CREAF

CREAF is seeking for a postdoctoral researcher to work in the wildE project (Climate-smart rewilding: ecological restoration for climate change mitigation, adaptation and biodiversity support in Europe), with Grant Agreement nr. 101081251 funded by the European Commission. WildE's goal is to develop the knowledge needed for a "climately intelligent renaturalisation" in Europe, as a solution based on nature that stimulates the natural capacity of European ecosystems for climate change mitigation, adaptation, and support for biodiversity.

CREAF is seeking an experienced, hearted researcher with a strong background in process-based forest and landscape modelling in the Mediterranean and interested in rewilding. This researcher will work in the evaluation and comparison of passive rewilding landscapes, including both long existing and recently passively established forests, in terms of their provision of carbon- and water-related ecosystem services, contribution to biodiversity support and wildfire risk. This comparison will include conducting historical evaluations and future projections considering different climate change scenarios and rewilding and management alternatives, with the final aim to provide guidelines for landscape and forest management to policy makers and practitioners.

A full-time contract (37,5 hours/week) is offered with planned incorporation in October 2023, and a duration of 24 month. The contract will be linked to the budgets of the project described above ("scientific-technical activities", according to Law 14/2011). The salary offered is between €31,692.86 and €36,608.91 gross per year, depending on the candidate’s experience.

TASKS:

- Use a process-based model and available data to evaluate, biodiversity values and the current provision of different ecosystem services (timber provision, carbon sequestration, water supply, erosion control and recreational value) by long-existing forests (LEF) and recently established forests (REF) in the Barcelona region.
- Use process-based and landscape models to project future disturbance regimes, biodiversity values and the future provision of ecosystem services and disservices by LEF and REF under different scenarios of climate change, rewilding and forest management.
- Contribute to the development of a modelling framework of Mediterranean forest landscape function and dynamics (e.g. initialization, parametrization, evaluation or post-processing).
- Collaborate with other researchers in the WildE project to link land-use and forest dynamics projections developed at the European-level with the scenarios designed and evaluated for the Barcelona Region.
- Networking with other national and international groups in Mediterranean forest modeling and economic assessment of scenario results.
- High quality scientific outputs in the form of journal publications and contribution to relevant policy reports.

REQUIREMENTS:

- A completed PhD on a topic related to the current project description (e.g., forestry or forest ecology).
- Excellent scientific publication record.
- Proven expertise in developing or using process-based models of forest functioning and/or dynamics. 
- A strong knowledge of Mediterranean forest ecology.
- Demonstrated high skills in R programming language.
- Contrasted capacity to lead work and team up with other researchers.
- Advanced knowledge of English.

ASSESSABLE CONDITIONS:

- Master in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology or similar.
- Experience in working and curing large datasets.
- Contrasted capacity to team up with other technicians and researchers.
- Collaboration in the writing of technical reports or scientific publications.
- Candidates who have a recognized disability and accredited equal to or greater than 33% will be prioritized, if the disability is compatible with the proper performance of the job.

SELECTION PROCES AND CRITERIA:

1. Admission of candidates: applicants must submit a curriculum vitae, a cover letter (maximum 500 words) and the questionnaire attached to the offer (filled), by e-mail to laboral@creaf.uab.cat, until September 11st, 2023, indicating the reference code of the offer. Applications referred to another portal, other than CREAF job openings section and the instructions included in this, will not be accepted.
2. Pre-selection: determination of compliance with the minimum requirements of the offer.
3. Selection: assessment of the preselected candidates by scoring based on objective criteria.
4. Final decision: in case of finding the suitable person, the election will be formally communicated to him/her, and the identification of the chosen person will be published on CREAF job opening section.