FCT-PRISC-UFRJ PhD Fellowships

Besides strengthening academic ties between the two countries, students will benefit from the experience of a study partnership between major museums. Over the course of five years, grants will be awarded in the areas of Bio-, Palaeo- and Geodiversity, Studies of Scientific Collections, Anthropology, Conservation and Restoration, History of Science, Museology and Science Communication.

The research activities will be carried out at a university in the PRISC infrastructure - University of Lisbon (ULISBOA), University of Porto (U.PORTO) and University of Coimbra (U.COIMBRA) - and, necessarily, will take place at the National Museum of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (MN/UFRJ).

When submitting an application, students must have a PRISC University and a UFRJ thesis supervisor.

Calls for 2025 applications :
Applications open between 12:00 am on  4 May 2026 and 11:59 pm on 4 July 2026 (Lisbon time).
ULisboa Notice | EURAXESS Notice

In 2026, applications are open for 10 grants in the following areas:

• Applications will be accepted in the PRISC scientific areas, in particular:
• Museology, namely in the fields of intersection between art and science, in particular the development of innovative forms of exhibition, education, mediation, critical narratives, among others.
• Geodiversity, paleodiversity and biodiversity, namely the history of the Earth and its past and present biodiversity, with a focus on promoting collections and associated data.
• Scientific Collections Studies, from multiple perspectives (historical, anthropological, archaeological, sociological, among others).
• Science Communication, namely the multiple issues associated with science communication and popularization in museum contexts, including citizenm science.

PRISC is the Portuguese infrastructure for scientific collections. It gathers the central scientific collections of the Universities of Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra, through the National Museum of Natural History and Science of the University of Lisbon (MUHNAC-ULISBOA), o Natural History and Science Museum of the University of Porto (MHNC-UP), the Science Museum of the University of Coimbra (MCUC) and the Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra (JBUC). PRISC’s objectives are to preserve and appreciate the value of every Portuguese scientific collection as irreplaceable resources for research, education and culture.

Contact centres:

for questions: candidaturas.rh@reitoria.ulisboa.pt
 

National Museum (MN), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro 
Andrea Costa - vicedirecao@mn.ufrj.br

National Museum of Natural History and Science (MUHNAC), University of Lisbon
Judite Alves - mjalves@museus.ulisboa.pt

Natural History and Science Museum (MHNC), University of Porto
Maria João Fonseca - mjfonseca@mhnc.up.pt

Science Museum (MCUC), University of Coimbra
Paulo Trincão - paulo.trincao@uc.pt

Botanical Garden (JBUC), University of Coimbra
jardim.botanico@uc.pt