Summary
The Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (INEGI) is offering a Research Fellowship (Bolsa de Investigação – BI) for a PhD student within the scope of the project HOOPLA (“Desenvolvimento de Modelos à Mesoescala para Polímeros Reforçados com Fibras com Defeitos Microscópicos” / Development of Mesoscale Models for Fiber-Reinforced Polymers with Microscopic Defects). The project is financially supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, I.P.).
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Designation
Research Fellow / PhD Researcher (Bolsa de Investigação – BI)
Key Information Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Position Type | Research Fellowship (Bolsa de Investigação – BI) |
| Project Name | HOOPLA |
| Funding Entity | Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT, I.P.) |
| Host Institution | INEGI (Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering) |
| Supervisor | Dr. Igor Lopes |
| Duration | 12 months (potentially renewable) |
| Application Window | August 14, 2026 – August 31, 2026 |
| Location | Porto, Portugal |
Research Area
- Field: Mechanical Engineering / Materials Engineering
- Specialization: Composite Materials Mechanics, Micromechanical & Mesoscale Modeling, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), and Microstructural Defect Characterization.
Location
Porto, Portugal (INEGI Facilities)
Eligibility & Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
- Academic Degree: Master’s degree (Mestrado) in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field (enrolled or eligible for enrollment in a PhD program).
- Technical Skills:
- Demonstrated experience with the Finite Element Method (FEM) for structural analysis.
- Proficient programming skills in Python or other scientific programming languages.
- Solid knowledge of the mechanics of composite materials.
- Practical experience in the characterization and modeling of composite materials.
- Communication & Languages:
- Proficiency in written and spoken Portuguese and English.
- Strong technical and scientific writing skills for reporting and research publications.
- Ability to present findings clearly to team members and advisors.
- Soft Skills:
- Initiative, autonomy, organizational sense, critical thinking, problem-solving orientation, and strong interpersonal teamwork skills.
Scholarship Description
The selected researcher will contribute to developing advanced modeling methodologies for fiber-reinforced composites with embedded micro-defects. Key duties include:
- Identifying primary micro-defects present in fiber-reinforced composite materials and developing quantifiable descriptors for them.
- Assisting in the development of micromechanical models accounting for microscopic defects.
- Developing mesoscopic (ply-level) models that capture the downstream mechanical impact of microscale defects.
- Documenting research methodology, workflows, and outcomes in technical reports and scientific journal articles.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online through the official INEGI recruitment portal:
- Visit the official job portal link: INEGI Careers Application Page.
- Fill out the application form with personal and contact details.
- Attach and upload the required supporting documents:
- Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Degree / Certificate of Academic Qualifications (Certificado de Habilitações Literárias)
- Other relevant supporting project/scientific documents.
- Submit the online application before the stated deadline.
Last Date to Apply
August 31, 2026
