PREDOCTORAL RESEARCHER FOR SEVERO OCHOA PROJECT ON UNDERSTANDING AND FORECASTING THE RISKS TO ECOSYSTEMS (ref. 25-007-95001)

CREAF is seeking a predoctoral researcher for the SEVERO OCHOA Project, with the reference CEX2023-001340 with specific ref. PREX2023-00023 funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades and the Agencia Estatal de Investigación/ 10.13039/501100011033.

The Severo Ochoa award will allow CREAF to further advance its excellence in research and research management, while contributing to addressing global socio-environmental challenges. The previous strategic project U-LANDSCAPE provided a first approach to these challenges, contributing to driving CREAF research towards human-altered ecosystems and landscapes, their functioning and threats. This perspective is reinforced in a more comprehensive way through the present proposal “ECO-RESILIENCE 360º: TRANSFORMATIVE ECOLOGY TO MANAGE THE FUTURE OF ECOSYSTEMS AND HUMAN WELLBEING” focusing on three application areas:

(1) ASSESSING THE POTENTIAL OF NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS. Our goal is to conduct research in Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) that benefits local communities, economies, ecosystems, and human health in Spain and globally. We will evaluate how global changes affect the supply and demand of essential ecosystem services (e.g., carbon and nutrient cycling, climate regulation, food and water provision, and recreational opportunities) and their impact on society.

(2) UNDERSTANDING AND FORECASTING THE RISKS TO ECOSYSTEMS. Our goal is to develop cutting-edge scientific research focused on understanding and forecasting short- and long-term changes in ecosystems that put nature at risk, focusing on climate change, biodiversity loss and forest health. We will provide decision-makers with accessible information derived from this research. We aim to investigate how global change drives the adaptation and migration of organisms, including those assisted by humans, and the resulting changes in the structure, composition and function of ecosystems and landscapes, as well as their potential effects on society.

(3) ADAPTING ECOSISTEMS FOR RESILIENCE: Our goal is to analyze and propose innovative adaptive measures to inform policies in critical areas such as adaptation to drought, climate extremes, and wildfires. We will evaluate the resilience of key ecosystem functions to significant stress factors and disruptions, including its drivers such as demographic responses, functional diversity, and biotic interactions. Additionally, we will assess ecosystem malfunctioning and explore management options.

IP garant: Prof. Maurizio Mencuccini

This contract is envisaged to start in March 1st, 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): 56% of €32,465.02** = €18,180.41.

- 2nd year (12 months): 60% of €32,465.02** = €19,479.01.

- 3rt and 4rt year (24 month): 75% of €32,465.02** = €24,348.76 each year.

**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).

TASKS:

• Read, summarise and elaborate syntheses of the most advanced literature of the field.
• Define, together with the supervisory team, the general objectives of the various chapters of your PhD dissertation and the specific hypotheses that will be tested in each chapter.
• Conduct laboratory and field experiments, as required, to test the hypotheses defined above.
• Analyse the experimental data using the statistical techniques agreed with the supervisory team, produce synthesis tables and figures and relevant code in R.
• Write up the manuscripts emerging from the work mentioned above, submit them for publication to international journals and follow up their fate until completion of the process.
• Participate in appropriate training courses, present your findings at national and international conferences
• Write up your final dissertation.

REQUIREMENTS:

• BSc and MSc degrees in Biology, Forest Sciences, Environmental Sciences, or equivalent.
• Expertise in using the basic analytical tools employed in ecology (data management, statistics).
• Knowledge of English.
• Willingness to travel and enthusiasm for fieldwork in ecology.
• Experience in carrying out field protocols involving sampling of plants under field conditions and/or
• Expertise in taking eco-physiological measurements and using the corresponding scientific equipment under laboratory conditions.

ASSESSABLE CONDITIONS:

• Availability to travel for field work.
• Name and email addresses of one or two professional references.
• Research experience in the field of plant drought responses.
• Knowledge of another language (beside Spanish, Catalan if the case, and English).
• 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) and 3) academic transcripts of bachelor’s and master’s degrees (in Spanish or English), until January 26, 2025.
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.

Job offer in PDF