PRR Project

Summary

UAc seeks to fill an Assistant Professor position in Fisheries Science, which comes with both research and teaching responsibilities. This role is a crucial part of UAc´s robust decision-making support strategy (through OKEANOS and DOP/FCT-UAc), aimed at enhancing the sustainability of commercial fisheries and fish stocks in the Azores. The Azores is renowned for its abundant marine biodiversity and pivotal fishing industry, a sector of profound economic and social importance that provides employment and income for the local population, underpinning numerous community livelihoods. Despite its significance, intense exploitation has led to declining trends in the abundance of some economically important species. On the other hand, fish stocks within the Azores ecoregion, being part of broader distribution networks, are subject to external pressures that influence their state beyond the local environment. This complexity and the extensive geographic impact on local fish stocks underscore the critical need for skilled professionals in this scientific field. Training fisheries science and management experts is also essential, arming them with the necessary knowledge and skills to address these challenges. Over the last 40 years, these responsibilities have been upheld by a dedicated group of researchers and professors in these areas. However, there has been a significant shortage of specialized human resources in this field, especially in recent years following the retirement of some of the institution´s seasoned professionals. This situation underscores the importance of bringing in new talent to rejuvenate the staff. The stability of our research workforce is of concern, with over 90% of the doctoral-level researchers holding non-permanent positions. The selected candidate will work with a fisheries team and contribute to managing and conducting statistical analyses of fishery-related data to assess the status of key commercial stocks, thereby providing essential insights for fisheries management to support ecological, economic, and social sustainability. The primary responsibilities of this position include:1. Conduct fishery stock assessments to inform fishery management, being able to develop new modeling approaches, including modern statistical methods.2. Quantitatively evaluate the effectiveness of specific management actions in achieving the goals and objectives outlined in fishery management plans.3. Collaborate with resource analysts from state and international agencies (e.g., Statistics Portugal - INE, International Council for the Exploration of the Sea - ICES, International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas - ICCAT) to perform stock assessments of significant commercial fisheries stocks on both a regional and Atlantic scale and taking on leadership roles.4. Coordinating and teaching undergraduate and postgraduate-level courses at FCT-UAc on fish and fisheries-related subjects biennially, along with occasional guest lectures in sustainable fisheries for an international student body, both on-campus and online.6. Supervise undergraduate (License) and graduate (master´s and Ph.D.) students at FCT-UAc and young researchers.The successful candidate will be expected to develop a world-class research and teaching program in fisheries stock assessment and management. They will identify and address needs and opportunities for advanced methods to enhance fisheries sustainability. In achieving these goals, the candidate will collaborate closely with partner institutions at state, national, and international levels and provide education and training to undergraduate and graduate students and professional audiences. Experience in working closely with fishery management agencies and stakeholder groups to develop and implement fishery policy will be highly valued.Applicants should possess outstanding quantitative skills, a strong research record or demonstrated potential in their discipline, and the ability to teach introductory and advanced fisheries stock assessment courses. An interest in and aptitude for interdisciplinary applied research is desirable. Additionally, candidates should have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, a motivation to work in multidisciplinary teams, and the ability to secure external funding to support their research program. The successful candidate will be expected to publish in both disciplinary and interdisciplinary national and international journals, thereby developing a research program recognized both nationally and internationally.This position also aligns with the strategic research priorities of the Azores region, strengthens Portugal´s position as a leader in marine science, underpinning national and international policies aimed at protecting the oceans for future generations, and contributes to the achievement of SDG’s goals, particularly the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas, and marine resources (SDG 14).