Forestry Researchers Have Until August 25 to Apply for This €1,359/Month Portugal Research Scholarship.
Fourteen days. That’s all the time between the opening of this application window and its close.
Applications for the iN_Seed research scholarship are now open for international applicants. The deadline is August 25, 2026 at 23:59 Lisbon time. For researchers with the right background, that’s barely enough time to gather documents — let alone prepare a competitive application from scratch.
If you have a Master’s degree, hands-on experience in forestry or GIS, and the ability to work in both Portuguese and English, this is worth reading carefully right now. Also Check the White Rose DTP PhD Scholarship 2027 at Sheffield Hallam University.
Portugal Research Scholarship Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Institution | Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra |
| Project | iN_Seed — Forest Seeds and Natural Intelligence |
| Host School | Coimbra School of Agriculture |
| Monthly Stipend | €1,359.64 |
| Location | Portugal |
| Degree Required | Master’s + doctoral/research enrolment |
| Languages | Portuguese and English (both required) |
| Driving License | Required |
| Deadline | 25 August 2026, 23:59 Lisbon time |
What the iN_Seed Project Is About
The full project title is “Forest Seeds and Natural Intelligence: A Technology-Supported Approach to Promoting Resilient Ecosystems.”
In practice, the research focuses on forest regeneration through direct seeding and technology-assisted ecosystem management. The selected researcher will be based primarily at the Coimbra School of Agriculture, with field activities across central and northern Portugal.
This isn’t a desk job. The role moves between field sampling, drone surveys, GIS analysis, and scientific writing. Researchers who prefer one environment exclusively may find the variety either appealing or demanding depending on their working style.
Who Can Apply
The eligibility criteria are specific. Read them carefully before investing time in an application.
You must:
- Hold a Master’s degree (already completed)
- Be enrolled in a doctoral program OR an eligible non-degree course designed to provide initial scientific research training
- Have a valid driving license (field sites are at multiple locations, not campus-based)
- Demonstrate proficiency in both Portuguese and English, written and spoken
Ideal academic background includes:
- Forestry or silviculture
- Forest management
- Environmental sciences
- Remote sensing
- Related disciplines with field research experience
The scholarship is not restricted by nationality. However, candidates with degrees obtained outside Portugal must provide formal recognition of their foreign academic qualifications under Portuguese rules. This is not something to sort out after submitting everything else — start that process immediately if it applies to you.
One honest note for international applicants: the Portuguese language requirement is a genuine filter here. Both languages are part of the stated eligibility conditions and appear in the scoring criteria. Applicants without working Portuguese proficiency will face a real disadvantage.
The Scoring Breakdown — Where Applications Win or Lose
This is the most important section in the article.
Coimbra has published the exact weighting used to rank candidates. Most scholarship calls don’t do this. When they do, the scoring table tells you precisely where to concentrate your CV and motivation letter.
| Assessment Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| Experience establishing experimental projects or forest sampling plots | 30% |
| GIS and multispectral drone proficiency | 30% |
| Professional experience relevant to the project | 20% |
| Portuguese and English proficiency | 10% |
| Teamwork and stakeholder management skills | 10% |
Sixty percent of your score comes from two things: fieldwork experience and geospatial technology skills.
If you’ve conducted forest inventories, operated multispectral drones, built GIS layers, or managed sampling plots, those experiences need to appear in your CV with specific examples. Not in a generic skills section. Not as bullet points that say “familiar with GIS.” Concrete, described, evidenced.
An interview is only used if candidates are tied on scores. The documents you submit are almost certainly what decides the outcome.
What the Role Actually Involves
Day to day, the researcher will:
- Review existing literature and technologies related to forest establishment through direct seeding
- Monitor and support experimental field trials
- Analyse data generated by field experiments
- Provide scientific and technical monitoring of project activities
- Assist with project coordination
- Prepare reports, scientific papers, and dissemination materials
The combination of field sampling, drone data, GIS analysis, and scientific writing makes this a good fit for researchers who are comfortable switching between environments rather than specializing in one.
The Financial Package
The monthly maintenance allowance is €1,359.64, paid by bank transfer.
Personal accident insurance is included.
Researchers who choose to participate in Portugal’s voluntary social security system may also receive an additional contribution corresponding to the first contribution level, applied according to current rules.
For context, €1,359 per month is manageable in Coimbra, which is significantly more affordable than Lisbon or Porto. Field activities will take researchers to central and northern Portugal, but the primary base is the Coimbra School of Agriculture.
Documents Required
Applications must be submitted digitally through the Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra’s scholarship recruitment platform.
Required documents:
- Completed application form
- Identification document
- Bachelor’s degree certificate
- Master’s degree certificate
- Proof of doctoral program or eligible course enrolment
- Foreign degree recognition documents (if applicable)
- CV
- Motivation letter
Recommendation letters are optional. Candidates may include them along with referee contact details if they choose to.
All documents must be submitted within the official application window. Given that foreign degree recognition can take time to process, international applicants should not wait for the final day.
Before You Apply
A few things worth confirming before you start filling out the form:
Check your enrolment status. The scholarship requires current enrolment in a doctoral program or eligible research course, not just a completed Master’s degree. If you’re between programs, verify whether you qualify.
Be specific about field experience. The scoring table is public. Reviewers will look for concrete evidence of forest inventory work, drone operation, and GIS use. Describe the actual projects, not just the tools.
Don’t underestimate the language requirement. Portuguese proficiency is part of both the eligibility conditions and the scoring criteria. This isn’t a program where English alone is sufficient.
Start foreign degree recognition now. If your degrees were obtained outside Portugal, the recognition process takes time. Don’t let paperwork be the reason a strong application arrives incomplete.