Researcher | Ecology (Conservation Biology)
Reference: BIOPOLIS 2023-42
Job description:
Researcher
Reference: BIOPOLIS 2023-42
Research field: Ecology
Sub research field: Conservation Biology
INVITED CHAIR FOR BIODIVERSITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
EDIA / UNIVERSITY OF PORTO
NEW DEADLINE for applications: 30th September
NEW DEADLINE for applications: 30th September
1. The Board of Directors of Associação BIOPOLIS has decided to open an international call for hiring a Researcher, under a non-fixed work contract, with exclusivity, pursuant to the Portuguese Labour Code and the regulation for the Invited Chair Program of FCT – Portuguese Foundation for Science, with a expect duration of three years. This announcement is intended to 1 (one) research position (Reference BIOPOLIS 2023-42) to pursue scientific research and development activities in the scientific area of Ecology / Conservation Biology, within the scope of the INVITED CHAIR FOR BIODIVERSITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, a project funded by EMPRESA DE DESENVOLVIMENTO E INFRA-ESTRUTURAS DO ALQUEVA, S.A (EDIA) and FUNDAÇÃO PARA A CIÊNCIA E TECNOLOGIA (FCT) and awarded to the UNIVERSITY OF PORTO after applying to the FCT Invited Chairs programme.
2. It is intended that the researcher to be recruited achieves the following objectives:
i. set a research team in the field of biodiversity and adaptive management of agricultural systems in the Mediterranean region;
ii. development of research lines relevant to the preservation and valorisation of biodiversity, as well as to the environmental management in the area of influence of the Alqueva Multipurpose Project (Empreendimento de Fins Múltiplos de Alqueva - EFMA) with special focus on nature conservation/natural values ; adaptive management in mitigating the impacts of agricultural activity on biodiversity;
iii. contribute to the training of researchers and students, especially postgraduate students;
iv. establish an adequate connection of researchers and students to EDIA's activities, namely through short and medium-term stays of researchers at EDIA's facilities, as well as carrying out internships and permanent contacts with the technical teams, aiming to promote mixed research teams;
v. develop advanced training courses;
vi. organize seminars and colloquiums in the fields of the Chair and contribute to the promotion of scientific culture;
vii. mobilize international partnerships, cooperation networks, projects, other research initiatives in the scientific domain of the Chair;
viii. promote the raising of additional funds by preparing applications for national and European funding programs;
ix. contribute to the development of scientific research in the Alentejo region, mainly through the integration of the Chair team at the Mértola Biological Station.
3. Applicable Legislation:
Portuguese Labour Code, approved by Law 7/2009 of February 12, in its actual form.
4. The selection panel is formed by: Paulo Célio Alves (Associate Professor FCUP, BIOPOLIS Researcher and President of the jury), Francisco Moreira (Coordinator Researcher BIOPOLIS), and José Pedro Salema (President of the Board of EDIA). Substitute members: Ana Ilhéu (Director of Environment and Land Planning of EDIA) and Pedro Beja (Associate Director BIOPOLIS).
5. The workplace shall be preferably at Mértola Biological Station, in the Alentejo Region, with the possibility of being at Associação BIOPOLIS/CIBIO – Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources site located at Instituto Superior de Agronomia in Lisbon, or at BIOPOLIS/CIBIO main campus in Vairão, North of Portugal, and may involve travel in Portugal and abroad in service or representation of contract entity.
6. The gross monthly salary entitle is between € 3327,76 and € 3754,40, depending on experience of the candidate, corresponding to indexes of the Scientific Research Career (Anexo I do Decreto-Lei nº 124/99, de 20 de Abril).
7. Application can be submitted by any national, foreign, and stateless candidate(s) holding a doctorate degree in Biological Sciences and related areas, and a scientific and professional curriculum whose profile is suited for the activity described (item 2 and 8). In case the doctorate degree was awarded by a foreign higher education institution, it must comply with the provisions of Decree-Law no. 66/2018 of August 16th, and all formalities established therein must be complied with at the signature of work contract.
8. The applicant admission general requirements are those defined in the previous point 7, and additional special requirements are:
a) Proven capacity in one or more of the following points:
- research on biodiversity conservation (fauna or flora) in an agricultural context, including ecological modelling of the impact of changes in agricultural management on biodiversity.
- flora and fauna conservation projects in a matrix of agricultural landscapes.
- wetland ecology projects, including environmental DNA monitoring systems.
b) Proven ability to attract additional funding for the development of research, on the topic of the Chair, through the preparation of applications for tenders launched by public or private entities, in Portugal and abroad;
c) Ability to contribute to the development of doctoral and master's programs, and to participate in the guidance and training of doctorates and young researchers in the area of the Chair and related areas.
d) Fluency in English (spoken and written).
9. The selection is to be made based on the evaluation of the scientific and curricular career of the candidate.
10. Scientific and curricular career evaluation focuses on relevance, quality, and up-to-datedness:
a) of management or research activities, developed in the last five years and considered by the candidate to have the greatest impact;
b) of scientific, technological, cultural, or artistic production in the last five years, considered most relevant by the candidate.
c) of knowledge extension and dissemination activities developed in the last five years, namely under the scope of the promotion of culture and scientific practices, deemed most relevant by the candidate.
11. The five-year period mentioned before can be extended by the panel, if requested by the candidate, whenever the suspension of scientific activities is reasoned by socially protected grounds like paternity leave, long-term serious illness, and other legal situations of unavailability to work.
12. Evaluation criteria are the following:
The evaluation of the CV of the candidates, specifically the scientific merit and research experience, will take into consideration the elements presented for the last five years of activity falling within the scope of the specific areas of the tender (see Point 1 and 2) and will be performed according to the following criteria:
12.1 Integrated assessment of the curriculum trajectory of the candidate, based on an overview of their scientific merits, and considering the integration of the candidate’s profile in the areas developed in the Chair – 40%
12.2 Relevant experience in the requirements in 8. a) – 35%
12.3 Relevant experience in fund raising and in multidisciplinary collaborations at national and international level (as described in 8. b) – 15%
12.4 Experience in the requirements listed in point 8. c) and d) – 10%
13. In the case of admitted candidates whose evaluation does not differ more than 10% from that obtained by the best positioned candidate, the jury will interview these candidates. This will be aimed at obtaining clarifications and explanations about the curricular elements and additional information. The final score of each jury member is obtained by the following assessment: 80% scientific and curricular career evaluation and 20% interview.
13. In the case of admitted candidates whose evaluation does not differ more than 10% from that obtained by the best positioned candidate, the jury will interview these candidates. This will be aimed at obtaining clarifications and explanations about the curricular elements and additional information. The final score of each jury member is obtained by the following assessment: 80% scientific and curricular career evaluation and 20% interview.
14. Candidate final classification system shall be given based on a scale 0 to 100.
15. The panel shall deliberate by means of roll-call vote justified under adopted and disclosed selection criteria, with no abstentions allowed.
16. Minutes of panel meetings shall be executed and include a summary of all occurrences of said meeting, as well as of all votes casted by the members and respective reasoning, and shall be provided to candidates whenever required.
17. After selection criteria application, the panel shall prepare a sorted list of approved candidates and respective classification.
18. Panel’s final decision shall be validated by the leader of the institution, who is also in charge of deciding about the hiring.
19. Application formalization:
19.1. The applications are formalized at the electronic address https://www.cibio.pt with following documents in a digital form, in PDF format:
i) Qualifications Certificate
ii) Curriculum vitae
iii) Motivational Letter, detailing the interest and the activity development plan as described in point 2.
iv) Maximum of 5 reprints representative of word developed so far
v) name and contact of references
vi) Other relevant documentation
19.2. The application period is from 01/07/2023 to 30/09/2023.
The expected contract start date is November 01, 2023.
20. All candidates who formalize their applications in an improper way or fail to fulfil the imposed requirements are excluded from admission. In case of doubt, the panel is entitled to request any candidate to present further documentation supporting their statements.
21. False statements provided by the candidates shall be punished by law.
22. Both admitted and excluded candidate list and final classification list shall be notified by email.
23. Preliminary Hearing and Final Decision Deadline: After notification, all candidates have 10 working days to respond. Panel’s final decisions are pronounced within a period of 90 working days, from response period deadline.
24. This tender is exclusively destined to fill this specify position and can be terminated at any time until approval of final candidate list, expiring with the respective occupation of said position.
25. Non-discrimination and equal access policy: Associação BIOPOLIS actively promotes a non-discrimination and equal access policy, wherefore no candidate can be privileged, benefited, impaired or deprived of any rights whatsoever, or be exempt of any duties based on their ancestry, age, sex, sexual preference, marital status, family and economic conditions, instruction, origin or social conditions, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, origin territory, language, religion, political or ideological convictions and union membership.
26. For compliance to Decree-Law no. 4/2019 of 10 January, disabled candidates shall be preferred in a situation of equal classification, and said preference supersedes any legal preferences. Candidates must declare, on their honour, their respective disability degree, type of disability and communication/expression means to be used during selection period on their application form, under the regulations above.
27. The panel approved this announcement in its meeting on June 26, 2023.