Principal Researcher (m/f)_BIOPOLIS 2025-21 - Cátedra Fundação Belmiro de Azevedo_REWILDING Porto

Principal Researcher (m/f)_BIOPOLIS 2025-21 - Cátedra Fundação Belmiro de Azevedo_REWILDING
Porto
Porto, Porto District, Portugal

Organisation/Company ASSOCIAÇÃO BIOPOLIS Research Field Environmental science » Ecology Researcher Profile Leading Researcher (R4) Positions Ph
D Positions Country Portugal Application Deadline 23 May 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Jun 2025 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Reference: BIOPOLIS 2025-21

Scientific Area: Ecology
Subfield: Rewilding Science and Landscape Restoration

UNIVERSITY OF PORTO

Association BIOPOLIS hereby announces an international call for applications for the position of Principal Researcher, under an
- fixed employment contract with an expect duration of 3 years, in accordance with the Portuguese Labour Code. This call is intended to fill one (1) position (Reference BIOPOLIS 2025-21) for the development of research and innovation activities in the scientific area of Ecology / Rewilding Science and Landscape Restoration, within the scope of the Invited Chair Fundação Belmiro de Azevedo in Rewilding, a prestigious project funded by the Belmiro de Azevedo Foundation and the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), and awarded to the UNIVERSITY OF PORTO through the FCT’s Invited Chairs programme.

This Chair offers a unique and
- profile opportunity to shape the rapidly emerging field of rewilding science from a strategic Mediterranean setting. In the face of intertwined global crises, including biodiversity loss, climate change, and the collapse of rural
- ecological systems, rewilding has become a powerful,
- based framework for ecological recovery, fire risk reduction, carbon sequestration, and rural revitalisation. This Chair aims to lead transformative research at the intersection of ecology, restoration, and
- economic innovation.

We are seeking an exceptional scientist and leader ready to embrace one of the most exciting, interdisciplinary, and societally relevant research challenges of our time. The successful candidate will be given the rare opportunity to shape and define a pioneering research programme in rewilding science, with a strong applied component, and to do so at the epicentre of one of Europe's most ambitious landscape restoration initiatives: the Greater Côa Valley in northern Portugal. This region is widely recognised as a living laboratory for rewilding, offering
- world experimentation with immediate relevance to conservation science, rural revitalisation, and sustainable land use. The Chair provides not only research autonomy and leadership, but also an unparalleled platform for international visibility, collaboration, and
- term scientific and societal impact.

Anchored at BIOPOLIS/CIBIO and supported by the In
BIO research network and the international Teaming BIOPOLIS programme, the Chair will benefit from robust scientific infrastructure and
- sector partnerships—including close cooperation with Rewilding Portugal, Rewilding Europe, and the University of Montpellier. This position is more than a job: it is an opportunity to define a field, influence policy, and develop scalable models for rewilding across Europe and beyond.

2. Objectives

The appointed researcher is expected to achieve the following objectives:

• Build and lead a strong research team focused on rewilding, landscape ecology, ecosystem restoration, and biodiversity dynamics;
• Develop innovative research lines with clear relevance to rewilding science, with particular attention to:
  • Monitoring the ecological outcomes of rewilding interventions
  • Understanding trophic rewilding and species interactions;
  • Evaluating the
    - ecological impacts of landscape restoration initiatives;
  • Studying ecological connectivity and rewilding corridors.
• Promote capacity building by training MSc and Ph
  D students, notably within postgraduate programmes such as the Doctoral Programme in Biodiversity, Genetics and Evolution (BIODIV);
• Foster productive collaborations with researchers, students, environmental managers, and stakeholders, including local communities and private landowners;
• Organise residencies, internships, and advanced training courses on rewilding and ecosystem restoration;
• Actively communicate research findings through seminars, workshops, public engagement, social media, books, and academic publications;
• Establish and participate in national and international research networks and consortia focused on rewilding, ecological restorations and biodiversity;
• Secure additional competitive funding from national and European programmes to support research activities;
• Contribute to regional scientific development, particularly in the rewilding landscape of the Greater Côa Valley, which will serve as a primary focus area for research activities;
• Support the establishment and consolidation of
  - term monitoring frameworks to evaluate ecological and social change in rewilding contexts.

This recruitment process is governed by Decree-Law No. 57/2016 of August 29, as amended by Law No. 57/2017, and by Regulatory Decree No. 11-A/2017, which approves the legal regime of scientific employment (RJEC), as well as the Labour Code approved by Law No. 7/2009 of February 12, in its current version.

4. Jury

According to Article 13 of the RJEC, the jury will be composed of the following members:

• Chair: Nuno Ferrand de Almeida (Full Professor FCUP and Director of In
  BIO and General Director of BIOPOLIS/CIBIO).
  Members: Henrique Miguel Pereira (Full Professor of Biodiversity Conservation at i
  Div - German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research Halle-Jena-Leipzig); Pedro Castro (Managing Director of the Belmiro de Azevedo Foundation)
  Alternate Members: Pedro Beja (Associate Director of BIOPOLIS/CIBIO);

5. Workplace

The primary workplace will be BIOPOLIS/CIBIO – Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, at the Vairão Campus, University of Porto (Vila do Conde), with significant periods expected to be spent in the Greater Côa Valley region, to develop fieldwork and collaborations with local partners. National and international travel may also be required.

6. Monthly Remuneration

The monthly remuneration will be € 3. 950, 16, corresponding to index 220 of the Scientific Research Career (Annex I of Decree-Law No. 124/99, of April 20).

7. Admission Requirements

Applicants may be of any nationality, including stateless individuals, and must hold a Ph
D in Biological Sciences or related fields for more than five years. They should have an exceptional scientific and professional track record aligned with the activities outlined in sections 2 and 8. If the Ph
D was awarded by a foreign higher education institution, it must comply with the provisions of Decree-Law No. 66/2018 of August 16. All necessary formalities must be completed before the contract is signed.

8. Multidisciplinary Requirements

• Proven experience in ecosystem restoration, wildlife management, or rewilding projects, with skills in landscape ecology, trophic networks, conservation genetics, or ecosystem services;
• Ability to use spatial analysis, ecological modelling, or genomic tools to investigate biodiversity patterns;
• Experience in project coordination, stakeholder engagement, and participatory science;
• Success in obtaining competitive funding from national or international agencies;
• Capacity to contribute to postgraduate training and to supervise
  - career researchers;
• Fluency in English (spoken and written). Knowledge of Portuguese and/or Spanish will be valued.

9. Selection Method

According to Article 5 of the RJEC, selection will be based on the evaluation of the scientific and curricular background of the candidates.

10. Evaluation Criteria

The curriculum evaluation focuses on the relevance, quality, and alignment with current scientific challenges and methodologies, considering.

• Research activities and leadership in relevant scientific areas over the last 10 years;
• Scientific output in the past 5 years, with emphasis on
  - impact publications and contributions to rewilding science;
• Outreach and knowledge dissemination activities over the past 10 years, especially those contributing to societal awareness and ecological restoration.

11. Evaluation Period Adjustment

The 10-year reference period may be extended at the candidate's request, when justified by career interruptions for socially protected reasons (e. g. , parental leave,
- term illness).

The final evaluation will consider:

• 40%: Integrated assessment of the candidate's career trajectory and alignment with the Chair's thematic areas;
• 40%: Experience and output in rewilding and related research fields;
• 20%: Track record in attracting funding and establishing collaborations.

13. Interviews

If the score difference between the top candidates is 10% or less, those candidates will be invited to an interview. The interview will explore research results and assess motivation. The final score will include 90% from the CV and scientific record and 10% from the interview.

14. Final Classification

Final scores will be expressed on a scale from 0 to 100.

15. Jury Deliberation

Jury decisions are made by
- call vote, based on the criteria above. Abstentions are not permitted.

16. Jury Minutes

Minutes will summarise deliberations and justify votes.

17. Ranked List

A ranked list of approved candidates will be produced, including final scores.

18. Final Decision and Hiring

The jury's final decision will be ratified by the institution's highest authority, who is also responsible for the hiring decision.

• Motivation letter, including a brief proposal for the development of the Chair's activities (maximum two pages);
• Up to 5 representative publications;
• Names and contacts of referees;
• Other relevant documents.

20. Application Period

Applications:The call for applications is open between 24/04/2025 a 23/05/2025
The contract is expected to start on the 1st of July 2025.

21. Exclusion

Applications lacking the required documents or not meeting eligibility criteria will be excluded. The jury may request further documentation.

22. False Statements

False declarations will be penalised in accordance with the law.

23. Notifications

Candidates will be informed by email of the outcome results.

24. Claims and Final Decision Timeline

Candidates may comment within 10 working days of notification. Final decisions will be issued within 90 working days of the application deadline.

BIOPOLIS upholds a policy of equal opportunity and
- discrimination. All qualified applicants will receive consideration regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, religion, disability, or background.

In accordance with Law No. 4/2019 of January 10, applicants must declare any disabilities and the type of support required.

27. Jury Approval

The jury approved this call notice at the meeting held on 23/04/2025.