Research Scholarship: CISUC - UIDB/00326/2020 - Process 768467

CALL FOR RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP

PROCESS 768467

University of Coimbra opens a call for one research fellowship, in the framework of the research Center 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 (PIDDAC) via the State Budget,in the following conditions:

Scientific area: Programming.

Skills/Qualifications/Admission requirements: Bachelor’s Degree in Informatics Engineering or similar enrolled in a Master’s Degree in Informatics Engineering or similar.

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 thefellowship 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: Design and development of a chatbot to be integrated into a support platform for learning programming. The chatbot should interact with the student during the problem-solving process.

Work Plan:

- Literature review on chatbots to support the teaching and learning process of programming;

- Study of the architecture and software artifacts of the computer-mediated learning environment;

- Study on the technologies that will be used (e.g., Angular, Javascript, machine learning techniques, platforms for the development of chatbots, among others);

- Identification of chatbot requirements to be included in the learning environment;

- Definition of the prototype corresponding to the chatbot to be implemented;

- Intermediate report writing.

- Chatbot development;

- Platform integration;

- Chatbot evaluation and validation with real users;

- Writing of scientific article(s) about the project;

- Writing the Master Thesis.

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: 9 months.

Renewal: Eventually renewable.

Scientific orientation: Professors António José Nunes Mendes e Hugo Ricardo Gonçalo Oliveira.

Financial conditions: The amount of the fellowship is € 835,98 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: CV Evaluation (60%) and Interview (40%).

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

A. Bachelor's Degree Average (30%);

B. Academic performance in undergraduate course units relevant to the work plan, namely in the areas of programming and artificial intelligence (30%);

The interview will focus on:

C. Interest in research in programming learning support (25%);

D. Motivation (15%).

Jury responsible for selection: Professors António José Nunes Mendes, Hugo Ricardo Gonçalo Oliveira e Anabela Jesus Gomes.

In the absence or impediment of any member of the Jury, will be replaced by Professor Maria José Patrício Marcelino.

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

1. Detailed curriculum vitae including academic titles;

2. Bachelor's Certificate with a list of grades obtained;

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

4. 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-CMS-768467.

Submission of applications: Between 27/10/2021 and 10/11/2021.

Submission deadline date: 10/11/2021.

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.