Bolsa de Investigação: ARDITI-OOM/2018/003

Job: Postdoctoral research fellowship in Jellyfish ecology and aquaculture;

Job/Fellowship Reference: ARDITI-OOM/2018/003;

Main research field: Biological sciences;

Sub research field: n/a;

Job description:

Titulo/Title

Postdoctoral research fellowship in Jellyfish ecology and aquaculture

Job Reference: ARDITI-OOM/2018/003

Área científica genérica/Main research field

Marine Sciences

Área científica específica/ Sub research field

Marine Food Webs, Marine Fisheries and Aquaculture

Texto do anúncio - Job/Fellowship description

The H2020 project GoJelly: a gelatinous solution to plastic pollution, (774499 - GoJelly - H2020-BG-2016-2017/H2020-BG-2017-1) aims to develop, test and promote a gelatinous solution to microplastic pollution by developing a prototype microplastic filter ("GoJelly" biofilter) for commercial and public use, where the main raw material is jellyfish mucus. In this context, an international consortium will be removing the commercially and ecologically destructive sea and coastal pollution of both jellyfish and micro plastics. This innovative approach will ultimately lead to less plastic in the ocean, municipal demand (and thereby competitive prices) for jellyfish raw material to fill the "mucus-need" by filter developers, and in turn more jobs for commercial fishers in off-seasons. The by-products of the jellyplast-filters has other uses as well, ensuring that ‘GoJelly’ also delivers a green innovation, resulting in novel, valuable resource for the food and feed industry as well as agro-biological fertilizer for organic farming.

Within the scope of this project, the Oceanic Observatory of Madeira at ARDITI (Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação, Tecnologia e Inovação) is leading a Working Package on “Harvesting and Aquaculture of Jellyfish”.

In this context, ARDITI is seeking a postdoctoral research fellow with a strong background in marine food webs, marine fisheries and aquaculture. The successful candidate will assist the ARDITI team in coordinating the Harvesting and Aquaculture WP of “GoJelly”, specifically focusing on jellyfish biomass collection through wild catch when blooms are occurring and on aquaculture innovative techniques when blooms are scarce.

The candidate is expected to contribute to improve jellyfish harvesting and to develop jellyfish reproduction and rearing methodologies, in order to ensure appropriate biomass to supply for other product lines (biofilter, fertilizer, aqua feeds, cosmetic products and food). Finally, the candidate is expected to investigate the use of jellyfish as life feed for commercial species (mainly fish) and to evaluate jellyfish as a raw material for aquatic feeds.

The successful candidate is expected to join the aquaculture research group at ARDITI-OOM, an interdisciplinary team with the following research topics: aquaculture species diversification, multitrophic integrated aquaculture, physiology of stress and environmental impact of aquaculture.

Requisitos de admissão/Admission Requirements

The ideal candidate will have a PhD Degree in Marine Sciences, Marine Fisheries or Aquaculture (or other field of relevance to “GoJelly” project and the execution of the work plan detailed below), as well as previous experience, including (but not exclusively):

• Background and/or proven experience record in marine fisheries and aquaculture;
• Prior work on jellyfish ecology;
• Previous works involving experimental design and conducting trials using marine organisms;
• Experience and knowledge in data management and statistics;
• Peer-reviewed publication track record;
• Ability to conduct field work at sea;
• Demonstrated experience in marine biology and marine organism identification;
• Demonstrated ability to work independently;
• Fluent knowledge (spoken and written) of the English language
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.

Note: Applications will not be considered if candidates do not meet Mandatory Requirements (in bold). Additional experience and/or training items listed will be valued and preferred.

Plano de trabalhos/Workplan

The selected fellow will assist in developing and participate in research activities (both in the field and in the lab) related to harvesting and aquaculture of jellyfish as well as the use of jellyfish as life feed for commercial species and as raw material for aquatic feeds. Specifically, the fellows’ work plan will include (but not exclusively):

• To collect information from different types of fisheries and contribute to improve jellyfish harvesting methods in Europe;
• To conduct trials on acclimation of jellyfish species on specific designed cages (off shore) and land based tanks;
• To conduct reproduction trials with several jellyfish species;
• To conduct rearing trials of several life stages of certain jellyfish species;
• To conduct experiments on the use of jellyfish as life feed for commercial fishes;
• To evaluate the use of jellyfish species as an ingredient for aquaculture feeds;
• To participate in workshops, project meetings and other relevant and/or project related events;
• To assist in the production and writing of technical and scientific reports within the scope of the project

Orientação científica e local de trabalho/Scientific guidance and workplace

The work will be coordinated by Dr. Carlos Andrade and Dr. João Canning-Clode at ARDITI-OOM, Madeira Island (Portugal).

Duração da(s) bolsa(s)/Duration

12 months (eventually renewable up to 36 months)

Subsídio de manutenção mensal/Salary

ARDITI fellowship stipend (1495€) is determined by ‘FCT-Fundação para a CiênciaTecnologia’ (http://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/valores.phtml.en).

Métodos de seleção/Evaluation criteria

The following evaluation criteria will be applied:

FS = QA + EP + IN

FS – Final Score

Sum of Qualifications, Experience and Interview scores (if applicable) to a maximum of 40 points

QA – Qualifications

• Maximum score of 10 points: PhD Degree in field of relevance (e.g. marine food webs, marine fisheries and aquaculture).

EP – Experience

• Maximum Score of 20 points as follows:

 (note: Mandatory requirements in bold. Failure to meet such requirements are motif for exclusion. If there are no applications with mandatory requirements, the jury may decide to consider remaining applications).

IN – Interview

• Top three candidates may be invited for an interview (in person or remotely) if QA + EP scoring has a maximum difference of 2 points or lower. Maximum score of 10 points.

Composição do Júri de Seleção/Selection panel

Dr. Carlos Andrade (ARDITI-OOM)

Dr. João Canning-Clode (ARDITI-OOM)

Dr. Jamileh Javidpour (GEOMAR)

Documentos de candidatura/Application contentes

-Motivation Letter (emphasizing the candidate’s adequacy to each evaluation criteria)

-Curriculum Vitae

-Degree certificate

Forma de publicitação/notificação dos resultados/Anouncement of the results

ARDITI http://www.arditi.pt. Via e-mail.

Prazo de candidatura e forma de apresentação das candidaturas/Application submissionan deadline

All applications should be sent by e-mail to: Este endereço de email está protegido contra piratas. Necessita ter o JavaScript autorizado para o visualizar. until the 9th of March 2018. The subject of the email should be: ARDITI-OOM/2018/003

Vacant posts

1

Notes:

• The selection process will be based on the principle of non-discrimination in respect of gender, age, nationality, religion, racial group, or any other possible discriminatory issue. Selection will be made only based on merit and following the European Charter for Researchers, the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (Commission Recommendation, Brussels, 11.3.2005, 2005/251/EC) and the recommendations from the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA).
• ARDITI is a recognized “refugee welcoming organization" by the European Commission, follows the European Charter for Researchers and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals.
• The deadline for application may be extended at any time without previous notice having in mind the requirements for the positions under this call.

Instituição de acolhimento-Job/Fellowship company/institute

‘ARDITI-Observatório Oceânico da Madeira’