Research Grant under the ECOcrete3D project

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

Offer Description

Applications are invited for one (1) Research Grant under the ECOcrete3D project — Development of new concrete formulations incorporating municipal solid waste incineration residues for the construction of housing and other structures by 3D printing (BI/UTAD/62/2026). The project is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through Research and Development Incentives under the Innovation and Digital Transition Programme (COMPETE 2030), subject to the following conditions:

Reference: BI/UTAD/62/2026

Scientific area: Engineering

Researcher profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)

Admission requirements:

1. Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering or Materials Engineering*;
2. Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering or Materials Engineering*;
3. Enrolment in a doctoral programme*;
4. Research experience in materials engineering, with preference given to candidates with experience in alkali-activated cements (geopolymers);
5. Publication of scientific articles on alkali-activated cements in journals indexed in the Web of Knowledge database;
6. Good command of written and spoken English*;

* mandatory requirement (failure to meet this requirement results in exclusion)

Work plan:

• 1.1 Update of the state of the art and identification of regulatory limitations affecting new binders for use in mortars and concretes.
• 1.3 Selection and characterisation of the remaining raw materials for 3D-printable mortars and concretes.
• 1.4 Quantification of the reactivity of municipal solid waste incineration slags as precursors for alkaline activation reactions and as pozzolanic materials.
• 1.5 Optimisation of reactivity through mechanical and physical processing of municipal solid waste incineration slags.
• 1.6 Development of [incomplete in the Portuguese original];
• 2.3 Development and optimisation of two mortars for 3D printing (one incorporating an alkali-activated binder and the other with a low Portland cement content).
• 2.4 Development and optimisation of two concretes for 3D printing (one incorporating an alkali-activated binder and the other with a low Portland cement content);
• 3.2 Characterisation of the fresh-state properties of the four mixtures in relation to the requirements for 3D printing.
• 3.5 Assessment of the robustness of the mechanical and fresh-state properties of the mixtures with respect to variations in their constituents;
• 6.3 Sustainability assessment and life-cycle assessment of full-scale demonstrators.
• 6.4 Validation of the new products and 3D-printing construction technology: advantages, limitations and regulatory framework for the new products;
• 7.1 Co-authorship of scientific articles.
• 7.2 Participation in scientific conferences.
• 7.5 Organisation of technical workshops.
• 7.6 Organisation of a seminar to disseminate results;

Applicable legislation and regulations:

Law No. 40/2004 of 18 August (Statute of Scientific Research Fellows); the FCT, I.P. Research Grant Regulations approved by Regulation No. 234/2012, published in Series II of the Diário da República on 25 June 2012, amended and republished by Regulation No. 326/2013, published in Series II of the Diário da República on 27 July 2013, amended by Regulation No. 339/2015, published in Series II of the Diário da República on 17 June 2015, and Law No. 71/2018 (State Budget Law for 2019); and the Research Grant Regulations of the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Rector’s Order RT.36/2011 of 6 July, published in the Diário da República by Order No. 9157/2011 (Series II) of 19 July.

Workplace:

The work will be carried out at the Department of Engineering and CQ-VR of the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro.

Duration of the grant:

The grant will have a duration of 6 months, with an expected start date of december. The grant agreement may be renewed under the terms of the FCT Research Grant Regulations (No. 950/2019).

Note:

If the grant is awarded to a student enrolled in a non-degree course, the grant agreement may not exceed a total duration of 12 months.

Monthly maintenance allowance:

The monthly grant allowance is €1,359.64, according to the table of grants directly awarded by FCT, I.P. in Portugal (https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/valores). Payment is made monthly by bank transfer, cheque or another equivalent method.

Selection methods:

The selection methods are curriculum assessment, experience and publications, and interview, weighted at 40%, 30% and 30%, respectively.

Composition of the Selection Panel:

• Chair – NUNO MIGUEL CORDEIRO CRISTELO
• Member – LUÍS MANUEL DE OLIVEIRA SOUSA
• Member – JOSÉ RAMIRO AFONSO FERNANDES

Publication/notification of results:

The final evaluation results will be published as an alphabetically ordered list on the UTAD Campus Online website (http://www.campus.utad.pt/bolsasinvestigacao/candidaturas), and the successful candidate will be notified by email.

Based on the final ranking, a reserve list will be established. It will remain valid for the maximum duration of the project funding this grant or for the maximum grant duration provided for in Article 3(2) of the Statute of Research Fellows, Law No. 40/2004 of 18 August, as amended by Decree-Law No. 123/2019 of 28 August, whichever occurs first. The reserve list may be used to recruit additional grant holders under this project or if the first-ranked candidate withdraws. If no candidate demonstrates the profile required to carry out the work plan, the Selection Panel reserves the right not to award the grant. Candidates receiving an unfavourable decision have 10 working days after publication of the results to submit their observations under the prior hearing procedure provided for in the Code of Administrative Procedure.

Application period and submission procedure:

Applications are open from 20-10-2026 to 02-11-2026.

Applications must be submitted using the application form, accompanied by the following documents: copies of academic qualification certificates; a detailed curriculum vitae [demonstrating compliance with the requirements listed above]; and the following personal information: citizen card number, tax identification number (NIF), date of birth, mobile telephone number and email address; and a completed declaration on honour (available on the application website).

Applications must be submitted through the Research Grants section of the UTAD Campus Online website, following these instructions:

• Go to the UTAD Campus Online website at www.campus.utad.pt and select “Research Grants”, or go directly to www.campus.utad.pt/bolsasinvestigacao/lista.
• Select the grant for which you wish to apply.
• Select “Apply” to open the application page, where you must complete and submit the application form.

All applicants are entitled to equal opportunities and equal treatment and may not be favoured, benefited, disadvantaged, deprived of any right or exempted from any duty on grounds including ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family circumstances, economic circumstances, education, origin or social status, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological beliefs, or trade union membership.

Where to apply

Website: http://www.utad.pt

Requirements

• Research Field: Engineering » Other
• Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent

Additional Information

Work Location(s)

• Number of offers available: 1
• Company/Institute: University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro
• Country: Portugal
• State/Province: Portugal
• City: Vila Real
• Postal Code: 501-801
• Street: Quinta de Prados

Contact

• State/Province: Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro
• City: Vila Real
• Website: http://www.utad.pt
• Street: Quinta de Prados
• Postal Code: 5000-801
• E-Mail: bolsasInvestigacao@utad.pt