Researcher position in marine biogeochemistry

The Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) is the most multidisciplinary research institute on marine science in Spain, and the leading scientific organization in Southern Europe. It is also the first marine science centre to be accredited as a Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence, a recognition to the institution’s leadership in the field of marine research in Spain and to its commitment to create social impact.

Our goal is to develop research of excellence to inspire a society in harmony with the blue planet, in line with the values of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030).

For further information, please visit our website.

The role and the team

We are recruiting an enthusiastic and highly motivated professional to conduct research on the interannual variability of deep convection and carbon fluxes in the North Atlantic subpolar gyre, in the context of the TIME project (Tipping points and abrupt changes In the Marine Ecosystem) funded by the European Space Agency. The successful candidate will join a dynamic and productive research group on Marine Biogeochemistry, Atmosphere and Climate within the Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography. They will be supervised and report directly to Dr. Martí Galí, working closely with the larger team of the TIME project led by Prof. Shubha Sathyendranath (Plymouth Marine Laboratory, UK).

Job description

The successful candidate will be involved in several tasks that include: 

• Planning and executing research in close coordination with the TIME team.
• Examining ocean and plankton dynamics using a wide array of observations (e.g., from satellites and BGC-Argo floats) and re-analysis products.
• Analyzing output from several CMIP6 models and comparing them to observations.
• Applying statistical techniques for the detection of tipping points and abrupt changes in observations and model outputs.
• Disseminating project findings by contributing to journal articles and conference presentations
• Managing data and scientific code according to FAIR principles
• Preparing periodic reports for the project coordinators.

Requirements

Professional experience

• A degree in Marine Sciences, Environmental Sciences or related disciplines, with specific training in Oceanography and Biogeochemistry. A MSc in Marine Sciences or related disciplines will be an asset.
• At least 3 years of experience in the analysis of large datasets produced by Earth System Models and Earth Observation from ocean color satellite sensors and other autonomous platforms. Specific knowledge of the North Atlantic region will be an asset.
• Proven experience working in High Performance Computing environments.
• Advanced scientific coding skills in python, and knowledge of libraries commonly used in Earth Sciences (xarray, iris, etc). Knowledge of R, Matlab, Fortran, as well as bash shell scripting and the CDO and NCO libraries, will be an asset. 

Languages and communication

• Good command of English is required. Spanish and/or Catalan (both written and spoken) will be an asset.
• Very good interpersonal communication, networking and team playing skills.

Additional competences

• A well-organized person with attention to details.
• Proactive, flexible, and problem-solving attitude.
• Willingness to travel occasionally

The offer

We are offering a contract with the following conditions:

• Estimated annual gross salary: Salary will range between 34.000€ and 41.000€ commensurate with qualifications and experience, and consistent with CSIC pay scales.
• Working time: Full-time contract (40 hours per week) for 2 years. Flexible schedule and possibility of teleworking up to 3 days a week. Read more about work-life balance here.
• Target starting date: Between October and December 2025.
• Highly stimulating environment with support services and professional guidance to enhance career development.

The CSIC and all its research centers were awarded with the "HR Excellence in Research" seal in 2021. This recognition reflects our commitment to continuously improve our human resources policies in line with the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. 

Recruitment at ICM is open, transparent and merit-based, and all applicants compete on the same terms.