PRR Project

Summary

UAc seeks a dynamic and accomplished researcher to join BIOPOLIS (Azores Pole) at FCT-UAc, an excellent R&D FCT unit, as Assistant Researcher in Aquatic Ecology/Paleolimnology. The research line aims to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the impact of global change on insular terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and, therefore, consolidate the Azores as a case study for research on global change impacts on aquatic ecosystems.To address this topic, the researcher should use a novel and multidisciplinary approach, integrating paleolimnology, community, and ecosystem ecology to promote the sustainability of insular ecosystems. This strategy aims to advance scientific knowledge to support island sustainability policies and bolster collaboration across different knowledge domains within FCT-UAc/BIOPOLIS and other research centers in the UAc to support sustainable development in the Azorean Autonomous Region (RAA). Partnerships between UAc´s R&D units and external entities will be established to benefit from active engagement and contributions from public stakeholders. TasksUndertake and publish influential research in paleolimnology, paleoecology, and ecosystem ecology in top scientific journals.Employ a multidisciplinary approach, combining observational, experimental, and numerical methods.Establish and maintain a world-class network of collaborators to foster research excellence and students’ mobility.Secure competitive regional, national, and international research funding and grantsAdapt to changing research priorities and emerging trends in the field.Provide mentorship, teaching, and supervision to students and junior researchers.Attain top-level proficiency in paleolimnological techniques, sampling lakes, sediment core analysis, biological identification, and radiometric dating. Scientific ProfileThe candidate should hold a Ph.D. in Ecology or Paleolimnology and demonstrate:track record of impactful research in paleolimnology, paleoecology, and ecosystem ecology on oceanic island ecosystemsAn extensive international network and multidisciplinary track record of publications in leading journalsSuccessful record in securing competitive research funding and grants.Teaching, mentoring, and supervision experience.A world-class network of collaborators.Demonstrated expertise in key paleolimnological methodologies, including sediment core analysis, biological specimen identification, and the application of radiometric dating techniques.A comprehensive understanding of threats to insular aquatic ecosystems, specifically streams and lakes across the RAA.Experience with knowledge transfer through interactions and decision-making support to local governments.Ability to adapt to changing research priorities and emerging trends in the field. RationaleIn the Azores, human impacts, such as climate change and anthropogenic pressures, have transformed natural systems to satisfy society´s needs, overlooking the potential negative consequences. These ecological transformations drive and ultimately accelerate irreversible modifications to ecosystems, such as biodiversity loss occurring at unprecedented rates, altering ecosystem functioning, and threatening ecological stability and human well-being. Predicting stressor impacts on ecosystems remains limited. Lakes are an irreplaceable resource for people, critical in supporting global biodiversity heritage and providing key ecosystem services as enshrined in the UN SDG. They are susceptible to global and local changes given that their discrete ecosystem boundaries constrain the potential for species distribution shifts, making lakes ideal ecosystems for understanding how these stressors operate at ecologically relevant scales.Oceanic islands (OcI) are considered model systems for ecological and global change research, as humans only recently occupied these islands. Due to its remote location, they are the ideal setting to disentangle the complex interactions between human disturbances and natural stressors and their effect on lake biodiversity and ecosystems through time and space. Paleolimnological approaches to Ocl provide a better understanding of how changes in terrestrial ecosystems impact aquatic ecosystems in the context of land use and climate change. This advanced knowledge provides a unique quantitative, evidence-based basis for restoration and conservation actions of freshwater ecosystems and their catchment areas. It aligns with the EU strategy of green transition, turning climate and environmental challenges into opportunities, making the transition just and inclusive for all. This research aims to provide a crucial first step in the design of a sustainable, new, highly effective lake conservation and mitigation strategy applicable worldwide.