Research grant for a master’s student
Project title: TAXATION AND GENDER: humanizing taxes for equality – interdisciplinary study
Project reference: 2024.18273.PEX
A call for applications is open for a research grant for a master’s student under the project “TAXATION AND GENDER: humanizing taxes for equality – interdisciplinary study – TAX & GENDER”, with the reference 2024.18273.PEX, funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, under the following conditions:
1.Scientific Area: Public Law, specifically Tax Law
2. Admission requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in law;
- Enrolment in the second cycle (Master’s degree), in a specialisation in Tax Law, Law and Management, or International and European Law, with proof of enrolment for the current academic year;
- Proficiency in Portuguese and English (minimum level B2, with certification such as Cambridge or IELTS).
3. Other requirements: (requirements that can be valued)
- Minimum grade of 15/20 in course units relevant to the work to be carried out, namely Tax Law, Public Finance Law and Fundamental Rights; European Tax Law, International Tax Law and Corporate Taxation Law;
- Participation in research groups during the undergraduate degree, duly evidenced by a recommendation letter from the academic responsible for such research;
- Publications in scientific journals on topics related to taxation law;
- Experience in the field of taxation.
4. Work plan:
The specific tasks will include:
- Systematic and principle-based analysis of the Portuguese tax framework, including the identification and systematisation of relevant tax legislation, particularly in the areas of personal income taxation (notably labour income) and consumption taxation. This also includes identifying tax measures—positive or negative—with a direct or indirect impact on women, mothers and young people, as well as on unpaid work, including differentiated approaches such as those applicable to informal caregivers;
- Identification and analysis of case law, through the selection, categorisation and examination of relevant decisions by Portuguese courts in tax matters, as well as pertinent case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union, with a view to understanding the practical application of tax rules and their social, economic and legal implications from a gender perspective;
- Documentary research, including the analysis of United Nations documents, the 2030 Agenda—particularly SDGs 5 and 10—documents from international organisations and the European Union on gender equality, tax policies and tax benefits, with particular attention to European Parliament Resolution 2018/2095 on gender equality and tax policies in the European Union;
- Support in data collection and processing, including the preparation, dissemination, reception, organisation, categorisation and analysis of questionnaires addressed to the Portuguese Tax and Customs Authority, with the aim of assessing the existence of gender-sensitive administrative practices, research or public policies;
- Systematisation and interpretation of the results obtained at each stage of the work and, ultimately, of all collected and analysed materials. This includes identifying, cataloguing and organising the information gathered; developing a critical and innovative analysis of legislative, case law and documentary data; and supporting the preparation of reports, knowledge synthesis documents, scientific publications and other project outputs;
- Administrative support to the project team, including assistance with the organisation and management of the conference presenting the project’s results.
5. Applicable legislation and regulations: Pursuant to the NOVA University Lisbon Research Grant Regulations, approved by Order no. 9484/2023 of 14 September 2023, as well as the Research Grant Holder Statute, approved by Law no. 40/2004, of 18 August, as amended and republished by Decree-Law no. 202/2012, of 27 August and by Law no. 12/2013, of 29 January, Decree-Law no. 89/2013, of 29 January.º 40/2004, of 18 August, amended and republished by Decree-Law no. 202/2012, of 27 August and by Law no. 12/2013, of 29 January, by Decree-Law no. 89/2013, of 9 July and by Decree-Law no. 233/2012, of 29 October (available at https://dre.pt/dre/legislacao-consolidada/lei/2004-58216179)
6. Place of work: The work will be carried out at the Nova School of Law, under the scientific supervision of Professor Rita Calçada Pires.
7. Duration of the grant: The scholarship will have a duration of 12 months, expected to start in September 2026. The scholarship contract may be renewed for the duration of the project assignment or for the duration of the funding.
8. Amount of the monthly maintenance allowance: The amount of the scholarship corresponds to €1.090,98€, according to the table of values defined in Annex I of the NOVA University Lisbon Research Scholarship Regulations, approved by Order no. 9484/2023 of 14 September 2023, and payment is made monthly by bank transfer.
9. Selection methods: (define % of parameters to be assessed)
The selection methods to be used will be as follows:
The first stage of the selection process consists of the documentary assessment of the Curriculum Vitae and the Motivation Letter. The selection criteria to be applied are as follows:
Curriculum Vitae (60%): academic background; grades obtained in course units relevant to the work to be carried out, namely Tax Law, European Tax Law, International Tax Law, Corporate Taxation Law, Public Finance Law and Fundamental Rights; academic awards and distinctions; internships and other professional experience; type of extracurricular activities.
Motivation Letter (40%): the extent to which the candidate articulates the project’s research with the work carried out by the NOVA Tax Research Lab and its guiding principles, as well as their critical reflection on taxation and gender, including the need (or lack thereof) for gender-sensitive legislation and policies aimed at addressing inequality.
In order to clarify any issues that may arise during the review of the submitted documentation, the members of the selection panel may decide to conduct interviews with all or some of the candidates. Each candidate invited to an interview will be notified of this via the email address provided at the time of application.
10. Composition of the Selection Panel:
President of the Jury:
Filipe Brito Bastos
Effective members:
Rita Calçada Pires
Diogo Feio
Alternates:
Mariana França Gouveia
11. How the results are publicised/notified:
The final results of the assessment proposed by the jury will be notified to the candidates by email, no later than 90 working days after the deadline for submitting applications, and they will be able to access the minutes and the shortlist, and comment within 10 working days on the draft decision in the context of a prior hearing of interested parties, under the terms of the Code of Administrative Procedure. At the end of the period set for the hearing of interested parties and in the absence of any response, the shortlist will become final. Candidates may lodge a complaint against the final decision within 15 working days (to the email address used for notification), or appeal to the highest executive body of the funding organisation within 30 working days of notification of the final decision, addressed to (the Directorate or CEDIS) via the email address cedis@novalaw.unl.pt.
12. Application deadline and form of submission: The call for applications will be open between 20 of May and 4 of June.
13. Applications must be formalised by sending an email to bolsas@novalaw.unl.pt, mentioning the grant reference “Research grant no. 3/2026.” in the subject line of the email.
14. The application must include the following documents:
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- Motivation letter (up to two pages), including:
- How the research for the project in question ties in with the work carried out by the NOVA Tax Research Lab and its guiding principles;
- A brief critical reflection on the topic of taxation and gender, as well as on the need—or lack thereof—for gender-sensitive legislation and the fight against inequality;
- Detailed CV (including email address and telephone number);
- Supporting documents confirming academic qualifications obtained and grades in all subjects studied;
- Motivation letter (up to two pages), including:
(For academic degrees awarded by a foreign higher education institution, it is compulsory to present the registration of the recognition of the academic degree and the conversion of the final classification to the Portuguese scale (process regulated by Decree-Law no. 341/2007, of 12th October), or alternatively, to obtain equivalence/recognition of the academic degrees (process regulated by Decree-Law no. 283/83, of 21st June)).
4. Proof of enrolment for the current academic year as set out in point 2 of the Notice;
5. Evidence of the skills, participation and any publications indicated in the CV.
Failure to submit any of the aforementioned documents by the application deadline will result in exclusion from the selection process.
DISCLAIMER: This document is an unofficial translation of the Portuguese official announcement, provided for reference only. Although we have done our best to provide an accurate translation, should any discrepancies arise, the official version shall prevail.
Lisbon, 18, May, 2026
Margarida Lima Rego, Dean
