Assistant Researcher (PhD) position part-time

Offer Description

The Centre for Social Studies (CES) – Associate Laboratory - University of Coimbra (Portugal), opens a call for applications for 1 (one) Assistant Researcher (PhD) position part-time (CES/23/2026-ECOGRIEF) in the project EcoGrief: EcoGraphies of Grief: Assessing Climate Intangible Loss and Distress in Rural Portugal, co-funded by the Portugal 2030 and by the European Union through The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) - European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) (operation n.º 15187, operation code: COMPETE2030-FEDER-00885100), and coordinated by Irina Velicu. The Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) ensures the monitoring of the execution of the operation.

CES provides a stimulating intellectual environment in the domain of social sciences and humanities. The project is part of the research Thematic Line Risk(s), Ecologies, Health, which aims to promote an integrated approach to risks and threats and their impacts on the ecosystem and human and non-human well-being, proposing sustainable, ecological and equity-based alternatives for production and consumption, and social well-being, and relying on collaborative and participatory methodologies.

a. Project Description:

EcoGrief - EcoGraphies of Grief: Assessing Climate Intangible Loss and Distress in Rural Portugal

ECOGrief integrates political ecology and climate studies by building a new interdisciplinary index to measure Environmentally-induced Distress and Eco-grief based on evidence of culturally meaningful idioms of Intangible Loss & Damage in rural Central Portugal thus contributing to a better understanding of Public Mental Health & Socio-Environmental Justice in the context of climate change and the green transition.

Expected duration of project execution: 36 months, September 2025 – August 2028.

b. Scientific field:

Sociology

c. Work plan, tasks:

The selected researcher is expected to have the following responsibilities:

1. Support in Data Collection and Analysis related to environmental/ climate change and distress in rural Portugal (secondary/primary; academic/non-academic).
2. Critical discourse analysis on the EU climate rural policies.
3. Management support for project coordination: organisation of/participation in project meetings and other dissemination events.
4. Collaborate in the development, writing and publication of project results, including reports, policy briefs, podcasts, blogs, scientific articles.

d. Applicable Legislation and Regulations:

The selected applicant will sign a labour contract (temporary, “termo certo”), according to the Labor Code approved by Law no. 7/2009 of February 12, as currently worded.

e. Work place:

The tasks will be performed at the Centre for Social Studies facilities or in other locations when necessary for the good implementation of the work plan, under the scientific supervision of the Project’s Principal Investigator, Irina Velicu.

f. Duration of the contract:

The contract will be signed with a duration of 12 months for the sole purpose of the execution of the project, and it's expected to start in November 2026.

The labour contract is part-time, 50% dedication. Depending on the evaluation of the work developed by the selected Researcher, on the scientific needs and on EcoGrief budget conditions, the labour contract may be renewed once.

g. Application dates:

Opens on: September 3, 2026

Closes on: September 30, 2026 (23h59m, Lisbon time zone)

After September 30, 2026, applications will not be considered for evaluation.

h. Application process:

Applications must include:

1. A letter of intent/motivation in English with the contest reference (CES/23/2026-ECOGRIEF), email and phone number;
2. Detailed Curriculum Vitae;
3. Copies of degree certificates (note: candidates must meet the eligibility conditions and conditions indicated in point k.)
4. Copy of 2 published work (preferably academic articles in English);
5. Other relevant documents for eligibility purposes.

Applications should be sent by email to concursos@ces.uc.pt until the final deadline, and will be valid only after a reading receipt is sent. Applications must include a clear indication of the reference of this call (CES/23/2026-ECOGRIEF).

Where to apply

E-mail: concursos@ces.uc.pt

Requirements

• Research Field: Sociology
• Education Level: PhD or equivalent

Specific Requirements

i. Preferred selection criteria and their weighing:

a) A PhD degree in a relevant academic field and topic (25%);

b) Experience with qualitative/quantitative social science and research (25%);

c) Proven research interest in the topic of the project, for instance participation in international research projects (20%);

d) High proficiency in written/spoken/oral English (15%);

e) Proven academic and non-academic writing skills (15%);

The jury reserves the right not to select any candidate.

• Languages: PORTUGUESE
• Level: Excellent
• Languages: ENGLISH
• Level: Excellent
• Research Field: Sociology, Political sciences

Additional Information

Benefits

j. Monthly salary and applicable legislation

The monthly salary for the Part-time, corresponding to 17,5 hours a week, will be 1.204,06 Euros gross (plus months 13 and 14), meal allowance, and all social security charges, in accordance with the Portuguese Labour Code.

Eligibility criteria

k. Mandatory requirements

1. Hold a PhD degree with a relevant curriculum in the scientific area of Sociology.
2. Applicants with an academic degree and diploma issued by a foreign Higher Education Institution must present proof of recognition of the academic degree by the Portuguese Higher Education System, (law DL66/2018). Any candidate without the recognition of the degree(s) will be admitted to the competition, however, during the evaluation process the selection panel, cannot:
3. recognize the candidate's grades and assess according to the possession of such grades;
4. give equivalence to, or validate, the grade of her/his degree;
5. use that note or its conversion as an evaluation parameter.
6. In case of selection, the fellowship contract can only be signed after the recognition of the academic degree by the Portuguese authorities, under the terms of the Law-decree n66/2018, August 16. The selected candidate must deliver the recognition of the degree within 30 days after the communication of the results. After the 30 days, the jury may decide to 1. either extend the deadline for the candidate to prove the recognition; 2. assign the fellowship to the second place; 3. or not award the fellowship.
7. Be fluent in English.

Applications that do not meet all the application requirements outlined in this section will not be accepted.

Selection process

l. Selection process

Applicants will be selected based on their curricular evaluation. In case of equivalent curricular evaluations, the best-positioned applicants will be short-listed for an interview, meant to assess the applicant’s potential in integrating the project's scientific dynamic and his/her motivation in pursuing studies related to the project’s thematic areas. Each of the two methods of selection applied will have a rating of 50% in the final classification.

m. Selection panel:

• Irina Velicu (President)
• Marcus Erridge (permanent member)
• António Carvalho (permanent member)
• Cristiano Gianola (permanent member)
• Neide Areia (substitute member)
• Joana Sousa (substitute member)
• Marisa Gonçalves (substitute member)

n. Communication of Results

All candidates will receive the results by email. The meeting minutes of the selection panel will become available publicly. After the communication of results, applicants have 10 working days to present a redress to the evaluation and the result by email.

Additional comments

o. Additional comments

Equality of opportunities:

CES abides by the national law that regulates the prevention, prohibition and fighting against discrimination on the grounds of racial and ethnic identity, colour, nationality, family background, territory of origin, and disability (Law nº 93/2017, 23 August; Law nº 4/2019, 10 January).

Data protection:

By submitting your application, you are agreeing with the use of your personal data by CES administrative services for the sole purpose of the current call, namely to be contacted directly by CES services and allow the communication of results as in point n. of this call. CES abides by the principles of GPDR.

Contact:

Centro de Estudos Sociais

Colégio S. Jerónimo, Apartado 3087

3000-995 Coimbra, Portugal

concursos@ces.uc.pt

Website for additional job details: https://ces.uc.pt/en/agenda-noticias/emprego-bolsas-estagios

Work Location(s)

• Number of offers available: 1
• Company/Institute: Centre for Social Studies (CES)
• Country: Portugal

Contact

• City: Coimbra
• Website: http://www.ces.uc.pt
• Street: Colégio S. Jerónimo, Apartado 3087, 3001-401 Coimbra
• E-Mail: concursos@ces.uc.pt