Assistant Researcher (M/F) | Ccmar/Iaebep/16/2024 | Fish Ethology And Welfare | 1 Vacancy

Organisation/Company: CCMAR – Centro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve

Research Field: Biological sciences » Biology

Researcher Profile: Established Researcher (R3)

Positions: Postdoc Positions

Country: Portugal

Application Deadline: 18 Dec 2024 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon)

Type of Contract: Permanent

Job Status: Full-time

Hours Per Week: 35

Offer Starting Date: 1 Jan 2025

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme

Reference Number: FCT-Tenure

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description
Assistant Researcher – Fish Ethology and Welfare (M/F)

1 Position Available

Reference: CCMAR/IAEBEP/16/2024

The Centro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve (CCMAR) is opening a recruitment and selection process for one position for an Assistant Researcher in Fish Ethology and Welfare. This position is open to citizens of any nationality, including stateless individuals, under a permanent employment contract to recruit and select the best candidate for activities within the Foundation for Science and Technology Tenure Program (FCT-Tenure).

1. About CCMAR:

CCMAR ( https://ccmar.ualg.pt/ ) is one of Portugal's leading marine science research centres, rated Excellent in evaluations promoted by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). With a multidisciplinary team, well-equipped facilities, and laboratories, CCMAR engages in core areas such as research, training, business, societal engagement, and collaboration.

2. Summary and Functions:

The selected candidate will lead research at CCMAR focused on advancing knowledge in fish ethology and welfare. EU advisory bodies recognise this field as critical for improving finfish production, and the European Commission and Parliament acknowledge it as a pillar for the EU aquaculture sector. CCMAR aims to leverage its position to spearhead innovative research addressing both fundamental and applied aspects of fish behaviour and welfare.

The candidate will coordinate a research group to expand understanding of fish behaviour using the four questions of ethology (function, causation, development, and evolution) as a framework and apply this state-of-the-art knowledge to enhance the welfare of farmed and wild-caught aquatic animals.

Key Responsibilities:

Conduct research to deepen knowledge of fish behaviour and its physiological underpinnings, integrating fundamental and applied perspectives.

Develop and implement methodologies to assess and improve fish welfare in aquaculture and wild fisheries.

Coordinate studies linking fish behavioural traits to physiological mechanisms, emphasising food quality and security implications.

Supervise and mentor a research group, including MSc and PhD students, fostering an environment of innovation and scientific excellence.

Secure competitive funding to support research activities and projects.

Engage with policymakers, industry stakeholders, and the general public to raise awareness about the importance of fish ethology and welfare.

Establish and strengthen collaborations with national and international research institutions, hosting visiting researchers and students.

Disseminate findings through high-impact publications, presentations at international conferences, and participation in outreach activities.

Partner with aquaculture and fisheries industries to translate research findings into practical applications that enhance fish welfare and production efficiency.

The selected candidate will contribute to CCMAR's mission by addressing societal challenges, advancing scientific understanding, and supporting the sustainable development of aquaculture and fisheries sectors.

3. Applicable Law:

Decree-Law No. 57/2016, of August 29, amended by Law No. 57/2017, of July 19.

Regulatory Decree No. 11-A/2017, of December 29.

Labour Code, approved by Law No. 7/2009, of February 12, in its current version.

Decree-Law No. 124/99 of April 20, in its current version.

Administrative Procedure Code.

Internal Regulation for Scientific Research and Technological Development Personnel, and Science and Technology Management and Communication at Centro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve.

4. Start Date: The contract is expected to start in January 2025.

5. Workplace: Activities will occur at CCMAR (University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal) and other locations necessary for the proposed tasks.

6. Working Hours: 35 hours per week.

7. Monthly Salary: The gross base monthly salary is €3.427,59 (Index 195).

8. Application Period: The application period starts on 04th of December, 2024, and ends on 18th of December 2024, at 23:59 (Lisbon time, Portugal).

9. Required Profile:

The selected candidate must have completed a PhD in Biology, Ethology, or a related field, with at least 5 years of relevant research experience, particularly in fish behaviour and welfare.

The candidate must have a strong publication record in internationally recognised journals, focusing on fundamental and applied aspects of fish welfare science, particularly in the last 5 years. Research must encompass multiple species, life stages, and farming systems, addressing critical areas such as welfare at slaughter, ongrowing phases, and strategies to improve welfare in captivity.

The candidate must exhibit robust theoretical knowledge in welfare science, including cognition, domestication, and the impacts of climate change on aquatic species.

The candidate must have a proven track record of securing competitive funding and active participation in scientific events as an invited keynote or plenary speaker.

The candidate must demonstrate excellence in stakeholder engagement and science-policy communication, including the ability to engage with NGOs, producers, and policymakers at national and European levels.

The candidate must have experience coordinating large teams and organising scientific events and advanced training activities for researchers and other stakeholders.

The candidate must have experience in consultancy, with evidence of impactful contributions to practical applications of fish welfare science, such as guidelines, industry standards, or policy development.

The candidate must demonstrate experience in teaching or lecturing, with a strong commitment to capacity building and mentoring students and early-career researchers.

High proficiency in English (spoken and written) is required.

11. Evaluation and Selection Process:

The evaluation will consist of a curriculum assessment (final rating between 0-100). Admitted applications will be evaluated considering the scientific and curricular path, focusing on the relevance, quality, and up-to-dateness of the following criteria:

Scientific and technological production, cultural or artistic, of the last five years, considered most relevant by the candidate.

Applied or practice-based research activities developed in the last five years and considered by the candidate to be of the most significant impact.

Extension and dissemination activities developed in the last five years, particularly in the context of promoting scientific culture and practices, considered most relevant by the candidate.

Management activities of science, technology, and innovation programs, or experience in observing, monitoring, and evaluating the scientific and technological system or higher education in Portugal or abroad.

The selection panel may extend the five years referred to in the evaluation criteria upon the candidate's request when justified by suspending scientific activity for socially protected reasons, such as parental leave, severe prolonged illness, and other legally protected situations of work unavailability.

The selection panel reserves the right to contact or interview candidates if additional information or clarification of documentary aspects related to research results is needed. The possible interview, which does not constitute a selection method and is not classified, aims to obtain clarifications or explanations on elements contained in the candidates' CVs.

The evaluation (with a score of 0-100) is carried out through the assessment of the motivation letter, the CV that will include activities in the specific area and the candidate's scientific and professional path, and up to 5 articles selected by the candidate.

13. Required Documents, Process, and Submission of Applications:

Only complete applications submitted directly and obligatorily on the CCMAR website https://ccmar.ualg.pt/en/career-opportunities are accepted. The application is considered valid only after the candidate receives written confirmation from CCMAR. The application in English must include:

A motivation letter (in English) with a personal evaluation of the relevance of the activities of the last 5 years to the present competition, highlighting the chosen publications, considering the MCI evaluation criteria, and a career plan that includes a work plan falling within the scope of point 2 (Summary and Functions) not exceeding 10,000 characters;

Detailed curriculum vitae (in English) that includes activities in the specific area and the scientific and professional path of the candidate organised according to the CV evaluation criteria;

Up to 5 articles chosen by the candidate.

A copy of the Ph.D. certificate;

Non-compliance with requirements/documents outlined in 9.1, 9.9 and 13 invalidates the application. According to the law, false information may be penalised.

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