Predoctoral Researcher For Severo Ochoa Project Long-Term Bi

CREAF is seeking a predoctoral researcher for the SEVERO OCHOA Project, with the reference CEX S with specific ref. PREX funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades and the Agencia Estatal de Investigación/ /

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 ECOSYSTEMS 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.

Project Overview: In an increasingly interconnected and globalised world, small, isolated islands serve as invaluable study system for understanding biodiversity change. Characterised by discrete boundaries, high endemism, and sensitivity to disturbance, islands allow unique insights into ecological and evolutionary processes across long timescales. This PhD project will investigate how island biodiversity has changed throughout the Holocene (~11,700 years to present) by analysing long-term ecological data, including high-resolution fossil pollen and faunal records from islands worldwide. Guided by an expanded island biogeography theory framework, which integrates classical geographic factors (island size, isolation, habitat diversity) with anthropogenic drivers (multiple waves of human colonization, habitat alteration, species introductions, and resource exploitation), this research will improve understanding of how human activities and natural processes have shaped insular biotas over millennial scales. This project aligns with Application Area 2 of the SO project (Understanding and Forecasting the risks to Ecosystems).

Research Aims: The project will:

• Analyse shifts in diversity of plants, mammals, and birds in relation to island characteristics and human impacts.

• Explore patterns and drivers of human-mediated biotic homogenization, assessing cross-island similarity and synchronicity of changes across taxa.

• Generate fossil datasets from understudies islands, especially to fill geographic and temporal data gaps.

Methods and Data: The PhD student will work with both existing and newly generated palaeoecological datasets, including fossil pollen and faunal records of mammals and birds. Analytical methods will integrate spatial ecology, taxonomical and functional trait analysis, and temporal biodiversity modelling. The project may also involve classic palaeoecological techniques, such as sediment core sampling, to provide a comprehensive understanding of past ecosystem dynamics.

IP garant: Dr. Sandra Nogué (CREAF/UAB) and Dr. Ferran Sayol (BETA-UVic-UCC).

This contract is envisaged to start on January 2026 or soon thereafter. 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 €32.624,20** = €18,269.55.

• 2nd year (12 months): 60% of €32.624,20** = €19,574.52.

• 3rt and 4rt year (24 month): 75% of €32.624,20** = €24,468.15 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).

MAIN FUNCTIONS

• Curate large fossil datasets from islands.

• Analyse large fossil datasets from islands.

• Potential laboratory and museum research to extract fossil data information. This might require microscope time.

• Potential fieldwork to collect new sedimentary sequences.

• Write results for publication in scientific journals.

• Present the results in scientific meetings.

• Contribute to the main objectives of the research group, including participation in projects of other team members.
  

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's and Master's degrees related to biology, environmental sciences, or similar.

• Excellent analytical skills (e.g., working with datasets and performing advanced statistical analyses).

• Experience programming in R. Good programming skills will be strongly valued.

• Good level or interest in taxonomy, preferably of different groups (i.e., mammals and birds).

• Good English level, both spoken and written. Catalan and Spanish are highly recommended.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Car driving license (B2) and good driving abilities.

ASSESSABLE CONDITIONS:

• Availability to travel for fieldwork.

• Name and email addresses of one or two professional references.

• Experience and interest in biology and ecology.

• Previous participation in projects and publications.

• Ability to work as a team and independently

• Candidates who have a recognized disability will be considered and accredited equal to or greater than 33% will be prioritized, if the disability is compatible with the proper performance of the job.

SELECTION PROCESS AND CRITERIA:

1. Admission of candidates: 1) CVA (please download and complete the document available at the following link) 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, the contact information of two referees. Applications submitted to any portal other than the CREAF job board and the instructions included therein will not be accepted.

2. Pre-selection: assessment of compliance with the minimum requirements of the job offer.

3. Selection: evaluation of the pre-selected candidates through scoring based on objective criteria, interviews with a shortlist of candidates, and a proposed exercise.

4. Final decision: if a suitable candidate is identified, they will be formally informed of their selection, and all other participants in the selection process will be notified by email.

For informal enquiries, please contact IP garant:

Dr. Sandra Nogué ([email protected])

Dr. Ferran Sayol ([email protected])

Job offer in PDF