Applications are now open for the FLAD Science Award Atlantic 2023. FLAD continues to invest in research on the Atlantic and its ecosystems, as well as in their sustainable exploitation. The eligibility criteria for this competition have been changed to allow for more extended and inclusive doctoral time with regard to parental leave.

Studying the Atlantic is essential to understand very diverse and multidisciplinary areas with an impact on the sustainability of the planet and our quality of life, from the interaction between the oceans, the atmosphere, and space, to climate change, natural phenomena, and sustainability.

In the 4th edition of the FLAD Science Award Atlantic, FLAD will recognize research projects that contribute to the creation and development of cross-cutting tools and strategic solutions for current and future challenges in the context of human action in the Atlantic. This year, candidates who have completed their doctoral studies no more than eight years ago are eligible for the Prize. For the purposes of counting this period, maternity and paternity leave will be taken into consideration, if applicable, thus reinforcing FLAD’s commitment to promoting and guaranteeing equal opportunities.

What’s our goal?

In the context of the strong commitment to Science and Technology that characterizes FLAD, it is important that this research can develop practical results, such as the creation of strategies, engineering, and technologies, that facilitate our understanding and sustainable exploitation of Atlantic ecosystems.

FLAD wants to support and distinguish young academics, thus promoting the new and promising generation of researchers we have in Portugal, in close collaboration with leading research centers in the US.

Key research areas for the 2023 edition

The award is open to the areas of study of engineering/technology and environment/natural sciences, social sciences and humanities.

  • Science and technology to promote a healthy and clean ocean, addressing the Atlantic as a natural ecosystem asset;
  • Future impact of climate change on human populations in Atlantic coastal regions and design of mitigation or adaptation actions, including citizen participation;
  • Assess the value of the Atlantic in natural assets and ecosystems, in particular in its contribution to the Blue Economy, using advanced economic analyses and big data;
  • Environmental and energy transition strategies for islands and isolated areas;
  • Sustainable mobility and logistics, in the context of growing digital transformation;
  • New approaches in the planning, observation and management of the Atlantic area, including the preservation of critical ecosystems, making use of observation methods involving low-cost satellite systems, advanced sensor systems, artificial intelligence or data science;
  • Production of new technologies such as underwater robotics, unmanned shipping, acoustic communications, sensors and data analysis.

Award

The prize has a value of 300,000 euros, for a maximum of 3 years, which corresponds to 100,000/year.

Jury

The evaluation is made by a jury of excellence composed of four elements:

Candidates profile

  • Doctorate, no more than 8 years;
  • Be associated with a research center recognized by FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia) in the research areas of this open call;
  • Do research in Portugal, independently, autonomously and with scientific quality;
  • Have a declaration of support from the research centre to which the applicant is associated in the research plan;
  • Include a research interaction with a United States entity.

Selection

The prize will be awarded after an analysis of a two-stage application:

  • 1st Phase: The first phase of applications runs from June 1st to June 30th, where a review of the applicant’s scientific curriculum vitae is carried out, together with an assessment of the main ideas presented in the research proposal.
  • Phase 2: The highest-ranked candidates in the first phase are called upon to participate in the second phase of the application. You must submit your research plan proposal for the 3-year duration of the award between September 13 and October 13. If any more evaluation element is needed, there is the possibility of conducting a final interview.

The winning candidate will be selected by November 15.

Applications

For the first stage of the application, it is necessary to attach the Applicant Biosketch form.

Please refer to the notice of this competition (Notice – FLAD Science Award Atlantic 2023) for all the details about the award and the application process.

Submit your application via the online form at the following link: https://flad.secure.force.com/CandidaturaMain?language=pt_PT

Additional information or questions

If you have questions about the award or the application process, please email fatima.fonseca@flad.pt.