Junior PhD Researcher position to carry out scientific research activities in the scientific area of Fisheries

Organisation: Fundação Gaspar Frutuoso – OKEANOS, Institute of Marine Sciences, University of the Azores.

Position: Junior PhD Researcher – Fisheries.

Reference: DOCTORAL RESEARCHER_Fish4MSY.

Contract: Unfixed-term employment contract, full-time, 35 hours/week.

Workplace: Institute of Marine Sciences – OKEANOS, University of the Azores – Horta Campus, 9901-862 Horta, Azores, Portugal.

Start date: 1 July 2026.

Salary: €2,408.11 gross/month.

Offer Description

One (1) Junior PhD Researcher position is open under an exclusive dedication regime to carry out scientific research activities in the scientific area of Fisheries, within the scope of the project Fish4MSY – Estado dos recursos pesqueiros e restauração da biodiversidade nos Açores (ref. MAR-016.9.1-FEAMPA-10018), funded by the MAR 2030 Programme through the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF).

The project aims to produce robust and updated assessments of commercially important fish stocks in the Azores. The work will integrate historical data collected through monitoring programmes, including landings, catches, fishing effort, biological sampling, length and age compositions, abundance indices and life-history parameters. Advanced quantitative methods will be applied to estimate population dynamics, standardise abundance indices, evaluate fishing pressure and stock status, and explore data-limited and data-rich stock assessment approaches.

Requirements

• PhD in Fisheries Science, Marine Sciences, Quantitative Ecology, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Biomathematics, Ecological Modelling, Oceanography, Marine Biology, or a related scientific field.
• Strong scientific publication record, preferably in stock assessment, population dynamics, quantitative fisheries science, applied statistics, mathematical modelling, ecological modelling, fisheries management, or marine resource assessment.
• Demonstrated experience in fisheries stock assessment, including length-based, age-based, biomass-based, catch-based, survey-based or data-limited assessment methods.
• Experience in quantitative modelling applied to fisheries or marine resources, including population dynamics models, statistical models, state-space models, Bayesian models, surplus production models, age- or length-structured models, Management Strategy Evaluation, or simulation-based approaches.
• Experience in applied statistics and data analysis, including time-series analysis, standardisation of CPUE or abundance indices, generalised linear models, mixed models, uncertainty analysis, sensitivity analysis, model diagnostics and interpretation of quantitative outputs.
• Experience in the analysis of fisheries-dependent and fisheries-independent data, including landings, catches, fishing effort, discards, biological sampling, length and age compositions, survey data, abundance indices, growth, maturity, mortality and recruitment.
• Experience in programming languages and analytical tools for quantitative analysis, modelling and reproducible workflows, preferably R or Python.
• Knowledge of international fisheries advisory processes, particularly ICES assessment procedures, MSY-based advice, biological reference points, data-limited stock assessment methods and uncertainty evaluation, will be valued.

Selection Criteria

Candidates will be evaluated based on the integrated assessment of their scientific and professional trajectory, considering:

• Scientific production (40%): scientific articles published in journals with an impact factor, and technical reports and scientific advice documents.
• Professional experience (60%): experience in stock assessment, population dynamics and quantitative modelling; participation in research projects; experience in fisheries science, MSY-based advice or fisheries management; experience in applied statistics, abundance index standardisation or quantitative data modelling; experience in student supervision; experience in programming languages and quantitative modelling tools.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted in English via email to regis.vs.santos@uac.pt (cc: silvia.f.martinho@uac.pt), addressed to the Chair of the Selection Committee, Prof. Dr Régis Santos.

Application deadline: 3 June 2026, 23:59 (Atlantic/Azores).

The application must include:

• Formal request indicating the reference (DOCTORAL RESEARCHER_Fish4MSY), full name, identification document, tax identification number, date and place of birth, marital status, profession, residence, email address and telephone number.
• Copy of the PhD certificate or diploma.
• PDF copy of the doctoral thesis and publications.
• Detailed curriculum vitae organised according to the assessment criteria.
• Other documents considered relevant to the evaluation of qualifications in a related scientific field.