Preamble

Looking to strengthen and internationalize its structuring activities (research, publications, advanced training, outreach activities and scientific promotion), the Centre for Social Studies (Centro de Estudos Sociais - CES) encourages post-doctoral studies and research.

As a host unit for postgraduate students, CES justifies the existence of a specific regulation to provide a framework for the activities developed by researchers in post-doctoral programmes during their stay at CES.

Article 1
Scope

This Regulation defines the rights, obligations and conditions of access for post-doctoral researchers external to CES who are attending a postdoctoral programme at CES.

Article 2
Definition

“Post-doctoral studies and research” is taken to mean:

1. An individual research programme with a minimum duration of 18 months and a maximum duration of 72 months.
2. An individual research programme with a minimum duration of 18 months and a maximum duration of 72 months.

Article 3
Conditions of access

a) Post-doctoral researchers with an individual research programme:

1. The candidate for post-doctoral studies and research must hold a PhD degree or equivalent, regardless of his/her nationality, and must not have any labour contract with CES.
2. The application for post-doctoral studies and research must be addressed to CES’ Scientific Board President. The application may identify a preferential supervisor from the associate post-doctoral researchers at CES.
3. The application must include:
   1. The applicant's Curriculum Vitae;
   2. A copy of the PhD certificate or equivalent;
   3. A structured work plan with a chronogram of the research duration (explaining the activities to be developed at CES);
   4. A letter of motivation explaining why CES was chosen as the host institution;
   5. Other aspects the candidate might find relevant (recommendation letters, publications, etc.).
4. Approving the application means that the post-doctoral researcher will be integrated into one of CES’ Research Units for the duration of his/her stay.
5. The proposal for the post-doctoral studies and research programme is assessed by CES’ Scientific Board. After hearing the supervisor and the coordination of the relevant Research Unit, the Council has the final decision on the application's acceptance.
6. Carrying out a post-doctoral studies and research programme at CES does not generate any functional or employment bond with the institution.
7. The provision in the previous paragraph does not prevent CES from being a host institution for post-doctoral researchers with a grant contract or a labour contract with Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia or other national and international agencies financing research activities and post-graduate training.
8. Candidates must submit any request to obtain an acceptance letter, in order to apply for funding for the post-doctoral period, at least one month before the application deadline.
    

b) Post-doctoral researchers integrated in financed collective research projects

9. The post-doctoral researchers are contracted in a public tender organized by the project's Lead Researcher, who will define the terms of the application and the selection of candidates;
10. Carrying out a post-doctoral studies and research programme at CES, as part of a collective project, does not generate any functional or employment bond with the institution, apart from the contract that may be entered into within the framework of the research project in question, in accordance with the rules and deadlines in force for the funding.

Article 4
Rights

1. The post-doctoral researcher has the right to use the Centre’s facilities and services, in equal circumstances with CES’ associates.
2. CES will provide a work area for the post-doctoral researchers, in facilities intended for such purpose and in accordance with the possibilities verified at each moment and the criteria defined by the Board of Directors.
3. For the duration of the post-doctoral researcher status at CES, the researcher has the right to a 50% reduction in the subscription payment, if applicable, in colloquia, congresses and advanced training courses.
4. The reduction indicated in the previous paragraph is defined by the Organizing Commission or the Coordinator of the event, who must fix a number of post-doctoral researchers to whom the reduction and amount will apply. This reduction is not applied to CES Summer/Winter School.
5. During the post-doctoral studies and research programme, the researcher will be allocated a user profile in the data management platform myCES and a CES e-mail account.
6. CES will register the post-doctoral researchers in the University of Coimbra's Welcome Centre for Visiting Researchers so that they can benefit from the UC ID Card, which can be used to access the library network and the university restaurants.
7. The post-doctoral researchers will receive internationalization support in accordance with the amounts triennially defined by the Board of Directors. This support includes assistance with translation and/or revision of articles for publication in international indexed journals in reference bases, according to the regulations in force.
8. The provision indicated in the previous paragraph is dependent on compliance with the rules in force, as defined by the Board of Directors, regarding institutional publicizing and filiation.
9. The status of post-doctoral researcher can be maintained beyond the end of the research project if the collaboration with CES remains regular, after justified recommendation by the Supervisor or the Lead Researcher, so that the researcher can conclude the project’s work in progress

a) Researchers with an individual research programme:

10. After delivering and approving the final report referred to in paragraph 7, article 5, the post-doctoral researcher has the right to receive a certificate issued by CES, which does not confer an academic qualification, but states the nature and duration of the programme, as well as the supervisor and the topic studied.
11. The post-doctoral researchers will receive institutional assistance by the services at CES to look for funding that will allow them to develop or organize scientific events and research activities.

b) Researchers integrated into financed collective research projects

12. Given the importance of continuous education, researchers are entitled internationalization support for events and publications in their field of research which are not covered by the relevant project, in accordance with the amounts annually defined by the Board of Directors.
13. The post-doctoral researchers will receive institutional assistance by the services at CES to look for funding that will allow them to develop independent research projects.

Article 5
Duties

1. The post-doctoral researcher undertakes to respect the operational procedures and the regulations in force at CES, collaborating with the administrative services by sending requested information and committing to a responsible use of the material made available for the community, namely by respecting the regulated standards for the bibliographic archive use.
2. The post-doctoral researcher will allow CES to mention in their reports the scientific production developed during the working period at CES.
3. All communications, publications or dissemination material for the scientific activities arising from the post-doctoral researcher’s work at CES must contain a mention and/or logos from CES and the University of Coimbra.
4. The researcher accepted into a post-doctoral studies and research programme at CES is encouraged to participate regularly in scientific activities developed at the Centre, specifically and actively in activities of his/her Research Unit.
5. The post-doctoral researcher must have a regular participation at CES during the research period, in accordance with the plan agreed with the supervisor.
6. The condition of post-doctoral researcher implies the maintenance and updating of the personal curricular page on CES website, as well as the registration with the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia's database, for the duration of the programme.
7. The post-doctoral researcher must participate in the election of his/her representatives, as well as the half-yearly meetings called by them. If the researcher cannot attend a meeting, he/she must justify the absence by sending an e-mail to the representatives.
8. The post-doctoral researcher must take on the duties of representative in case he/she is elected for such role.

a) Researchers with an individual research programme:

9. At the end of the post-doctoral studies and research programme, the researcher will present to the Scientific Board a final report of activities, together with the supervisor's opinion. If the post-doctoral programme lasts 18 months, a report must be presented at the end of the first year.
10. In case of grantees or researchers with a labour contract with another institution, the post-doctoral researchers must ask the financing/labour contract institution to provide CES with a statement recognizing CES as a host unit for the post-doctoral research programme. This must be done within 15 days of the application acceptance communication.
11. Without prejudice to the activities he/she intends to propose and carry out, the post-doctoral researcher undertakes to carry out at least one seminar on the research developed, preferably in articulation with other researchers.
12. The post-doctoral researcher must be available to participate, as a lecturer or organizer, in an advanced training course (classroom or distance learning), Summer/Winter School or other training activities in the context of CES, such as “CES vai à Escola”.
13. With the scientific supervisor's guidance, the post-doctoral researcher must propose, annually or in annual average, at least one publication in international indexed journals in reference bases, or equivalent.

b) Researchers integrated into financed collective research projects

14. Apart from the report indicated in paragraphs 1 to 6 of this article, the post-doctoral researchers integrated in collective research projects will respond to the duties of those projects, under the responsibility of the Lead Researcher.

Article 6
Representation

1. The post-doctoral researchers will annually elect two representatives, a permanent one and a deputy who will substitute in case of impediment.
2. The representatives have the right to participate, without a vote, in CES’ Scientific Board meetings.
3. The representatives have the right to meet with CES' Board of Directors, at their request or the request of the Board of Directors, every time an issue needs to be resolved within the framework of this body's scope of action.
4. The representatives are responsible for organizing half-yearly an information meeting with the post-doctoral researchers.
5. The representatives’ election is organized every year on the last month of the mandate. The voting process for the election of post-doctoral researchers’ representatives is carried out by ballot paper created by the Scientific Board's Administration, and it will be available on the myCES platform. The ballot paper will include the eligible post-doctoral researchers; each post-doctoral researcher can vote in only one colleague; the researcher with more votes is elected representative and the researcher obtaining the second greater number of votes is elected deputy representative; in case of a tie of 3 or more nominees, a second round is carried out; in case of a tie between 2 nominees (or 3 or more nominees in the second round), the representative organizes a draw in the presence of the nominees and a witness.

Article 7
Noncompliance

1. The cumulative noncompliance of the obligations set out in this regulation can result in the cancellation of the post-doctoral scientific hosting, after consulting with the supervisor and the President. The competent authorities for authorizing and/or financing the research will be informed.
2. The post-doctoral researcher can appeal against the decision, requesting an opinion to the Ethical Committee, which will be discussed at the Standing Committee of the Scientific Board's headquarters, in the presence of the post-doctoral researcher. After this, the Standing Committee of the Scientific Board will vote on the final decision, without the presence of the researcher.

Article 8
Final Provisions

1. All matters not provided for in this regulation will be dealt with by the general law and other specific legislation applicable, pending approval by the regulations set out by the Board of Directors and the Scientific Board at CES.
2. CES has a set of bodies from which the post-doctoral researcher can request assistance, whenever necessary and applicable, namely the Ethical Commission and CES Ombudsman.

Article 9
Entry into Force

This regulation enters into force on the date of its approval by CES’ Scientific Board.

October 23rd, 2019