Post-Doc - marine ecology and ocean acidification

The Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) has partnered with the Arctic Monitoring Assessment Program (AMAP), Institute of Marine Studies (IMR, Norway) and the University of Gothenburg (UGot, Sweden) to undertake research into new theoretical understanding of the response of marine ecosystems to ocean acidification, with a focus on the Arctic. This research is under the auspices of the new AMAP Ocean acidification report commissioned by the Arctic Council.

2-year postdoctoral researcher in marine ecology and ocean acidification 

The successful applicant will work at the NIVA Region West (Bergen) with Professor Richard Bellerby and with supervision/collaboration with Dr Howard Browman (Institute for Marine Research) and Dr Sam Dupont (UGot). The position requires close liaison with the AMAP office and a commitment to contribute significantly to the management, strategic development and delivery of the AMAP OA report.

Project

In this project, we will re-evaluate available information, especially experimental data, to develop mathematical representations of OA impacts on local and regional scales through a theoretical framework. This must be done using OA-specific information as well as via data mining in other disciplines. This data evaluation should be grounded in existing theories in disciplines such as ecology, evolution and synergistic interactions amongst multiple drivers. This is intended to support novel contributions to classic biological questions such as what makes a species/ecosystem sensitive to stress? How does that relate to their environment. What is the modulating role of evolution. How do stressors with similar and different mode of actions interact? Specifically, this will allow identifying and unifying principles behind species and ecosystem response to OA and increase our ability to forecast future changes. The new information will be formulated for use in regional and socioeconomic models of Arctic change within the AMAP OA project.  

Biological responses to ocean acidification (OA) are species-specific and the level of understanding of these responses that is required to assess the possible impacts of OA at local and regional scales is often lacking, especially in the Arctic. At the moment, the critical links between chemistry and biology that are the basis for understanding the mechanisms of action of OA are based on over-simplistic assumptions that are not supported by physiology, ecology or evolution. It is unlikely that biological responses can be predicted by a single parameter of the carbonate system and/or a single tipping point. This strongly limits the ability to produce any relevant synthetic deliverable. In this context, it is essential to develop new risk indicators based on a mechanistic biological understanding that can be used to develop realistic projections for future biological impacts based on monitoring data. This can be initiated through a re-evaluation of existing data in the light of current biological theories. These risk indicators would then be tested, optimized and implemented through the use of, for example, artificial neural networks, Bayesian and ecosystem models and quantitative risk assessment.

Formal qualifications

We are looking for highly qualified applicants in the fields of: Marine Biology, Marine Ecology, Environmental and Ecological statistics, Ecological modelling 

Applicants should have a PhD with a proven research record.  The successful candidate must have a strong publications record in high-ranking internatinal journals. The positions requires you to travel and work in multiple locations. 

Personal abilities

The candidates need to be flexible, independent, innovative and cooperative, and wish to work in a broad interdiciplinary scientific research group. You should be able to work in a team, but also independently. You are able to communicate easily in English, both verbally and in writing.

NIVA offers you

• competitive conditions and salaries, pension plans and insurance benefit
• positive working environment in a leading national research institution
• stimulating work environment with capable and dedicated employees
• challenging tasks at the leading national water research institute with a comprenhensive international network of contacts

The position is in section for Marine Biogeochemistry and Oceanography.

For more information, please contact Research Manager Kai Sørensen, mobil +49 907 32 129, e-mail kai.sorensen@niva.no or Professor Richard Bellerby, e-mail richard.bellerby@niva.no