The Department of Aquatic Resources is looking for a researcher to work on multispecies ecological modelling in the Baltic Sea
Do you want to work in an inspiring environment and contribute to the sustainable use of our oceans, lakes and watercourses? We at the Department of Aquatic resources (SLU Aqua) are passionate about our vision “Viable fish stocks in healthy waters “. We´re expanding, searching for employees who want to develop themselves and make a difference together with us.
The Department of Aquatic Resources conducts environmental monitoring and assessment, consulting, research and education in aquatic ecology with focus on fish and shellfish. The department is SLU’s largest and has more than 180 employees at three main locations: Lysekil, Öregrund and Stockholm (Drottningholm), as well as four field stations.
The department is highly focused on data collection and analysis of fish, fisheries and ecosystems, and is characterized by intensive collaborations with industry, public agencies and NGO:s. This creates a vital research environment and gives us unique opportunities to develop knowledge with high societal impact.
We look forward to receiving your application
For more information about the department: https://www.slu.se/en/departments/aquatic-resources1/
Duties:
The Department of Aquatic Resources is looking for a researcher to work on multispecies ecological modelling in the Baltic Sea. Following the recovery of the Baltic seal populations, seal-fisheries interactions have increased, and concerns have been raised on the potential conflicts between the seal conservation objectives and the fishing sector. There has been an incremental interest for quantitative tools to investigate trade-offs between the management of fisheries and marine mammals throughout the Baltic under the uncertain effects of climate change on predators and preys. Complex multispecies and ecosystem models can serve such demand by providing qualitative and quantitative estimates of the expected benefits, costs, and risks associated with alternative management actions.
The successful candidate will lead the development of a multispecies model, which is part of a multidisciplinary approach integrating data science, ecological theory, multispecies modelling and decision analysis to support an integrated management of fisheries and marine mammals in the Northern Baltic Sea. The overall objectives of the project are: (i) implementation of biologically realistic multispecies dynamic models of the Bothnian ecosystem able to represent predator-prey interactions across multiple high trophic levels (i.e. seals and their main fish preys), the ecological impact of fisheries and seal hunting, and their overall consequences at a population and ecosystem level; (ii) investigate the impact of top-down and bottom-up interactions on alternative fisheries and marine mammal management strategies; (iii) evaluate model-based scenario to identify major trade-offs between seal conservation objectives and fishing interests.
The researcher will implement a multispecies model based on a pre-existing statistical environment designed for age-length structure population dynamic modelling. Parameters estimation will be based on advanced optimization routines and the use of multiple extensive set of data on both seals and fish populations as well as hunting and fishing activities. Available information will include long-term compositional data (i.e., size structure) and biological data (i.e., growth, condition, maturity) from monitoring and commercial activities, indices of abundance, diet data and potentially tagging for the purpose of multiarea modelling. Environmental data such as temperature, salinity, extent of ice cover will complement the suit of available information. Depending on the researcher ability and interests, there are opportunities to expand the purposes of the work and contribute to the ongoing model development in TMB in collaboration with the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute of Iceland (HAFRO). The model is expected to inform a decision support tool which will be developed in parallel at the Marine Research Centre of the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE). The researcher is expected to disseminate the project results in scientific peer-reviewed publications. The position is associated to the research project “DS-Both: from ecosystem modelling to Decision Support for fisheries and marine wildlife management in the Gulf of Bothnia” (Formas grant 2021-00826) which is a collaboration between SLU, HAFRO and SYKE.
Qualifications:
The successful candidate should have strong quantitative skills (i.e., analysis, statistics and modelling ideally coupled with good skills in the R programming language), preferably experience in ecological modelling, population dynamics, trophic interactions. The position requires a PhD or equivalent degree in quantitative analysis of biological systems (e.g. statistics, mathematics, modelling, marine biology, fisheries biology or other relevant fields). The ability to work independently, as well as in teams, and to deliver results (analyses, scientific papers) according to deadlines is essential. The candidate must have excellent communication skills in spoken and written English and proved proficiency to write and publish scientific papers. Personal qualities such as dedication, high degree of self-motivation, and ability to collaborate are essential
Place of work:
Lysekil
Form of employment:
Temporary employment, 24 months
Extent:
100%
Starting date:
According to agreement.
Application:
We welcome your application no later than 2022-03-13, use the button below.
Academic union representatives:
https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/
The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) is a world-class international university with research, education and environmental assessment within the sciences for sustainable life. Its principal sites are in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala, but activities are also conducted at research stations, experimental parks and educational establishments throughout Sweden. We bring together people who have different perspectives, but they all have one and the same goal: to create the best conditions for a sustainable, thriving and better world.
SLU has just over 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and a turnover of SEK 3 billion. The university has invested heavily in a modern, attractive environment on its campuses.
www.slu.se
Contact person
Valerio Bartolino
Forskare
+46 (0)10-478 4058
valerio.bartolino@slu.se
Joakim Hjelm
Avdelningschef
+46 (0)10-478 40 64
joakim.hjelm@slu.se
URL to this pagehttps://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/jobs-vacancies/?rmpage=job&rmjob=6158&rmlang=UK