PhD Position: Reassessing Pressure–Response Relationships in Estuarine Fish Communities
Investigate the impact of climate change on ecological indicators and estuarine fish community assessments.
Best for:Best for candidates with a background in aquatic ecology and strong statistical modeling skills in R.
Overview
The French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE) is seeking a PhD candidate to join the Aquatic Ecosystems and Global Change (EABX) research unit. Based in the FREEMA team, the project aims to evaluate how environmental and climate changes affect the reliability of ecological status assessments in estuaries. The successful candidate will analyze long-term fish community monitoring data to refine pressure-response models and improve the Estuarine and Lagoon Fish Index (ELFI). This research is critical for enhancing the management of transitional waters under the European Water Framework Directive.
What you'll do
- Analyze long-term fish community monitoring data collected since the early 2000s across French estuaries.
- Characterize shifts in environmental conditions and anthropogenic pressures affecting estuarine ecosystems.
- Compare statistical pressure-response relationships across different time periods to identify potential biases.
- Develop and test improved ecological assessment methods by integrating hydroclimatic variables.
- Evaluate the sensitivity and operational suitability of the Estuarine and Lagoon Fish Index (ELFI).
- Propose improvements to ecological indicators to enhance management robustness under climate change.
Requirements
Degree required: Master's degree (MSc or equivalent) in aquatic ecology, marine sciences, or fisheries science.
Degree offered: PhD
Language: English (proficiency required for research and reporting).
Instruction: English
- Strong proficiency in R and its associated environment for data analysis.
- Solid understanding of estuarine fish ecology.
- Ability to independently develop statistical models and data analysis approaches.
- Strong initiative and problem-solving skills.
- Effective teamwork and collaboration abilities.
- Must hold a Master's degree or equivalent engineering degree.
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-11-07
Interested candidates should submit their CV and a motivation letter via email to the listed supervisors.
- CV
- Motivation letter
Contact
Henrique Cabral / Benjamin Weigel· Supervisors
Create a free profile to unlock your personal match score, the full requirements, funding details and how to apply — in English or Persian.