PhD in Food Engineering – Valorisation of Beech Nuts – Instituto Politécnico de Bragança

Key details

• Host institution: Instituto Politécnico de Bragança
• Location: Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Sta Apolónio, Bragança, Portugal
• Application deadline: July 31, 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

Applications are invited for a Research Grant (BI) within the project “Valorisation of beech nuts (Fagus sylvatica L.) through their physico-chemical, functional and nutritional characterisation”, funded by the institution’s own resources at the Instituto Politécnico de Bragança (IPB). This position offers an excellent opportunity for doctoral candidates to contribute to innovative research on underutilised forest resources.

Research Context

The project aims to comprehensively characterise beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) fruits and the oil derived from them. The work will assess chemical composition, antioxidant properties, and potential for use as a functional ingredient, while also identifying chemical markers associated with geographical origin. This research has implications for food science, sustainable resource utilisation, and regional product valorisation.

Work Plan

The selected candidate will undertake the following tasks: (1) collection, preparation, and preservation of beech fruit samples; (2) physico-chemical characterisation of the fruits; (3) extraction and characterisation of oil from beech fruits; (4) characterisation of the profile of volatile compounds; and (5) statistical processing and chemometric analysis of results, including interpretation, dissemination, and exploitation of findings.

Scientific Area

Food Engineering / Food Science and Technology / Biosystems Engineering

Admission Requirements

• Enrolment in a PhD programme in Biosystems Science and Technology / Biosystems Engineering, OR
• Enrolment in a non-degree-awarding course that forms part of the educational programme of a higher education institution.

Workplace and Supervision

The research will be conducted at CIMO (Centro de Investigação de Montanha) under the scientific supervision of Professor José Alberto Pereira.

Grant Duration and Value

The grant has an initial duration of 9 months, scheduled to begin on 1 October 2026, with the possibility of renewal for up to a maximum of 12 months (including the initial period). The monthly maintenance grant is 1,359.64€, according to the FCT, I.P. grant table. Recipients will benefit from personal accident insurance and may join the voluntary social security scheme if not already covered.

Selection Methods

Candidates will be evaluated based on: (a) assessment of the CV and its suitability for the position (60%); (b) experience in olive oil characterisation studies (40%). If deemed necessary, an interview will be held, accounting for 10% of the total score, with the remaining 90% based on CV assessment. The scholarship will not be awarded if a candidate’s score is below 9.5 points.

Selection Jury

President: José Alberto Cardoso Pereira; Members: Paula Cristina dos Santos Baptista and Isabel Cristina Sousa Rodrigues.

Application Procedure

Applications must be submitted through the IPB application submission portal (http://concursos.ipb.pt) from 20 July 2026 to 31 July 2026. Required documents include: a) Curriculum Vitae; b) Certificate of qualifications; c) Cover letter. Documents proving academic qualifications or enrolment may be replaced by a declaration of honour at the application stage, but verification is mandatory before contract signing. Academic degrees obtained abroad must be recognised by a Portuguese institution according to Decree-Law No. 66/2018.

Results and Appeals

Results will be published via the IPB application portal or by email. Candidates have 10 working days after publication to request a prior hearing if the decision is unfavourable. An appeal against the final decision may be made to the President of IPB within 15 working days after notification.