PhD scholarship: New Approaches in Marine Living Resource Assessment – DTU Aqua

We offer a 3-year PhD position within the research sections Marine Living Resources at DTU Aqua in Lyngby, Denmark and Benthic Resources at IMR in Tromsø, Norway. The position is fully funded and will be well supported by highly experienced personnel from IMR and DTU Aqua, resourced by our collective infrastructure and benefit from the support of other parallel projects and initiatives. 

The PhD candidate will be enrolled, formally employed at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), and supervised by Section Head Carsten Hvingel, Prof. Anders Nielsen and Sci. Flecther Thompson from DTU Aqua, and Sci. Ann Merete Hjelset and Principal sci. Fabian Zimmermann from IMR. Working location will be Lyngby (Denmark) and Tromsø (Norway) with approximately half of the time at each location. Starting date: 1 November 2024.

The position will support the overall aim of DTU Aqua and IMR to develop and operationalize new and effective methods to monitor and assess the state of living marine resources. This includes the development of 1) automated monitoring systems and data processing using machine learning and neural networks, 2) analytical methods to integrate various sources of information from scientific monitoring, the fishery and other relevant sources in distribution models and stock estimation and 3) assessing the resulting consequences for the derivation of management advice and strategies. This project will contribute to optimizing the assessment and management process of marine living resources with respect to CO2 footprint, cost and precision. 

Responsibilities
You will work within a team of resource biologists and statisticians, to develop, implement and test novel methods in the monitoring and assessment process of the valuable fisheries resources in the Northeast Atlantic, including snow crab, king crab, Norway lobster and scallops. The research will be conducted with the combined use of survey and fishery data and a variety of advanced analytical procedures. Historic data will be made available from existing databases, but the candidate is also expected to participate in supplementary data collection on scientific surveys in the North Sea and Barents Sea.

The contents of the PhD project will be developed in detail by you in cooperation with the supervisors. Planned tasks may include:

• Development, application, and validation of automatic detection algorithms using image and video data, aimed at generating information on density and stock composition.
• Evaluate and optimize survey design to combine existing and novel survey methods using simulation studies and field work to test survey designs and calibrate survey methods.
• Integrate different primary time series on distribution, abundance and stock composition and auxiliary environmental and ecological, such as stomach, eDNA, etc., data sources in species distribution and stock estimation models.
• Explore the integration of derived stock indices in existing stock assessment and management frameworks. 
• Test consequences of changes in survey methods and input time series on management advice and harvest strategies in management strategy evaluation frameworks.

In addition to the research activities directly related to the PhD project, the candidate is offered the opportunity to take part in monitoring and stock assessment work within the Institute of Marine Research, DTU Aqua and ICES, and contribute to the writing of reports and advice.

Qualifications
You must have:

• A two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree in marine biology or related field.
• Advanced coding skills in R and/or Python.
• Experience in quantitative analysis, statistics and working with large data sets.
• Experience working with survey and fisheries data.
• Strong English skills.

Desired competencies:

• Experience in statistical and simulation modelling.
• Good understanding of quantitative biology and species distribution modelling.
• Experience with machine learning techniques and neural networks.
• Experience with image processing and object detection models. Knowledge about shellfish, notably king crab and/or snow crab, biology and population dynamics.
• Capability to analyze scientific data for publication in peer reviewed journals.
• Proven experience in transmitting scientific work to experts and the public through publications, presentation, or other outreach (e.g. blogs, videos).
• Experience in field-based research and scientific surveys at sea.
• Existing knowledge of a Scandinavian language.

Approval and Enrolment 
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education. 

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. 

Starting date is 1 November 2024. (or according to mutual agreement). The position is a full-time position. The period of employment is 3 years.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from head of Section for Marine Living Resources Carsten Hvingel, +45 93511196; email: carhv@aqua.dtu.dk. 

You can read more about DTU Aqua at www.aqua.dtu.dk.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU. 

Application procedure 
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 1 August 2024 (23:59 Danish time). Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae 
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it. 

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

About DTU Aqua
DTU Aqua – National Institute of Aquatic Resources – works for well-functioning oceans, rivers, and lakes where biodiversity can thrive. Our research, advisory service, and education contribute to the development of a sustainable blue bioeconomy, robust aquatic ecosystems, and reduced effects of climate change. We have a large national and international network and cooperate with research partners, public authorities, industry, and NGOs. We have state-of-the-art research facilities and Denmark’s only ocean- and arctic-going research vessel. The Institute has 360 employees, one-half being scientific staff, including 40 PhD students. More than 35 nationalities are represented at the Institute, and we support an equal gender distribution. We are located in Lyngby, Hirtshals, Nykøbing Mors, and Silkeborg and have regular activities in Greenland. Learn more on aqua.dtu.dk. 

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.