A researcher (Early Stage Researcher, ESR), in the field of “Conservation aquaculture” is sought within a newly funded EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Initial Training Network (ITN) entitled IMPRESS (Improved production strategies for endangered freshwater species, www.impress-itn.eu). The network comprises 15 ESRs hosted by nine different organizations in Europe. The candidate sought here will join the Applied Physiology/Sustainable Aquaculture group of Dr. Sven Würtz in the Department of Ecophysiology and Aquaculture at the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries in Berlin, Germany.
Job Title: Trait-related optimization of hatchery technology to improve fitness and stocking efficiency in sturgeon
Job Description: The candidate is expected to assess and improve fitness of hatchery-reared early life stages of sturgeon in the wild. Challenge tests targeting selected environmental factors will be carried out to characterize ecophysiological adaptions and improve aquaculture technologies in conservation aquaculture. It is foreseen that the candidate develops the assessment tools to monitor adaptation towards fluctuating key ecological factors in the wild, based on the current knowledge on habitat utilization in Baltic sturgeon. To assess the adaptive potential of hatchery reared sturgeon in the wild, biochemical and molecular markers will be explored. During the 2.5 years project period the researcher will spend periods at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (host Ian Meyer) assessing impaired cognitive ability and behaviour in hatchery of sturgeon. Finally the student will carry out transcriptome analysis of selected samples at the ZF Screens (Ron Dirks) in Leiden, Netherlands.
Formal eligibility criteria:
- Candidates may be of any nationality
- The training network is tailored to hire and train young researchers, the recruitment of more experienced ESRs meeting the eligibility criteria is possible as long as no doctoral degree has been awarded at the time of recruitment.
- By the time of recruitment by the host organization, candidates must be in the first four years (full-time equivalent) of their research career. Full-time research experience is measured from the date when a researcher obtained the degree which formally entitled him or her to embark on a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the researcher is recruited or seconded, irrespective of whether or not a doctorate is or was ever envisaged.
- Because the Marie Curie schemes are designed to encourage researcher’s mobility, a mobility criterion applies for recruitment: by the time of recruitment by the host organization, researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Germany for more than twelve months in the last three years. Short stays, such as holidays, are not included.
- Candidates must be available to start the position at 1st June 2016 at the latest.
Fisheries Research Network 