1 PhD Scholarship – Project Water4all University of Évora in Portugal

PhD Scholarship in Agribusiness and Sustainability at the University of Évora

The University of Évora is offering 1 PhD scholarship under the Water4all project (reference 101060874), cofinanced by the European Union through Horizon Europe. The work will be carried out at MED, University of Évora, in Évora, Portugal, under the scientific guidance of Professor Ana Isabel da Silva Mendes.

The project title is “Valuing Mediterranean Riparian Forests: An Integrated Decision-Based Framework for Territorial Management”. The research is designed to support the restoration and conservation of riparian corridors within agricultural landscapes by combining ecological, economic, social, and spatial analysis. The doctoral research is expected to lead to a PhD in Agribusiness and Sustainability and will be developed within a structured doctoral programme.

The work plan includes several interconnected research stages: meta-regression for economic valuation using published studies and hydrological/economic assessments; stakeholder surveys and semi-structured interviews with farmers to study willingness to accept and socio-economic factors affecting land allocation; GIS-based multi-criteria and network analysis to identify restoration hotspots in mainland Portugal; and a case study comparing ecosystem service values with real restoration costs. The dissertation will be organized as a cumulative thesis with four scientific articles, an introductory chapter, and a concluding synthesis.

This scholarship is particularly relevant for candidates interested in river connectivity, riparian restoration, landscape planning, GIS, ecosystem service valuation, and territorial management. The expected outputs include academic publications as well as practical policy and management tools for agroforestry schemes and climate adaptation in Mediterranean regions.

Eligibility highlights: applicants should hold a master’s degree in geography or equivalent, with proven experience in connectivity metrics applied to river connectivity. Useful additional skills include GIS and landscape architecture. Foreign degrees must be formally recognized in Portugal before contract signing. The scholarship also requires compliance with Portuguese research scholarship regulations and enrollment in the relevant doctoral study cycle or approved non-degree course, where applicable.

Funding: the scholarship provides a monthly maintenance allowance of €1359.64. The initial duration is 12 months, with possible renewal up to a maximum of 48 months.

Application deadline: 6 November 2026 at 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon). The selection process will use curriculum evaluation and an interview (60% and 40%, respectively).

How to apply: submit an application letter by email together with your CV, qualification certificate, and other relevant supporting documents to [email protected]. Results will be communicated by email to approved candidates.