Postdoctoral Researcher (MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship)

Is the Hosting related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Contact Information

Organisation / Company Type: Higher Education Institution

Website: https://www.ua.es/

Email: jordi@ua.es

State/Province: Alicante

Postal Code: 3690

Street: Carretera San Vicente del Raspeig s/n

Description

Jordi Cortina, Gestión y Restauración de Ecosistemas Terrestres y Marinos (GRE), welcomes expressions of interest from Postdoctoral researchers with an excellent track record of research and publication to apply jointly to the European Commission Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme in 2026 (MSCA-PF-2026).

Our team combines extensive expertise in Mediterranean socio-ecological systems with specialized knowledge in biodiversity conservation, ecological restoration, and landscape ecology. This includes analysis of restoration projects across Spain and development of standards for certification. Our research has been supported by multiple projects/contracts (78), resulting in 123 SCI publications. In 2009, the team initiated a research line focused on the systematic and participatory planning of restoration, and the analysis of socio-ecological barriers to restoration (projects PRACTICE, TERECOVA, COSTERA, TRAINER, R2D, UA-SocialLab). Through these efforts, we have developed innovative methodologies for prioritizing restoration actions based on multiple socio-ecological criteria and cost-effectiveness. Our work integrates social science methodologies such as focus group discussions, network analysis, Delphi, MCDA. Our team contributes to the working group “Conservation Impact Evaluation and Implementation Science”, Soc. Conservation Biology. We are currently catalyzing the RENATUREM-South Alicante living lab on ecological restoration. Social research has been supported by 34 projects/contracts and resulted in 22 SCI publications. Our team has a proven record of collaboration with public entities and key stakeholders in ecological restoration (flagship projects PRACTICE, TERECOVA, COSTERA, TRAIN#ER, TEAM#UP, R2D, and UA-SocialLab)

THE PROJECT

Amid growing challenges of land degradation, desertification, and widening socioeconomic disparities, ecological restoration presents a unique opportunity to address both environmental and social concerns. The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) and the recent EU Regulation on Nature Restoration (NRR, 2024/1991) underscore a strong political commitment to making restoration a central strategy in combating climate change, desertification, and biodiversity loss. Under the NRR, each EU Member State is mandated to scale up restoration efforts—targeting at least 20% of land and sea areas by 2030, and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. While the environmental benefits of restoration have been extensively documented by organizations such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Intergovernmental Science–Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), and the UNCCD’s Land Degradation Neutrality initiative, its potential to generate meaningful and enduring social impacts remains underexplored. Ecological restoration has traditionally prioritized environmental outcomes; however, its success is inextricably linked to the people and communities who inhabit and manage these landscapes. Realizing the full potential of ecological restoration requires a deeper understanding of the socio-ecological systems under restoration. We aim to address this gap by advancing the premise that investment in ecological restoration—when coupled with inclusive, participatory processes—can deliver far-reaching social benefits. These include the creation of green jobs, the promotion of sustainable development, the strengthening of social cohesion and community resilience, and the nurturing of stewardship and cultural identity. Such outcomes not only enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services but also improve the cost-effectiveness and long-term viability of restoration efforts. Moreover, restoration initiatives offer an opportunity to empower marginalized groups by ensuring equitable access to resources and participation in decision-making, thereby fostering social justice and long-term sustainability. Situated within the evolving policy frameworks of the EU Regulation on Nature Restoration and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, our work aims to examine how restoration efforts can better integrate ecological and social objectives—maximizing their transformative potential across Europe and beyond. Project TEAM#UP. Knowledge on Ecological Restoration to Maximize Benefits for Nature and People. Project R2D. Responses to Desertification.

CANDIDATE’S REQUIREMENTS:

Research Field

The applicant, according to his previous background and interest, could participate in any of the abovementioned research lines that tackle how restoration efforts can better integrate ecological and social objectives—maximizing their transformative potential across Europe and beyond.

Call requirements:

Warning: Applicants should check eligibility and mobility conditions of MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships, such as:

• a) To be eligible should have a PhD at the time of the deadline for applications and must have a maximum of eight years’ experience in research.
• b) Comply with mobility rules: Not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Spain for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline.

How to Apply:

Applicants shall send a CV (max. 4 pages) including a brief description of your career, main publications, contributions to congresses, and experience in the fieldwork, together with a one-page research proposal to jordi@ua.es, before 31st august 2026.

The International RTD Projects Unit will provide you a tailor made support and guidance during the proposal preparation with the following:

• Administrative aspects
• Budget preparation
• Funding & Tenders Opportunities Portal
• Proposal revision by our staff

HOST INSTITUTION

The University of Alicante (UA) was created in 1979. In 2024-25 UA educated and trained 26.473 students (58,79% women) who are enrolled in any of the 54 undergraduate and 96 postgraduate programmes, being one of the fastest growing universities in Spain. UA employs 4.293 researchers and management staff (47% women), with an annual budget of 269 million Euros in 2024. Currently, UA is investing near to 68M Euros to boost frontier research and technology transfer processes via spin off, licensing and international promotion mainly. In 2024, the University received 41.5 million Euros at National, Regional, European level and private R&D thanks to 1.016 new agreements achieved by researchers working in 251 research groups hosted in 13 Research Institutes, most of them multidisciplinary based. Despite its youth, the University of Alicante is already present in the three main university rankings in the world, as shown here.

In 2024, the University of Alicante has consolidated its position in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU-FIELD), known as Shanghai Ranking, in its classification by fields of knowledge. In the 2024 edition, the University of Alicante has managed to further improve on last year’s excellent performance in the field of Tourism and Hotel Management, when it was ranked 76-100th in the world. Excellent performance has also been achieved in other fields of knowledge, such as in Nursing (151-200) and Chemical Engineering (401-500); Ecology (201-300) and Economics ranked 401-500th in the world classification.

Amongst this international activity, UA´s involvement in European Programmes has been increasing since CECA Programme and improving leadership, taking part in 50 FP5 and FP6, 49 FP7, 51 H2020 and 41 Horizon Europe projects. This activity is not only limited to DG Research, but also intensive in other Programmes: 31 Erasmus, 3 DG Justice Actions, 2 CERV, and 3 LIFE Grants among others (Funding and Tenders EC data). Also, UA is strategically involved in several EU initiatives: BBI, Hydrogen Europe Research, EERA, EOSC, etc.

In terms of international proposal and post grant award, UA offers a tailor made support to researchers at legal, financial and administrative level provided by the International RTD Projects Unit with a strong track record in supporting European RTD-consortia in proposal preparation, communication with the funding authorities and project reporting. UA is also partner of the European IP Helpdesk and coordinates the Latin America and India IP SME Helpdesks and the is Regional Node of Enterprise Europe Network for 17 years now.

Furthermore, UA became contact point through University of Alicante’s Research Talent Attraction Office, intended as a one-stop, centrally managed platform to support researchers wishing to join our University.

UA has been awarded with the HRS4R seal, that endorses our commitment to the principles of “The European Charter for Researchers” and “The Code of Conduct for the recruitment of Researchers”.