Postdoctoral Research Grant in Chemical Engineering for AGRO-CIRN Project University of Porto in Portugal

Postdoctoral Research Grant in Chemical Engineering at the University of Porto (FEUP)

The Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) is inviting applications for 1 Postdoctoral Research Grant within the project AGRO-CIRN – Circular Agroecosystems: new approach to soil health in the north region (operation code NORTE2030-FEDER-02703200). The grant is associated with work in the scientific area of Chemical Engineering and is hosted at the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, in Porto, Portugal.

The research activity focuses on the evaluation of the economic feasibility of processes for treatment, recycling/composting, decontamination, and disinfection of used substrates from Soilless Culture Systems. The work contributes directly to Activities 3 and 6 of the project, covering techno-economic and feasibility assessment as well as dissemination and impact. This is a strong opportunity for researchers interested in circular economy approaches, agroecosystems, substrate reuse, and applied sustainability analysis in agricultural engineering contexts.

The grant is supervised by Dr Yaidelin Josefina Alves Manrique and Dr Ricardo Jorge Nogueira dos Santos. Selection is based on curricular evaluation and interview, with attention to academic background, participation in relevant R&D projects, publications, and the applicant’s motivation and English proficiency.

Eligibility highlights: applicants must hold a PhD in Chemical Engineering, Biological Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related area, awarded within the last three years before application. Candidates must also comply with the requirement that the postdoctoral work is carried out in a host entity different from the one where the PhD research was done, and they must not exceed the maximum accumulated period allowed for this type of scholarship. If the degree was obtained abroad, Portuguese recognition/legal formalities must be completed before signing the contract.

Funding: the monthly stipend is 1901,00€, paid by bank transfer. The grant starts with an initial duration of 4 months, expected to begin in October 2026, and may be renewed up to a maximum of 3 years, subject to project limits and applicable regulations. The position is funded under the NORTE 2030 Regional Program of Portugal 2030 and co-financed by the European Union.

Application deadline: 24 August 2026 at 23:59 local time.

How to apply: submit the application online at https://www.apply.up.pt using reference Projeto Agrocirn - BOLS-FEUP-26-4. Include a motivation letter, academic degree certificates, CV, a signed honour declaration, and any other relevant documents.

This post is especially suitable for candidates with a background in chemical engineering or related fields who want to work on sustainability-oriented, techno-economic analysis for agroecosystem and substrate management applications.