Research Grant Refª BI|2026/950 - Projet SALVE

Reference Number: Refª BI|2026/950 - Projet SALVE – refª 2024.14936.PEX

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?: No

Offer Description

Public notice for one research grant Refª BI|2026/950

Projet SALVE – refª 2024.14936.PEX

funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

Application submission from 2 to 16 of September 2026

WHO WE ARE

INESC-ID (www.inesc-id.pt), “Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores: Investigação e Desenvolvimento em Lisboa” is a Research and Development and Innovation Organization (R&D+i) in the fields of Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering.

INESC-ID’s research impact is focused on four Thematic Lines

• Energy transition
• Life and health technology
• Security and privacy.
• Societal digital transformation.

INESC-ID promotes cooperation between academia and industry by addressing research on daily life issues, such as healthcare, space, mobility, human language technologies, agri-food, industry 4.0, and smart grids. This high level of knowledge transfer is achieved through both competitive research projects and direct contracted research. Therefore, public and private entities have access to a pool of knowledge, resources and services provided through the unique competencies available at the institution.

INESC ID has a strong international academic environment and inclusive work environment.

ONE (1) research grant for students with BSc degree with reference number BI|2026/950 under the scope of the Projet SALVE: Securing Artificial Language Models Against Vulnerability Encoding (2024.14936.PEX), funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, is available under the following conditions:

OBJECTIVES | FUNCTIONS

This task evaluates the impact of controlled code perturbations on the classification stability and robustness of Large Language Models (LLMs) in distinguishing secure from insecure JavaScript code. The student will design and implement a systematic evaluation pipeline to assess model behavior under perturbation-induced variations. The work plan includes:

1. Evaluation Pipeline Development (Month 1)

• Implement a scalable evaluation framework using local LLM infrastructure (e.g., Ollama, LMStudio).
• Integrate multiple LLMs for comparative evaluation.
• Automate classification experiments across original and perturbed datasets.

1. Classification Shift Analysis (Month 2)

• Measure classification changes between original and perturbed code variants.
• Identify perturbations that cause label flips (secure ↔ insecure).
• Quantify: Misclassification rate, Stability rate, False positive rate, False negative rate

1. Robustness Assessment (Month 3-4)

• Define robustness metrics for security classification consistency.
• Evaluate resilience to obfuscation, control-flow changes, and API variations.
• Compare robustness performance across different models.

1. Misclassification Characterization (Month 4-5)

• Construct an augmented misclassification dataset containing: original and perturbed variants, model predictions, correct labels, perturbation type
• Analyze patterns in failure cases.

1. Exploratory Explainability Analysis (Optional)

• Investigate whether explainability tools can help identify model reliance on superficial features.
• Analyze whether models rely on syntax-level heuristics versus security-relevant semantics.

All experimental artifacts, code, and results will be released in an open-source repository. The selected candidate will be integrated into a research team with established expertise in software security, program analysis, and AI-driven code intelligence, with a track record of collaboration with leading technology companies and publications in top-tier international conferences and journals.

BINDING LEGISLATION

Law 40/2004 of 18th of August (Scientific Research Fellow Status) in its current wording.

Regulations for Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology in force

INESC-ID Lisboa Grant Regulations in force

The fellowship contract is awarded on an exclusive dedication basis – art. 5 of Scientific Research Fellow Status and art. 16 of Regulations for Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology.

DURATION

FIVE (5) months, starting in October 2026, renewable subject to suitable performance within the period of the project, not exceeding the maximum period set by FCT for such grants.

RENEWALL

Renewable is subject to performance if the candidate is enrolled in a MSc program - art. 6º, n.4 b)

Regulations for Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology in force

subject to suitable performance within the period of the project, not exceeding the maximum period set by FCT for such grants – 2 years (included contract renewals)

Renewable is subject to performance if the candidate is enrolled in a Non-degree programme – art. 6º, n. 4 a)

Regulations for Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology in force

subject to suitable performance within the period of the project, not exceeding the maximum period set by FCT for such grants – 1 year (included contract renewals)

MONTHLY AMOUNT

The monthly amount of the grant is 1090.98€ according to the “Regulations for Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology” in force.

The payment will be made through a monthly bank transfer to a portuguese bank account, held by the grantee.

FCT Table of Monthly Maintenance Allowance Values 2026

SCIENTIFIC SUPERVISION

The activity will be supervised by:

• Rui Abreu, Full Professor at FEUP and Researcher at INESC ID.
• Sofia Reis, Invited Professor at FEUP.

WORKPLACE

• INESC ID - Headquarters Rua Alves Redol, 9, 1000-029 Lisboa
• INESC-ID - Taguspark Avenida Professor Cavaco Silva, Edifício IST 2744-016 Porto Salvo
• INESC-ID Energia IST - Departamento de Engenharia Electrotécnica e de Computadores, Área de Energia, Av. Rovisco Pais 1049-001 Lisboa

ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS

Any national, foreign and stateless candidate(s) holding a BSc degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, or Cybersecurity, or closely related fields, and with a suitable scientific and professional curriculum may apply.

The candidate(s) must be enrolled in a MSc program - art. 6º, n.4 b) or a Non-degree programme – art. 6º, n. 4 a).

FCT Regulations for Research Grants

The applicants are required to have proficiency in Portuguese and English, both written and spoken, as well as being enthusiastic, proactive, collaborative and able to work individually and as a team.

Preferential factors:

Preference will be given to candidates with suitable scientific and professional curriculum such as:

• Experience with Large Language Models (LLMs)
• Experience conducting empirical evaluations
• Knowledge of software security fundamentals
• Experience with Python-based experimentation frameworks
• Familiarity with evaluation metrics (precision, recall, F1, statistical testing)
• Experience using local LLM infrastructures (e.g., Ollama, LMStudio)

EVALUATION CRITERIA

The selection will be based on the following criteria:

1. Academic background and relevant professional experience – 40%

• Academic performance in relevant coursework (e.g., software engineering, cybersecurity, program analysis, machine learning).
• Relevant professional experience in software security, program analysis, or AI-driven code analysis.

1. Scientific track record and research experience – 20%

• Peer-reviewed publications (quality and relevance).
• Ongoing PhD research progress.
• Evidence of independent research contributions.

1. Technical expertise in software security and program analysis – 10%

• Vulnerability analysis or secure coding research.
• Static analysis or program transformation.
• Mining software repositories or working with code analysis tools.

1. Experience with source code transformation or AST-based tooling – 10%

• AST manipulation.
• Compilers or program transformation systems.
• Research or tooling infrastructure for code analysis.

1. Motivation letter and alignment with project objectives – 20%

• Understanding of the project’s goals.
• Demonstrated interest in advancing security-aware AI systems.
• Evidence of intellectual curiosity and readiness to contribute to a foundational research task.

The members of the evaluation panel assign a classification to each of the candidates on a scale of 0 to 100 points, ranking the candidates according to their classification consisting on the sum of the partial classifications assigned in each evaluation criterion, and considering the weighting factor given to each parameter. In this process abstentions are not allowed.

In the event of a tie among candidates with the same highest evaluation score, the Evaluation Panel reserves the right to conduct interviews to have a more objective assessment of specific criteria.

If an interview is conducted, the punctuation proposed by the evaluation panel is obtained by assigning a weighting factor of 80% to the CV, and a weighting factor of 20% to the interview.

Additionally, the evaluation panel retains the discretion to withhold the scholarship if the candidates fail to fulfil the stipulated requirements.

The evaluation panel may also decide not to assign the scholarship, if none of candidates meets the required conditions.

If the requirements mentioned above are not fulfilled, the evaluation panel may choose not to select a candidate.

Candidates with an average score below 70, are not recommended for hiring

Minutes of the evaluation panel meeting are drawn up with a summary of what has taken place in the meeting, as well as the votes emitted by the jury, being available to the candidates whenever requested.

EVALUATION PANEL

Jury

• President: Miguel Pupo Correia — Researcher / Full Professor — INESC-ID / Tecnico, ULisboa
• Member: Nuno Santos — Researcher / Associate Professor — INESC-ID / Tecnico, ULisboa
• Member: João F. Ferreira — Researcher / Associate Professor — INESC-ID / FEUP
• Substitute Member: José Fragoso Santos — Researcher / Assistant Professor — INESC-ID / Tecnico, ULisboa
• Substitute Member: Rui Abreu — Researcher / Full Professor — INESC-ID / FEUP

APPLICATION

The application and supporting documents must be submitted via email to bolsas@inesc-id.pt.

The application email should clearly state the reference of the grant on the subject.

Refª BI|2026/950 - Projet SALVE – refª 2024.14936.PEX

Applications without the reference of the grant will not be considered

The candidate should clearly state his / her consent so that the communications and notifications in the context of this call can take place to the electronic address bolsas@inesc-id.pt.

The application and supporting documents may be submitted in Portuguese or English, although the President of the evaluation panel when a member of the evaluation panel is a non-native Portuguese speaker, may request that, within a reasonable time, the candidate translates into English a document previously presented in Portuguese.

Candidates who submit their application incorrectly or who do not prove the requirements required in this public notice are excluded from admission. In case of doubt, the evaluation panel may demand any candidate to present documents proving those statements.

False statements by the candidates will be punished according to the law.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

The supporting documents listed below must be presented in pdf form.

Supporting documents presented in another format will not be considered by the evaluation panel.

1. Motivation letter
2. Addressed to the Evaluation Panel, including full name, and contact address, including email address and telephone.
3. Detailed curriculum vitae;
4. Single copy of official academic degree certificate required in the ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS
5. In the application submission, the candidates may replace the copy of official academic degree certificate by a declaration of honour, stating that they have the required academic degree.
6. It is mandatory for the approval of the fellowship contract that the selected candidate presents a single copy of the official academic degree certificate, required in education level.
7. Detailed list of grades
8. Proof of enrolment required in the ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS at grant starting date;
9. In the application submission, the candidates may replace the proof of enrolment by a declaration of honour, stating that they are/will be enrolled in the program required ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS.
10. It is mandatory for the approval of the fellowship, that the selected candidate present the official proof of enrolment required in the ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS.

In the application submission, the candidates from foreign education institutions may replace the copy of the official academic degree certificate by declaration of honour, stating that they have the required academic degree.

It is mandatory for the approval of the fellowship contract that the selected candidate presents a single copy of the official diploma recognition, required in education level.

For more information about diploma recognition: https://www.dges.gov.pt/en/pagina/degree-and-diploma-recognition

NOTIFICATION, PRIOR HEARING, COMPLAIN AND APPEAL DEADLINES

The admitted and excluded candidates will be notified by email of the final ranking list.

After being notified, all candidates have 10 working days to submit a formal rebuttal. After that period, the evaluation panel notifies the candidates of the final report.

Excluded candidates may complain about the evaluation panel final report for 15 working days after notification or appeal to the evaluation panel decision to the INESC ID Board of Directors for 30 working days, after notification.

Non-discrimination and equal access policy

INESC-ID actively promotes a policy of non-discrimination and equal access, so that no candidate can be privileged, benefited, disadvantaged or deprived of any right or exemption from any duty owing, in particular, to ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, economic situation, education, social origin or condition, genetic heritage, reduced working capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological beliefs and trade union membership.

Under the terms of D.L. No. 29/2001, of February 3, a disabled candidate has a preference when in equal classification, which prevails over any other legal preference. Candidates must declare on the application form their respective degree of disability, the type of disability and the means of communication / expression to be used in the selection process, under the terms of the aforementioned diploma.

Where to apply

E-mail: bolsas@inesc-id.pt

Requirements

Research Field: Engineering » Computer engineering

Education Level: Bachelor Degree or equivalent

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available: 1

Company/Institute: INESC ID

Country: Portugal

State/Province: Lisbon

City: Lisbon

Postal Code: 1000-029

Street: Rua Alves Redol, 9

Contact

State/Province: Lisboa

City: Lisboa

Website: http://www.inesc-id.pt

Street: Rua Alves Redol, 9

Postal Code: 1000-029

E-Mail: bolsas@inesc-id.pt