As part of an innovative ERC-funded research project on Nature-based solutions, Professor Assaf Shwartz (Technion – Israeli Institute of Technology) and Dr. Avi Bar-Massada (Haifa University) are looking for a PhD-student to work on an excellent project in landscape/urban ecology. The goal of the project is to understand the ecological value of conserving biodiversity in cities and neighboring agricultural landscapes. We will explore bird communities on a regional scale to understand how regional species pool, habitat quality and connectivity influence bird diversity in urban and rural areas. The project will also seek to identify planning and management solutions that can be used to enhance biodiversity in cities.
The PhD candidate will benefit from the extensive ecological survey data of the Tel Aviv district, covering 14 cities, collected during the project. This includes ecological surveys of birds and plants, 3-D layers of every tree and building in the 250 km2 study area, high-resolution aerial images (RGB and IR), land use and land cover data. She/He will contribute to the bird monitoring, combine and analyse these data to answer questions related to connectivity, green space management, the influence of human activity on biodiversity, and practical solutions for mitigating impacts on biodiversity. A certain amount of thematic flexibility is possible, based on the interests of the candidate. The work will contribute towards understanding how to plan more sustainable cities and inform international conservation research and policy.
The position is for 3.5 years, and ideally it will start from 21st of March 2021, or as soon as possible hereafter. Salary and benefits are competitive and consistent with the Tehcnion policy and applicant experience. Application deadline is 1st of February 2021. Review of applications will begin on 1st of February and continue until the position is filled.
The candidate should be highly-motivated and interested in combining planning with conservation science to produce high-impact, policy-relevant research. The candidate should have a MSc degree in ecology, conservation, environmental sciences or related fields, strong analytical and quantitative skills and ideally GIS expertise. Preferred candidates will have the ability and interest to conduct (together with skilled ornithologists) a bird monitoring survey and a high work ethic. The successful candidate will join the multidisciplinary team working on the Niche4NbS project in the HUB lab, with graduate students and post-docs working on the ecological, social, and public health outcomes of integrating nature in cities to identify solutions for designing biophilic cities. The Human and biodiversity research lab (HUB) Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning
Key information:
The Technion – Israel Institute of Technology ranks among the world’s top universities, as measured by several key independent rankings. The Technion offers significant support to international research students through a broad range of scholarships and research travel awards, dedicated office spaces, skills training, and professional development opportunities. The campus is located in the coastal city of Haifa on the Carmel mountain, offering a unique nature experience and quality of life. The human and biodiversity lab is a young and dynamic research group, established in 2014, and publishing in leading conservation and environmental journals. We adopt a socio-ecological approach to propose design solutions, management or outreach activities that can help achieve a balance between biodiversity conservation, economic development and social wellbeing. We focus on human-dominated ecosystems, notably, urban and agricultural, and study humans as integral part of ecosystems.
To apply, please send application letters in PDF format by email to ronitco@technion.ac.il indicating the title of the position you are applying for.
In your application, you should send:
• A cover letter addressing your experience in relation to the project (one A4 side)
• CV (including details of qualifications, relevant experience and/or publications)
• Contact details of 2-3 referees.