Organisation/Company Centro de Estudos Sociais da Universidade de Coimbra Research Field Anthropology Political sciences Sociology Geography Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Country Portugal Application Deadline 3 Jun 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 20 May 2025 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Other EU programme Reference Number COMPETE2030-FEDER00931800 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description
The Centre for Social Studies (CES) – Associate Laboratory - University of Coimbra (Portugal), invites applications for (1) one Post-Doctoral Researcher position (CES/10/2025-PD-EJMAPPING) in the FCT project “ EJMAPPING: Counter-mapping environmental just conflicts in the European periphery: The case of Portugal ”, funded by national fundings, through Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), and FEDER, with the reference COMPETE2030-FEDER00931800, and coordinated by Gustavo García López.
CES provides a stimulating intellectual environment in the domain of social sciences and humanities. The project is a collective effort of the CES working group Ecology and Society Workshop (ECOSOC) and its themes are embedded in the research line RISE – Risks, Ecology, and Health, and the Observatory of Risks (OSIRIS).
a. Project Description
EJMAPPING: Counter-mapping environmental just conflicts in the European periphery: The case of Portugal
This project addresses theoretical and methodological gaps in Environmental justice (EJ) studies through qualitative-quantitative participatory-action research (PAR) of EJ conflicts in Portugal, analyzed through a decolonial/south framework. Our main objectives are to enrich the theory of EJ, develop a comprehensive analysis of the state of EJ conflicts in Portugal, and identify solutions to advance transitions towards equitable and ecologically-sustainable development. The overall objective of this project is to generate actionable knowledge that contributes to addressing environmental injustices, and to promote pathways for transformative, “just sustainability” (or “just transitions”), while simultaneously enriching the conceptual and methods applied to these conflicts.
Expected duration of the project execution: from May 1, 2025 to April 29, 2028.
b. Scientific Field
Social Sciences, with a focus in Political Ecology
c. Work plan
The selected candidate is expected to contribute to the administration of the project and the execution of its scientific tasks, as well as supporting any related activities. In particular, the selected candidate will be asked to:
* Support the implementation of the scientific tasks of the project, namely, literature review, document research, maintaining databases, carrying out fieldwork and collecting, organising transcribing, translating, reviewing and analysing qualitative and quantitative data in Portuguese and English, participating in scientific and dissemination events, and drafting and editing of reports and publications and other dissemination material;
* Support the Coordination with the administrative activities of the project, such as the organisation of events (including for ex. conferences, summer schools, workshops, seminars), management of the communication channels, website maintenance, and communication with collaborating stakeholders.
d. Applicable Legislation and Regulations
The successful candidate will be hired under Law no. 57/2016, August 29, altered by Law 57/2017, which approves a doctoral hiring regime with a view to boosting scientific and technological employment in all areas of knowledge (RJEC). The hiring will also be governed by the Labor Code approved by Law no. 7/2009 of February 12, as currently worded.
e. Workplace
The selected candidate is expected to move to Coimbra for the duration of the contract. Research will be performed at the Centre for Social Studies facilities in Coimbra, Portugal, as well as in fieldwork sites in Portugal. Selected researcher will occasionally need to travel to other locations to perform research tasks.
f. Duration of the Contract
The temporary contract (“termo incerto”) will be signed for the sole purpose of the execution of the project and will automatically end with the completion of the activities foreseen in the activity plan. Moreover, according to Article 112 of the Labour Code, paragraph 2 a), a trial period of 30 days is established.
The contract will be foreseeably starting in June, 2025.
From May 20 to June 3, 2025. After June 3 (23h59 Lisbon time), 2025, applications will not be considered for evaluation.
h. Application process
Applications must include:
a) Presentation/Motivation letter with the call reference (CES/10/2025-PD-EJMAPPING) of maximum 2 pages in English in which the candidate addresses at least four points:
* Motivation to be part of the EJMAPPING project within the ECOSOC working group and the associated research line;
* Demonstration of language oral and written proficiency in both English and Portuguese (with reference to the context where the candidate learned and perfected both languages or to whether they are native speakers);
* To what extent education and previous experience match the selecting criteria listed;
* How they allow to execute the work plan mentioned above;
b) Detailed Curriculum Vitae;
c) Copies of degree certificates. It is mandatory to be holder of a PhD degree by the date to start the contract (note: candidates must meet the eligibility conditions and conditions indicated in point “K. Mandatory requirements”);
d) One publication which better represents the writing skills of the applicant and their proximity with the EJMAPPING project, in Portuguese or English;
e) Other relevant documents for eligibility purposes.
Applications should be sent by email to concursos@ces.uc.pt until the final deadline. Applications must include a clear indication of the reference of this call (CES/10/2025-PD-EJMAPPING).
Where to apply
E-mail concursos@ces.uc.pt
Requirements
Research Field Sociology Education Level PhD or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
i. Preferred selection criteria and their weighing
Applicants must demonstrate expertise on the topic of the project, and in the research line listed above, by fulfilling the following criteria:
* Academic background and research carried out in Anthropology, Political Science, Geography, Sociology or related fields, with demonstrated research related to political ecology and environmental politics (publications, participation in research projects, membership in research groups or networks) (20%);
* Experience in the area of environmental policies, planning and management, ecosocial transitions,community-based environmental initiatives, and environmental and climate justice, and knowledge of Portugal’s current context in these areas (20%);
* Experience in qualitative data collection and analysis, including semi-structured interviews, Focus Group, participant observation, surveys, counter-mapping and participatory-action research (20%);
* Experience in research project administration, team work and communication, organisation and dissemination, event organisation and publication editorial work. Previous postdoctoral research experience constitutes additional merit (15%);
* Level of language proficiency in both English and Portuguese (15%);
* Work experience with academic software (e.g., MAXQDA / NVIVO, Endnote / Zotero / Mendeley, SPSS, R Phyton), project management systems, and collaborative softwares (10%).
The jury reserves the right not to select any candidate.
Languages PORTUGUESE Level Excellent
Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent
Research Field Sociology
Additional Information
j. Monthly Salary
The monthly salary is 2.351,53 Euros gross plus two additional months of salary (total of 14 months of salary a year). Full protection by Social Security is included in the contract. Researchers will be covered by Portugal’s national health insurance plan.
Salary is set in accordance with the provisions of Portugal´s scientific employment law, namely line a) number 1, of article 15, Law nº 57/2017, corresponding to level 33 of the single salary scale approved by Decree no. 1553-C/2008 of December 31.
Eligibility criteria
k. Mandatory requirements
a) Applicants must hold a PhD in the subject area indicated above;
b) Be proficient in Portuguese and English;
c) Demonstrate expertise on the topic of the project (see criteria A. to C. above).
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, but during the evaluation process the selection panel, cannot:
i. recognize the candidate’s grades and assess according to the possession of such grades;
ii. give equivalence to, or validate, the grade of her/his degree;
iii. use that note or its conversion as an evaluation parameter.
In case of selection, the 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 position to the next candidate for merit; (3) or not award the position.
Selection process
l. Selection Process
Applicants will be selected based on their scientific merit and curricular path. In case of equivalent curricular profiles, the best-positioned applicants will be short-listed for an interview, meant to assess each applicant’s potential contribution to the development of the project. The two stages of evaluation (the curricular merit assessment and the interview) will weigh 50% each in the final score. The scale applied to each criterion is 0 to 20.
The jury reserves the right to not select any applicants for the positions, if applications do not meet the necessary standards and/or profiles in terms of absolute merit.
m.Selection Panel
n. Communication of Results
The results of the selection process will be emailed to all candidates, and the meeting minutes of the selection panel will become publicly available.
Additional comments
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.
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