Research Fellowship: CISUC - UIDB/00326/2020 - Process 745408

CALL FOR RESEARCH INITIATION FELLOWSHIP

Process 745408

University of Coimbra opens a call for one research initiation fellowship, in the framework of the research Centre for Informatics and Systems of the University of Coimbra (CISUC) (reference: UIDB/00326/2020), financed by Foundation for Science and Technology, IP with national funds via the State Budget, in the following conditions:

Scientific area: Informatics Engineering or Engineering and Data Sciences.

Skills/Qualifications/Admission requirements: Students enrolled in a Master Course in Informatics Engineering or a Master Course in Engineering and Data Sciences.

Research Initiation Fellowships cannot be awarded to those who have already benefited from research fellowships directly or indirectly financed by the FCT (regardless of the type).

Furthermore, this (these) fellowship(s) can only be awarded to those who do not exceed, with the conclusion of the contract in question, including possible renewals, an accumulated period of one year in this type of fellowship, consecutive or interpolated.

Although the recipients must be enrolled in a cycle of studies leading to the attribution of an academic degree, at the time of application it is not necessary for the candidate to have made such an enrollment, and proof of enrollment must be presented until the fellowship is contractualized. Candidates are only required to meet the requirements to enroll in the training offer. If there are candidates already enrolled (including attending a course), they compete on an equal footing with those who are not enrolled.

Work plan/ Objectives: This task aims to develop an intelligent & innovative tool that can be of great help to the learning and training communities in the following aspects:

a) The tool measures the learner’s physiological signals through non-intrusive biofeedback sensors (e.g, ECG, EDA…etc.) while reading/comprehending digital content on screen.

b) The tool analyzes the learner’s biosignals to associate special patterns of the high mental and cognitive load with the content comprehension difficulties.

c) The tool uses Eye-Tracking to localize the content regions that are considered difficult to comprehend.

d) The tool uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to classify content regions based on comprehension difficulties.

e) The “difficult” classified content is further analyzed using AI Natural Language Processing Techniques to provide support to the learner through explaining the complex meaning, providing contextual supportive content from the web, or other means of support.

The outcome of this tool would be useful for the tutors by providing them with an intelligent report explaining the learners’ behavior in grasping and comprehending a wide spectrum of digital content. Simply this tool could be a mind reader.

Regime: The attribution of the fellowship does not generate or entitle a relation of a legal-labour nature, and the fellowship is undertaken in an exclusive dedication regime. The fellowship holder is awarded the Fellowship Statute of the UC, in its current wording, according to the Research Fellowship Holder Statute , and according to the Regulation for Research Fellowships of the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., both in their current wording.

Location: Department of Informatics Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology at the University of Coimbra.

Duration: 6 months.

Renewal: Eventually renewable.

Scientific orientation: Professors Henrique Santos do Carmo Madeira and Haytham Wail Hijazi.

Financial conditions: The amount of the fellowship is € 446,12 corresponding to the monthly compensation stipulated in the FCT table (https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/valores.phtml.en ), plus social security (Seguro Social Voluntário, first level contributions) and personal accidents insurance. The payment will be made by bank transfer. This amount will not be increased during the entire period of the fellowship duration.

Selection methods: Curricular Evaluation (70%) and Interview (30%).

Selection criteria: The evaluation of the CV will focus on:

A. Bachelor's Degree Average and Average of Master courses completed (taking into account the number of courses completed) (60%);

B. Level of English Proficiency (10%).

The interview will focus on:

C. Interest in acquiring knowledge and research in programming areas (20%);

D. Motivation (10%).

Jury responsible for selection: Professors Henrique Santos do Carmo Madeira, Naghmeh Ramezani Ivaki and Paulo Fernando Pereira de Carvalho.

Formalization of application: Applications must be performed by sending the following mandatory elements:

1. Detailed curriculum vitae including academic titles;

2. Motivation Letter;

3. Copy of the Bachelor's Certificate with a list of grades obtained and List of Master's Degree grades obtained;

4. Proof of enrollment in a Master's Degree (optional, must be presented until the fellowship is contractualized);

5. Declaration mentioned below.

Declaration on the honor of the candidate(s) with the indication of the fellowship(s) of the typology to which the contest was held and the respective duration(s).

Applicants with academic degrees obtained abroad will be required to present a Certificate of Recognition in accordance with applicable law. This document is mandatory only in the contractualization phase.

Applications submission: Applications must be sent to the following e-mail addresses: [email protected] and [email protected] , clearly indicating the application reference "CISUC-SSE-745408.

Submission of applications: Between 30/07/2021 and 13/08/2021.

Submission deadline date: 13/08/2021.

Additional information: The evaluation results will be announced within 90 working days after the end of the applications submission deadline, by notifying the applicants via email. After the announcement of the results, candidates are considered automatically notified to, if they wish to do so, comment on the results on a preliminary hearing period within 10 days after that date. After this, the selected candidates will have to declare in writing their acceptance. Unless a justification worthy of consideration is presented, if the declaration is not submitted within the referred period, it is considered that the candidate waivers the fellowship. In case of resignation or withdrawal of the selected candidate, the next candidate with the highest evaluation score will be notified immediately.

Once the selection process is completed, the fellowship contract will be drawn up in accordance with the draft contract provided by the FCT.

After the contracted period, the fellowship holder and supervisor must prepare the final report in accordance with the respective assessment criteria that were established.

Selection reserve list: N.A.