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Ph.D. position at Nantes University – Multi-scale relationships between sedimentary dynamic and microphytobenthos in estuarine mudflats 

Candidate profile: Master’s degree and background in at least two of the following fields 

➢ Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 

➢ Coastal zone ecology 

➢ Modeling using R or Python programming language 

➢ Carbon fluxes 

➢ Drone mapping 

Dates: The position will remain open until 3rd of July 2023. Ideally the Ph.D. should start in October 2023.  

Salary: The net monthly salary is 1630€. Salary includes full health insurance and social benefits (i.e. unemployment benefits). Two sports activities can be done at Nantes University for 50€ per year. A T2 flat  is around 500€ per month. A housing allowance of 150€ can be obtained from the French social security. 

Supervisors: Vona Méléder (vona.meleder@univ-nantes.fr) & Laurent Barillé (laurent.barille@univ nantes.fr), Nantes University (France) from RSBE2team 

https://isomer.univ-nantes.fr/rsbe-remote-sensing-benthic-ecology 

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Vona-Meleder 

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Barille-Laurent 

Objective: The objective of this thesis is to develop a methodology for the morphological and ecological monitoring of intertidal estuarine mudflats colonized by microphytobenthos (MPB) using remote sensing data. The key  drivers of temporal and spatial variations of sediment and MPB, and more particularly its diversity,  biomass, and primary production (capture of atmospheric CO2) will be investigated at different spatial  scales. We will investigate how topographic variations from the micro-scale (a few cm2) to the macro scale (several km2) influence the spatial distribution of MPB. We will also focus on extreme events  (exceptional flooding or storms, significant mud deposits) to estimate their impact on the distribution of the  MPB and its recolonization dynamics. 

Scientific context : Within European coastal zones, intertidal areas consisting of soft sediment emerging during each low tide,  form complex seascapes covering more than 10 000 km2 along the 35 000 km of the tidal coastline.  These habitats provide multiple ecosystem services with great potential to cope with the biodiversity climate crisis by contributing to carbon neutrality, climate resilience and biodiversity support.  Nevertheless, these seascapes continue to be fragmented and threatened, resulting in a decrease in their  provision of services (Waltham et al. 2020). Estuarine mudflats are highly dynamic ecosystems. While  they are subject to sediment exchange (import/export) either of marine or continental origin, on a tidal,  seasonal, and annual scale, they remain very productive (Legge et al. 2020). With an estimated annual  global gross primary production of 500 Mt of carbon, these ecosystems may be responsible for up to 20%  of the gross primary production of the oceans, despite occupying only 0.03% of their surface (Serôdio et  al. 2020). This high productivity is due to primary producers, known as microphytobenthos (MPB), which  form biofilms on the sediment surface during each low tide. Composed of micro-algae, mainly Diatoms, these biofilms have a very heterogeneous spatial distribution from the micro- to the macro-scale, the  drivers of which are still poorly understood (Hope et al. 2019). This gap in knowledge makes it difficult to  project the future of this production, particularly in the context of climate change, rising sea levels, and the  retreat of mudflats.

Methodological approaches and techniques : We will focus on two French estuarine mudflats: the Brillantes mudflat in the Loire Estuary (47°17’3.96″N,  2° 3’34.10″W), and the North mudflat in the Seine Estuary (49°26’27.72″N, 0°16’35.97″E). The  understanding of spatio-temporal variations will be established by a multi-sensor approach combining  satellite (Pleiade, Sentinel 2), airborne and drone imagery associated to fixed point camera imagery and  in situ measurements. In the Loire, the uptake of atmospheric CO2 by the mudflat (i.e. primary production) will be measured by an eddy-covariance system (Polsenaere et al. 2012). In the Seine estuary, this  uptake will be measured by benthic chambers (Méléder et al. 2020). Maps at different scales will be  obtained to capture temporal (tidal, neap, and spring tides, seasonal, inter-annual) and spatial variations  (fixed point camera, drone, airborne, satellites). The coupling of these different observations and  measurements will be done by machine learning. 

Global framework and collaborations: this Ph.D. position is funded by the Region Pays de la Loire, and  the GIP Seine-Aval, in collaboration with Rouen Normandie University, within the context of the future  Horizon Europe project Rewrite for “REWilding and Restoration of InterTidal sediment ecosystems for  carbon sequestration, climate adaptation and biodiversity support” in collaboration with Twente  (Netherlands) and Hull Universities (UK) (starting date Oct. 2023). 

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How to apply: Submission of your pdf application form (https://theses.doctorat bretagneloire.fr/vaame/application-form-for-a-phd-in-doctorale-school-vaame-2023-en.docx) must be  done on the online platform ‘Thèses en Bretagne Loire’ (https://theses.doctorat-bretagneloire.fr/vaame;  under the menu “candidater sur un sujet [espace étudiant]” and then ►Institut des substances et  organismes de la mer (ISOMer)), with additionally following documents (in the same PDF file):

• • A detailed CV
  • A copy of your passport or official identity document showing your name in full • If obtained, a copy of the diploma on awarding the Master Degree of the applicant (with certified  translations of diplomas into French/English if not originally in French/English). 
  • A copy of your Master Degree grades and rank (with certified translations of grades and rank into  French/English if not originally in French/English). If there is no Master Degree ranking, a letter  from the head of the Master program justifying the lack of Master ranking in the application form.  In this letter, the head details the overall average of both the applicant and the Master class. 

In addition, send to the supervisors Vona Méléder (vona.meleder@univ-nantes.fr) & Laurent Barillé  (laurent.barille@univ-nantes.fr) the PDF of your master dissertation, publications, or your most significant  contribution to this field of research. 

 

Advanced Webinar: Monitoring Water Quality of Inland Lakes using Remote Sensing

July 18, 20, & 25, 2023 10:00-12:00 EDT (UTC-4) or 15:00-17:00 EDT (UTC-4)This advanced-level training will focus on using remote sensing observations from Landsat 8 and 9, Sentinel-2, and Sentinel-3 for assessing water quality parameters, including chlorophyll-a concentration, turbidity, and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) in inland lakes. This training will also highlight the importance of in situ measurements of these parameters, coincident with satellite observations, in developing methodologies for operational water quality monitoring. Participants will perform hands-on exercises in Google Earth Engine (GEE) to access satellite data and develop methodologies to assess water quality parameters. In addition, an overview of Cyanobacteria Assessment Network (CyAN), an early warning system to assess algal blooms in freshwater lakes will be provided. Register

The Townsend Lab at the University of Wisconsin is seeking a graduate student interested in remote sensing of lake water quality using hyperspectral remote sensing. This project is in conjunction with UW-Madison’s [Center for Limnology]Center for Limnology, including Dr. Paul Hansen and Dr. Grace Wilkinson as well as Dr. Trina McMahon from Bacteriology and Dr. Bob Holz from the Space Science and Engineering Center. The Townsend Lab focuses on hyperspectral remote sensing of ecosystems. 

 We seek to prototype “LakeView” as an integrated Lake Observatory whose mission is to prepare the scientific community for the next generation of space-based Earth observatories for water quality.  The likelihood of vast quantities of spaceborne hyperspectral imagery data later this decade requires a collaborative, interdisciplinary science that connects remotely sensed hyperspectral imagery with the biophysical mechanisms underlying water quality.  LakeView will jumpstart this science by using airborne instrumentation to generate lake images equivalent to those from NASA satellites and combining those images with water quality data from UW-Madison’s lake observatories.

 For more information and to apply, please reach out to Dr. Phil Townsend at ptownsend@wisc.edu.  The student position is available to start with the Fall semester of 2023, but students interested in a January, 2024 start are also welcome to apply. This position is intended for a Ph.D. level student. But exceptional M.S. students will also be considered.

The Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), working in conjunction with  the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Southwest Fisheries Science Center (NOAA Fisheries), invites  applications for a Specialist series position. The Specialist will assist with product development and validation for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) CoastWatch program (https://coastwatch.noaa.gov).  

CoastWatch helps governmental, academic, commercial, and public groups access and use satellite data to  accomplish their project goals and develop satellite-based applications. CoastWatch is a small team dedicated  to customer service and high standards. All team members have individual core technical responsibilities and  are also engaged in the success of the overall organization by actively contributing to operational  improvements and problem solutions. CoastWatch provides a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive workplace for  everyone, plus opportunities for advancement within the CoastWatch organization. 

The primary responsibilities of the Specialist are to apply satellite data to established algorithms, validate the  resulting product using statistical techniques, present findings to the CoastWatch group, and fully document all  code and results. The Specialist will also generate Python and R notebooks that allow others to run custom  statistic and will assist with the production of instructional material for satellite training workshops. The  research specialist will work directly under the guidance of the coordinators for the CoastWatch West Coast  Node and PolarWatch. The position is affiliated with the NOAA Fisheries laboratory in Santa Cruz, CA, but  teleworking arrangements from US locations will be considered. Candidates must be a U.S. citizen or  permanent resident to meet NOAA security requirements.  

The Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) is an organized research unit whose mission is to increase knowledge of  the world’s oceans and inhabitants to better understand their economic importance and the impact people  have on them. Through this effort, IMS maintains the responsibility to encourage, develop, and support marine  research and education and does this by providing research opportunities, resources, facilities, and support for  scientists within the institute and with other marine research institutions. 

As part of its mission’s efforts, IMS launched the Fisheries Collaborative Program (FCP) to help foster research  collaborations between NOAA scientists, UCSC faculty, IMS researchers, and students. The FCP’s research  activities include field studies, laboratory experiments, modeling, and computational studies involving marine  and freshwater species and habitats. Comprehensive studies are being conducted on the ecology and life  history of Pacific salmonids and other fishes. FCP research supports the conservation of coastal biodiversity  and the sustainable management of fisheries resources. 

The hiring unit will not sponsor employment-eligible immigration statuses for this position. 

ACADEMIC TITLE: Junior, Assistant Specialist, Associate Specialist, or Specialist , determined by the  qualifications and experience of the selected candidate. Additional information on the qualifications for each  rank is available on the recruitment site or on the Academic Personnel Specialist Series site. 

SALARY: Commensurate with qualifications and experience. Refer to the individual salary scale for  the Represented Specialist Series Fiscal Year in the UCSC Salary Scales.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  

Baccalaureate degree (or foreign equivalent degree) in fisheries sciences and management, marine  biology and biological oceanography, ocean/marine sciences, oceanography, ecology, evolutionary  biology, environmental science, biology, or a related field. 

TEAM PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Experience with statistical analysis; 
• Good programming skills in Python and R; 
• Good communication skills; 
• Ability to work independently and within a team environment; 
• Background working satellite data or other large datasets; and 
• Familiarity with online data servers. 

TERM OF APPOINTMENT: Initial appointments are typically for a period of one year, but in some cases may be  for a shorter period of time based on the research need and/or availability of funding. Reappointment may be  considered contingent upon the availability of work and appropriate funding. 

POSITION AVAILABLE: 

As soon as possible after initial review of the applications. 

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: 

Applications are accepted via the UCSC Academic Recruit online system. All documents and materials must be  submitted as PDFs.  

APPLY at https://recruit.ucsc.edu/JPF01404 

DOCUMENTS/MATERIALS: 

▪ Letter of application that briefly summarizes your qualifications and interest in the position (required) ▪ Curriculum vitae (required) 

▪ List of publications (optional) 

Reference Requirement 

The selected candidate must provide the names and contact information of their references (a minimum of 3  are required and a maximum of 5 will be accepted). The hiring unit will request confidential letters* from the  references of those applicants who are under serious consideration for an appointment. 

*All letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. For any  reference letter provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service, career center), direct the author to UCSC’s  confidentiality statement at http://apo.ucsc.edu/confstm.htm. 

RECRUITMENT PERIOD 

Full consideration will be given to applications completed by May. 25. Applications received after this date will  be considered only if the position has not been filled. 

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for  employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran  status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes  respect for the contributions of all students and employees. Inquiries regarding the University’s equal employment opportunity policies may be  directed to the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 or by phone at (831) 459-2686.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by  providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UCSC positions funded by federal contracts or sub contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check (see https://www.uscis.gov/e-verify). The university sponsors employment based visas for nonresidents who are offered academic appointments at UC Santa Cruz (see https://apo.ucsc.edu/policy/capm/102.530.html). 

UCSC is a smoke & tobacco-free campus.  

If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact Disability Management Services at roberts@ucsc.edu (831) 459-4602.  

UCSC is committed to addressing the spousal and partner employment needs of our candidates and employees. As part of this commitment, our  institution is a member of the Northern California Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (NorCal HERC). Visit the NorCal HERC website at  https://www.hercjobs.org/regions/higher-ed-careers-northern-california/ to search for open positions within a commutable distance of our  institution. 

The University of California offers a competitive benefits package and a number of programs to support employee work/life balance. For  information about employee benefits please visit https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html 

VISIT THE UCSC WEB SITE AT https://www.ucsc.edu

Congratulations to GEO AquaWatch Steering Committee Chair Dr. Emma Tebbs, Kings College London, GEO AquaWatch Early Career Society member, James Nyaga, Regional Centre for the Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD), colleagues at King’s College London, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), and African Center for Aquatic Research and Education (ACARE), and for their recently issued Policy Brief on the use of EO for management decision-making in African Great Lakes.   Thanks for leading the charge on Water Quality EO for the benefit of society! You can find their policy brief here.