Call Reference: ASTROPOWER_BI_LIC_2026_01

A call is now open for the award of one (1) Research Grant (BI) for holders of a Bachelor's degree enrolled in a Master's programme, within the scope of the project Acoustic Biofeedback of Myotatic Tension for ASTROnauts POWERpenia Prevention (ASTROPOWER), funded by the European Space Agency, to be carried out at the NOVA School of Science and Technology | NOVA University Lisbon (NOVA FCT), under the conditions set out below.

1. Scientific Area

Biomedical Engineering

2. Mandatory Admission Requirements

The following may apply:

• Holders of a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering, or a related field, awarded no more than two years before the start date of the grant*;
• Candidates enrolled in a Master's programme in Biomedical Engineering, including candidates enrolled in the final year of the respective study cycle, in accordance with the Research Grant Regulations of Universidade NOVA de Lisboa*;
• Proficiency in Portuguese and/or English.

* Documentary evidence of compliance with the specified requirement must be submitted no later than the grant contracting stage and may, at the application stage, be replaced by a declaration on honour (attached to this Call for Applications), in accordance with the Research Grant Regulations of Universidade NOVA de Lisboa.

2.1 Preferred Qualifications

The following qualifications will be particularly valued:

• Experience or demonstrated interest in the field of biosignal processing and analysis, namely electromyography (EMG), force, movement and/or signals acquired through biosignal sensors;
• Knowledge of scientific programming, preferably in Python and/or MATLAB, applied to data processing, signal analysis, results visualisation or the development of experimental routines;
• Experience, training or motivation to work with experimental acquisition systems, biomedical sensors, biomedical instrumentation or physiological data acquisition platforms;
• Participation in the prescription of physical exercise programmes, neuromuscular physiology, assessment of muscle function, muscle power, fatigue, ageing or human adaptation to extreme environments;
• Ability to support the preparation of experimental protocols, organisation of data collection sessions, file management and database structuring.

3. Work Plan

The selected candidate will participate in the scientific and technical activities of the ASTROPOWER project, supporting the development and testing of acoustic biofeedback approaches for muscle power training.

The work plan will include:

• Supporting the organisation of the project's technical and experimental requirements, including sensors, variables to be collected and acquisition conditions;
• Supporting the preparation of experimental protocols for muscle power exercises, including task definition, sensor placement and data quality criteria;
• Participation in data collection sessions, including preparation of materials, placement of EMG, force and movement/IMU sensors, verification of signals and monitoring of data acquisition procedures;
• Organisation and structuring of collected data, including identification of participants, sessions, exercises, intensities, repetitions and acquisition channels;
• Pre-processing and analysis of acquired signals, including data inspection, filtering, segmentation, synchronisation between signals and extraction of force, EMG, movement and muscle power variables;
• Supporting the development of computational code in Python to automate data processing, analysis and visualisation of results;
• Supporting the testing of acoustic biofeedback strategies through the transformation of physiological and biomechanical variables into sound parameters;
• Preparation of technical documentation, figures, tables, internal reports and supporting materials for project meetings and dissemination activities.

4. Applicable Legislation and Regulations

This call is governed by:

• The Research Fellowship Holder Statute (Estatuto do Bolseiro de Investigação), approved by Law No. 40/2004 of 18 August, in its current wording;
• The Research Grant Regulations of Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, approved by Order No. 9484/2023 of 14 September.

5. Place of Work

The work will be carried out at the Department of Physics of NOVA School of Science and Technology | NOVA University Lisbon, under the scientific supervision of Professor Hugo Gamboa and Researcher Luís Silva.

6. Duration of the Grant

The grant is expected to last 3 (three) months, with the activities scheduled to commence in July 2026, and may be renewed during the project period, in accordance with the applicable legal and regulatory provisions.

The maximum duration of the research grant, in accordance with the applicable regulations, is 24 (twenty-four) months, consecutive or non-consecutive.

The award of the grant does not create or confer a legal relationship of an employment or service provision nature and shall be carried out on an exclusive dedication basis, in accordance with the Research Fellowship Holder Statute.

7. Monthly Maintenance Allowance

The monthly grant amount is €1,090.98 (one thousand and ninety euros and ninety-eight cents), in accordance with the grant values table approved by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, I.P.), and shall be paid monthly by bank transfer.

The grant holder may benefit from enrolment in the Voluntary Social Security Scheme (Seguro Social Voluntário), under the terms of the Research Fellowship Holder Statute, with the respective costs covered in accordance with the applicable legal provisions.

The grant holder shall also benefit from personal accident insurance.

8. Selection Methods

Selection will be based on the following criteria, with particular emphasis on the candidate’s merit:

• Curriculum Evaluation (60%)
• Motivation Letter (15%)
• Interview (25%)

The curriculum evaluation will consider the adequacy of the academic background, academic record, experience in biosignals, programming and data analysis, as well as the candidate’s motivation for the project, in accordance with the applicable criteria.

Each assessment parameter shall be graded on a scale from 0 (zero) to 20 (twenty) points, and the final classification shall result from the weighted average of the scores obtained.

The interview will be conducted with candidates who obtain a score of 14 points or higher in the curriculum evaluation and motivation letter assessment and will evaluate technical knowledge, communication skills, autonomy, availability and suitability for the proposed work plan.

9. Composition of the Selection Panel

The Selection Panel shall consist of the following members from NOVA School of Science and Technology | NOVA University Lisbon, or from other institutions where applicable:

Chair of the Selection Panel – Professor Jorge Alexandre Monteiro de Carvalho Silva, Associate Professor;

First Effective Member – Professor Hugo Filipe Silveira Gamboa, Full Professor;

Second Effective Member – Researcher Luís Silva.

10. Publication and Notification of Results

The evaluation results shall be communicated to the candidates in writing, in accordance with the provisions of this Call for Applications, within 60 working days after the application submission deadline.

Should the proposed decision be unfavourable to the award of the grant, candidates shall have 10 working days, counted from the first working day following notification of the results, to submit their comments under the right to prior hearing of interested parties, in accordance with the Portuguese Administrative Procedure Code.

The final decision shall be taken within a maximum period of 5 working days after the end of the prior hearing period and shall be notified to all candidates.

Complaints or appeals against the final results may be submitted within 10 working days following notification thereof, addressed to the Human Resources Division via the e-mail address drh.bolsas@fct.unl.pt, in accordance with the Research Grant Regulations of Universidade NOVA de Lisboa.

11. Application Deadline and Submission Procedure

The call is open from 11 June 2026 to 19 June 2026.

Applications must be submitted by e-mail to hgamboa@fct.unl.pt, indicating the reference “ASTROPOWER_BI_LIC_2026_01” in the subject line.

Applications must include:

• Curriculum Vitae;
• Motivation Letter;
• Degree Certificate*;
• Any other supporting documents considered relevant;
• Proof of enrolment in a Master's programme*.

* As defined in Section 2 of this Call for Applications, documentary evidence of compliance with the specified requirements must be submitted no later than the grant contracting stage and may, at the application stage, be replaced by a Declaration on Honour (attached to this Call), in accordance with the Research Grant Regulations of Universidade NOVA de Lisboa.

NOTICE (PT/EN) HERE.