Job Description

CREAF is seeking a predoctoral researcher for the SEVERO OCHOA Project, with the reference CEX2023-001340-S with specific ref. PREX2023-000029 funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades and the Agencia Estatal de Investigación / 10.13039/501100011033.

The Severo Ochoa award will allow CREAF to further advance its excellence in research and research management, while contributing to addressing global socio-environmental challenges. The previous strategic project U-LANDSCAPE provided a first approach to these challenges, contributing to driving CREAF research towards human-altered ecosystems and landscapes, their functioning and threats. This perspective is reinforced in a more comprehensive way through the present proposal “ECO-RESILIENCE 360º: TRANSFORMATIVE ECOLOGY TO MANAGE THE FUTURE OF ECOSYSTEMS AND HUMAN WELLBEING” focusing on three application areas: (1) ASSESSING THE POTENTIAL OF NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS; (2) UNDERSTANDING AND FORECASTING THE RISKS TO ECOSYSTEMS; and (3) ADAPTING ECOSISTEMS FOR RESILIENCE.

The PhD project is framed in the second thematic area described above, and will address climatic risks on forest water and carbon fluxes, taking advantage of the global SAPFLUXNET database of plant water use (https://sapfluxnet.creaf.cat/) and the FunBosc network to monitor forest functioning in Catalonia (https://www.creaf.cat/en/articles/digital-forest-leading-technologies-monitoring-water-trees-mediterranean), both coordinated by our research group.

Specifically, the PhD will involve using advanced modelling to investigate tree water use and drought response strategies. The application of novel approaches in nonlinear time series analysis will allow studying the fine-scale dynamics of plant water content and use in response to climatic extremes, particularly drought. The ultimate goal of the thesis is to assess the dynamic properties and the joint regulation of plant water status and use at sub-daily time scales, compare empirical with process-based modelling approaches, and identify early-warning signals of mortality risk that can be applicable to forest monitoring programs across scales. Besides the Severo Ochoa Program, the PhD project will be associated with the operating FunBosc network and the LEMONWURST project (Leveraging forest monitoring networks and models to predict forest water use and drought responses in space and time), the latter currently under review by MICIU.

The awarded candidate will join a large, dynamic and highly international research group devoted to the study of the functioning and dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems, and how they are being impacted by global change (https://creaf-ecophys.github.io/EcoPhys-Webpage/).

Supervisors: Jordi Martínez-Vilalta ([email protected]), Rafael Poyatos ([email protected]).

This contract is envisaged to start in January 2027. The salary offered (gross) is established by the RD EPIF (Real Decreto 103/2019, de 1 de marzo, por el que se aprueba el Estatuto del personal investigador predoctoral en formación):

• 1st year (12 months): 56% of € 33.941,46** = € 19.007,22.
• 2nd year (12 months): 60% of € 33.941,46** = € 20.364,88.
• 3rt and 4rt year (24 months): 75% of € 33.941,46** = € 25.456,10 each year.

**Salary from Group 1 (M3) of the salary table from the Convenio colectivo único para el personal laboral de la Administración General del Estado of 2026 (subject to possible salary increases when new salary amounts are approved).

MAIN FUNCTIONS

• Curate and analyse large datasets of tree water status and use and their response to environmental fluctuations and extremes.
• Potential fieldwork to manage or expand current sensor networks or collect ancillary data.
• Write the results for publication in scientific journals.
• Present the results in scientific meetings.
• Contribute to the main objectives of the research group, including sporadic participation in projects of other team members.
• REQUIREMENTS:
• Bachelor’s and master’s degrees (or equivalent) related to physics, modelling, mathematics, biophysics, biology, environmental sciences, or similar.
• Excellent analytical skills (e.g., working with large datasets and performing advanced data analyses).
• High-level experience programming in R, Python or similar programming tools.
• Good English level, both spoken and written.
• Good command of Catalan and Spanish
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

ASSESSABLE CONDITIONS:

• Experience managing and analysing large datasets.
• Experience modelling biological systems, both using empirical and process-based approaches.
• Experience using analytical tools to study the dynamics of complex systems.
• Experience in time series analysis, particularly using advanced tools in non-linear time series analysis.
• Previous work in plant ecophysiology or ecosystem ecology (fluxes of water, carbon and energy between plants and the environment).
• International working experience.
• Motivation for research in quantitative ecology working in an international environment.
• Driving license and availability to travel for field work.
• Name and email addresses of one or two professional references.
• Candidates who have a recognized disability will be considered and accredited equal to or greater than 33% will be prioritized, if the disability is compatible with the proper performance of the job.

SELECTION PROCESS AND CRITERIA:

1. Admission of candidates: 1) CVA (please download and complete the document available at the following link) in English, 2) motivation letter (less than 1 page), until September 17th, 2026. Applications submitted to any portal other than the CREAF job board and the instructions included therein will not be accepted.
2. Pre-selection: assessment of compliance with the minimum requirements of the job offer.
3. Selection: evaluation of the pre-selected candidates through scoring based on objective criteria, interviews with a shortlist of candidates, and a proposed exercise.
4. Final decision: if a suitable candidate is identified, they will be formally informed of their selection, and all other participants in the selection process will be notified by email.
5. For informal enquiries, please, contact IP garants at: [email protected] or [email protected].

Job offer in PDF