PhD in Ecological Restoration and Remote Sensing — Instituto Superior de Agronomia

Key details

• Host institution: Instituto Superior de Agronomia
• Location: Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Tapada da Ajuda, Lisboa, Portugal
• Application deadline: June 16, 2026

Funding

Not funded by a EU programme

Funding level (from listing): partial or not via EU framework — confirm on the official call.

How to apply

• Apply by email to [email protected] (subject line and attachments per the official instructions).
• Full vacancy text and updates: Euraxess listing.

About the position

Doctoral Research Grant (1 position) – Ecological Restoration and Remote Sensing

Project Overview

Applications are invited for one Research Scholarship for PhD students, within the project FLOODFIRE – Predicting socio-ecological trajectories of restored floodplain forest ecosystems and fire regime shifts: a model for the northwestern Iberian region. The research will be hosted at the Forest Research Centre (CEF) of the Instituto Superior de Agronomia, funded by FCT (reference UID/00239/2025).

Scholarship Details

• Type: Research grant for R&D activities by a doctoral student
• Duration: 12 months, renewable up to a maximum of 48 months
• Expected start date: July 2026
• Monthly maintenance allowance: €1,359.64, plus reimbursement of voluntary social security (for scholarships of six months or more), paid by bank transfer

Research Plan

The PhD project aims to predict socio-ecological trajectories of riparian and floodplain forests and fire regime shifts in the northwestern Iberian Peninsula. Key research questions include:

• Characterizing fire regimes at local scale using satellite-derived burned area patterns
• Reconstructing long-term spatio-temporal changes in floodplain ecosystems
• Identifying early-warning signals of undesirable regime shifts and restoration trajectories
• Integrating ecological resilience analyses with social dimensions to improve restoration outcomes

Workplace

Forest Research Centre (CEF), Instituto Superior de Agronomia, under the supervision of Professor João Neves Silva, Professor Patricia María Rodríguez González, and Professor Simon Dufour (Univ. Rennes 2, France).

Eligibility Requirements

• Required degree: Master’s degree in Forestry, Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, or related fields
• Driving license: Valid in Portugal
• Language skills: Oral and written fluency in English; preference for oral fluency in Portuguese
• Other: Excellent teamwork and initiative; availability for fieldwork and international travel, including extended periods

Desired Skills and Experience

• Experience in field botany and sampling of plant communities
• Experience in data analysis and management (e.g., Python, R) – positively evaluated
• Experience with remote sensing (satellite imagery and UAV data) – positively evaluated

Application Process

• Application period: June 1 to June 16, 2026
• How to apply: Send a cover letter with reference “FLOODFIRE-Refª-BL-25-2026” and the following documents to Professor João Neves Silva at [email protected]:
  • Curriculum Vitae detailing relevant experience
  • Copies of Bachelor and Master degree certificates (including final grades)
  • Copies of relevant training certificates
  • Copy of valid Portuguese driving license
• Note on qualifications: Proof of enrollment or degree certificates may be replaced by a declaration of honor at the application stage, with verification at contracting. Degrees from foreign institutions must be recognized by a Portuguese higher education institution (per Decree-Law no. 341/2007).

Evaluation Criteria

Candidates will be ranked on a scale of 0–100 based on:

• Academic qualifications: 20%
• Technological skills (data analysis, remote sensing): 40%
• Knowledge on botany (vascular plant identification, plant community sampling): 40%

If necessary, an interview will be held, with weights of 70% for the above criteria and 30% for the interview. Candidates scoring below 50 will not be eligible.

Evaluation Committee

President: Professor João Neves Silva; Full members: Professor Patricia María Rodríguez-González, Professor Pedro Segurado; Alternate members: Professor Sofia Cerasoli, Dr. Solange Araújo.

Results and Appeals

Final results will be published as an alphabetically ordered list by final grade at the School of Agriculture, and the approved candidate will be notified by email. Candidates with an unfavorable decision may request a prior hearing within 10 business days. The recruitment reserve is valid for 18 months from the final ranking list approval. The committee reserves the right not to fill the vacancy if no suitable candidate is found.

Scholarship Renewal

Renewal is possible up to the maximum duration, subject to meeting prerequisites, and requires a request submitted 60 business days before the renewal start date, including a renewal request, detailed work report, supervisor’s opinion, work plan, proof of enrollment, and exclusive dedication declaration.

Non-Discrimination Policy

No candidate shall be privileged or disadvantaged on grounds of ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, economic situation, education, origin, social condition, genetic heritage, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin, language, religion, political or ideological beliefs, or trade union membership.

Applicable Legislation

Status of the Scientific Research Fellow (Law no. 40/2004, as amended) and FCT Scholarship Regulation (Reg. no. 950/2019).