We are pleased to inform that the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia opened the call for recruitment of researchers holding a PhD degree.

FCT wishes to support outstanding researchers, of all nationalities, who have the potential to develop innovative research and become established leaders in their field. Following the two editions of the FCT Investigator programme (2012 and 2013 calls), in which 369 new grants were awarded, FCT launches the 2014 call for funding of up to 150 FCT Investigator grants.

FCT Investigator grants provide a competitive salary, for up to five years. Selected FCT Investigators with no new or ongoing FCT-funded research as of 1st January 2015 are entitled to an Exploratory Project Grant of up to €50 000.

This call is funded by the national funds and, when applicable, by European Union structural funds.

All researchers holding a PhD degree, of any nationality, and in any research or academic field may apply.

There are three types of FCT investigator grants:

• Starting Grant – aimed at researchers with more than 3 years and less than 8 years post-doctoral experience at the time of application, with no need for previous experience of scientific independence;
• Development Grant – aimed at researchers with a curriculum of exceptional merit and experience as an independent researcher;
• Consolidation grant – aimed at researchers with experience as an independent researcher, with a curriculum of exceptional merit and evidence of scientific leadership in a particular area of knowledge.

Further information on eligibility requirements may be found in the Official Announcement of the Call (only in Portuguese), in the Regulations (only in Portuguese) and in the Application Guide.

The call is open from 5 may 2014 to 17h00 (Lisbon time), 16 June 2014.

All applications should be submitted online, in English, via the FCT Investigator platform.

Here you will find a blank application form (PDF format), which gives an overview of the different sections to be filled in.

For important information on the application process in 2014, please refer to 2014 FCT Investigator Call – Highlights.

For further information on how to apply and detailed guidance notes, please download the Application Guide and the Ethics Guide.

Submitted proposals shall be evaluated by independent panels of international leading experts in each research area, in a two-stage evaluation process, according to the following evaluation criteria:

• Scientific merit of the applicant
• Research project
• Career development plan

The first stage entails a pre-selection of the applicants, based on the assessment of the synopsis of the CV and the synopsis of the research project and career development plan. In the second stage the full application will be evaluated.

Applications shall be evaluated on a scale of 1 to 9. Applications scored below 7 will neither be admitted to the second stage nor recommended for funding.

Further information on the evaluation process is available in the Evaluation Guide.