Research Grant (BI) - Formal Verification for High-Level Synthesis

Offer Description

Portuguese version: https://www.inesctec.pt/editais/pt/AE2026-0331.pdf

CALL FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS (AE2026-0331)

INESC TEC is now accepting grant applications to award 1 Research Grant (BI) within the scope of the Multiannual Funding of R&D Units 2025-2029, with the reference UID/50014/2025, Funded by national funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), I.P.

1. GRANT DESCRIPTION

• Type of grant: Research Grant (BI)
• General scientific area: COMPUTER SCIENCE
• Scientific subarea: Informatics
• Grant duration: 6 months, starting on 2026-12-01 with the possibility of being renewed for a maximum term of one year, in cases where the grant has been awarded to students who are enrolled in non-award courses, or up to two years, in the cases of students enrolled in a master's degree.
• Scientific advisor: Nuno Moreira Macedo
• Workplace: INESC TEC, Braga, Portugal

Maintenance stipend: 1090.98, according to the table of monthly maintenance stipend for FCT grants (https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM_atualizacao-2024.pdf), paid via bank transfer. Grant holders may be awarded potential supplements, according to a quarterly evaluation process (Articles 19, 21 and 22 of the Regulations for Grants of INESC TEC and Annex II), up to a maximum limit of 50 of the monthly maintenance stipend.

INESC TEC supports costs with registration, enrolment or tuition fees, during the grant duration, under the terms established in the internal document: "Payment of Tuition fees to grant holders" (https://www.inesctec.pt/pagamento-propinas-bolseirosEN)

The grant holder will benefit from health insurance, supported by INESC TEC.

2. OBJECTIVES:

• To broaden knowledge of the state of the art in the specific scientific area of the grant, namely verification in high-level synthesis in hardware design;
• To identify and select appropriate methods for surveying and analysing the state of the art in the target domain;
• To develop research skills through the application of selected methods;
• To exercise critical thinking in evaluating the research process and the results obtained.

3. BRIEF PRESENTATION OF THE WORK PROGRAMME AND TRAINING:

The main objective of this research project is to investigate formal verification techniques for validating high-level synthesis (HLS) approaches for hardware design, that translate C/C++ descriptions into hardware description languages (HDLs). In particular, it will include:

• Study existing HLS techniques and tools for C/C++ to HDL translation.
• Review state-of-the-art formal verification techniques and tools for HLS-generated designs.
• Propose and design an automated approach for the formal verification of HDL designs generated through HLS.
• Prepare the final scholarship activity report.

4. REQUIRED PROFILE:

Admission requirements:

• BSc degree in computer science or a related area.

The awarding of the fellowship is dependent on the applicants' enrolment in study cycle or non-award courses of Higher Education Institutions.

Preference factors:

• knowledge in language processing and formal semantics

Minimum requirements:

• average BSc and MSc grades of at least 15
• experience with model checking tools
• experience with deductive verification tools

5. EVALUATION OF APPLICATIONS AND SELECTION PROCESS:

Selection criteria and corresponding valuation: the first phase comprises the Academic Evaluation (AC), based on the criteria referred to in Article 12 of the Regulations for Grants of INESC TEC, while the second phase comprehends the Individual Interview (EI).

All factors are evaluated on a scale of 0 to 100, taking into account the applicants' merit, suitability and conformity with the preference factors.

The weight of the AC factors are as follows: Academic Qualifications (FA, 60), Scientific Publications (PC, 10), Experience (EX, 15) and Motivation Letter (CM, 15).

Candidates who score less than 50 points in the AC average will be considered excluded on absolute merit. The top five candidates approved on absolute merit will be qualified for the individual interview. The Final Grade (CF) is obtained by the weighted average of AC (80) and EI (20).

DISABILITY INCENTIVE

Candidates who present a degree of disability equal to or greater than 90% will benefit from an incentive (20) in the score of the CV Assessment.

Candidates who present a degree of disability equal to or greater than 60% and less than 90% will also benefit from an incentive (10) in the score of the CV Assessment.

Said score may, in these cases, exceed 100 points.

Candidates must demonstrate the degree of disability during the application, namely through the submission of the Multi-Purpose Medical Certificate of Disability, issued in accordance with Decree-Law no. 202/96, of October 23 - currently in effect.

The Selection Jury is composed of the following members:

• President of the Jury: Nuno Moreira Macedo
• Full member: João Bispo
• Full member: Tiago Filipe Oliveira
• Substitute member: Hugo Pereira Pacheco

Release of results and prior hearing: the results of the selection process, as well as the terms and procedures for prior hearing, will be released to the applicants by email, under the terms referred to in Article 13 of the Regulations for Studentships and Fellowships of INESC TEC.

6. FORMALISATION OF APPLICATIONS:

Application Documents:

1. Motivation letter;
2. Curriculum Vitae (must include the list of previous fellowships, their type, beginning and end dates, funding entities and host institutions);
3. Certificate or diploma degree;
4. Proof of enrollment in a degree awarding study cycle or in a non degree awarding Higher Education program.

• The proof of enrollment may be presented just during the grant hiring stage.
• Signed declaration stating the infringement of the grant holder's duties (article 14, no. 4)
• Documental evidence to support the country of residence, residence permit or other legally equivalent document, in cases where the applicant is a foreigner or non-resident in Portugal - valid until the beginning of the grant.
• Other supporting documents relevant to the final assessment.

Failure to deliver the required documents within the 90-day period after the date of the notice of the conditional awarding of the grant implies its cancellation.

Application period: From 2026-10-29 to 2026-11-12

Submission of applications: the application will be formalised by submitting the form available in the Work With Us section of INESC TEC website.

7. BINDING LEGISLATION AND REGULATION

The hiring process shall comply with the current legislation regarding the Research Grant Holder Statute, approved by Law no. 40/2004 of August 18, in its current wording, as well as by the Regulations for Grants of INESC TEC and for FCT Grants Regulation in force.

For more information, please check the Regulations for Grants of INESC TEC and relevant annexes at www.inesctec.pt/bolsas

Where to apply

Website: https://www.inesctec.pt/en/opportunity/AE2026-0331

Requirements

• Research Field: Computer science
• Education Level: Bachelor Degree or equivalent
• Years of Research Experience: None

Specific Requirements

Academic qualifications: - BSc degree in computer science or a related area.

Minimum profile: - average BSc and MSc grades of at least 15, - experience with model checking tools, - experience with deductive verification tools.

Preference factors: - knowledge in language processing and formal semantics.

Research Field: Computer science » Informatics

Additional Information

Benefits

Maintenance stipend: 1090.98 euros, according to the table of monthly maintenance stipend for FCT grants (https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM_atualizacao-2024.pdf), paid via bank transfer. Grant holders may be awarded potential supplements, according to a quarterly evaluation process (Articles 19, 21 and 22 of the Regulations for Grants of INESC TEC and Annex II), up to a maximum limit of 50% of the monthly maintenance stipend.

Costs attributable to INESC TEC may include registration, enrolment or tuition fee stipend, either directly or through reimbursement, during the grant duration.

The grant holder will benefit from health insurance, supported by INESC TEC.

Website for additional job details: https://www.inesctec.pt/en/opportunity/AE2026-0331

Work Location(s)

• Number of offers available: 1
• Company/Institute: INESC TEC
• Country: Portugal
• City: Porto
• Postal Code: 4200-465
• Street: Campus da Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias

Contact

• City: Porto
• Website: http://www.inesctec.pt
• Street: Campus da FEUP - Rua Dr. Roberto Frias
• Postal Code: 4200-465 Porto