Research grant for Doctors (1 vacancy) REFERĂŠNCIA: BI/CITAB/UTAD/AMB/2015
One research grant for doctors is available within the Research Unit CITAB – Centre for The Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (AGR-Norte-VilaReal-4033) at the Universidade de Trås-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal, funded by national funds through FCT, under the following conditions: Scientific area: Environmental Sciences Admission prerequisites: 1. Ph. D. in Agro-forestry Sciences, Environment, Biology or similar scientific fields. 2. Advanced skills in applied ecology, environmental systems and ecosystem services. 3. High academic and scientific merit in the relevant areas of the grant. 4. Proficiency in English. 5. Experience in preparing and participating in national and international research projects. Work plan: Focused on conservation strategies and ecological modelling to promote and ensure ecosystem recovery and sustainability and the provision of adequate ecosystem services, including ecological assessment and systems characterization and evolution by modelling the effect of anthropogenic impacts. The research fellow is expected to contribute to the development of the task as a whole through broad academic and scientific skills. The researcher will develop practical and operational solutions (tools, methods, knowledge) that will facilitate ecosystem restoration and enhance its (cost-) effectiveness in contributing to the multiple goals of different policies, including: the WFD, the FD, biodiversity strategy, habitats and birds directive, climate change adaptation, but also the delivery of amenities and enhanced living conditions to citizens. Innovative, cost-effective, and robust solutions will be developed to increase the awareness and positive attitudes of public authorities and create incentives and practical tools for assessing the multiple benefits of restoration, resulting in increased socio-ecological resilience. These solutions will be built-in in experimental areas where UTAD is developing integrative work (e.g. Sabor river) concerning the modelling of changes on the communities related to land use, multidisciplinary impact mitigation, and restoration of habitats and biodiversity. This case will be further linked with a network of restoration cases across Europe involving international research centres and public and private organizations. The selected applicant will be active in promoting scientific collaboration among task members and CITAB members in general, including the definition of new research areas, and will seek funding opportunities allowing an integrated approach to the task. As such, teamwork skills, scientific autonomy, English fluency and previous experience in designing project applications are of foremost importance. The researcher will also contribute to increase the scientific productivity of the task.