PRR Project

Summary

The successful candidate is expected to play a crucial role in advancing our understanding on the ecology and behaviour of steppe birds and their movement ecology. Steppe birds are among the fasted declining group of terrestrial vertebrates in Europe. The candidate will carry out research on applied ecology and conservation of threatened steppe birds in Iberia but also in other parts of the word, specifically to underpin key environmental and climatic factors that may contribute to their decline, including impacts caused by anthropogenic infrastructures. The candidate will be using state of the art GPS tracking devices to carry out in-depth studies on the movement patterns, behaviour, and population dynamics of steppe birds, to contribute with knowledge essential for the development of effective conservation strategies, habitat management, and policy recommendations. The candidate is required to carry out the following tasks:a) Promote the formation of a research team composed of Post-docs, PhD and MSc students and research assistants, with a primary focus on advancing applied research on steppe bird ecology and movement ecology;b) Develop or expand methodologies that bridge the gap between remote sensing and movement ecology. Focus on providing high-precision matching of remote sensing data with movement patterns, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of ecological insights;c) Further research mechanistic responses of steppe birds to a changing world, specially related to climate warming, environmental change and human made infrastructures;c) Reinforce long-term monitoring schemes and GPS Tracking Projects for steppe birds in Iberia and actively organise and participate on fieldwork campaigns to capture and tag birds;d) Organize and coordinate national surveys to determine demographic parameters and trends in steppe bird populations. Collaborate with relevant governmental, non-governmental and other stakeholders to ensure widespread participation and data coverage. Use survey outcomes to contribute to evidence-based conservation policies and interventions;e) Secure national and international funding to carry out research on the movement ecology of steppe birds. Projects should also be focussed on the development and implementation of long-term monitoring schemes for steppe birds. Funding proposals should be aligned with the administration and private sector interests, emphasizing the practical applications and conservation tools derived from the research;f) Contribute towards Movetech Telemetry Consortium, formed by BIOPOLIS/CIBIO-InBIO, University of East Anglia, and the British Trust for Ornithology, aiming for cutting-edge advancements in wildlife telemetry. Specifically, lead and contribute towards technological developments, focusing on advancing GPS/GSM accelerometers devices and LoRa GPS devices for tracking animal movement;g) Organize International Advanced Post-Graduation Courses on Movement Ecology;h) Engage actively in international research collaborations and projects, within the fields of movement ecology, steppe bird ecology and infrastructure ecology. Collaborate with researchers and institutions worldwide to enhance the impact and scope of the mentioned research lines.In light of the outlined responsibilities, the chosen candidate should possess a doctoral degree in Biological Sciences or a related scientific field, accompanied by extensive scientific expertise in applied research, movement ecology, terrestrial tracking technology development, project coordination, international collaboration networks, and science dissemination activities. Expertise within steppe bird ecology and conservation biology is desirable. The candidate should demonstrate a robust track record in the following areas: 1) conducting applied research on the ecology and conservation of steppe birds, with a specific focus on understanding their responses to climate and environmental changes; 2) movement ecology, particularly in the realms of behaviour and spatial ecology; 3) proven ability to attract national or international funding for research projects and ensuring their coordination; 4) development of GPS tracking devices for wildlife; 5) successfully implementing and managing long-term monitoring initiatives, particularly directed towards threatened bird species; 6) capturing and tagging of birds using different tagging protocols; 7) managing research projects; 8) effective communication with diverse audiences, including the general public and media; 9) proficiency in building and maintaining a robust network of international collaborations.