Technical Assistant – Community Ecology
The Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3) is looking for a motivated technical to support the research activities of Research Line (RL) 3 on Terrestrial Ecosystems, and specifically work on the national project GORBEEA, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.
Job description: The Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), offers a full-time technician position to support the research activities in the context of the European Research Council (ERC) project GorBEEa (ID 101086771), led by Dr. Ainhoa Magrach. This is a 5-year research project funded by the ERC that will be developed at the ‘Global change impacts on ecosystem function’ lab, and within the framework of the Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Line (RL3).
The technician will work collecting and analyzing data on plant and pollinator interactions from Gorbea Natural Park to investigate the role of biodiversity in maintaining ecosystem functioning and stability. Several ecosystem functions related with plant biomass production, pollinator biomass, and plant reproductive success, together with various stability properties will be calculated.
Key responsibilities:
- Sampling species (plants, insects) and ecosystem functions
- Laboratory work: sorting and process samples, ID, etc
- Laboratory work involving DNA extractions
- Support the work of other team members, freeing them up to analyze results, write papers and disseminate results at international conferences
- Support the organization of project meetings and conferences across the project
Main requirements/skills:
- Degree in Biology or Environmental Sciences, or similar.
- Previous experience in sampling biological communities, and knowledge of plant-insect communities is desirable but not indispensable
- The applicant must have good interpersonal and communication skills, as well as excellent written and oral command of English is required. Good command of Spanish and Basque is also highly desirable because the fieldwork will be carried out in a rural area of the Basque
- Ability to work collaboratively. Sampling will involve a group of
- Driver’s license and previous experience driving a four-wheel drive vehicle
- Previous experience with liquid nitrogen and dry ice
- Previous laboratory experience in DNA extraction and handling
- Ability to work with a high degree of independence
- A good physical condition, in order to carry out field
IMPORTANT: Applications including links to previous works/projects/initiatives that show how the applicant meets these requirements will be given priority.
Benefits and work environment:
- Interdisciplinary and inspiring work environment
- Quiet and spacious workspaces
- Possibility of participating in internal training and academic activities of the centre
- 35-hour week work calendar
- 30 days of vacation per year
Term of contract
Starting in 2024, the position will be for 4 years, with a six-month probation period
.
Salary
The position will carry competitive salary, matching the academic and professional profile of the applicant, and excellent work conditions.
Location
Basque Centre for Climate Change, Leioa, (Spain).
As an HR Excellence awarded institution, BC3 is committed to conciliating research-academic requirements and family duties. BC3 is particularly concerned with creating equal opportunities for people independently of gender, culture, and race. Anyone with relevant qualifications is therefore strongly encouraged to apply for the position.
Application procedure:
Fill the form below and upload one PDF document with the following information:
- Letter of application / motivation. Applications including links to previous works/projects/initiatives that show how the applicant meets these requirements will be given priority.
- A CV
- The names and email addresses of two referees if possible
Deadline
November 30th 2023.
Informal enquiries can be made to Prof Ainhoa Magrach (ainhoa.magrach@bc3research.org) noting in the subject of the message “Technician job offer”. Please consider that only applications sent through the form included at the bottom of the BC3 web page will be considered (https://info.bc3research.org/job-offers/).
GA 101086771, funded by HORIZON-ERC-2022-COG