The Regional Secretariat for Science, Technology and Infrastructures has opened a new application period, to take place until December 16, to award four individual post-doctoral scholarships in order to integrate PhD holders in various projects developed at the R&D units of the Regional Scientific and Technological System.
One of the scholarships is meant to integrate a PhD holder in the R&D project under the theme “Operational Oceanography” (Oceanografia Operacional) of the IMAR Centre of the University of the Azores (IMAR-DOP/UAç) based on Faial Island. Those who hold a PhD in Physical Oceanography or in similar areas may apply for this scholarship.
The “Operational Oceanography” project seeks to establish and develop the “foundations” for the operacionalization of Oceanography in the Azores, thus providing an operational service to support commercial fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Azores, which represents a high interest for the regional economic development.
A second scholarship will be developed at the Centre of Volcanology and Geological Risk Assessment of the University of the Azores and will focus on the theme “Geochemical flows in water bodies of São Miguel Island: implications for the mitigation of volcanic risks and climate change” (Fluxos geoquímicos em massas de água da ilha de São Miguel: implicações para a mitigação de riscos vulcânicos e as alterações climáticas). It is addressed at those who hold a PhD in Geology/Hydrogeology.
This project has several goals such as the calculations of the mass carried by the chemical alteration to the ocean and of the CO2 consumed on São Miguel by way of altering the volcanic rocks and the river transport to the ocean and the definition of a conceptual model that enables the generalisation of the results obtained on São Miguel to the remaining Azorean islands.
The two remaining scholarships will be developed at the Department of Technological Sciences and Development of the University of the Azores and at the INOVA. One scholarship will focus on the theme “Effect of Propagation Methods, Temperature, Light and Substrate used on the Quality of Azorean Pineapple” (Efeito dos Métodos de Propagação, da Temperatura, da Luz e dos Substratos utilizados na Qualidade do Ananás dos Açores). Those who hold a PhD in Molecular Biology, Developmental Biology or in Biotechnology – specialty Food Engineering are eligible applicants for this scholarship.  
The other scholarship will be developed under the theme “Support to the Promotion of Safety, Quality and Innovation of the Small and Medium-sized Companies in the Food Sector in the Azores (SEPROQUAL-INOVAÇÃO)” (Apoio à Promoção da Segurança, da Qualidade e da Inovação das Pequenas e Médias Empresas do Sector Alimentar dos Açores), being addressed at those who hold a PhD in Food Technology or in Biotechnology – specialty Food Engineering.
Amongst other goals, this last project intends to assess the functional and technological conditions of companies, identify the improvement areas of products and processes and to implement quality and innovation management systems.