the impact on vision functionality induced by these optical devices, as well as the changes in retinal electrical activity that may be associated with the control of myopia progression.

The aim of this research project is for the grant holder to work on the evaluation of ophthalmic lenses with different optical designs used to control the progression of myopia.  Specifically, the grant holder will work on: reviewing scientific literature in the area; measuring visual function parameters such as visual acuity, visual sensitivity to contrast and light distortion; measuring and analyzing ocular biometric parameters; and evaluating the electrical activity of the retina using visual electrophysiology techniques.  The ultimate goal will be to analyze and correlate changes in visual parameters as a function of lens design. The candidate will be expected to prepare reports and collaborate in scientific dissemination activities, including the eventual communication and/or publication of results.

 

Applicable legislation and regulations: Research Fellowship Holder Statutes, approved by Law no. 40/2004 of August 18, in its current version published by Decree-Law no. 123/2019 of august 28; Regulation of Scientific Research Fellowships of the University of Minho (RBIC), published in “Diário da República”, 2nd serie, no. 119, through dispatch no. 6524/2020 of 22-06-2020, ratified by ratification declaration no. 447/2021 of 22-06-2021 and Regulation of Research Studentships and Fellowships (RBI) of the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. - in force.

 

Host/Contracting institution and scientific supervision: The work plan will be developed at the Physics Center of the School of Sciences of the University of Minho, under the scientific supervision of Professor José Manuel González Méijome and Professor Paulo Rodrigues Botelho Fernandes.

 

Fellowship duration: The grant will take place for a period of 6 months, with a provisional starting date on the may of 2024. The fellowship grant may eventually be renewed according to the execution of the project and the applicable legislation.

 

Amount of the research grant: The value stipend (Monthly Maintenance Allowance) is 990,98 Euros  per month, in accordance with the stipends values published by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT I.P.) in the country (Annex I – Monthly Stipends Values for the maintenance allowances of the FCT Regulation for Research Studentships and Fellowships ) and Annex II of the Regulation of Scientific Research Fellowships of the University of Minho (RBIC), published in “Diário da República”, 2nd serie, no. 119, through dispatch no. 6524/2020 of 22-06-2020, ratified by ratification declaration no. 447/2021 of 22-06-2021, according to the applicable regulation.

 

Payment is made on the 23st of each month, through bank transfer to the Bank Identification Number of the fellow identified in the contractualization process.

 

Other components of the research grant: (define the other components of the research grants, in accordance with the no. 5 of the article 18º of the FCT Regulation for Research Studentships and Fellowships, no. 950/2019 of 16-12-2019 or article 21º of the Regulation of Research Fellowships of the University of Minho (RBIC), accordingly with the regulations applicable).

 

Other benefits: Reimbursement of Voluntary Social Security (Social Security contributions), corresponding to the 1st level of discounts (for research grants with a total duration 6 months or higher) and personal accident insurance.

 

Exclusivity regime: The grantee will perform the activities under exclusivity, as foreseen in article 5º of the Research Fellow Statutes and applicable regulations.

 

Selection panel:

 

President: Dr. Paulo Rodrigues Botelho Fernandes, Assistant Professor, Physics Department, School of Sciences, University of Minho

 

Effective members: Dr. José Manuel González Méijome, Full Professor, Department of Physics, School of Sciences, University of Minho and Dr. António Manuel Marques Queirós Pereira, Associate Professor with Aggregation, Department of Physics, School of Sciences, University of Minho

 

Substitute members: Dr. Jorge Manuel Martins Jorge, Associate Professor, Physics Department, University of Minho and Dr. Miguel António Faria Ribeiro, Assistant Professor, Physics Department, University of Minho

 

The first effective member will substitute the President of the selection panel in case of impediment, being nominate the first substitute member in the place of the first effective member.

 

Criteria and procedures for applications assessment and selection: The applications assessment will focus on the candidate's Merit, following evaluation criteria, valued on a scale of 1 to 5

 

A. Applicant Merit - AM - (70%):

A.1: Academic path (considering the classifications of academic degrees), with a weighting of 60%;

A.2: Personal curriculum (considering professional and scientific background), with a weighting of 30%;

A.3: Motivation letter and/or recommendation letter, with a weighting of 10%.

The merit classification (AM) of the applicant’s merit with the achieved through the following formula:

AM = (A1×0,6) + (A2×0,3) + (A3×0,1)

Candidates classified in the first 3 (three) positions, who obtain a minimum classification of 4 in the MC, will be admitted to the Interview phase, the Jury proceeding to the evaluation of the following sub-criteria

 

B. Interview – ENT (30%):

B.1: interpersonal skills (30%);

B.2: Demonstrated knowledge in the area (40%); B.3: Motivation (20%);

B.4: Linguistic competences (10%).

 

The Jury also decided to proceed with the evaluation of the Interview, according to the following levels:

• • High – 5 values;
• • Good – 4 values;
• • Sufficient – 3 values;
• • Reduced – 2 values;
• • Insufficient – 1 value.

The Interview classification (ENT) will be obtained by applying the following formula:

ENT=(B1×0,3) + (B2×0,4) + (B3×0,2) + (B4×0,1)

The final classification (CF) of Candidate Merit (MC) and Interview (ENT) will be obtained by applying the following formula:

CF=(AM×0,7) + (ENT×0,3)

 

The academic degrees and diplomas documents, or their respective recognition when awarded by foreign higher education institutions are not mandatory in the application phase, being replaced by a declaration of honor of the candidate with the contents of academic results. The documents of

academic qualification or respective recognition will be required in the contracting phase and must attest facts that occurred on a date prior to the application. In situations of divergence between the information contained in the declaration and the documentation submitted for contracting the grant, only the information contained in the latter will be consider. If the documents proving the ownership of the academic degree and diploma, or the respective recognition under the terms of Decree-Law No. 66/2018, of August 16, do not correspond to the classifications awarded in the evaluation of the academic path, which can change the candidate's ranking, the fellowship won’t be contracted.

 

Notes: Applicants with degrees obtained abroad must present proof of recognition of qualifications in Portugal and conversion of the final classification obtained in them to the Portuguese classification scale or declaration under the terms indicated in the previous point. Candidates who do not comply with one of these provisions, the selection panel will assign “0” in the grade of the graduation and/or master course. Candidates will be evaluated on the remaining parameters.

Disclosure of results: The provisional results of applications, based in the selection panel minutes, will be send to the applicants by email, in accordance with article 12 of the FCT's RBI (FCT funding) and article 13 of UMinho's RBIC (other funding subject to UMinho regulations).

If case of unfavourable results, the candidates have a period of 10 working days to comment, if desired, in a prior hearing to interested parties, pursuant to articles 121 and 122 of the Code of Administrative Procedure (DL no. 4 / 2015 of January 7th).

 

Complaint and appeal procedures: The final results of the evaluation will be published through an ordered list (alphabetically, by final grade obtained), posted in a visible and public place of the host unit, as well as by email to all applicants, enclosing for that purpose, the minutes of the jury deliberations.

 

The selected candidate must inform its willingness to accept the grant, in writing. In case of rejection, the fellowship will be awarded to the next candidate in the ordered list of applicants.

The final decision can be contested within 15 working days, by sending to the President of the jury the corresponding claim. Interested parties may also submit an optional hierarchical appeal, in the terms of the number 3 of article 13 of Regulation of Scientific Research Fellowships of the University of Minho (RBIC).

Constitution of a selection reserve list: The applicants ranked in the next positions on the ordered list will be included in a selection reserve list, which can be used until 31/03/2024.

Application deadline and submission: The tender is open for a period of 10 working days, counting from the date of publication of the advertisement on the Euraxess portal.

Applications must be formalized by sending an application letter with the following documents: curriculum vitae; qualifications certificate or declaration of the applicant; motivation letter; statement proving that meets the conditions for the grant typology, according to the application requirements; other documents important to the evaluation process.

 

Applications must be sent by email to [email protected], indicating the reference of the call for applications in Subject: 10/ECUM/CFUM/2024–AuraProject. Applications submitted by other means will not be accepted.

Fellowship contractualization: The fellowship will be attributed by signing a fellowship contract between the University of Minho and the fellow, accordingly with the contract minute (annex IV of the Regulation of Research Fellowships of the University of Minho (RBIC), published in Diário da República, 2nd Série, no. 119, through dispatch no. 6524/2020 of 22-06-2020, ratified by ratification declaration no. 447/2021 of 22-06-2021, as indicated in 2.4 of the FCT document: “Rules for Granting and Management of Grants within the scope of R&D projects, including infrastructure projects, the multi- annual financing program for R&D units and other FCT financing instruments (Version 2021) ”.

 

The contract may only be concluded after all the documentation required is collected, which must take place within a maximum period of 6 months [including evidences of the academic degrees or diplomas and enrolment in degree courses or non-conferring courses, depending on the type of scholarship].

 

Once all the documentation has been received, the contracting entity has a period of 60 working days to conclude the scholarship contract. Once received, the fellow must return the contract duly signed within 15 working days.

The activities under the fellowship contract can only began after proper authorization by the contracting entity.

 

Term and cancellation of fellowship contracts: Without prejudice to the other causes provided the fellowship regulations (FCT and UMinho) and in the Statute of the Research Fellow, the fellowship ends with the completion of the work plan, as well as with the expiration date for which it was granted or renewed.

 

At the end of the fellowship, the grantee is obliged to present a Final Report of the work carried out, in accordance with the objectives and evaluation criteria defined with the scientific advisor, within 30 days after the end of the scholarship.

The final report must be prepared in accordance with Annex I of the Scientific Research Fellowships Regulation of the University of Minho (RBIC), published in Diário da República, 2nd Série, no. 119, through dispatch no. 6524/2020 of 22-06-2020, ratified by ratification declaration no. 447/2021 of 22- 06-2021.

Requirements

Research Field

Other

Education Level

Undergraduate

Skills/Qualifications

Please you can find the information in the Offer Description section

Specific Requirements

Please you can find the information in the Offer Description section

Additional Information
Benefits

Please you can find the information in the Offer Description section.

Eligibility criteria

Please you can find the information in the Offer Description section.

Selection process

Please you can find the information in the Offer Description section.

Website for additional job details

https://www.ecum.uminho.pt/pt/Investigacao/Paginas/Emprego-Cientifico.aspx

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Universidade do Minho

Country

Portugal

State/Province

Campus de Gualtar

City

Braga

Postal Code

4710-057

Street

Braga

Geofield

Where to apply

E-mail

[email protected]

Contact

State/Province

Braga

City

Braga

Website

https://www.uminho.pt

Street

Campus de Gualtar

Postal Code

4710-057

E-Mail

[email protected]

STATUS: EXPIRED