ciTechCare research fellows receive FCD PhD studentships

The FCT recently announced the provisional results for the awarding of 1,600 PhD scholarships. The applications submitted by research fellows Solange Castanheira and Neuza Barros were accepted, giving both researchers the opportunity to deepen their knowledge in their respective fields over the next four years.

In Solange Castanheira’s case, an FCT PhD scholarship in a non-academic environment was awarded in the field of Medical and Health Sciences, specifically Basic Medicine/Biomedicine. The aim of the study is to further investigate the relationship between circadian rhythms, chronotype and cardiometabolic risk among healthcare professionals working shifts, contributing to the development of more personalised strategies for disease prevention and health promotion. The project is expected to be carried out in collaboration between ciTechCare and Sensimeter, a spin-off of the Polytechnic University of Leiria/ULO.

The second FCT scholarship awarded to ciTechCare, also in a non-academic environment, was granted to Neuza Barros. Her project, entitled “Body Weight Manipulation, Low Energy Availability and Health in Female Kickboxing and Muay Thai Athletes”, is part of her PhD project in Sports Sciences, which will be carried out at the Faculty of Sport of the University of Porto.

The project aims to address a gap that still exists in the scientific evidence regarding female athletes in these sports.

In addition to ciTechCare, which will serve as the host institution and where most of the research will be conducted, the project will be developed in close collaboration with Dinamite Warriors Factory – Marinha Grande Combat Sports Association, allowing the scientific research to be based on data collected from athletes in the region.

The final results of the call are expected to be announced by early November 2026.