Postdoc in biodiversity patterns and conservation (Lisboa, Portugal)

Post-doctoral Fellowship
Reference: ICETA 2016-43

Scientific Area: Biological Sciences / Biodiversity Patterns and Conservation

Link to the call

Job description:
One post-doctoral fellowship (Reference ICETA 2016-43) is available at CIBIO-InBIO, funded by the FCT Project PTDC/BIA-BIC/5558/2014 in the field of biodiversity patterns and conservation, under the following conditions:

Admission requirements:

The post-doc fellowship is suitable for candidates of any nationality holding a PhD degree in biology, ecology, environmental sciences or related fields but candidates from mathematics, statistics or other quantitative areas are strongly encouraged to apply. The candidate should have a strong quantitative background and programming experience. Further preferred skills include excellent verbal and written communication skills. Excellent speaking and written knowledge of English is required. A proven publication track record is required.

Project overview:

This project investigates how species diversity, with emphasis on species abundance distributions, scale as a function of area or sample size. The research will be mainly desk based and will include statistical analysis and the development of probabilistic models to describe the patterns of species diversity scaling, with emphasis on the species abundance distribution. However, practical aspects of data collection relevant to mathematical developments will also be considered and the candidate will interact with researchers from the Azorean Biodiversity Group (cE3c) based at the University of Azores on these matters. The candidate will join a dynamic teams led by Luís Borda de Água and Henrique M. Pereira in Lisbon, and Paulo Borges in Azores working on ecological theory of biodiversity modeling.

Fellowship:
The duration of the fellowship is 12 months, renewable up to a maximum of three years.

Salary:
Monthly stipend is €1495 according to the stipends established by FCT, I.P. in Portugal (http://alfa.fct.mctes.pt/apoios/bolsas/valores). Payment will be made by bank transfer on a monthly basis.

Legislation applicable:

Estatuto do Bolseiro de Investigação Científica, aprovado pela Lei n.º 40/2004, de 18 de Agosto, alterado e republicado pelo Decreto-Lei n.º 202/2012, de 27 de Agosto, alterado ainda pelo Decreto-Lei n.º 233/2012, de 29 de Outubro, pela Lei n.º 12/2013, de 29 de Janeiro, e pelo Decreto-lei n.º 89/2013, de 9 de Julho; Regulamento de Bolsas e Investigação da Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, IP (FCT), em vigor (www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/docs/RegulamentoBolsasFCT2015.pdf) e de acordo com os Estatutos de Bolsa do ICETA aprovados pela FCT.

Work place:
Work will be conducted at CIBIO-InBIO branch located at the Tropical Research Institute, Lisbon, Portugal


Application:

The call for applications is open between 20/05/2016 and 03/06/2016 (24:00 GMT).


Applications should be submitted by email to bolsas@cibio.up.pt and will include:

a) Curriculum vitae (including a publication list and other relevant information in the context of the project research goals);

b) Motivation Letter (including a brief description of research experience and why you are suitable for the announced position);



Selection criteria:

The jury panel will select the best candidate based on his/her merit, through the analysis of:

· Overall appreciation of the Curriculum Vitae, particularly the publication record (60%);

· Specific experience in research projects related to the call (40%);

The best candidates will be invited for an interview (typically ca. 25%), in person or by videoconference, to establish the final ranking.



Jury Panel:

Luís Borda de Água (Chair), Henrique Miguel Pereira (vowel), Paulo Borges (vowel), and César Capinha (vowel).



Results announcement:

Candidates will be directly informed by email about the result of their application. The ranking of the candidates will be published at a visible and public area of ICETA facilities.