Job Description

Contract: Full-time (35 hours a week), Fixed Term for 9 months

Detailed Description

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) with experience of analysing animal spatial distributions and/or electronic signal processing. The successful candidate will be trained in acoustic signal processing and/or spatial distribution modelling respectively. The candidate will then analyse the high spatial resolution datasets to estimate fish density as a function of distance from AMS, as well as other ecologically relevant parameters such as fish size and school statistics (number, size, depth, density etc.).

The role requires strong organisational, large dataset handling and analytical skills, preferably in a statistical programming language such as R or Matlab. The successful candidate will be based in Edinburgh but may be required to undertake both national and international travel.

Many marine species benefit from complex and permanent 3D hard substrates such as reefs which provide a wider range of available resources, offering more ecological niches. Although reefs are often exemplified by corals, they also include other biogenic substrates, as well as Artificial Marine Structures (AMS). Over 1300 AMS have been installed for the oil and gas industry in the North Sea, and many are now being installed to obtain offshore renewable energy. There is mounting evidence for the ecological benefits of such structures, not least for marine fish, leading to e.g., the rigs to reefs (RTR) programmes of the Gulf of Mexico. In Europe, international regulations governing the North Sea (i.e., OSPAR Decision 98/3) require the complete removal of disused offshore installations. This decommissioning process is now underway in the North Sea. However, the various assessments required under the decommissioning regulations must consider the impacts of \xe2\x80\x9cremoval\xe2\x80\x9d or \xe2\x80\x9cleave-in-place\xe2\x80\x9d options.

Funded primarily under NERC\'s INSITE programme, the FISHSPAMMS project aims to determine the extent to which offshore AMS influence the abundance, distribution, and production of fish. Evidence of the impact of AMS on fish can also inform how other components of the marine ecosystem may be affected, notably the seabirds and marine mammals that prey on fish. The principal tool used to survey fish in this project is the scientific echosounder. This provides fisheries acoustics datasets which enable the analysis of fish distributions at very high spatial resolution. A similar dataset from a related project (NERC SHEAR) will also be analysed, but in this case the focal point is the Irish Sea shallow sea tidal mixing front.

Education, Qualifications and Experience (i.e., Person Specification)

Qualifications

• Applicants should hold a PhD in a relevant area of marine ecology, environmental science or engineering (or a thesis submitted by the start date of the appointment).

How to Apply

Applications can be submitted until midnight on the 7th of September 2023.

A full job description can be found here: https://enzj.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX/job/3202/?utm_medium=jobshare

Applications should consist of a single PDF (including a motivation letter describing your interest and suitability for the post, CV, publication list, and names of 3 references) and be submitted via the Heriot-Watt University website.

Expressions of interest and other queries should be sent by email to Prof Paul Fernandes (p.fernandes@hw.ac.uk).

Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers .

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