Reference: BIOPOLIS 2024-60

Main research field: Marine biology

Sub research field: Movement ecology and fisheries

 

1. 1.       Associação BIOPOLIS opens an international call for PhD holder Researchers, under a non-fixed work contract with an expected duration of 2 years. This announcement is for one Junior Researcher position (Reference BIOPOLIS 2024-60), to pursue scientific research activities in the project "Reducing bycatch of threatened megafauna in the East Central Atlantic”, with the reference 101135583-Horizon-CL6-BIODIV-01, supported by Horizon Europe funds. The objectives focus on obtaining and integrating data on the spatial distribution and behaviour of marine megafauna with fishing effort data, to understand, monitor, and reduce the bycatch of these species, and to inform the sustainable management of fisheries in the Central-Eastern Atlantic Ocean. The work plan involves tagging and tracking marine megafauna using satellite telemetry and high-resolution sensors, such as accelerometers and video cameras [devices attached to the animal]. The analysis of these data not only reveal species' spatial and vertical habitat patterns necessary to identify areas of greater vulnerability to bycatch, but also provide a detailed understanding [at a fine scale] of the potential impact of fishing on the post-capture behaviour and mortality risk of the animal.

 

2. Applicable Legislation

Decree-Law no. 57/2016 of August 29th, amended by Law 57/2017 and Regulatory Decree No. 11- A / 2017 which approved the doctorate hiring regime destined to stimulate scientific and technological employment for all knowledge areas (RJEC); Portuguese Labour Code, approved by Law 7/2009 of February 12, in its actual form.

 

3. Pursuant to article 13 of RJEC, the tender selection panel is formed by: Nuno Queiroz (Auxiliary Researcher at CIBIO-InBIO, President of the selection panel), Marisa Vedor (Junior Researcher at CIBIO-InBIO), and Fernando Pádua Silva e Lima (Auxiliary Researcher at CIBIO-InBIO).

 

4. The workplace shall be at Associação BIOPOLIS/CIBIO – Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Rua Padre Armando Quintas nº7 | 4485-661 Vairão, PORTUGAL. Visits to other collaborating labs may take place.

 

5. Monthly remuneration to be paid is that set by subheading a) nr.1 article 15 of RJEC and article nr 2 of the Regulatory Decree nr. 11-A/2017, corresponding to level 33 of the Tabela Remuneratória Única, approved by Order no.  1553-C/2008 of December 31st, i.e. 2.294,95 Euros.

 

6. Application can be submitted by any national, foreign and stateless candidate(s) holding a doctorate degree in Biology or related areas and a scientific and professional curriculum whose profile is suited for the activity described below (item 7). In case the doctorate degree was awarded by a foreign higher education institution, it must comply with the provisions of Decree-Law no. 66/2018 of August 16th, and all formalities established therein must be complied with at the signature of work contract.

 

7. The tender admission general requirements are those defined in the previous point 6, and additional specific requirements are:

a)         Extensive experience in handling and tagging marine animals, in particular sharks, with satellite transmitters and high-resolution sensors [inertia sensors].

b)        Experience in the implementation and analysis of high-resolution data obtained from inertial sensors [e.g., accelerometers and magnetometers] to describe the fine-scale behaviour of marine megafauna.

c)         Experience in exploring, describing, and analysing ecological and biological processes using telemetry data, preferably in fish species.

c)         Experience in analysing fisheries data (e.g., AIS, VMS).

d)        Excellent competence in programming (using for e.g., R, IGOR and/or MATLAB) and using geographic information system (GIS) software (e.g. ArcGIS).

e)         Having published scientific publications in the scope of megafauna movement and behaviour.

 

The candidate should be able to work well within a team and have excellent English and communication skills. Furthermore, it is expected that the candidate possesses strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.

 

8. Pursuant to article 5 of RJEC, the selection is to be made based on the evaluation of the scientific and curricular career of the candidate.

 

9. Scientific and curricular career evaluation focuses on relevance, quality and up-to-datedness:

 

a)         of scientific, technological, cultural or artistic production in the last five years, considered most relevant by the candidate.

b)        of research activities, fundamental or applied science, developed in the last five years, considered of higher impact by the candidate.

c)         of knowledge extension and dissemination activities developed in the last five years, namely under the scope of the promotion of culture and scientific practices, deemed most relevant by the candidate.

d)        of activities of science management, technology and innovation programs, or of experience in observing and monitoring the scientific and technological system or higher education, in Portugal or abroad.

 

10. The five-year period mentioned above can be extended by the panel, if requested by the candidate, whenever the suspension of scientific activities is reasoned by socially protected grounds like parental leave, long-term serious illness, and other legal situations of unavailability to work.

 

11. Evaluation criteria are the following:

 

The evaluation of the CV of the candidates, in particular the scientific merit and research experience will take into consideration the elements presented for the last five years of activity falling within the scope of the specific areas of the tender (see Point 1) and will be performed according to the following criteria:

 

11.1 Integrated assessment of the curriculum trajectory of the candidate, based on an overview of their scientific merits, namely:

I.          Overall scientific coherence of the CV – 15%.

II.       Diversity of scientific indicators, including relevant published peer-reviewed articles falling within the scope of the specific areas listed in point 1 – 15%.

 

11.2 Relevant experience in:

  III.          Extensive experience in handling and tagging marine animals, in particular sharks, with satellite transmitters and high-resolution sensors – 20%.

  IV.          Experience in the implementation and analysis of high-resolution data obtained from inertial sensors to describe the fine-scale behaviour of marine megafauna – 15%.

    V.          Exploring, analysing, and describing ecological and biological processes using telemetry data, preferably in marine species – 10%.

  VI.          Analysing fisheries data (e.g., AIS, VMS) – 15%.

VII.          Programming (using for e.g., R, IGOR and/or MATLAB) and using geographic information system (GIS) software (e.g. ArcGIS) – 10%.

 

 

12. In the case of admitted candidates whose evaluation does not differ more than 10% from that obtained by the best positioned candidate, the jury will interview these candidates. This will be aimed at obtaining clarifications and explanations about the curricular elements and additional information as well as to evaluate the attitude profile and motivation of the candidate.

The final score of each jury member is obtained by the following assessment: 90% scientific and curricular career evaluation and 10% interview.

 

13. Candidate final classification system shall be given based on a scale 0 to 100.

 

14. The panel shall deliberate by means of roll-call vote justified under adopted and disclosed selection criteria, with no abstentions allowed.

 

15.