PREDOCTORAL RESEARCHER FOR COGPOP PROJECT (ref. 24-075-80762)

CREAF is seeking a predoctoral researcher for the COGPOP project (Cognitive buffer and Population persistence under environmental change) with reference PID2023-152973NB-I00 funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, the Agencia Estatal de Investigación and Co-funded by European Union (MCIN/AEl/10.13039/501100011033/ FEDER, UE)

Life history theory is a cornerstone of biology, as the way organisms allocate time and energy to survival, reproduction, and growth profoundly influences their demography, ecological roles and eco-evolutionary dynamics. However, the power of the theory to predict extinction risk in animals remains limited. In COGPOP, we advocate for a more inclusive theory that integrates behavior into life history frameworks to better understand how animals navigate environmental changes causing maladaptation. Grounded in the "cognitive buffer hypothesis," which views animals as actively shaping external pressures through their decisions, our project aims to explore the adaptive role of decision-making to deal with maladaptation. To realize this goal, we propose an integrative approach organized into two main packages. Package 1 focuses on the functional role of plastic decision-making in an opportunistic, intelligent bird, the Jackdaw (Corvus monedula), asking how reproductive decisions influence fitness and population persistence. Long-term data from European populations will be combined with field observations, new monitoring technologies, experimental assays, and molecular analyses to explore breeding decisions and how they allow to cope with global warming through learning and microevolution. Package 2 adopts a retrospective approach, exploring the nexus between decision-making and life history evolution across avian and mammalian species. It uses new developments in adaptive evolutionary models to investigate niche invasions, encephalization, and the role of allometry in brain size evolution, aiming to advance towards a better understanding of the life history basis of innovative decision-making. By integrating prospective and retrospective approaches, COGPOP seeks to advance toward a more general theory of life history responses of animals to environmental change. The research will be in collaboration with international partners from UK, Brazil and Canada.

This contract is envisaged to start in January 2025*. The salary offered (gross) is established by the RD EPIF (Real Decreto 103/2019, de 1 de marzo, por el que se aprueba el Estatuto del personal investigador predoctoral en formación):

- 1st year (12 months): 60% of €32.465,02** = €19.479,01 gross per year.

- 2on,3rd and 4rt years (36 months): 75% of €32.465,02** = €24.348,76 gross per year (each year)

*The start of the contract will depend on the final resolution of the project, not coming into force until it’s resolved and it’s possible to allocate expenses to it.

**Salary from Group 1 (M3) of the salary table from the Convenio colectivo único para el personal laboral de la Administración General del Estado of 2024 (subject to possible salary increases when new salary amounts are approved during the years of contract).

TASKS:

• Conceptualize and design the specific goals of the thesis in accordance with the main goals of COGPOP.
• Organize and lead field work in the study area of Lleida.
• Coordinate fieldwork activities with the project technician.
• Lead the collection and analysis of field data.
• Prepare and write scientific articles aligned with the project objectives.
• Disseminate key findings through presentations at conferences, seminars, and outreach activities such as public talks, workshops and media appearances.
• Contribute to the broader research team’s goals, including supporting fieldwork and other team members' projects.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Environmental Science, Ecology, Geography or equivalent.
• Master's degree in biological, environmental sciences, or a closely related field.
• (If the Bachelor’s or Master’s studies are not from the European Higher Education Area, an official recognition must be presented).
• Deep enthusiasm for building a career in ecological research.
• Strong foundation in ecological theory, experimental design, and quantitative data analysis.
• Proficiency in using statistical software (e.g., R, Python) for ecological studies, and familiarity with ecological modeling.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate scientific findings clearly through both written publications and oral presentations.
• Fluency in English (both written and spoken).
• Extensive experience conducting fieldwork in animal ecology (field experience in birds will be strongly valued).
• Valid EU driving license (Type B); experience driving in remote or rugged terrain is an advantage.

ASSESSABLE CONDITIONS:

• Active participation in research projects and publications, with a strong emphasis on first-authored peer-reviewed publications and international experiences.
• Demonstrated interest and knowledge in animal ecology, with a particular focus on cognitive ecology, populations dynamics and quantitative genetics.
• Proficiency in using field-based technology (e.g., GPS, telemetry, remote sensing) to monitor wildlife behavior, movements, and habitat use.
• Proven ability to work independently and as part of collaborative, interdisciplinary research teams.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the capacity to handle multiple research tasks and meet deadlines efficiently.
• Willingness to travel for extended fieldwork, sometimes in challenging conditions.
• Contact information (name and email addresses) for one or two professional references
• Candidates who have a recognized disability will be considered and accredited equal to or greater than 33% will be prioritized, as long as the disability is compatible with the proper performance of the job.

SELECTION PROCESS AND CRITERIA:

1. Applicants should submit: 1) CV in English, 2) motivation letter (less than 1 page), 3) academic transcripts of bachelor’s and master’s degrees (in Spanish or English) until October 27th, 2024. 
2. Pre-selection: determination of compliance with the minimum requirements of the offer.
3. Selection: preselected candidates will be scored based on objective criteria. The candidates presenting the highest scores will be invited to a physical or remote interview (depending on country of residence).
4. Final decision: the decision will be communicated to the candidate with subsequent publication in the CREAF job openings section.
   

For informal enquiries, please, contact contact Dr. Daniel Sol: d.sol@creaf.uab.cat