Postdoctoral Research Grant (BPD) for the R&D Integrated Program “C4 – Centro de Competências em Cloud Computing”

Postdoctoral Research Grant (BPD) for the R&D Integrated Program “C4 – Centro de Competências em Cloud Computing”

Reference: “C4_MP_D1-b (En)”

We are accepting applications for 1 (one) Postdoctoral Research Grant (BPD) for the R&D Integrated Program “C4 – Centro de Competências em Cloud Computing / C4 – Cloud Computing Competences Centre”, co-financed through the Sistema de Apoio à Investigação Científica e Tecnológica – Programas Integrados de IC&DT, by the Portugal 2020 Program (PT 2020), in the framework of the Regional Operational Program of the Center (CENTRO 2020) and the European Union through the Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER), taking place at the University of Beira Interior, Covilhã (Portugal), under the following conditions:

Scientific Area: Computer Science

Admission requirements: The candidates should have a PhD degree in Computer Science, or Computer Engineering, or Electrical and Computer Engineering or equivalent. Special relevance will be given to the candidates with experience in Image and video coding and Quality of Experience on Multimedia.

Objectives and Work plan: The work plan includes scientific and technological research tasks carried out in order to design and implement a cloud-based holographic and plenotic coding method, which allows a good performance of the encoder in relation to encoding time, throughput and QoE. Particularly, the selected candidate will participate in the development of the following tasks: (1) Design and implementation of an image/video representation model that allows a good performance of the encoder in relation to encoding time, throughput and QoE; (2) Introduce the concept of QoE for understanding and managing the quality of services in the cloud. Identify emerging technical challenges of moving multimedia services to the cloud, impacting QoE and QoE management. Provide concrete use cases in the field of multimedia services; and (3) Elaboration of scientific reports and articles and dissemination of the results in national and international scientific events.

Legislation and applicable regulations: Statute of the Scientific Research Grant approved by the Law 40/2004, August 18th, in its current wording, as well as the Regulation of Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology IP (FCT) (www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/docs/RegulamentoBolsasFCT2018.pdf ).

Workplace and Scientific supervision: The workplace will be the Informatics Department, University of Beira Interior (Covilhã, Portugal), under the scientific guidance of Prof. Manuela Pereira and Prof. António Pinheiro.

Duration: The scholarship will last for 24 months, starting in January 2019. The grant may not exceed the end date of the project approved by the decision (30/11/2020). If this date is extended, the scholarship may be renewed, with the favorable advice of the scientific supervisor, at most until 24 months.

The activity will be under exclusive dedication, according to the Research Grants Regulation of the Foundation for Science and Technology.

Amount of the monthly maintenance allowance: The monthly amount of the grant is €1495 in accordance with the values stipulated by the “Regulations for Advanced Training and Qualification of Human Resources” of FCT (http://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/valores.phtml.en).

The monthly amount shall be rendered payable via bank transfer to an account held by the grantee.
The voluntary social insurance is added to the value of the grant, if the candidate chooses to join it, as well as the personal accident insurance.

Selection criteria: The selection methods to be used will be composed by 2 evaluation phases, according to the following: 1st phase - Curricular evaluation; 2nd phase – Interview, which can be performed via videoconference.
The evaluation in the 1st phase includes the following criteria: Curriculum vitae/Academic evaluation (40%); Suitability of the candidates’ profile to the project based on the relevant work experience in the tasks described in the work plan (50%); Fluency in oral and written English (10%).

The 3 candidates that present the highest scores after the 1st phase will pass to the 2nd phase.
For the final evaluation, each of the evaluation phases have an assessment of 50%.

Composition of the selection jury: Prof. Manuela Pereira (President of the Jury); Prof. António Pinheiro and Prof. Elsa Fonseca (Effective members); Prof. Paulo Fiadeiro (Substitute member).

Form of publication / notification of results: The final results of the evaluation will be publicized through an ordered list, by final grade obtained, posted in a visible and public place of the Informatic Department of the University of Beira Interior (Covilhã, Portugal), and the candidate being approved by electronic mail.

Application deadline and application form: The application to this grant will be opened from 27th February 2019 to 12th March 2019 (24:00 hours). Applications must be formalized by sending an email of application, with the subject “C4_MP_D1-b Application”, accompanied by the following documents in .pdf format (mandatory): Letter of motivation, Curriculum vitae, copy of Certificate(s) of qualification, Citizen Card details (validity, civil identification number, tax identification number) or Passport and other supporting documents considered relevant.

Applications must be sent to mpereira@di.ubi.pt or alternatively to the address: Universidade da Beira Interior
Departamento de Informática
Rua Marquês d'Ávila e Bolama

6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal