CREAF is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to work in the SPEAR project (Scenarios for Protecting European Avian Redistributions), with ref. PCI2022-135056-2, International competitive calls, within the framework of "INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION PROJECTS" 2022, funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Next Generation funds of Euroepan Union, and PRTR (Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia). The candidate will be also contributing to the RESPIN project (REinforcing Science-Policy INterfaces for integrated biodiversity and climate knowledge and policies), with ref. 101135490 and BIOAGORA project (Biodiversity Knowledge Agora: Developing the Science Service for European Research and Biodiversity Policymaking) with ref. 101059438 both of them financed by European Commission. projects.
CREAF is seeking an experienced spatial modeller researcher with a strong background in spatial biodiversity modelling and use of scenario projections to work, together with other European institutions, on building novel future projections of biodiversity aimed at capturing future spatial dynamics of bird distributions under different scenarios at different spatial scales (from subnational to European). These novel projections will explore IPBES based Nature Positive Futures including rewilding (recovering of natural processes at the system level) which aim at significantly contributing to the core of policy relevant information targeting the implementation of the European Biodiversity Strategy 2030. Together with ICO (Catalan Ornithological Institute, https://ornitologia.org/ca/) and EBCC (European Bird Census Council, https://www.ebcc.info), our group is leading on the development of bird based EBVs and derived indicators (farmland, forest and open habitats) that bridge the gap between informing current global change impacts and the evaluation of future scenarios of change allowing the assessment of current socio-political decisions.
A full-time contract (37,5 hours/week) is offered with planned incorporation in January 2025, and a duration of 12 month in SPEAR project with possibility of extending it 24 month more in RESPIN and BIOAGORA project if the budget allows it. The salary offered is between €32,642.10 and €37,705.39 gross per year, depending on the candidate’s experience.
TASKS:
- Coordinate specific activities of the CREAF team related to the scenario development work in the SPEAR project.
- Work in the use and integration of available scenarios of future land use, disturbances such as fire, climate and vegetation available at the European scales.
- Contribute to the development of IPBES (Nature Future Framework scenarios) at the European scale by collaborating with existing initiatives around this topic.
- Contribute to develop state of the art Species Distribution Models (SDMs) using European large scale bird monitoring datasets.
- Unravel, using state of the art modelling, the spatial and temporal changes in bird distributions and explore causal links with underlaying drivers of change.
- Produce robust and credible projections of future changes in bird distributions under different scenarios of global change drivers and management options.
- Translate the acquired knowledge on processes and interactions into operational tools.
- High quality scientific outputs in the form of journal publications and contribution to relevant policy reports.
- Networking with other national and international groups in bird spatial modeling and monitoring.
- Collaborate with a large consortium of scientists to provide the outputs necessary for spatial conservation prioritization.
- High quality scientific outputs in the form of journal publications and contribution to relevant policy reports.
REQUIREMENTS:
- A completed PhD on a topic related to the current project description (biodiversity modelling/monitoring/global change).
- Previous experience with development or use of mechanistic driver models (land use changes, disturbance dynamics such as fire, dynamic vegetation models or similar).
- Excellent publication record.
- Expertise in research on biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics.
- Proven expertise in spatial modelling and/or Species Distribution Model development.
- Demonstrated experience in advanced statistic programming languages (such as R).
- Contrasted capacity to lead work and team up with other researchers.
- Previous experience in project management and leadership in a biodiversity conservation context.
- Advanced knowledge of English.
ASSESSABLE CONDITIONS:
- Experience in working alongside and/or coordinating large research groups, preferably in an international environment.
- Experience in working with future scenarios of biodiversity or climate change research and knowledge of IPCC and IPBES scenarios and modelling communities.
- Experience in the reporting of biodiversity relevant European legislation and Nature directives.
- Experience in team coordination and management in an academic/professional environment
- Experience in developing successful proposals for competitive project applications.
- Candidates with a certified disability of 33% or more will be prioritized, provided the disability is compatible with the position's responsibilities.
SELECTION PROCESS AND CRITERIA:
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Application Submission: Candidates must apply for the job offer with a CV, attach this document filled out and electronically signed, and a motivation letter (maximum 500 words until December 11st, 2024. Applications will only be accepted through CREAF’s job portal, following the listed instructions.
- Pre-selection: determination of compliance with the minimum requirements of the offer.
- Selection: assessment of the preselected candidates by scoring based on objective criteria.
- Final decision: in case of finding the suitable person, the election will be formally communicated to the final candidate, and the identification of the chosen person will be published on CREAF job opening section.
*EXTENSION DEADLINE - 15/01/2025
JOB OFFER IN PDF