The Foundation for Science and Technology of Portugal (FCT) opened 500 new scientific positions at all levels (Junior researcher, Assistant Researcher, Principal Researcher, Coordinating Researcher).

The call is open between 19th January and 15th February.

We invite strong candidates to apply to the FCT ‘Stimulus to Individual Scientific Employment 2017’ having CCMAR- Centre of Marine Sciences at the University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal (www.ccmar.ualg.pt) as the host institution (where selected candidates will be working).

CCMAR is a top marine research institute in Portugal, with a vibrant and enthusiastic group of scientists an support, excellent facilities, extensive international collaboration and leading member of the European Biological Resource Centre (embrc.eu).

Those interest top apply should send, as soon as possible considering the short deadline, an e-mail to ccmar@ualg.pt (subject: Scientific Employment 2017) addressed to the director and include:

1. Motivation letter including planned research goals and up to two contact for references;
2. Curriculum vitae;
3. level of the application.

CCMAR will reply shortly and may carry out online interviews.

Detailed information about the call can be found here (– in Portuguese but CCMAR will help with translation and the application):
http://www.fct.pt/apoios/contratacaodoutorados/empregocientifico/ci_dez2017.phtml.en

The guidelines (In English) can be downloaded here:
https://www.fct.pt/apoios/contratacaodoutorados/empregocientifico/docs/Guiao_de_Avaliacao.pdf

If you have particular questions about algal research at CCMAR you can contact one of the researchers directly to discuss a project.
find us at: www.ccmar.ualg.pt

Source: MARINE-B, the MArine Research Information NEtwork on Biodiversity

With this call Technical University of Denmark (DTU) invites highly talented experienced researchers who have achieved outstanding results in their research while demonstrating excellence and potential in their field to apply for one of the 22 fellowships under the international H.C. Ørsted Postdoc COFUND Programme, co-funded by Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions. The Programme is named after Hans Christian Ørsted, discoverer of electromagnetism and founder of the University.

Applicants can apply for an individual fellowship at DTU. At the time of recruitment (1 July 2018), the applicant must not have resided or carried out their main activity in Denmark for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to this date. The applicant must be an Experienced Researcher, i.e. must have obtained a PhD degree, or be very close to graduating (PhD degree must be obtained by the time of recruitment, 1 July 2018). Fellowships should commence during the same calendar year as granted; 15 December being the latest possible date.

The Programme includes two level of seniority; junior (postdoc level) and senior (assistant/associate professor level)

Applicants should apply for a junior fellowship if they have received their PhD degree within the period of 0 months to 5 years from time of recruitment (1 July 2018). Junior fellowship contracts are offered for 12-24 months; 24 months being the general duration.

Applicants should apply for a senior fellowship if they have 5+ years of experience from PhD graduation at time of recruitment (1 July 2018), and should be at a level of their career where they have had postdoc fellowships or similar and are ready academically to enter the next level of the career ladder. Senior fellowship contracts are offered for 3-12 months; 12 months being the general duration.

Applications should be based on the details of the full call text which can be downloaded at www.dtu.dk/COFUNDpostdoc.

Applications must be submitted via DTU’s online submission service at www.career.dtu.dk. Applications received by other means will not be considered.

Applications must be submitted as one compiled PDF and should contain all the requested annexes in the following order:
1. Research plan (maximum of 5 (A4) pages)
2. Signed host statement
3. Prioritised CV and List of Publications
4. Ethics issues table
5. PhD documentation (or declaration from supervisor)
The research plan must be arranged in advance with the host at DTU and should be formulated to be comprehensible to reviewers without core expertise in the research field in question.

Application deadline is 23 February 2018 (23.59, CET). To apply, please click the link “apply online”, fill in the online application form and attach your application.

For more information about the Programme please visit www.dtu.dk/COFUNDpostdoc or contact the secretariat at oerstedpostdoc@adm.dtu.dk.

DTU welcomes applications from all interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion and ethnic background.

Source: MARINE-B, the MArine Research Information NEtwork on Biodiversity

http://www.su.se/ostersjocentrum/english/research/baltic-sea-initiative/stockholm-university-announces-five-new-positions-in-baltic-sea-research-1.356033

At Stockholm University, successful marine research and education has been conducted for over five decades. World leading research about the Baltic Sea, as well as high-level science about other marine areas such as the tropical seas and the artic regions, originates from Stockholm University.
Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre’s mission is to strengthen and illuminate this significant marine activity that involves over ten different Departments at the University. We are a combination of experts and communicators who collaborate with a wide network of marine scientists to improve the knowledge about the Baltic Sea and help society handle its marine environmental problems. Stockholm University is now inviting applicants for the following positions in Baltic Sea research:

1. Assistant Professor in Hydrological Transport, Dept. of Physical Geography
2. Assistant Professor in Marine Geophysical Mapping and Modelling, Dept. of Geological Sciences
3. Assistant Professor in Marine Isotope Biogeochemistry, Dept. of Geological Sciences
4. Postdoctoral Fellow in Baltic Sea Molecular Ecology, Dept. of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences
5. Postdoctoral Fellow in Baltic Sea Ecosystem Change, Dept. of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences

We particularly seek scientists interested in collaborative research related to different aspects of the Baltic Sea environment. While each position has a home department, the employees will enjoy being a part of an interdisciplinary research team at the Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre. More information about the positions and application procedure at su.se/english/jobs.

http://www.su.se/ostersjocentrum/english/research/baltic-sea-initiative/stockholm-university-announces-five-new-positions-in-baltic-sea-research-1.356033

Source: MARINE-B, the MArine Research Information NEtwork on Biodiversity

Please find below details of three exciting marine ecology / biogeochemistry PhD positions in Edinburgh and Glasgow currently open for applications:

PhD 1: Using genetics, physiology & modelling to improve marine ecosystem conservation (based at the Lyell Centre, Edinburgh)

In collaboration with the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh and Scottish Natural Heritage, this project will combine genetics, physiology and modelling to improve the evidence-base that currently supports maerl bed conservation. Maerl beds – diverse ecosystems formed by accretions of free-living red coralline algae – are one of Europe’s most ecologically and economically important marine ecosystems. Scotland is a European maerl bed stronghold, but current protection is based on a paucity of empirical data. Throughout the project, the student will work towards research objectives designed to improve management and conservation practice, forming recommendations underpinned by robust, multi-disciplinary scientific evidence. To achieve this, the student will combine field and laboratory experimentation, developing technical skills in spatial modelling, environmental genetics, bioinformatics and ecophysiology. Fieldwork will be conducted around the UK, with potential opportunities in the wider NE Atlantic (e.g. Iceland, Norway). Application deadline: 31st January 2018.

PhD 2: Blue carbon in a changing world (based at University of Glasgow)

Carbon sequestration by natural systems may be a solution for slowing down atmospheric CO2 increases. The sequestration of carbon into ocean sediments by marine ecosystems for long-term storage is termed ‘blue carbon’, to differentiate it from carbon stored in terrestrial ecosystems such as forests. Coralline algae are a globally ubiquitous, highly calcified type of macroalgae (i.e. seaweed) found from the intertidal to the lower limit of the photic zone (300+ m), forming vast reef-like structures that harbour high biodiversity at multiple trophic levels. Accumulations of coralline algae create deposits (known as maerl beds) spanning the last 20,000 years. There is evidence that these beds store significant quantities of carbon, acting as globally-important blue carbon repositories. This project will investigate the spatio-temporal response of blue carbon to environmental change, using the extensive maerl beds in Scotland. The student will utilise a multi-disciplinary approach that will combine field and laboratory research, developing skills in carbon biogeochemistry, stable isotope ecology, marine carbonate chemistry and spatial modelling. Partnership with Marine Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage will allow the scholar to directly engage with marine policy and management, providing a unique opportunity for multi-sector experience and research-policy translation. Application deadline: 18th December 2017.

PhD 3: Role of coralliths in coral reef recovery and expansion (based at University of Edinburgh)

The ecosystem services provided by coral reefs are worth over $100 billion annually and include coastline protection, tourism, food and medical derivatives. There are significant efforts in place to protect these ecosystems, but to further optimise these efforts we need to fully understand their ecology. Coralliths (mobile corals) are found in reef systems worldwide, and have typically been regarded simply as an ecological curiosity. Emerging evidence has highlighted that coralliths can in fact play a fundamental role in habitat provision on reefs, and have done so since the Pleistocene(1) through the ‘free living stabilisation’ hypothesis. However, the prevalence of this service provision, the species that can become coralliths, and the role of corallith growth in facilitating species expansion remain key knowledge gaps. The PhD scholar will address these knowledge gaps through a multidisciplinary laboratory and fieldwork approach in collaboration with Operation Wallacea. Understanding the drivers behind corallith formation, and the mechanisms by which they can create habitat would provide key information for future coral reef integrated management: firstly by allowing us to understand potential disaster-recovery processes on reefs not managed, and secondly whether they should be integrated in managed reef conservation efforts.
Application deadline: 11th January 2018.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like any further information.
Best regards,

Heidi Burdett
h.burdett@hw.ac.uk
Lyell Centre for Earth and Marine Science and Technology
Edinburgh
UK

Source: MARINE-B, the MArine Research Information NEtwork on Biodiversity

A postdoc position in the area of marine microbiology is available in Dr. Y Chen’s group at the University of Warwick, UK. We are looking for candidates with a strong background in bacterial grazing by e.g. nanoflagellates or ciliates.
http://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/BFN616/research-fellow-80391-117/

Deadline for applications is the 20th December 2017 with interviews to be held in January 2018. More information about the group can be found under: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/lifesci/research/ychen/
For informal enquiries about the position, please, contact Dr. Y Chen (email: Y.Chen25@warwick.ac.uk).

Best,
Michaela Mausz

PhD opportunity: Monitoring coastal environments using imaging sonars and machine learning

This PhD, which will be jointly supervised by UEA and Cefas, is open to applicants with a degree in any numerate discipline. Full details are at: https://www.findaphd.com/search/ProjectDetails.aspx?PJID=89908
Imaging sonars are now capable of producing video like images at frame rates (typically 8-30 f/ps) in the underwater marine environment. Such systems work well in the turbid coastal and estuarine environments where low light video systems do not provide useful imagery and as such imaging sonars provide new remote sensing tools for studying previously intractable problems of importance to industry and to marine managers including detection of potential clogging organisms for power station water intakes and fish behaviour around coastal structures.

However, the amount of data that such systems can generate (Tb/day) creates a real barrier to their routine deployment due to the staff requirement to analyse images and the associated costs and delays. Recently, there have been advances in the capability of machine vision modules making them now practical components of underwater remote sensing systems which typically have severe constraints on the available power and bandwidth of communications links to data processing locations onshore. This project aims to develop automated machine learning to detect and classify targets of interest in near real time thereby dramatically reducing the image analysis costs and opening up the use of such systems in autonomous remote sensing applications.

Methodology:
Traditional image processing techniques employed to detect and classify imaging sonar features use pixel-based supervised classification. These are ineffective in scenarios where large quantities of data are available, and the sonar footage may contain few occurrences of relevant objects. While the imaging sonar footage is expensive to capture and later annotate, the appearance of objects e.g. fish, jelly fish etc. often bears resemblance to that acquired using the traditional RGB cameras. Consequently, the research will concentrate on developing machine learning algorithms capable of aiding processing of the sonar images (target domain) by letting them learn other imaging domains (source domains) as well. The developed algorithms will belong to the family of ‘deep learning’ algorithms, a complex machine learning technique that has recently proven to provide a step-change in a number of computer vision applications. This will require a large dataset of annotated imagery for training and the expert knowledge on the image appearance which are available in Cefas. The student will also contribute to the deployment of Cefas sonars as the research progresses

Yours,

Alastair

Alastair Grant
Associate Dean for Post Graduate Research, Faculty of Science
Professor of Ecology, School of Environmental Sciences,

University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK

Source: MARINE-B, the MArine Research Information NEtwork on Biodiversity