Postdoctoral Position in Biology, Focus on Ecological Modelling of Stream Fish Populations

Description

The Faculty of Health Science and Technology has an opening for one full-time post-doctoral position in Biology at the Department of Environmental and Life Sciences in the field of Ecological Modelling, with a focus on individual-based modelling of stream fish populations in hydropower-regulated rivers.

The River Ecology and Management Research Group (RivEM), a research environment within the Department of Environmental and Life Sciences at Karlstad University, conducts both basic and applied research in and along rivers and lakes and their surrounding landscapes. The research group is interested in the sustainable use of natural resources in watersheds, working for solutions to environmental problems that benefit both society and nature. Areas of research addressed by RivEM include river connectivity and the effects of hydropower, aquatic- terrestrial interactions and habitats, winter ecology under global climate change, endangered species such as unionid mussels, conservation biology and social-ecological research relating to river regulation and recreational fishing (www.kau.se/biology/research; http://www.nrrv.se). Within many of these topics, research is conducted in collaboration with stakeholders from industry, administrative agencies, interest organizations and landowners.

The position is a temporary full-time position for two years, with possible one-year extension depending on funding.  The position may include 20 % teaching or other academic duties in the Department. 

Duties

Hydroelectric power is a key means of transforming to a fossil-free society, but damming of rivers for hydropower has also been a major driver of declines in aquatic biodiversity. This project will focus on developing ways to protect and restore stream habitat for salmonid fishes in hydropower-regulated rivers.

The successful candidate will develop and apply advanced individual-based models (IBMs) for salmonid fishes various river management scenarios. Research will be conducted in collaboration with stakeholders from hydropower, county administration and municipalities, and NGOs. The applicant is expected to be active at the university and participate in the research environment.

Requirements

To be eligible for the position, applicants are required to hold a PhD (or to be completed before the decision about the employment is taken) in ecology or related fields. The candidate must have completed the degree no more than three years before the last date for applications unless special grounds exist.

Older PhD degrees can be taken into account when there are special reasons, such as leave due to sick leave, parental leave, clinical service, positions of trust within unions or other similar circumstances.

Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required.

Assessment grounds

We are searching for a highly motivated candidate with experience in aquatic ecology and ecological modelling.

In the selection process, special weight will be given to the applicant's research skills, as demonstrated by the quality of the applicant’s PhD thesis, published scientific articles and other scientific merits.

In the selection process, considerable weight will be given to the applicant's scientific experience in ecological- or individual- based modelling, in salmonid ecology and genetics, geographic information systems (GIS) and hydraulic modelling. Considerable weight will also be given to the ability to cooperate and establish good relations with colleagues, as well as the ability to work independently and to take initiatives.

Weight will be given to the applicant's abilities to conduct field and lab work. Weight will also be given to the experience of collaborating with stakeholders and communicating research.

Terms

The position is a full-time employment for 24 months, starting on February 1, 2025, or by agreement between the applicant and the employer. An extension of one year is possible depending upon funding availability.

Other

Karlstad University values ​​the qualities that even gender distribution and diversity bring to the business. We are therefore happy to see applicants of all genders and with different birth backgrounds, functionality and life experience.

Application

Submit the application via the University’s web-based recruitment tool, Varbi. Applicants are responsible for submitting a complete application in accordance with the advertisement, for providing translations of any documents written in a language other than Swedish, Norwegian, Danish or English, and for ensuring that the documentation allows for objective and qualitative assessments. A complete application should be submitted by the application deadline. An incomplete application may jeopardise a fair assessment of qualifications.

The application should include:

• CV
• Personal letter describing the applicant and her/his research interests in relation to the announced position
• Publication list, including copies of peer-reviewed scientific articles (max 10).
• Copies of relevant grades, diplomas, certificates that prove previous employment and letters of recommendation.
• Abstract of the PhD dissertation and certificate of doctoral degree 
• Attestation of language skills

Reference contact information (at least two) and letters of reference. At least one of which is a current or former supervisor

Attach all the documents and publications you wish to be considered to the electronic application (do not just provide links). Name each uploaded document to clearly indicate its content.

Documents that cannot be submitted electronically, such as books or publications, should be sent to:

Karlstads universitet
HR-administratör
651 88 Karlstad

State the reference number: REK2024/204

Application deadline: 2025-01-05

We look forward to your application!

Karlstad University has chosen advertising channels for this recruitment and firmly declines any contact with advertising or recruitment agencies.