Titulo/Title
Marine biologist/ecologist Post-doctoral research fellowship: Seafloor litter impacts on Madeira benthic biodiversity and habitats
Job/Fellowship Reference: ARDITI-FREE-LitterAT-BDP-2024-001
Área científica genérica
Main research field
Marine Ecology
Área científica específica
Sub research field
Benthic Ecology and Human Impacts
Texto do anúncio
Job/Fellowship
The INTERREG Atlantic Area project Free-LitterAT Advancing towards litter-free Atlantic coastal communities by preventing and reducing macro and micro litter aims to achieve litter-free coastal communities by combining knowledge, tools and technology with pilot actions with multi-stakeholder engagement. It tackles marine litter, a transnational challenge demanding an integral approach involving prevention, monitoring and removal when feasible of the already accumulated marine litter. The overall objective is to protect biodiversity by implementing innovative approaches to prevent and reduce marine litter, with special emphasis on ALDFG and microplastics. Free LitterAt will contribute to reducing inputs, locating sources and hotspots, enhancing monitoring capabilities and raising awareness. Main outputs include guidance, tools and joint solutions for waste management, marine litter monitoring, modelling, clean-up and removal, as well as action plans transferred to the competent authorities and maritime stakeholders. The project will build on previous results and alliances, developing new solutions to be implemented through pilot actions.
Within the scope of this project, ARDITI (Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação, Tecnologia e Inovação) is seeking to recruit a Post-doctoral research fellow with a PhD degree in Marine Biology/Ecology awarded within the last 36 months, with previous expertise and familiarity with the coastal and benthic biodiversity and coastal habitats of Madeira.
Prospective candidates are expected to assist in video and image analysis to identify and map conspicuous benthic biodiversity, classify and catalogue benthic habitats, identify marine litter items and assess litter impacts on benthic communities. Candidates are also expected to compile all data into GIS and databases for further analysis, run basic descriptive statistics and contribute to reports and other outputs. The position requires prior familiarity with benthic biodiversity in Madeira and experience with image annotation/analysis to assess biodiversity, GIS and statistics. Good writing skills and fluent English are also most valued.
The successful candidate is expected to join MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre R&D Unit in Madeira (MARE-Madeira) in April 2024. MARE-Madeira research team working on Free LitterAT are based at Madeira Tecnopolo, where IT resources required for image analysis and annotation are available with in situ and remote access. This project fits MARE-Madeira research focusing on coastal ecology, habitat mapping, marine litter and human-related stressors and impacts on coastal ecosystems.
The main goal will be to contribute to planned activities and studies within the framework of WP2 tasks of the Free-LitterAT project, namely in image analysis, biodiversity identification and cataloguing, habitat classification and mapping, litter detection and impact assessment.
Requisitos de admissão
Admission Requirements
The ideal candidate will have a valid PhD Degree (obtained within 36 months prior to the application deadline) in Marine Biology. The candidates are expected to have previous experience in (but not exclusively):
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● Biodiversity and marine community ecology; |
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● Image analysis for biodiversity assessments (CPCe, CoralNET, …); |
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● Descriptive statistics and multivariate statistics; |
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● Geographic Information Systems; |
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● Familiarity with local benthic biodiversity; |
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● Scientific writing (previous track record); |
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● Demonstrated ability to work independently; |
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● Fluent knowledge (spoken and written) of the English language; |
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● Strong communication and collaboration skills. |
If the degree was awarded by a foreign higher education institution, that degree must comply with the provisions of Decreto-Lei no. 66/2018 of 16th August (approves the legal regime for the recognition of foreign higher academic degrees) and Portaria no. 33/2019 of 25th January, and all formalities established therein must be complied with up to the date of hire.
Plano de trabalhos
Workplan
The selected fellow will contribute to planned activities and studies within the framework of WP2 tasks of the Free-LitterAT project, namely in image analysis, biodiversity identification and cataloguing, habitat classification and mapping, litter detection and impact assessment. In addition, the fellow is expected to contribute and assist with project management, data management, and preparing manuscripts and reports. Specifically, the fellows’ work plan will include (but not exclusively):
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● Image cataloguing and database management; |
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● Image analysis and annotation to assess the abundances and frequencies of benthic biodiversity; |
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● Image analysis and annotation for Benthic Biotope & Habitat classification (i.e. descriptive and EUNIS); |
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● Image analysis and annotation for Seafloor litter detection & classification (e.g. following MSFD and/or OSPAR) from image analysis; |
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● Image analysis and annotation to assess litter impacts on benthic biodiversity; |
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● Assist in producing GIS outputs and maps; |
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● Contribute to manuscripts, project reporting and dissemination outputs and project participation in events; |
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● Assist in overall project management and report activities. |
Orientação científica e local de trabalho
Scientific guidance and workplace
The work will be coordinated by Dr. João Gama Monteiro at the Madeira Unit of MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE-Madeira), ARDITI, Madeira Island (Portugal).
Duração da(s) bolsa(s)
Duration
6 months, eventually renewable
Subsídio de manutenção mensal
Salary
ARDITI Post-doctoral fellowship stipend (1801,00€) and regulations are determined by ARDITI:
https://cloud.arditi.pt/index.php/s/89WjkokAigiFsTi?dir=undefined&path=%2FBolsas&openfile=24051256
Voluntary Social Security (SSV) and accident insurance are included.
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 45 points
QA – Qualifications
• Maximum score of 10 points: PhD Degree in a field of relevance (e.g. Computer Science).
EP – Experience
• Maximum Score of 25 points as follows:
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Description |
Max. Score (points) |
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● Experience in Biodiversity and marine community ecology |
3 |
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● Experience in image analysis for biodiversity assessments (CPCe, CoralNET, …) |
3 |
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● Experience with Descriptive statistics and multivariate statistics |
3 |
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● Experience with Geographic Information Systems |
3 |
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● Familiarity with local benthic biodiversity |
3 |
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● Scientific writing (previous track record) |
3 |
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● Demonstrated ability to work independently |
1 |
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● Fluent knowledge (spoken and written) of the English language |
1 |
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Total |
20 |
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. João Gama Monteiro (MARE-Madeira, University of Madeira)
Dr. João Canning-Clode (MARE-Madeira, ARDITI)
Dr. Marko Radeta (MARE-Madeira, University of Madeira)
Documentos de candidatura
Application contents
-Motivation Letter (emphasizing the candidate’s adequacy to each evaluation criteria)
-Curriculum Vitae
-PhD Degree certificate
Forma de publicitação/notificação dos resultados
Announcement of the results
All candidates will be notified by email.
Prazo de candidatura e forma de apresentação das candidaturas
Application submission and deadline
Applications should be submitted in English by email to the following address:
Deadline for application: 01/03/2024 (Lisbon/Madeira Island Time).
Notes:
The selection process will be based on the principle of non-discrimination with respect to 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).
ITI is a recognized “refugee welcoming organization" by the European Commission, follows the European Charter for Researchers and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals.
Número de vagas
Vacant posts
1
Dados de contacto da organização
Organization contact data
ARDITI - Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação, Tecnologia e Inovação
Edif. Madeira Tecnopolo, Piso 2
Caminho da Penteada
9020-105 Funchal
Portugal
tel. +351 291 721 220
Email
Websites
http://www.arditi.pt
https://mare-madeira.pt
https://wave-labs.org/