Understanding plankton community responses to changing environmental conditions and extreme climatic events using high-throughput observation approaches.
Background
The Belgian part of the North Sea (BPNS) is one of the most intensively used seas in the world and is heavily impacted by anthropogenic activities: shipping, tourism, fisheries, wind farms and pollution. The interaction between nutrient rich, highly turbid waters originating from the Scheldt estuary and clear, nutrient poor water flowing in from the Atlantic contribute to a shallow, dynamic, and heavily impacted coastal system prone to the effects of climate change. Climate projections predict increases in water temperatures and more extreme conditions in pelagic environments. Within the shallow system of the BPNS, extreme climatic events such as heatwaves have the potential to greatly alter planktonic community dynamics. With plankton as the base of the food web in marine systems, it is essential to understand how changing environmental conditions and extreme climatic events may affect the communities present. The Marine Observation Centre (MOC) from the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) has been collecting timeseries of plankton and environmental DNA (eDNA) for several years as part of its contribution to the Belgian LifeWatch infrastructure. As such, the institute has a well-established infrastructure of permanent sampling stations and sensors, as well as long-term imaging data series of phyto- and zooplankton that provides a unique opportunity to study past and present dynamics, as well as the prediction of future changes in the system.
Project goal
The aim of this research is to study the effects of changing environmental conditions and extreme climatic events (such as marine heatwaves, oxygen depletion, ocean acidification, etc.) on the phyto- and zooplankton communities in the BPNS. Relying on available time series, novel in-situ imaging technologies and genetic approaches; high-throughput observations are produced to study passed and future events. The current research aims to tackle the following questions:
1) To understand changes in community composition, plankton dynamics, and individual responses such as changes in size and biovolume, as a result of changing environmental conditions and extreme climatic events.
2) To study heat stress induced changes in gene expression during marine heatwaves using a combined approach of fieldwork sampling and laboratory mesocosm experiments, as a collaborative work with other genetics PhD students.
3) Develop an in-depth analysis of marine heatwave events and potential water column stratification, and their effects on the plankton community, leveraging on continuous imaging technologies and adaptive sampling to observe heatwave events in high resolution as they develop, and particular changes in the plankton communities such as the proliferation of harmful algal blooms or gelatinous plankton during such events.
This project will optimize, integrate and apply advanced observation technology, and will pursue its valorisation in societal and policy context. This project will be performed in collaboration with one or more university research groups.
This project will be developed at the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) in Ostend (Belgium), under the supervision of Dr Carlota Muñiz, senior researcher at the VLIZ Marine Observation Center and Prof Dr Pascal Hablutzel, leader of the research group Nature Changes and Solutions, and in co-supervision with Prof Dr Colin Janssen and Dr Ilias Semmouri, at the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University (Belgium).
Candidate profile
- Postgraduate degree (Master's) in marine or lacustrine related sciences, ecology, biology, bio-science engineering, or another relevant field (or to be obtained until September 2024).
- Knowledge and experience with R or Python.
- Knowledge and interest in statistical modelling; machine learning/AI knowledge is a plus.
- Enthusiastic about fieldwork and laboratory work.
- Willingness to spend time at sea for multiple days, sea-going experience is a plus.
- Interest in genetic data approaches.
- Self-motivated, proactive, able to work independently and as part of a team.
- Strong problem-solving skills.
- Good written and oral English communication skills.
- Academic writing skills are a plus.
- Flexibility to work in a scientific multicultural and international environment. This includes flexible work hours for field work or follow-up experiments, but also interacting within a diverse team of researchers.
Main responsabilities
- To plan and perform a research project on the effects of changing environmental conditions and extreme climatic events on the plankton communities in the Belgian part of the North Sea. This involves the planning and performance of sampling and observation campaigns at sea, sample and data processing, data analysis and modelling.
- Plan and execute experimental and scientific work.
- To take initiative to discuss planning and report progress to the head of the research unit and collaborating scientists.
- To write high quality research manuscripts for submitting to peer-reviewed scientific journals.
- To supervise BSc and MSc students for job student, internship or thesis work.
- To interact and collaborate with colleagues at VLIZ to increase interdisciplinarity in various research projects.
- To possibly contribute to aspects of research and innovation projects in collaboration with partners from the Blue Economy.
- To present research at national and international conferences.
- To network at national and international level with other (marine) scientists.
- To participate in sampling campaigns on board of the RV Simon Stevin and daily tasks of the VLIZ Marine Observation Centre and Research Department.
- To contribute to events organized by the Department or the Institute, such as the VLIZ Marine Science Day.
For each function, VLIZ considers enthusiastic involvement, collaborative and excellent professionalism, and integrity as important characteristics.
Our offer
- A four-year contract, in a dynamic and diverse setting at InnovOcean Campus and the Marine Station, Ostend (MSO) (Ostend, Belgium).
- A competitive remuneration package based on the candidate's qualifications and experience according to the salary scales set forth by the Flemish Government on 01-01-2009.
- You will be registered at the University of Ghent Doctoral Schools, and have access to tailored training.
- Additional benefits: holiday allowance, end of year allowance, meal vouchers, bicycle allowance, free public transport between home and work.
- You will have access to an additional hospitalisation health insurance via VLIZ.
- A good work-life balance including flexible working hours within a 38-hour working week and the possibility to work partly from home.
- Opportunities for personal development (training).
About us
Over the last 25 years, the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) has become a knowledge institution indispensable to the marine research landscape. What started as an institute focusing on science support, has evolved into a national and international point of contact for marine research. VLIZ initiates and carries out multidisciplinary research and supports marine experts by providing research infrastructure, data, information and knowledge. VLIZ supports the blue economy and reaches out to a broad public. VLIZ further broadens its marine horizons and aims at becoming a world player in the field of marine and coastal research.
A stimulating working environment forms the base of our flourishing knowledge institute. The well-being of our employees comes first. VLIZ is looking for colleagues who, with their passion and knowledge, want to strengthen our growing institute and face the blue challenges of the future.
Additional information
For more information concerning this vacancy, please contact Carlota Muñiz: carlota.muniz@vliz.be.
Does this vacancy appeal to you?
Send in a cover letter and CV no later than 9th June 2024.
- By post: Jan Mees, General director, InnovOcean Campus, Jacobsenstraat 1, 8400 Oostende
- By mail: jobs@vliz.be with subject “Vacancy 2024_013_PhD Plankton Climate”
You can contact us by telephone on +32 (0)59 33 60 00.
VLIZ promotes equality and diversity in the workplace. You will be recruited based on competencies. Qualities of people are decisive, regardless of gender, religion, ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, or any disability.
Do you have a disability? Please attach a document to your application so that we can adapt our selection procedure where necessary. This information will be handled with discretion.
Procedure
Based on the received cover letters and CV’s, a select group of candidates will be invited for a single round of job interviews. In case you are selected for the interview, you will be informed by email. The job interviews take place in the offices of VLIZ (or online if necessary) on the 24th June 2024. You will be invited to present the topic of your master thesis (5 min).
Employment can start immediately after the selection procedure and ideally not later than 1st October 2024.