Research Grant — R&D activities to be carried out by PhD students BI/UTAD/46/2021 (1 position)

The University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD) opens a call for 1 Research Grant — R&D activities to be carried out by PhD students within the frame of the R&D project/institution OBTain - Objective Building Sustainability” - NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000084, BI/ UTAD/46/2021, financed by the FEDER, and Co-financed by the North Regional Operational Program – NORTE2020, following the notice NORTE-45-2020-75, under the following conditions:

Scientific area:

Physics

Admission requirements:

1st - Degree and Master in Physics, Physical Engineering, Materials Engineering or areas alike*;

2nd – The candidate must be enrolled in a 3rd cycle course, or accept to be enrolled, in accordance with the FCT Research Grants Regulation, Regulation nº 950/2019*;

3rd - Have a certificate of English level B2*;

* mandatory factor

Working plan:

The candidate will carry out R&D activities within the scope of the OBTain - Objective Building Sustainability” - NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000084 project, namely:

(1) Optimization of the RF sputtering deposition system;

(2) Optimization of experimental material characterization techniques, including dielectric measurement system, ferroelectric hysteresis;

(3) Synthesis of metalorganic precursors for MOCVD;

(4) Synthesis of ceramic targets for RF sputtering;

(5) Deposition of conductive layers on different substrates;

(6) Deposition of thin films by RF sputtering and by MOCVD on different substrates;

(7) Characterization of targets and thin films by XRD, SEM/EDS, optical properties, AFM/PFM, dielectric, ferroelectric or other techniques;

(8) To build a planar solar cell architecture, through thin film deposited by rf-sputtering (or MOCVD) onto different substrates;

(9) To study the effects of different bottom and top electrodes;

(10) To discriminate thickness dependence of PV effects;

(11) To incorporate the most promising solutions found into a functional heterostructure;

(12) Participation in the general maintenance of instrumentation, reactors and other equipment used;

(13) Participation in the project meetings, national and international congress, with presentation and discussion of results (in English);

(14) Preparation of periodic reports and the final report (in English).

Applicable legislation and regulations:

Law N.º 40/2004, of 18 August (Statute of Scientific Research Fellow), amended by DL 123/2019 of 28 August; FCT, IP Research Grant Regulation, approved by Regulation N.º 234/2012, published in the II Series of the Diário da República of June 25, 2012, amended and republished by Regulation No. 326/2013, published in the II Series of the Diário da Republic of July 27, 2013, amended by Regulation No. 339/2015, published in the II Series of the Diário da República of June 17, 2015 and Law No. 71/2018 (State Budget Law for 2019) and by Regulation No. 950/2019, published in the II Series of the Diário da República of December 16, 2019, and the Regulation of Research Grants of the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro - Dispatch RT.36/2011, of July 6, of Mr. Rector, published in Diário da República by Order No. 9157/2011 (II Series), of July 19 in its current wording.

Workplace:

The work will be developed at the Centro de Química-Vila Real, Laboratory of Nanomaterials - ECT polo II lab. F-1.4 of the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, under the scientific supervision of Professor Pedro Manuel De Melo Bandeira Tavares.

The work will be scientifically coordinated by José Ramiro Afonso Fernandes and Fábio Gabriel Nazário Figueiras.

Duration of scholarship(s):

The scholarship will last for 24 months, starting from October 2021.

Monthly maintenance allowance amount:

The scholarship amount corresponds to €1104.64, according to the table of scholarships awarded directly by the FCT, I.P. in the country (https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/valores ). The period of payment of the scholarship is monthly and through bank deposit, check or other equivalent method.

Selection Methods:

The selection methods to be used will be the following: 1st cycle grade (degree), 2nd cycle grade (master's), previous experience in topics related to the work plan, namely synthesis of ceramic oxides, thin film deposition, characterization of ceramic oxides by the techniques described in the work plan and Interview (only the three candidates with the best classification in the other criteria will be interviewed), with the respective valuation of 30%, 20%, 25% and 25%.

Composition of the Selection Jury:

Chair - Pedro Manuel de Melo Bandeira Tavares

Effective member - José Ramiro Afonso Fernandes

Effective member - Nuno Miguel Cordeiro Cristelo

Form of advertising/notification of results:

The final results of the evaluation will be publicized through an alphabetically ordered list posted on the UTAD Campus Online Page (http://www.campus.utad.pt/bolsasinvestigacao/candidaturas ), with the candidate being approved) notified via email.

If the decision to be taken is unfavorable to the granting of the requested scholarship, the candidates have a period of 10 working days, after the aforementioned disclosure, to express their opinion, if desired, in a prior hearing, under the terms provided for in the Code of Administrative Procedure.

Application deadline and form of submission of applications:

The tender is open from 14-09-2021 to 27-09-2021

Applications must be formalized, obligatorily, by sending an application form accompanied by the following documents: Curriculum Vitae [proving the above-mentioned requirements]; Indication of the following data: citizen card number, tax identification number – TIN, date of birth, mobile phone number and email address; motivation letter; declaration of honour (to be requested by email to [email protected] ) and documentary evidence of the requested requirements.

The application must be made through the UTAD Campus Online Page, in the Research Grants section, following the instructions:

• Access the UTAD Campus Online Page: www.campus.utad.pt and select the Research Grants option. Or go directly to www.campus.utad.pt/bolsasinvestigacao/lista .

• Select the scholarship you intend to apply for.

• When selecting the “Apply” option, you will be redirected to the application page where you must complete and submit the respective form.

Equality of opportunities:

The candidate has the right to equal opportunities and treatment, and may not be privileged, benefited, prejudiced, deprived of any right or exempt from any duty due, in particular, to ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family situation, economic situation, education, origin or social condition, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological convictions and union membership.