Published on June 16, 2023

Call for PhD Applications

Selection process for the doctorate course in Computer Science

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS PPGC #002/2023

SELECTION PROCESS FOR THE DOCTORATE COURSE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE

REGISTRATION FROM MAY TO OCTOBER 2023

ADMISSION FROM JUNE 2023 TO JANUARY 2024

The Graduate Program in Computer Science (PPGC) at UFRGS will receive applications of candidates  for the doctorate course in continuous flow in the period between May 1, 2023 and Oct 10, 2023.

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. 2nd, 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 process will be conducted by the PPGC Graduate Commission, which will be responsible for disclosing the list of selected candidates, in accordance with the provisions of Art. 1 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 obey the score (from zero to 10) established in the following table:

• 2° – The analysis of the Lattes Curriculum (or equivalent for foreigners) will assess the candidate’s previous research experience, including scientific initiation activities, academic exchanges and articles published during their undergraduate and/or master’s degree (when applicable).
• 3° – The analysis of academic performance will assess the subjects taken during the candidate’s undergraduate and/or master’s course (when applicable), their suitability for the research area selected by the candidate, and the grade obtained in these subjects.
• 4° – The analysis of the letters of recommendation will evaluate, in addition to the written opinion, the score assigned by the author of each letter in the following criteria: mastery in his area of ​​specific knowledge; ease of learning/intellectual ability; assiduity, perseverance; relationship with colleagues and superiors; initiative, resourcefulness, originality and leadership; written expression ability; knowledge in English.
• 5° – The analysis of the work plan will assess the proposed objectives, contributions and methodology in terms of their clarity, relevance, originality and feasibility.
• 6° – The interview will be conducted by a commission made up of three professors guiding the program, and can be carried out in person at the Instituto de Informática or via videoconference. The interview locations are accessible for people with disabilities. In this interview, which lasts around 30 minutes, the panel will assess the maturity and potential of the candidate for the survey.
• 7° – For applicants in the general modality, the minimum score for approval will be 7.0 (seven points). For candidates to affirmative actions, as described in Art. 2nd, the minimum score for approval will be 6.0 (six points).
• 8° – The PPGC does not guarantee the granting of an academic scholarship to those approved in this Notice.
• 9° – Scholarships will be awarded at each monthly selection process and will take into account: the availability of program scholarships; the interest of each candidate in receiving a scholarship, indicated during registration; the score of candidates interested in the selection process.
• 10° – 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 Curriculum (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 at admission in a continuous flow between June 2023 and January 2024, will follow the following timetable:

* Or the first working day after that date.

** Resources must be submitted via email sent to , including the appeal’s rationale and additional documentation, if applicable.

1. Registration Procedures

Art. 6°. Applications should be submitted exclusively through the online application system available on the PPGC website (https://www.inf.ufrgs.br/ppgc/sistema/inscricoes/). In addition to filling in the form fields, you will need 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 or passport in the case of foreigners (page with photo and identification data);
8. Employer’s declaration of interest, 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. 2nd. 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 the 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: http://ppgc.inf.ufrgs.br.
• 2° – When completing the online application 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 application 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 registration fee.

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

Art. 9°. The other candidates must pay a registration fee of R$ 70.00 (seventy reais). The Union Collection Guide (GRU) and instructions for its correct completion 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 an application fee waiver should email the following documents ( to the PPGC Secretariat by the date set forth in Section III. Calendar:

1. Justification letter for exemption request;
2. Proof of income of the candidate and other family members residing with the candidate, attesting to the need for exemption.

1. Other Provisions

Art. 11°. Enrollment of students approved in the selection must be completed within a maximum of 3 months after the publication of the final selection result.

Art. 12°. Information on the PPGC’s research areas and on the research topics of its supervisors can be found on the program’s website, at the address http://ppgc.inf.ufrgs.br, “Research” tab, “Research Areas”.

Art. 13°. Other useful information about the selection process will be disclosed through the PPGC website, at the address http://ppgc.inf.ufrgs.br.

Art. 14°. Cases omitted in this Announcement will be dealt with by the PPGC Graduate Commission.

Art. 15°. The validity of this notice ends on January 31, 2024.