Predoctoral Researcher

About the Position

The Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3) offers a full-time predoctoral researcher position to support the research activities in the context of the European Research Council (ERC) project GorBEEa (ID: 101086771), led by Dr. Ainhoa Magrach. This is a 5-year research project funded by the ERC that will be developed at the ‘Global change impacts on ecosystem functioning’ lab, and within the framework of the Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Line (RL3). This project has received funding from the European Union Horizon Europe Research and Innovations programme under grant agreement nº 101086771.

About the Project

This position is part of the ERC Consolidator Grant GorBEEa “Understanding biodiversity-ecosystem function and biodiversity-stability relationships across spatial and organizational scales” led by Ainhoa Magrach. The project seeks to understand the drivers of functional stability at different levels of organization, to understand the feedback loops that enable biodiversity to be maintained. GorBEEa combines multiple disciplines, from the use of theoretical network developments to predictive models, experimental approaches and empirical observations integrated in a framework to predict the consequences of different perturbations for natural communities and to provide input for future policy actions aiming at the conservation of functional landscapes. To this end, the project uses plant and pollinator communities and their interactions as a model system. For more information on the project, click here.

Responsibilities

• Conduct field sampling of plants, pollinators, and ecosystem functions.
• Identify pollinator species (especially wild bees and hoverflies) using morphological and molecular techniques.
• Collect, curate, and manage ecological datasets.
• Quantify and analyze plant–pollinator interaction networks and community structure.
• Perform statistical analyses and visualize ecological data (e.g., in R).
• Contribute to the design of experiments and analyses on species traits, biodiversity, and ecosystem functioning.
• Write manuscripts and disseminate results in scientific and outreach formats.
• Participate in outreach and communication activities related to biodiversity and pollination.
• Support the organization of project meetings, workshops, and conferences.
• Contribute to a collaborative and inclusive lab environment.

Requirements

• MSc/Master’s degree in Ecology, Biology, Environmental Sciences, or a related field.
• Strong background in ecology, biodiversity, and species interactions.
• Experience in fieldwork and specimen identification (especially bees, hoverflies, or other pollinators).
• Familiarity with ecological data analysis and statistical modeling in R.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Driver’s license and experience driving in rural areas.

Nice to Have

• Previous experience in plant–pollinator network analysis or community ecology.
• Knowledge of functional traits, ecological stability, or biodiversity–ecosystem functioning relationships.
• Previous taxonomic experience with insects (particularly Hymenoptera or Diptera).
• Basic knowledge of molecular techniques (e.g., DNA barcoding).
• Experience with GIS or spatial data analysis.
• Good command of Spanish and/or Basque (useful for fieldwork but not mandatory).
• Ability to work with a high degree of independence and problem-solving skills.

We Offer

• Interdisciplinary and inspiring work environment
• Quiet and spacious workspaces
• Possibility of participating in internal training and academic activities of the center
• 35-hour week work calendar
• 30 days of vacation per year

Term of Contract

Starting in January 2026, the position will be for a maximum of 2 years.

Salary

The position will carry a competitive salary, matching the academic and professional profile of the applicant, and excellent work conditions.

Location

Basque Centre for Climate Change, Leioa, Spain.

As an HR Excellence awarded institution, BC3 is committed to conciliating research-academic requirements and family duties. BC3 is particularly concerned with creating equal opportunities for people independently of gender, culture, and race. Anyone with relevant qualifications is therefore strongly encouraged to apply for the position.

Application Procedure

Fill the form below and upload one PDF document with the following information: Letter of application / motivation, a CV, and the names and email addresses of two referees if possible.

Deadline

November 20, 2023 (CET 15:00).

Informal enquiries can be made to Prof Ainhoa Magrach ([email protected]) noting in the subject of the message “Predoctoral researcher in Community Ecology”.

Please consider that only applications sent through the form included at the bottom of the BC3 web page will be considered (https://info.bc3research.org/job-offers/).

THIS PROJECT HAS RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION HORIZON EUROPE RESEARCH AND INNOVATIONS PROGRAMME UNDER GRANT AGREEMENT Nº 101086771