Junior Researcher

Euraxess; Alcântara; Remote; EUR 22,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

BIOPOLIS Association invites applications for a Junior Researcher to join the Wings of Change project. The selected candidate will conduct research activities under a fixed-term contract of about 12 months, contributing to avian migration ontogeny studies and environmental impact assessments.

The role requires data analysis in R, fieldwork across Portugal and Spain, and robust collaboration within a multinational team. A PhD in biology is essential.

Qualifications

• Experience and advanced knowledge in data analysis (R) demonstrated by authoring and leading peer-reviewed articles.
• Autonomous fieldwork in ornithology, especially bird monitoring/handling.
• Willingness to perform fieldwork across national territory (and Spain) with flexible hours.
• Valid driving license in Portugal.

Responsibilities

• Track adult and juvenile birds throughout their annual cycle and determine movement patterns.
• Identify impacts of year-round food availability at landfills on behavior and reproduction.
• Investigate landfill-feeding storks as vectors of zoonotic diseases transmitted to humans.
• Collaborate with project team to advance Wings of Change objectives.

Skills

Data analysis (R)

GIS

Fieldwork in ornithology

Driving license

Education

PhD in Biology

Tools

GPS tracking

GIS software

Job description

Organisation/Company ASSOCIAÇÃO BIOPOLIS Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions Postdoc Positions Application Deadline 15 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Lisbon) Country Portugal Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Jan 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number Biopolis 2026-50 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

BIOPOLIS Association hereby opens an international selection procedure for the recruitment of a Junior Researcher to carry out research activities, under an open-ended fixed-term employment contract with an expected duration of 12 months. This call is intended to fill one (1) position (Reference BIOPOLIS 2026-50) for the performance of scientific research activities within the scope of the project "WINGS OF CHANGE: ontogeny of migratory behavior of birds in response to environmental change", reference COMPETE2030-FEDER-00700600, project n.º 15890 , funded by national funds and Portugal 2030 through FCT/MCTES.

The selected candidate will be integrated into the research team of the above-mentioned project, which aims to investigate the ontogeny of migration in long-lived species and to assess their capacity to adapt to environmental changes. The project also seeks to investigate the impacts of human-induced changes in bird migratory patterns on the environment, animals, and public health. The candidate will be responsible for tracking adult and juvenile individuals throughout their annual cycle and determining movement and behavioral patterns; identifying the impacts of year-round food availability at landfills on behavior and reproductive success; and investigating the role of landfill-feeding storks as vectors of zoonotic diseases transmitted to humans.

National, foreign, and stateless candidates who hold a PhD degree in biology, or related areas, and who have a scientific and professional curriculum that reveals a profile suited to the activity to be developed, may apply for this call. If the PhD degree was awarded by a foreign higher education institution, it must comply with the provisions of Decree-Law No. 66/2018, of August 16, and any formalities established therein must be fulfilled by the date of signature of the employment contract

Specific Requirements

Specific Requirements:

• Experience and advanced knowledge in data analysis (specifically using R and GIS), demonstrated through the authorship (and leadership) of scientific articles published in peer-reviewed journals in the field;
• Previous experience conducting autonomous fieldwork in ornithology, specifically experience in monitoring and handling birds;
• Availability to carry out fieldwork throughout the national territory (and Spain), under limited comfort conditions, for extended periods and with flexible working hours;
• Valid driving license in Portugal.

Preferred Requirements: In addition to the general and specific requirements defined in the previous points, the following are preferred requirements:

• Experience in bird ringing, capture, and tagging with tracking devices;
• Experience analyzing GPS and accelerometry tracking data;
• Driving license and ability to use a personal vehicle (four-wheel drive vehicle not required);
• Knowledge of the study area (Alentejo and Algarve);
• Previous experience working with birds (e.g., nest monitoring, censuses, and counts);
• Excellent command, both spoken and written, of the Portuguese and English languages.

Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Years of Research Experience 1 - 4

Internal Application form(s) needed

Edital_Junior Researcher_EN_Wings _of_Change.pdf