PhD position on movement and habitat selection of juvenile tuna in relation to FADs and ocean productivity.
(2b)
We are looking for
Applications are being invited for a PhD student to conduct an agent based modeling analysis and related ecological field work of the consequences on juvenile oceanic tuna populations in (1) relation to habitat quality (productivity of the environment) (2) FAD density and (3) fishing tactics and strategies in utilizing FAD’s. You will use the field observations and model to study impacts of different densities of FAD’s and their use by fisheries on the juvenile survival rates. Fishing effort allocation and FAD use will be analysed to predict impacts of incentives and measures on tuna populations.
The research takes place under the BESTTuna program. You will be attached to the Aquaculture and Fisheries group (AFI) and the Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management group (AEW) of Wageningen University in partnership with the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) or Bogor University (IPB, Indonesia). The post will be based in Wageningen you are but expected to do extended field work in the Philippines based at the UPV or in Indonesia based at the IPB.
BESTTuna is a major research programme funded by the Interdisciplinary Research and Education Fund (INREF) that supports cooperative research between research groups at Wageningen University (The Netherlands), Bogor University (Indonesia), the University of the Philippines, the University of the South Pacific (Fiji) and the WWF-Coral Triangle Initiative. The objective of BESTTuna is to study the design of effective and equitable state and market-based governance arrangements to achieve sustainable trans-boundary tuna management in the Coral Triangle and Western Pacific. As an interdisciplinary programme emphasis is given to social, political, economic and ecological dimensions.
We ask
- A Masters degree in fisheries biology, marine ecology, mathematical biology or any related field in the ecological sciences
- Capacity to carry out independent fieldwork
- Strong quantitative skills, experience in mathematical modelling will be considered a major asset.
- A collaborative and team oriented attitude, with an open mind for other scientific approaches
- A strong ambition to upgrade your knowledge and academic skills
- Candidates with a scientific publication record are preferred.
- The position is open for citizens of Pacific nations only.
We require
Wageningen University has the following admission criteria for PhD students: English proficiency of 6.5 for IELTS, with a minimum of 6.0 for each academic module. You also need an acceptance of the candidate by the supervisors and the equivalent of a Dutch MSc degree. For further information on the specific application criteria see: Application PhD
We offer
The 4-years PhD study will be developed according to a sandwich formula, with maximum 28 months of field work in the Philippines or Indonesia, and minimum of 20 months data analysis, writing and training in Wageningen, the Netherlands.
The candidate will be employed by the University of the Philippines Visayas or the University of Bogor for the duration of the study. For a period of 24 months an allowance is available in accordance with the Dutch fellowship program to cover additional costs of living and accommodation in the Netherlands of €1190 per month. Furthermore the PhD candidate will receive a settling in allowance, a book allowance and a health- and third party insurance during the months spent in Wageningen and international travel costs and the costs for visa for the Netherlands will be paid for.
To apply
Send your application, a covering letter with your motivation and a CV, before the 31st of March 2012 (Extended deadline!) to Simon Bush by email (simon.bush@wur.nl). Please indicate the number of the BESTTuna PhD position you are applying for clearly in your cover letter.
Additional information
See www.besttuna.wur.nl or contact Wolf Mooij (wolf.mooij@wur.nl), Paul van Zwieten (paul.vanzwieten@wur.nl), Ricardo Babaran (rpbabaran@yahoo.com; rpbabaran@up.edu.ph) or Budy Wiryawan (bud@psp-ipb.org).