Preamble

Pursuant to Clause 1(b) of the Center’s Statute concerning the training of specialized human resources, and with the aim of directing students’ academic capabilities toward addressing the strategic challenges of the petroleum industry, these Regulations are hereby established to set out the provisions governing financial support and the effective utilization of the talents and capabilities of outstanding students.

Article 1: Objectives and Definitions

1.1. Objectives of the Regulations:

These Regulations have been developed to establish a transparent, equitable, and merit-based mechanism for supporting postgraduate students and promising researchers. Their overarching objectives are as follows:

a) Directing the academic capabilities of outstanding individuals toward addressing real-world, high-priority challenges in the petroleum industry within the fields of process safety and risk management.

b) Developing and training specialized, highly skilled human resources to strengthen the technical capabilities of the national petroleum industry.

c) Providing financial support for applied research and the development of innovative technologies, including software and hardware solutions, aimed at preventing industrial losses.

d) Educating and training specialized personnel in risk management and process safety for employment at the Center.

1.2. Definitions and Abbreviations:

For the purposes of these Regulations, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

• University: Petroleum University of Technology (PUT).
• Center: Risk Management, Process Safety and Loss Prevention Center (PRPLC).
• Council: The Center’s Strategic Council, as established under the structure approved in the Center’s Statute.
• Executive Council of the Center: A working group comprising the President of the University, serving as Chair of the Council; the University’s Vice President for Research and Technology; the Dean of the Abadan Faculty of Petroleum; the President’s Representative; and the Director of the Center.
• Research Grant[1]: Financial support allocated to a specific research or industrial project and paid to the student to cover research expenses and facilitate the implementation of its operational stages.
• Academic Support[2]: A non-repayable amount paid to selected students on a monthly or installment basis, exclusively for academic support purposes.
• Collaboration Agreement: A formal document setting forth the terms of support, academic obligations, and the absence of any employment relationship, duly acknowledged and signed by both parties.

1.3. Legal Nature of the Support Provided:

It is expressly stipulated that all payments made under these Regulations shall be classified as either a “Research Grant” or “Academic Support” and shall not, under any circumstances, constitute remuneration, wages, salary, or employment compensation. Such support is provided exclusively for academic and research activities and shall not create any employment obligation or employer–employee relationship between the Center and the Applicant.

Article 2: Applicant Eligibility and Merit-Based Selection Process

2.1. Scope of Application and Target Groups:

Applicants seeking support under these Regulations shall be classified into the following two groups:

Group A (Academically Outstanding Students): Students currently enrolled in undergraduate or postgraduate programs.

Group B (Demand-Driven Researchers): Students whose research proposals either address technological needs identified by the Center or form part of a collaborative agreement with the petroleum industry.

2.2. General Eligibility Requirements:

Commitment to the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

No criminal record and no disciplinary conviction by the University’s Disciplinary Committee.

Not being employed on a permanent, fixed-term, or contractual basis by any government organization or public institution.

2.3. Scoring System and Specific Evaluation Criteria (100 Points):

Final acceptance of applicants shall be subject to obtaining a minimum score of 75 points across the following four criteria, as evaluated by the Executive Council of the Center:

• Section One: Academic Record (Maximum 30 Points)
• Cumulative grade point average and the accreditation weighting of the applicant’s university (maximum 15 points).
• Achieving top rankings in the National University Entrance Examination or national student scientific Olympiads (maximum 10 points).
• Proficiency in technical English, evidenced by a valid qualification equivalent to the MSRT level or higher (maximum 5 points).

• Section Two: Research and Innovation Record (Maximum 30 Points)
• Articles published in reputable JCR-indexed journals and presented at leading petroleum industry conferences (maximum 10 points).
• Authorship or translation of specialized books, or development of technical and safety standards (maximum 10 points).
• Registration of a domestic or international patent, or winning an award at a reputable national festival (maximum 10 points).

• Section Three: Technical Skills and Competencies (Maximum 30 Points)
• Practical proficiency in industry-standard risk management and process safety software, such as PHAST and SAFETI (maximum 10 points).
• Proficiency in programming and big data analysis using tools such as Python and MATLAB (maximum 10 points).
• Experience in organizational or association-based activities, subject to certification by the relevant authority, at a rate of 2.5 points per year.

• Section Four: Technical and General Interview (Maximum 10 Points)
• Assessment of analytical thinking, creativity in problem-solving, and a collaborative approach to team-based projects.

Note: Academic Support shall be granted only to students who complete their studies within the prescribed period: a maximum of eight semesters for undergraduate programs and four semesters for master’s programs.

2.4. Selection Procedure:

• Call for Applications: Publication of approved project titles and the number of available positions on the Center’s information portal.
• Initial Screening: Review of the submitted documents and verification of their compliance with the requirements set forth in Section 2.3 by the Center’s Secretariat.
• Evaluation by the Executive Council: Eligible applicants shall be invited to participate in specialized interview sessions and present their qualifications and capabilities.
• Final Approval: The Executive Council of the Center shall conduct the final review and select the students eligible for Academic Support. The applicants’ scores shall be formally recorded in the meeting minutes, and the final list of successful applicants shall be officially announced by the Director of the Center.

100

Table 1 – Scoring System for the Selection of Students and Researchers (Subject of Article 2)

Article 3: Types of Financial Support and Payment Procedures

3.1. Classification of Financial Support:

The Center’s financial support shall be defined and allocated under the following two principal categories:

a) Project Collaboration Support[3]: Intended for students engaged as assistants in the Center’s industrial projects or research contracts.

b) Incentive Thesis Research Grant[4]: A one-time or installment-based grant awarded to students whose projects align with the Center’s identified needs.

3.2. Funding Limits and Amounts:

• The exact amount of support shall be determined by the Executive Council of the Center based on the hours of collaboration, the required level of expertise, and the approved budget of the relevant research project.
• The calculation of support amounts shall be based on the rates established by the National Science Foundation and the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology for the relevant fiscal year. The applicable amount shall be determined by the Executive Council of the Center.

3.3. Payment Process and Schedule (Milestone-Based Model):

• Payments under the Project Collaboration Support scheme shall be made monthly following approval by the Project Lead.
• With respect to Thesis Research Support, payments shall be made on a mandatory milestone basis in accordance with the following model to ensure satisfactory progress:

1. Advance Payment (First Installment): Up to 20% of the total amount, payable upon execution of the Collaboration Agreement and approval of the project schedule.

2. Interim Payments (Intermediate Installments): A total of 50% of the overall amount, payable subject to the submission of progress reports and approval by the Project’s Scientific Supervisor.

3. Final Settlement (Final Installment): The remaining 30%, payable upon final delivery of all required outputs—including reports, software, articles, or technical documentation—and receipt of a clearance certificate confirming that no outstanding obligations are owed to the Center.

3.4. Prohibition on Concurrent Support:

The simultaneous receipt of two forms of financial support from the Center for the same subject matter is prohibited. Where a student participates in more than one project, the aggregate amount of payments shall not exceed the maximum limit established by the Strategic Council.

3.5. Recovery and Repayment of Funds:

If a researcher, without justifiable cause and as determined by the Scientific–Executive Committee, withdraws from further collaboration or fails to fulfil their obligations, the Center shall be entitled to withhold the remaining instalments and, where necessary, recover any amounts previously paid in accordance with the terms of the Collaboration Agreement.

3.6. Statutory Deductions:

Given the research-grant and support-based nature of these payments, they shall not be subject to employee social security insurance contributions. However, any applicable statutory deductions—such as taxes imposed on research contracts under the laws and regulations in force—shall be deducted from the total amount.

Article 4: Researcher Obligations, Intellectual Property, and Confidentiality

4.1. Academic and Operational Obligations:

اa) Attendance and Participation: The Researcher shall, in accordance with the approved schedule, devote the prescribed hours of collaboration to research activities at the Center’s premises or operational sites, as required by the project.

b) Reporting: The Researcher shall submit periodic progress reports—monthly or quarterly—to the Scientific Supervisor.

c) Quality of Deliverables: The Researcher shall comply with the scientific and technical standards approved by the Center when preparing documents, source code, and reports.

4.2. Intellectual Property Rights:

a) Economic Rights: All economic rights arising from scientific achievements, inventions, software, databases, and technological products developed through this support shall vest exclusively and permanently in the Petroleum University of Technology, acting through the Risk Management, Process Safety and Loss Prevention Center.

b) Moral Rights: The Researcher’s moral rights, including recognition as the creator or author in scientific publications and patent registrations, shall be preserved subject to compliance with the Center’s rules and requirements.

c) Official Affiliation: In all articles—including ISI-indexed articles, peer-reviewed academic publications, and conference papers—and all other scientific outputs resulting from this support, the Center shall be identified as the research affiliation in accordance with the format approved by the University.

4.3. Confidentiality and Data Security:

a) Classification of Information: All industrial data, drawings, incident reports, and technical documents provided to the Researcher for the purposes of the research shall be classified as confidential. The Researcher shall not share, reproduce, disclose, or publish such information without the Center’s prior written authorization, including after the support period has ended.

b) Data Protection: The Researcher shall comply with all network and data security protocols applicable within the Center. Any unauthorized removal or transfer of raw industrial data from the Center shall constitute a serious violation and may result in legal action.

c) Publication Approval: The publication or public presentation of any article or report incorporating data obtained directly from the Center’s industrial projects shall be subject to prior written approval by the Center’s Data Protection Committee.

4.4. Professional Ethics:

The Researcher shall uphold academic integrity and refrain from plagiarism. Where any form of academic misconduct is substantiated, financial support shall be terminated immediately, and the matter shall be referred to the University’s Disciplinary Committee for further action.

4.5. Avoidance of Conflicts of Interest:

During the support period, the Researcher shall refrain from undertaking similar activities or providing consultancy services to competing companies or to any entities whose interests conflict with the Center’s ongoing projects.

Article 5: Non-Financial Benefits, Facilities, and Termination of Collaboration

5.1. Academic and Professional Benefits:

In addition to financial support, the Center shall provide the following facilities to enhance the capabilities of outstanding students and researchers:

a) Specialized Collaboration Certificate: Issuance of an official certificate confirming participation in the Center’s industrial projects, recognized as research experience, to enhance the Researcher’s professional résumé.

b) Letter of Recommendation for Outstanding Researchers: Issuance of a written recommendation by the Director of the Center for outstanding researchers, for submission to domestic or international academic institutions or prospective employers.

c) Priority in Future Projects: Outstanding researchers shall receive preferential consideration for participation in the Center’s future large-scale consultancy and research and development (R&D) projects.

d) Facilitation of Industrial Visits: Researchers shall be given priority for participation in advanced internship programs and visits to refinery and petrochemical complexes, as well as operational facilities affiliated with organizations under contract with the Center.

5.2. Welfare and Infrastructure Facilities:

Provision of shared workspace and access to the Center’s specialized library, databases, and licensed software throughout the collaboration period.

5.3. Conditions for Termination of Collaboration:

Collaboration under these Regulations shall terminate in any of the following circumstances:

a) Completion of the Contracted Work: Successful completion of the project and final approval of all deliverables by the Scientific Supervisor.

b) Voluntary Withdrawal: The Researcher shall provide written notice of withdrawal at least one month before discontinuing the collaboration, subject to the resolution and settlement of all completed stages of the work.

c) Failure to Fulfil Obligations: A determination by the Executive Board that the Researcher’s academic or operational performance is inadequate.

d) Breach of Confidentiality: Any violation of the provisions of Article 4 concerning intellectual property and confidentiality shall result in the immediate termination of support and may give rise to legal action.

e) Graduation or Withdrawal from Studies: Given the student-based nature of the support, where a student ceases to hold active enrolment status, their financial support shall be reviewed, except in special cases approved by the Center.

5.4. Dispute Resolution:

In the event of any dispute concerning the interpretation or implementation of these Regulations or any related Collaboration Agreement, the decision of the Center’s Strategic Council, acting as the designated arbitral authority, shall be final and binding.

5.5. Approval and Validity:

These Regulations consist of five Articles and, following approval by the Executive Council of the Center and final ratification by the President of the Petroleum University of Technology, shall enter into force on the date of official notification.