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Predoctoral Researcher in LCA and wastewater treatment
Ref: 2024DILIFRUA123
Job Position
PhD position. The predoctoral researcher will support the research lines “Resource Management for a Circular Economy” and “Sustainable Food Systems” at the Sostenipra research group through the SPORE-MED project
The SPORE-MED project aims to upgrade urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the Mediterranean. A circular economy approach is taken to reduce the energy demand of WWTPs and recover nutrients in the form of struvite and reclaimed water. The recovered nutrients will be applied in experimental fields. In addition, health and surveillance are important pillars of the project, which includes WWTP upgrades to monitor and reduce the emissions of microplastics and micropollutants. Within the project, Sostenipra will evaluate the environmental and economic impacts and benefits of the proposed upgrades. The specific functions of the PhD candidate are:
- Application of life cycle assessment and life cycle costing to WWTPs to evaluate the proposed upgrades.
- Creation of new life cycle inventories for the proposed technologies and processes.
- Participation in project meetings and training sessions related to the project and PhD program.
- Elaboration of reports and documents related to the project.
- Writing and publishing peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals as part of the project and their PhD thesis.
- Participation in communication and dissemination activities
- Conducting interdisciplinary research with the project and research group members.
This posting is not serving any analytical labs. For this reason, applying analytical methods in the lab is not included in any of the functions of the PhD candidate.
Requirements
- Studies:
Master’s degree in Environmental Science, Industrial Ecology or related.
Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering or related.
- Computing:
Strong computing skills and data bases for life cycle assessment.
Experience with LCA software (e.g. SimaPro, GaBi) will be valued.
- Languages:
A proficient English level is a must, as the project is composed of an international consortium.
Knowledge of Catalan and/or Spanish is a plus.
- Experience:
Experience with LCA projects and/or wastewater treatment.
Experience in the circular economy field.
- Requeriments:
Good knowledge of LCA sofware such as GaBi, Simapro and LCIA methods.
Good knowledge of Excel.
Proven capability in the completion of technical writing tasks.
Teamwork in multidisciplinary and international teams.
- *The application of analytical methods and lab techniques is not a requirement for this position
Benefits
- Annual Gross salary: 23.871,33€
Eligibility criteria
- Academic track – 40 points
Studies of the required specialization: 100%; Other studies: 20%
- Computing Skills – 10 points
Everything required/valuable: 100%; Not everything required: 20%
- Language proficiency – 10 points
Native English Speaker: 100%; C1 English level or equivalent: 100%; B1 English level or equivalent: 20%
- Experience – 10 points
Everything required/valuable: 100%; Not everything required: 20%
- Interview – 30 points
Candidates scoring at least 40 points in this first stage will be invited for an interview. The interview will include an oral presentation of a recent research project related to the topic of this job posting (Master’s thesis or related).
Minimum score: 60
Selection process:
- The selection process is based on the evaluation of the curriculum followed by an interview when candidates score at least 40 points in the initial stage.
- Website: https://seleccio.uab.cat/
- Reference Offer: 2024DILIFRUA123
- Programmes: PRIMA-2322-SPORE-MED
- You will find the bases of the call in the following link: https://tauler.seu.cat/pagDetall.do?idEdicte=518260&idens=11
- To validate your request, please complete the form available at https://seleccio.uab.cat/. Applications not submitted through this link will not be considered in the selection process.
Application Deadline: 19 Sep 2024 - 23:59 (Europe/Madrid)
Predoctoral Researcher in Digital Relational Values and Environmental Stewardship
Position Context
The decline in direct nature experiences is often cited as a cause for diminishing appreciation of nature and reduced commitment to environmental stewardship. However, the ERC-project BIG-5 considers the internet as an overlooked factor in enhancing nature experiences, fostering nature values, and promoting environmental stewardship, counteracting the so-called ‘extinction of experiences’ of nature.
With over half of the global population already using social media, the BIG-5 project leverages five of the world’s largest social media platforms to better understand how physical-virtual nature interactions support sustainable global transitions in a rapidly changing world. The project introduces Digital Relational Values (DRVs) as fundamental and eudemonic values developed within virtual communities through indirect experiences of nature. It explores these values across five landscape types, five large social media networks, and in five languages using qualitative and quantitative (big data) approaches in an inductive-deductive manner.
The BIG-5 project aims to:
- (a) Identify DRVs across different social media platforms,
- (b) Understand how they spread across virtual communities,
- (c) Examine the relationship between virtually produced DRVs and physical environmental stewardship.
By doing so, BIG-5 challenges the assumption of an “extinction of experiences” and the consecutive decline of nature values and care for the environment. It underscores the importance of relational values as a foundation for environmental stewardship and contributes to a novel understanding of the physical-virtual continuum in generating nature values.
Responsibilities
The successful candidate will join the BIG-5 team as a doctoral researcher with research interests in relational nature values and environmental stewardship.
Responsibilities include:
- Engaging in the conceptual development of theory and research design to understand environmental stewardship triggered by Digital Relational Values.
- Design and execution of qualitative social-environmental research methods, including experiment, interviews, survey and topic modelling approaches.
- Qualitative and quantitative/ statistical data analysis from social media, interviews, survey, experiment approaches.
- Acting as a knowledge broker between social-environmental research at the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA-UAB) and computational social science research at the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre (BSC).
Qualifications
The ideal candidate should have:
- A conceptual background in environmental/relational nature values and/or environmental stewardship.
- Experiences in topic modelling and/or experiment / survey / interview design.
- Experiences in qualitative and quantitative/statistical analysis.
Benefits
- Opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research in an ERC-project in the field of Digital Relational Values and Environmental Stewardship.
- Association with two Spanish centers of excellence: ICTA-UAB and BSC.
- Competitive Spanish salary.
- Career development training, reflections, and external mentorship.
- This position offers a unique chance to be at the forefront of research exploring the intersection of digital and social-environmental realms, contributing to novel understanding of people’s nature values and environmental stewardship.
Gross salary:
- 1st year: 21,400.00€
- 2nd year: 22,200.00€
- 3rd year: 23,000.00 €
- 4th year: 23,871.33 €
Eligibility criteria
- Academic Record – 30
- Language skills–15
- Relevant research experience- 30
- Interview - 15
- Motivation- 10
- Minimum score: 80
Selection process:
1. Application Submission
- Candidates should submit through https://seleccio.uab.cat:(a) CV, (b) cover letter, (c) 2 external reference letters,
- Deadline for submission: 02-09-2024.
2. Initial Screening
- Applications will be reviewed for qualifications and relevant experience.
- Shortlisted candidates will be notified approximately by the first week of September.
3. Interview
- Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview, either in-person or via video conference.
- The interview will focus on the candidate’s background, experience, and fit for the project.
- The interview will include a discussion with the project team members.
4. Final Selection
- The final candidate will be selected based on their performance in the interviews, qualifications, and overall fit for the project.
- The selected candidate will be notified around 22-09-2024
5. Appointment
- The appointed candidate will begin their position (estimated) 15-10-2024.
- To validate this request, you must validate the form that is accessed at the URL https://seleccio.uab.cat/. Applications not submitted through this link will not be considered in the selection process.
- In addition, candidates can send their applications as one integrated PDF file to Dr. Johannes.Langemeyer@uab.cat.
Please write Phd 1_LANGEMEYER in subject line.
Deadline for submission: 02-09-2024.
Postdoctoral Researcher in Digital Relational Values and Environmental Stewardship
Position Context
The decline in direct nature experiences is often cited as a cause for diminishing appreciation of nature and reduced commitment to environmental stewardship. However, the ERC-project BIG-5 considers the internet as an overlooked factor in enhancing nature experiences, fostering nature values, and promoting environmental stewardship, counteracting the so-called ‘extinction of experiences’ of nature.
With over half of the global population already using social media, the BIG-5 project leverages five of the world’s largest social media platforms to better understand how physical-virtual nature interactions support sustainable global transitions in a rapidly changing world. The project introduces Digital Relational Values (DRVs) as fundamental and eudemonic values developed within virtual communities through indirect experiences of nature. It explores these values across five landscape types, five large social media networks, and in five languages using qualitative and quantitative (big data) approaches in an inductive-deductive manner.
The BIG-5 project aims to:
- (a) Identify DRVs across different social media platforms,
- (b) Understand how they spread across virtual communities,
- (c) Examine the relationship between virtually produced DRVs and physical environmental stewardship.
By doing so, BIG-5 challenges the assumption of an “extinction of experiences” and the consecutive decline of nature values and care for the environment. It underscores the importance of relational values as a foundation for environmental stewardship and contributes to a novel understanding of the physical-virtual continuum in generating nature values.
Responsibilities
The successful candidate will join the BIG-5 team as a doctoral researcher with research interests in relational nature values and environmental stewardship.
Responsibilities include:
The successful candidate will join the BIG-5 team as a post-doctoral researcher with research interests in relational nature values and/or environmental stewardship. Responsibilities include:
- Engaging in the conceptual and methodological development of the project.
- Involvement in the supervision of other team members.
- Acting as a knowledge broker between social-environmental research at the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA-UAB) and computational social science research at the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre (BSC).
- Bridging roles between ICTA-UAB and BSC.
Qualifications
The ideal candidate should have:
- A strong background in (big) data handling and statistical analysis
- Experience in either Digital Social Network Analysis or Experiment Design & Survey Design
- Demonstrated research interest in relational nature values and/or environmental stewardship
Benefits
- Opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research in an ERC-project in the field of Digital Relational Values.
- Association with two Spanish centers of excellence: ICTA-UAB and BSC.
- Competitive Spanish salary (adapted to the candidate’s experience).
- Career development training, reflections, and external mentorship.
- This position offers a unique chance to be at the forefront of research exploring the intersection of digital and social-environmental realms, contributing to novel understanding of people’s nature values and environmental stewardship.
- Gross salary: 28.000 €/year mínimum - Depending on qualification and experiences.
Eligibility criteria
- Academic Record – 30
- Language skills–15
- Relevant research experience- 30
- Interview - 15
- Motivation- 10
- Minimum score: 90
Selection process:
1. Application Submission
- Candidates should submit through https://seleccio.uab.cat:(a) CV, (b) cover letter, (c) 2 external reference letters,
- Deadline for submission: 02-09-2024.
2. Initial Screening
- Applications will be reviewed for qualifications and relevant experience.
- Shortlisted candidates will be notified approximately by the first week of September.
3. Interview
- Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview, either in-person or via video conference.
- The interview will focus on the candidate’s background, experience, and fit for the project.
- The interview will include a discussion with the project team members.
4. Final Selection
- The final candidate will be selected based on their performance in the interviews, qualifications, and overall fit for the project.
- The selected candidate will be notified around 22-09-2024
5. Appointment
- The appointed candidate will begin their position on 15-10-2024 (flexible).
- To validate this request, you must validate the form that is accessed at the URL https://seleccio.uab.cat/. Applications not submitted through this link will not be considered in the selection process.
- In addition, candidates can send their applications as one integrated PDF file to Dr. Johannes.Langemeyer@uab.cat.
Please write PD2_LANGEMEYER in subject line.
Deadline for submission: 02-09-2024.
IEK-CHANGES - Call for PhD and postdoctoral researchers 4 positions. (2 PhD and 2 postdocs)
We welcome applications to four research fellowships that will work on the ERC Starting Grant “Assessing long-term changes in Indigenous Environmental Knowledge systems” (IEK-CHANGES), which is led by Dr. Álvaro Fernández-Llamazares at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Spain. Each fellowship lasts for 4 full years.
The IEK-CHANGES research project aims to rigorously assess the processes through which Indigenous environmental knowledge systems change over time, and the ecological impacts associated with such changes. Using systematic ethnobotanical fieldbased data collection in the Bolivian Amazon, the project aims to expand our knowledge
of the pathways through which the erosion of collective intergenerational knowledge impinges negatively on biodiversity conservation. The overall goal of this research project is to advance theory and methods for the rigorous assessment of processes of continuity and change in the ethnobiological knowledge systems of Indigenous Peoples, thereby contributing to disentangle the imbricate relationship between changes in Indigenous environmental knowledge and biodiversity loss.
Work environment
All four positions will be based at the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA-UAB) of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. The four appointees will become core members of the IEK-CHANGES team, will integrate the Laboratory for the Analysis of Social-Ecological Systems in a Globalised world (LASEG), and will work in collaboration with the Botany Unit of the Department of Animal Biology, Plant Biology and Ecology (BABVE). All four positions include 10 full months of fieldwork in the Bolivian Amazon.
ICTA-UAB is a world-renowned transdisciplinary centre that promotes academic research and postgraduate education in cross-cutting environmental sciences. It undertakes cutting-edge research and training on the interactions between humans and Earth systems, to build integrative knowledge for a sustainable future. Committed to impactful science, ICTA-UAB strives to empower society with science to address global socio-environmental challenges.
The Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) is a public university located in Cerdanyola del Vallès, near the city of Barcelona, in Catalonia, Spain. UAB has consistently ranked as one of Spain’s leading universities in several academic rankings (e.g., first Spanish University in the 2024 QS World University Rankings), and it has a consolidated position amongst the 200 best universities in the world.
All four positions are based in Barcelona, one of Europe’s most vibrant cities and an extraordinary hub for environmental research and innovation. With its incredibly rich cultural tapestry, a pleasant weather year-round, >4km of golden sandy beaches within its municipal boundaries, its delightful cuisine and its family-friendly environment, Barcelona is currently ranked as one of the world’s 10 most liveable cities (e.g., 8th best city in the world according to the World’s Best Cities 2024).
The fieldwork phase will be conducted during 10 months (between June 2025 and May 2026) in the Tsimane’ Territory, in one of the most biodiverse rainforest ecosystems of the Bolivian Amazon. The closest city to the area where the candidates will be conducting fieldwork is San Borja (José Ballivián province, Beni department). The four team members will be living together in the field, and will be supported by dedicated field staff from the Centro Boliviano de Investigación y Desarrollo Socio Integral (CBIDSI).
CBIDSI will offer continuous logistical, technical and admin support through all the fieldwork phase of the project. The project will be developed in partnership with the Tsimane’ Indigenous Peoples, and will include fieldwork under physically challenging conditions in the Bolivian Amazon.
Work details
The four appointees will work as a team collecting and analysing environmental, geographic and cultural data from a unique field-based research site in the Bolivian Amazon. The team will gather original, field-based data to assess: (1) long-term changes in the ethnobotanical knowledge systems of Indigenous Peoples; (2) the societal extinction of culturally-important plant species; and (3) the realities of deforestation in different Indigenous territories across the Bolivian Amazon. During the first 7 months, the team will undergo an extensive training in Barcelona before leaving to the field, collectively working on the design and pilot-testing of research protocols for field-based data collection.
From June 2025 to May 2026, the team will collect empirical data in the field, in two successive field campaigns of 5 months each. The last 2.5 years will be devoted to data analysis, writing and dissemination. The contract is full-time (37.5 hours/week) for four full years (48 months), and can be neither extended nor transformed into a part-time contract. The start date of the project (December 2024) is fixed and non-negotiable.
The contract includes 31 natural days of annual leave, excluding bank holidays (e.g., New Year). Residence in Barcelona or surroundings is required (except for the fieldwork phase of the project). Candidates are expected to fully participate in the intellectual life of ICTA-UAB by physically attending workshops, seminars, reading groups and away days. Possibilities to carry out short research stays abroad during the course of the project can be arranged, depending on the appointee’s intellectual needs and aspirations and their performance.
While the project has pre-defined tasks, there is also room for personal initiative. Appointees will be encouraged to pursue their own research ideas (according to their specific interests and aspirations), besides the data collection required for the project implementation. Collaborations among team members will be actively encouraged. The precise scope of the research project of each PhD student and postdoctoral researcher will be finally decided between the appointee and the PI after the candidate has been appointed. In addition, postdoctoral researchers may – depending on their interests and expertise – co-supervise PhD and MSc students within the team.
Qualifications
We are looking for outstanding candidates with a strong commitment to collaborative, supportive, inclusive and equity-based research ethics and excellent inter-personal communication skills, who are independent, versatile and creative, and with proven ability to develop and pursue their own research ideas. Candidates are expected to be able to work independently and collaboratively as part of a research team, contributing to a well-functioning, inclusive and productive research environment. Candidates need to be fluent in both English and Spanish.
They do not need to have finished their MSc or PhD by the time of application. However, candidates must have their title in hand by the start of the appointment (December 2024). Candidates should have availability to conduct fieldwork in the Bolivian Amazon for 10 full months (June 2025 – May 2026, two successive field campaigns of 5 months each), and be comfortable with the idea of living in a remote area with limited Internet and phone availability.
Candidates applying for this position should preferably have fieldwork experience working with Indigenous Peoples and local communities, or at least show a genuine interest in learning from other cultures, and a strong commitment to centring Indigenous priorities and ways of knowing within their scholarship. Candidates should have a learner’s mindset (i.e., commitment to learning from individuals of different worldviews, cultures and representing different epistemic traditions).
A previous geographic focus in the Amazon and/or Latin America will be an added advantage. In addition to these general qualities the successful applicants will also have a variety of unique skills and attributes, according to each of the positions offered.
These are:
Position 1. PhD student in conservation science.
Position reference: 2024DILIFRUA57
Required skills
- MSc degree in ecology, geography, conservation science or related fields, available at the start of the contract.
Desirable skills
- A high level of competence in working with GIS and handling large-scale forest loss data.
- Computing skills including experience in advanced statistic programming languages (R and/or Python), remote sensing and GIS software (Google Earth Engine, ArcGIS and/or QGIS).
- Demonstrated commitment to biological and cultural aspects of conservation, as well as experience in the interface between research and conservation action.
- Previous experience working with counterfactual analyses and matching methods.
Position 2. PhD student in ethnobotany
Position reference: 2024DILIFRUA58
Required kills
- MSc degree in ethnobotany, environmental studies, environmental anthropology, cultural anthropology, or related fields, available at the start of the contract.
Desirable skills
- Sophisticated understanding of both quantitative and qualitative approaches to ethnobotanical research.
- Experience with ethnobotanical field-based research methods (e.g., semistructured interviews, participant observation, free listings, expert elicitation surveys).
- Familiarity with theory and practice in environmental anthropology and Indigenous studies.
- Basic computing skills including some level of experience in advanced statistic programming languages (e.g., R).
Position 3. Postdoctoral researcher in ethnobotany
Position reference: 2024DILIFRUA59
Required skills
- PhD degree in tropical ecology, botany or related fields, available at the start of the contract.
- Demonstrable track record in leading large-scale botanical and/or ethnobotanical data collection in the Tropics.
- Demonstratable analytical skills and ability to handle large ethnobotanical datasets.
- Strong publication record as a lead author.
Desirable skills
- Accredited experience with quantitative data processing and analysis (e.g., modelling and programming with R to explore patterns in ethnobotanical data, high performance computation).
- Good knowledge of tropical botany, experience in conducting botanical inventories in the rainforest, and sampling/identifying tropical plants.
- Working knowledge of historical ecology approaches.
- Professional competence in planning, designing, executing, and/or coordinating field-based research in the Tropics.
Position 4. Postdoctoral researcher in conservation science
Position reference: 2024DILIFRUA60
Required skills
- PhD degree in environmental studies, sustainability science, conservation science, geography, or related fields, available at the start of the contract.
- Demonstratable commitment to socially engaged environmental research in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples.
- Experience in the application of theory and methods in the social sciences to understand human dimensions of conservation and/or natural resource use.
- Strong publication record as a lead author.
Desirable skills
- Good understanding of the social and political landscape and conservation realities in the Amazon and/or Latin America.
- Accredited experience in the use of both quantitative and qualitative methods in support of conservation.
- Practical experience synthesizing and communicating social-ecological research to decision-makers at different scales.
- Basic computing skills including some level of experience in advanced statistic programming languages (e.g., R).
ICTA-UAB participates in INPhINIT 'la Caixa' Fellowship Programme
Find all the information here