About the Project
Objectives
- To analyse the linkage between connectivity (and its properties – functional and structural components as well as feedback loops), resilience and stability in industrialized riverine landscapes (IRL) as socio-ecological systems including co-evolutionary aspects;
- To determine the specific effects of river floodplain restoration on the resilience of ecological and social components of IRL and their interactions at different scales;
- To explore the role of changing connectivity (hydrological, ecological) of different landscape elements and their configuration on resilience aspects in IRL and how these interact with future drivers of change (climate change, land use change) and different ecosystem service profiles of IRL;
- To expand this knowledge to other systems with interlinked system domains. The research will be based on an empirical study (ecological and social), targeted experimental work and a modelling approach and will build on large available datasets and own data collections.
We have the option to analyse the role of connectivity on ecosystem functions like self purification (nutrient retention) or biodiversity (habitat availability). The system of interest will be for example the whole Danube stretch and major floodplain areas. Most of them are impacted in their lateral exchange with the river channel and this impacts ecological connectivity and thus various ecosystem functions and related services. Still most of these floodplain areas are also protected areas and important as site for nutrient regulation. Biodiversity of species is related to the lateral exchange, but also to the riverine conditions along the riverine channel (Funk et al. 2019). Management and restoration scenarios could form the basis for an analysis of how connectivity improvements might affect overall outcomes at different scales (floodplain scale, river section and whole river scale).
Expected Results
- Understanding how changing connectivity properties based on river floodplain restoration measures impact IRL resilience at different scales using connectivity based theories such as the Graph Theory;
- How resilience of different system components is related to changes in structural and functional connectivity in IRL;
- how the knowledge about the critical role of connectivity for riverine management is transferred to other disciplines;
- new model frameworks.
Benefits
Marie Sklodowska-Curie PhDs are paid a competitive gross salary of 3,270 € per month, adjusted for their host country, a Mobility Allowance of 600 € per month and, for researchers who have a family, a Family Allowance of 500 € per month. All amounts are subject to employers and employees deductions and taxes.
Family is defined as persons linked to the researcher by (i) marriage, or (ii) a relationship with equivalent status to a marriage recognised by the national legislation of the country of the beneficiary or of nationality of the researcher, or (iii) dependent children who are actually being maintained by the researcher; family status is determined at recruitment and does not evolve.
ESRs will also get access to funds covering Research, Networking and Training costs. ESRs will also be enrolled for PhD studies at institutions which are part of the consortium. Funding will cover the entire 36-month period. In addition to individual scientific projects, all fellows will benefit from further continuing education, which includes internships and secondments, a variety of training modules as well as transferable skills courses and active participation in workshops and conferences.
Eligibility criteria
To satisfy the eligibility requirements set for an Early Stage Researcher funded by Marie Skłodowska-Curie and you must be eligible to be appointed as an Early Stage Researcher:
Should have — at the date of recruitment — less than 4 years of a research career, and not have a doctoral degree. The 4 years are measured from the date when they obtained the degree which would formally entitle them to embark on a PhD, either in the country where the degree was obtained or in the country where the PhD is provided.
Trans-national mobility: The applicant — at the date of recruitment— should not have resided in the country where the research training takes place for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to recruitment, and not have carried out their main activity (work ,studies, etc.) in that country. For refugees under the Geneva Convention (1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol), the refugee procedure (i.e. before refugee status is conferred) will not be counted as ‘period of residence/activity in the country of the beneficiary’.
Satisfy the eligibility requirements to enrol on a PhD degree. This includes acceptable English language requirements if English is not your first language.
Selection process
All applications are to be submitted via the hosting institution.
Applications must include the following:
A copy of your CV
Degree transcripts
A motivation letter
Names of 2 referees
Please indicate in your motivation letter if you are interested in being considered for any of the other PhD positions in our network (and if you give us permission to share your application with the host of that project).
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