Doctoral positions in Environmental and Marine Biology within the doctoral pilot / doktorandbefattni

Åbo Akademi University (ÅAU) is an internationally acknowledged research university with an extensive responsibility for providing education in Swedish in Finland. With its international research community and its strong Nordic ties, Åbo Akademi University has an acclaimed and recognized position within research and education both nationally and internationally.

The Faculty of Science and Engineering offers three funded positions for doctoral researchers (3 years/position) within the doctoral pilot Digital Waters Flagship (DIWA). Two doctoral researchers will be recruited to the subject Environmental and Marine Biology and one doctoral researcher to Geology and Mineralogy (please see separate announcement). The positions start in January 1, 2025.

The DIWA flagship is a leading research and innovation ecosystem, using research to support decision-making and pave the way for the next revolution in the water sector – digitally.

Job description for the two doctoral researchers positions at Environmental and Marine Biology

The two positions are available within the doctoral programme in Biosciences. The doctoral researchers will work on a joint theme entitled “Ecological impact of ferry traffic waves on littoral biodiversity and ecological processes in an archipelago seascape”.

The Archipelago Sea is one of the busiest regions when it comes to cargo, tourist and ferry traffic in the northern Baltic Sea. The maritime shipping business is of major importance for the local economy. Simultaneously this activity creates major disturbances and potentially loss to coastal biodiversity, especially in sensitive passages via erosion and long-term resuspension of sediments. However, there is no systematic quantitative information about the scale, location and consequences of this human activity on littoral biodiversity, community structure and and key ecological processes. In general, physical disturbance is major factor shaping marine coastal soft and rocky shore ecosystems, their biodiversity and ecosystem services. In addition to natural wind induced waves, ferry traffic results in a more predictable long-term daily/diurnal disturbance, especially in tight, shallow passages. Waves interact directly with the shallow rocky shore communities and the sediment surface which causes resuspension, erosion and deterioration of water transparency.

The work is divided as follows; PhD 1 focuses on the rocky shore algal (Fucus vesiculosus) communities including invertebrates and PhD 2 focuses on responses of soft-bottom communities, i.e. zoobenthos and macrophytes on unvegetated and vegetated bottoms. The main joint aim of both PhD projects is to quantify the wave climate created by ship waves and explore its consequences for littoral biodiversity and ecological (e.g. recruitment, faunal colonization) and physical (sedimentation, current speed) processes. The work will be carried out by identifying bottleneck ferry passages and control sites using novel automated monitoring instruments targeting both the wave/flow disturbance regime and the underwater light climate. The abiotic data will be complemented by measuring resuspension using sedimentation traps. Although surveys of soft bottoms and rocky shores will will focus on plant diversity, abundance and biomass and associated animal diversity, we strongly encourage the applicants to come up with own, novel research questions and approaches related to the research theme above.

Supervision and research environment

The candidates will work with the research groups at Environmental and Marine Biology and Department of Geography and Geology (University of Turku) and benefit from a network of field stations with excellent infrastructure to study wave disturbance i.e. Archipelago Centre Korpoström ÅAU, Husö Biological Station ÅAU, Archipelago Research Institute, University of Turku. As part of DIWA the candidates will benefit its training programmes and seminars.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EVALUATION

This announcement is open for those who have a Master’s degree in Marine Biology or Aquatic Ecology or similar AND a supervisor or a potential supervisor from Åbo Akademi University (who has agreed to supervise the applicant) within Environmental and Marine Biology at the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

Applicants must receive their Master’s degree (or equivalent) on 1.12.2024, at the latest (a copy of degree certificate or a certificate of completed degree achieved after the application period has closed should be sent to graduateschool@abo.fi.

Please note that there is a separate application process for the admission to a doctoral programme at ÅAU. Applicants can apply for admission to a doctoral programme after receiving the decision on employment. An applicant, who is not yet accepted as a doctoral student at the Faculty, needs to fulfil the requirements for doctoral studies according to the principles for admission to the doctoral programmes within the faculty. When the employment commences, the doctoral researcher needs to have a study right for a doctoral degree awarded no earlier than 1.11.2023 or be at a stage of studies that allows the candidate to be awarded a right to study for a doctoral degree during the probationary period, i.e. within six months of the start of employment.

We are looking for candidates with excellent teamwork and communication skills as well as ability to take responsibility and show commitment toward collaborators. The applicants are assessed on the basis of their study achievements, research plan (see below) and its feasibility, a job interview and possible results of previous research in the relevant field or related subjects.

The following experience is considered essential:

• Marine field work 
• Littoral sampling and processing of marine samples
• Experimental design

The following is considered advantageous:

• Analytical ability and skills in data analyses
• A valid SCUBA diving licence
• A valid drivers licence (B)
• Boat handling and navigation skills

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

Doctoral researchers employed by Åbo Akademi University should actively take part in the research and education within the faculty in Turku. Åbo Akademi University applies the salary system of Finnish universities. The salary for a doctoral position will be based on levels 2-4 of the job demand level for teaching and researching staff in the salary system. Currently, the starting salary for doctoral researchers is approximately 2,580 € per month. The salary increases as the candidate makes progress towards a doctoral degree and the finalization of the studies. Doctoral researchers will have total working time, which means 1,612 hours per academic year. The employment is full-time. The individual study plan for doctoral researchers will be evaluated annually. A trial period applies to new employees.

APPLICATION

Submit an electronic application below (Leave an application). For guidelines on the electronic application, please see https://www.abo.fi/en/instructions-for-submitting-an-application/. The application should include the following enclosures:

1. A free-form application letter including main subject and the applied period of funding should be mentioned.
2. A research plan (max 4 pages, fontsize 12 pt, excl. references) written in English or Swedish. The research plan shall include research topic (rocky shore or soft sediment study), research questions, aims, research methodology, implementation, and time plan.
3. A curriculum vitae, composed according to good scientific practice and considering the template for researcher´s curriculum vitae by The Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity
4. Copies of diplomas including transcript of records (BA, MA, MSc, other).

Deadline for submission of application is on 30.09.2024 at 15:00 (Finnish local time).

INFORMATION

For further information about the positions and application process, please contact Åbo Akademi University Graduate School Coordinators, e-mail: graduateschool@abo.fi.

The evaluation process begins after the application period has closed. The assessment can also include an interview. A preliminary decision on employment will be made in November. More detailed information about the implementation of the timetable will be communicated to applicants during the recruitment process.

At Åbo Akademi University (ÅAU), we offer research and education in humanities, pedagogics and theology to social sciences, business, law, natural sciences and technology. Our special research profile areas are Minority Research, Solutions for Health, Technologies for a Sustainable Future and The Sea.

The doctoral studies at ÅAU are systematic, well-structured and meet the highest standards. Our activities are steered by the values of academic tradition in terms of freedom of research and education as well as ethical responsibility.  We are a workplace that recognises and utilises the knowledge and competences of the staff and students. We value and endevour diversity, inclusion, equality, health and sustainability in all our activities as well as continuos wellbeing and career possibilities for staff.

Established over 100 years ago, ÅAU operates at the historical campus in Turku and Vaasa. With our 5,900 graduate and postgraduate students and 1,100 employees, we are an international and unique university.  Join us and work for a better world!

Come work with us: https://www.abo.fi/about-abo-akademi-university/come-work-with-us/ 
Do research with us: https://www.abo.fi/research-at-aau/ 

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Åbo Akademi (ÅA) är ett internationellt framstående forskningsuniversitet med ett brett svenskspråkigt utbildningsansvar i Finland. Med sin speciella nordiska förankring har Åbo Akademi en framstående och erkänd ställning nationellt och internationellt inom forskning och utbildning.

Fakulteten för naturvetenskaper och teknik erbjuder 3 avlönade doktorandplatser (3 år/befattning) inom doktorandpiloten Digital Waters Flagship (DIWA). Två doktorander kommer att rekryteras till ämnet miljö- och marinbiologi (ansökan nedan) och en doktorand till geologi och mineralogi (se separat utlysning).

Se projektbeskrivning i den engelska annonsen.

Befattningarna är placerade inom följande doktorandprogram vid ÅA:

• Biovetenskaper

Befattningarna börjar den 1 januari 2025.

Doktorsexamen befrämjar den anställdas framtida karriärval och förbereder för arbete som självständig forskare eller i krävande expertarbete inom den akademiska världen och andra arbetslivssektorer.

BEHÖRIGHETSKRAV OCH BEDÖMNING

Denna utlysning är öppen för dig som har en magisterexamen OCH en handledare eller en potentiell handledare vid miljö- och marinbiologin vid fakulteten för naturvetenskaper och teknik vid Åbo Akademi. Sökande ska ha avlagt sina masterstudier (eller motsvarande) senast den 1 december 2024 (kopia av examensbevis eller intyg om avlagd examen kan skickas senare till graduateschool@abo.fi).

Observera att det finns en separat ansökningsprocess för antagning till ett doktorandprogram vid Åbo Akademi. Sökande kan ansöka om antagning till forskarutbildning efter att ha fått beslut om anställning. En sökande som ännu inte är antagen som doktorand vid fakulteten behöver uppfylla kraven för utbildning på forskarnivå enligt principerna för antagning till fakultetens forskarutbildning. När anställningen påbörjas ska doktoranden ha en studierätt för doktorsexamen som avlagts tidigast 1.11.2023eller befinna sig i ett skede som gör det möjligt för doktoranden att beviljas studierätt för doktorsexamen under prövotiden (dvs. inom sex månader från anställningens början).

Vi söker kandidater med utmärkt samarbets- och kommunikationsförmåga samt förmåga att ta ansvar och visa engagemang för samarbetspartners. De sökande bedöms utifrån sina studieprestationer, forskningsplan och dess genomförbarhet, en anställningsintervju och eventuella resultat av tidigare forskning inom relevant område eller relaterade ämnen.

Följande erfarenhet anses viktig:

• Marint fältarbete
• Provtagning och bearbetning av marina prover
• Experimentdesign

Följande är meriterande:

• Analytisk förmåga och färdigheter i dataanalys
• Ett giltigt dykcertifikat
• Ett giltigt körkort (B)
• Färdigheter i båthantering och navigering

ANSTÄLLNINGSVILLKOR

Anställda doktorander ska vara en aktiv del av fakultetens forskning och utbildning på campus i Åbo.

Åbo Akademi följer de finska universitetens lönesystem. Lönen för doktorander läggs enligt kravnivåerna 2-4 för undervisnings- och forskningspersonal. För närvarande är ingångslönen för en ny doktorand ca 2 580 €/månad. Lönen kommer att justeras vartefter avhandlingsarbetet framskrider och doktoranden närmar sig doktorsexamen.

Anställda doktorander följer systemet med helhetsarbetstid om 1 612 timmar per år. Anställningen är på heltid. Doktoranders individuella studieplan uppföljs årligen. Vid nyanställning tillämpas prövotid.

ANSÖKAN

Lämna in en elektronisk ansökan nedan (Leave an application). För teknisk information om inlämnandet av ansökan vänligen se: Instruktion för elektronisk arbetsansökan | Åbo Akademi (abo.fi). I ansökan inkluderas följande bilagor:

1. Ett fritt formulerat ansökningsbrev i vilket huvudämne och den sökta finansieringsperioden framgår
2. En forskningsplan (max 4 sidor, font 12 pt, exkl. referenser) skriven på engelska eller svenska. Forskningsplanen ska innehålla ett forskningsämne (undersökning av steniga stränder eller mjuka sediment), forskningsfrågor, mål, forskningsmetodik, implementering och tidsplan.
3. CV förenlig med god vetenskaplig praxis och enligt modell av Forskningsetiska delegationen i Finland
4. Kopior av examensbevis inklusive betygsutdrag (BA, MA, MSc, övrigt).

Sista ansökningsdag är den 30 september 2024 kl. 15.00 (finsk lokaltid).

INFORMATION

För mer information om anställningarna och ansökningsprocessen, vänligen kontakta Åbo Akademis forskningskoordinatorer, e-post: graduateschool@abo.fi.

Utvärderingsprocessen börjar efter att ansökningstiden har stängt. Ett preliminärt beslut om anställning fattas i november. Mer detaljerad information om genomförandet av tidtabellen kommer att kommuniceras till de sökande under rekryteringsprocessen.

Jobba hos oss: https://www.abo.fi/om-abo-akademi/jobba-hos-oss/
Forska hos oss: https://www.abo.fi/forska-hos-oss/

Osaamisalue: Kasvatus- & opetusala