Published on November 06, 2023

Call for Applications – PhD in Computer Science

Selection Process for Doctoral Course in Computer Science

The Graduate Program in Computer Science (PPGC) at UFRGS makes public that it will receive applications of candidates for the doctorate course in continuous flow in the period between Nov 1, 2023 and Jul 10, 2024.

1. Positions

Art. 1°. Up to 30 (thirty) positions will be offered, with a maximum of 2 (two) per advisor.

Art. 2°. According to CONSUN Resolution No. 015, from January 13, 2023, which creates the Affirmative Action Program for Stricto Sensu Graduate Studies (Masters and Doctorates) within the scope of UFRGS, PPGC will provide at least 30% (thirty per percent) of academic doctorate positions for historically and socially discriminated groups in Brazilian society, especially the following groups: I – black and brown people; II – indigenous people; III – Quilombolas people; IV – people with disabilities; V – transgender; VI – refugees or people with a humanitarian visa; VII – migrants in conditions of social vulnerability.

• 1° – To apply for such affirmative action positions, applicants must complete a self-declaration form and submit it upon application, as described in Section IV. Registration Procedures. This form can be accessed on the PPGC/UFRGS website (https://www.inf.ufrgs.br/ppgc/doutorado/formularios/).

At the time of registration, candidates for positions related to affirmative actions whose profile allows more than one option for these vacancies must choose one of the modalities listed in Art. 2, by completing the specific self-declaration form, being automatically excluded from the others. It will not be allowed to change this option during the process. Candidates who do not complete the self-declaration form will be considered as candidates in the open call.

• 2° – The ranking of candidates for positions related to affirmative action will be done according to the result of the stages of the selection process described in Section II, Selection Procedures.
• 3° – If positions reserved for affirmative action are not filled, they may be filled by the remaining candidates.
• 4° – The verification process of self-declarations and supporting documents for inclusion in the groups defined in Art. 2, with the purpose of assessing and approving the admission of groups to the Affirmative Actions Program for Graduate Studies, will be carried out by a specific committee, appointed by PROPG, as described in Resolution No. 015 of CONSUN, of January 13, 2023.

1. Selection Procedures

Art. 3°. The selection committee is composed of professors Alberto Egon Schaeffer Filho, André Grahl Pereira, Gabriel Luca Nazar, João Luiz Dihl Comba, Lucas Mello Schnorr and Weverton Luis da Costa Cordeiro, who will be responsible for publishing the list of selected candidates, in accordance with the provisions of Art. 1st and Art. 2nd, and for the judgment of any appeals.

Art.  4°. The following criteria will be considered for evaluation:

• 1° – The selection and classification of candidates will follow the score (from zero to 10) established in the following table:

• 2° – Analysis of the Lattes CV (or equivalent for foreigners) will assess the candidate’s previous research experience, assigning a score, with saturation at 1.5, as shown in the following table:

• 3° – The analysis of academic performance will evaluate the courses taken during the candidate’s undergraduate and/or master’s degree (when applicable), their suitability for the line of research selected by the candidate, and the grade obtained in these subjects.
• 4° – The analysis of letters of recommendation will evaluate, in addition to the written opinion, the score given by the author of each letter in the following criteria: mastery in their specific area of ​​knowledge; ease of learning/intellectual capacity; assiduity, perseverance; relationships with colleagues and superiors; initiative, resourcefulness, originality and leadership; written expression ability; knowledge in English.
• 5° – The analysis of the work plan will evaluate the proposed objectives, contributions and methodology for their clarity, relevance, originality and feasibility.
• 6° – The interview will be conducted by a committee composed of three advisor professors of the program, and can be carried out in person at the Institute of Informatics or via videoconference. Interview locations are accessible to people with disabilities. In this interview, which lasts around 30 minutes, the committee will assess the candidate’s maturity and potential for research.
• 7° – For applicants for admission positions in the general modality, the minimum score for approval is 7.0 (seven points). For candidates for vacancies related to affirmative actions, as described in Article 2, the minimum score for approval is 6.0 (six points).
• 8° – PPGC does not guarantee the granting of academic scholarships to those approved in this Notice.
• 9° – In the event of a tie, the individual grades awarded in the selection process will be used as a tiebreaker, in the following order: performance in the interview; analysis of the Work Plan; analysis of the Lattes CV (or equivalent for foreigners); analysis of academic performance; analysis of letters of recommendation.

III. Calendar

Art. 5°. The process of registration and selection of candidates, aiming for entry in continuous flow between December 2023 and October 2024, will follow the following schedule:

* Or the first business day after that date.

** Appeals must be submitted via email sent to , including the argument for the appeal and additional documentation, if applicable.

1. Registration Procedures

Art. 6°. Registration will be made exclusively through the online registration system available on the PPGC website (https://www.inf.ufrgs.br/ppgc/sistema/inscricoes/). In addition to filling out the form fields, it is necessary to attach, through the registration system, files with scanned copies of the following documents:

1. Postgraduate diploma or attestation that the candidate is completing a postgraduate degree, if the candidate is studying or has attended a postgraduate degree;
2. Bachelor’s diploma or certificate that you are completing an undergraduate degree;
3. Complete academic transcripts of the graduate course, if applicable;
4. Complete academic transcripts of the bachelor’s course;
5. CNPq Curriculum Vitae Lattes. Alternatively, the template available in the online registration system can be used;
6. A 3×4 photograph;
7. Official identity document and CPF. Foreign candidates can present a passport (page with photo and identification data) or National Foreigner Registry;
8. Declaration of interest from the employer, if applicable;
9. Work plan;
10. For candidates for positions related to affirmative actions, candidates must attach the self-declaration form as described in Art. 2. Depending on the group indicated on the self-declaration form, the required supporting documentation (if applicable) must also be attached to the candidate’s application.

• 1° – At the time of registration, the candidate must indicate the name of a supervisor at PPGC. It is suggested that the candidate contact potential advisors in advance to check the availability of guidance and the compatibility of research interests. Information on the PPGC’s research areas and on the research topics of its supervisors can be found on the program’s website: https://www.inf.ufrgs.br/ppgc.
• 2° – When filling out the online registration form, the candidate will be asked to provide the contact details of up to two people who will provide letters of recommendation. Recommendation letters are sent digitally by the recommenders themselves, using the same registration system that candidates use.
• 3° – A master’s degree is not a prerequisite for a doctorate. If selected, the candidate must prove, at the time of enrollment in the doctorate, the completion of at least their undergraduate course.
• 4° – Only one application per candidate will be accepted during the term of this call for applications. However, candidates who have received the recommendation to resubmit may apply again for this same call.
• 5° – Applications will be approved by the Graduate Commission and by email.

1. Registration Fee

Art. 7°. Foreign candidates residing outside the country are automatically exempt from paying the application fee.

Art. 8°. As described in CONSUN Resolution No. 015, of January 13, 2023, candidates in groups II – indigenous or III – quilombolas will have automatic exemption from paying fees related to the selection process.

Art. 9°. Other candidates must pay a registration fee of R$70.00 (seventy reais). The Union Collection Guide (GRU) and instructions for completing it correctly are available in the online registration system. Payments scheduled for dates after the deadline for payment will not be accepted as confirmation of payment of the registration fee.

Art. 10°. Low-income applicants who require a registration fee exemption must send the following documents by email ( to the PPGC Secretariat by the date set out in Section III. Calendar of this notice:

1. Letter of justification for the exemption request;
2. Proof of income of the candidate and other family members who live with the candidate, and which attest to the need for exemption.

1. Enrollment procedures

Art. 11°. Enrollment of students approved in the selection process must be completed within a maximum of 3 months after the announcement of the final selection result. The candidate must inform the secretariat via email , the desired entry date, within this period.

Art. 12°. After publishing the final result, candidates must send to the PPGC secretariat, via the email address , their master’s degree (when applicable) and their undergraduate diploma (or certificate of course completion).

VII. Other Provisions

Art. 13°. Information about PPGC’s lines of research and the research topics of its advisors can be found on the program’s website, at the address https://www.inf.ufrgs.br/ppgc, “Research” tab, “Research Areas”.

Art. 14°. Other useful information about the selection process will be published on the PPGC website, at the address https://www.inf.ufrgs.br/ppgc.

Art. 15°. Cases omitted in this Announcement will be dealt with by the PPGC Graduate Commission.

Art. 16°. The validity of this notice ends on Oct. 31, 2024.