A postdoc position is available as part of the project AlienScenarios (“Developing and applying scenarios of biological invasions for the 21st century”), financed by the joint Belmont Forum-BiodivERsA framework on biodiversity scenarios and supervised by Dr. Núria Roura-Pascual in collaboration with national and international teams. The candidate will be employed at the University of Girona and be part of the Animal Biology research group.
Research topic. The overarching aim of this research is to provide a decision support system for examining the future management of biological invasions in Europe. We will develop qualitative scenarios for biological invasions at the EU level using scenario planning analyses, and then combine these future scenarios with a spatially-explicit model of human vector movement simulating the dispersal of alien species to assess the consequences of different levels of implementation of the EU regulation on invasive alien species. This postdoc will develop the vector-based model and conduct the simulations to assess the effects of the different scenarios. The model will be developed in collaboration with Dr. Brian Leung (McGill University, Canada).
Required and preferred qualifications. We are looking for a highly motivated and independent scientist interested in ecological modelling and GIS technologies. Applicants should have a strong background in spatial analysis and statistics using R. Experience in one or more of the following areas/techniques is advantageous: big data management, spatial spread models, species distribution models, invasion ecology, landscape ecology. Proficiency in spoken and written English and a good publication record are mandatory.
Duration: 24 months.
Job start is early 2020.
Mode of application. To apply, please send an email to Núria Roura-Pascual (nuria.rourapascual@udg.edu) with:
- a short letter of motivation
- a detailed CV (including previous employments and publication list)
- reprints of your two most important published articles
- contact details of at least two references (letters of recommendation are optional).
Application deadline is 7 July 2019.