Fish Behavorial Ecology Researcher

Organisation/Company Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee Research Field Biological sciences Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Master Positions Country Belgium Final date to receive applications 25 Jan 2026 - 00:00 (Europe/Brussels) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Other EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

The Marine Observation Centre (MOC) is dedicated to performing essential, long‑term, and multidisciplinary observations of the marine environment, enhancing our understanding of the dynamics and functioning of marine and coastal ecosystems. MOC focuses on developing, operating, and optimizing innovative, integrated, and cost‑effective observation systems to gather high‑quality data crucial for marine research. The open position falls under the research line ‘Animal movement and behavioural ecology’.

This team aims to improve protection and conservation of our aquatic animals through fundamental and applied science on movement, habitat use and behaviour of the aquatic species in relation to their (changing) environment. This is done through collaborative data acquisition, analysis and modelling on local and European scale.

VLIZ is hiring, for immediate employment, a researcher/research project manager to coordinate and support our contribution to a number of European projects. Tasks involve (but are not limited to):
1) support the digital innovation and building tools in the European digital Twin Ocean for aquatic animal movement observations and analyses (DTOTrack, DTO‑Bioflow);
2) help maintain the Belgian Permanent Acoustic Receiver Network and assure efficient dataflow towards the European Tracking Network database;
3) support fish tagging activities at sea (Elasmon);
4) help develop indicators for fish to assess and protect ecosystem health (Nor Track, Elasmon).

• A challenging position with a contract for immediate employment with a fixed term until March 2027 (with a positive outlook for extension) in a vibrant and international environment at Innovocean Campus.
• A competitive remuneration package based on the candidate's qualifications and experience according to the salary scales set forth by the Flemish Government on 01‑01‑2009.
• Additional benefits: holiday allowance, end of year allowance, meal vouchers, bicycle allowance, free public transport between home and work.
• A good work‑life balance through a generous leave package, flexible working hours within a 38‑hour working week.
• The possibility to work partly from home after an induction period.
• Opportunities for personal development (training).

You will work closely with internal teams, project partners, and stakeholders, managing the VLIZ commitments in various European projects related to biodiversity observation, as well as supporting ongoing research into fish movement behaviour in the Belgian Part of the North Sea and beyond.

• You conduct general project management in consultation with international project team.
• You lead the project activities for VLIZ: internally managing and following up with project employees for specific tasks, adjusting and delegating if necessary.
• You report on the progress of the project as per the place in the organization and project partners (working hours, tasks performed, status, deadlines) + communication at national and international level.
• You organize, participate, report on and follow up on project and network meetings, workshops and conferences.
• You coordinate and/or execute proposal writing linked to national and international funding programs.
• You coordinate and/or execute tagging campaigns, receiver maintenance campaigns and/or scientific experiments. This includes preparations, operations at sea and post‑campaign follow‑up.
• You support the dataflows towards ETN and development of tools for fish tracking data within the European Digital Twin Ocean.
• You coordinate and/or execute data‑analyses and manuscript writing for A1 publications.
• You coordinate and/or execute development of an EOV sub variable for fish based on animal…