PhD grant Development of evaluation tools for estimating the success of estuarine restoration

Posted date:
01-Feb-10

The University of Antwerpen has a vacancy for a PhD grant in the domain of estuarine biogeochemistry and ecology:

The department of Biology of the Faculty of Sciences has a vacancy for the following full-time position (m/f):

PhD grant Development of evaluation tools for estimating the success of estuarine restoration

Background:

This research project is carried out within the research group Ecosystem Management (ECOBE) of the University of Antwerpen. ECOBE is involved in both fundamental and applied research on ecological, biogeochemical and geomorphological processes in rivers and estuaries. This project is in collaboration with the several Flemish universities within the frame of OMES, a monitoring program that investigates the impact on the environment of the Sigma plan.

The Schelde estuary, like many estuaries, faces important challenges regarding safety against inundations by storm floods, maintaining the accessibility to the ports and meanwhile improving the ecological functioning. In order to comply to environmental legislation such as the EU bird and habitat directive and the EU Water Framework directory, restoration plans are made and many different restoration measures are implemented. A large scale monitoring project was set up to follow up the development of the system. A major knowledge gap is however how to evaluate the development of the estuary as a system and the success or failure of individual restoration projects. This project aims at developing evaluation tools to estimate the success of restoration projects and of the development of the estuary. It will put a strong emphasis on the ecosystem goods and service delivered by the estuary and the formulation of the conservation objectives required by the Habitat Directive. The project is linked to the Flemish OMES project, the bilateral Flemish Dutch project MONEOS and the international EU Interreg project TIDE.

The work will consist of fieldwork in specific restoration projects as well as the analysis of large datasets.

Description of the position:

• You prepare a PhD dissertation on the above described subject.

• You publish research results in international scientific journals.

• You work in close collaboration with scientists of the research group ECOBE

• You conduct applied research within the frame of OMES, MONEOS and the EU Interreg project TIDE

Your profile:

• You have a Master degree in Bio-Engineering or Biology

• Preferentially you have experience or interest in ecology of aquatic or estuarine ecosystems

• You have a communicative and enterprising attitude. This is a multidisciplinary project in which information and knowledge has to be combined from different disciplines.

Our offer:

• A fascinating and versatile research and PhD project in a dynamic research group.

• A contract for 1 year, with possible extension with 3 years after positive evaluation.

• The aimed starting date is 15th of March 2010.

• Additional training and education possibilities (e.g. PhD training).

• Regular participation to international conferences.

How can you apply:

• You can apply until 22 February 2010.

• Send you curriculum vitae en application letter to Prof Dr P. Meire (Patrick.meireua.ac.be). Describe in your application letter briefly (max. 250 words) your previous knowledge and your motivation.

For more information on the scientific content, you can contact Prof. P. Meire University of Antwerpen (patrick.meireua.ac.be or +32 3265 22 64) or Ir Tom Maris (Tom.marisua.ac.be or +32 3 265 2263).