PhD Position position on mammal monitoring in mountain ecosystems through camera trapping, arti

Institute of Nature Conservation Polish Academy of Sciences

Organisation/Company Institute of Nature Conservation Polish Academy of Sciences Research Field Biological sciences » Biodiversity Environmental science » Ecology Geography » Other Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Final date to receive applications 25 Aug 2026 - 10:00 (UTC) Country Poland Type of Contract Other Type of Contract Extra Information Doctoral School Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 Offer Starting Date 1 Oct 2026 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 PhD project will investigate the distribution, relative abundance, detectability and community composition of terrestrial mammals in mountain ecosystems using camera-trap data. The candidate will build upon the existing camera-trap-based monitoring systems in Tatra National Park within the WildINTEL project, which integrates classified records of wildlife by artificial intelligence and citizen-science into workflows for biodiversity monitoring.

Analyses will focus on spatio-temporal patterns in species occurrence and abundance, their environmental drivers, and the development of predictive models to support wildlife monitoring and conservation. Depending on the research questions and data characteristics, analytical approaches may include occupancy models, Royle–Nichols models, N-mixture models, multi-species occupancy models, random encounter models, and community-level analyses of species turnover and beta diversity.

Predictive modelling will be used to estimate species distributions and community patterns in unsampled areas. Environmental predictors will include topography, habitat characteristics, vegetation productivity, snow cover, forest structure, natural disturbances and management practices, using the highest spatial and temporal resolution data available.

Fine‑scale habitat characteristics will be quantified through a combination of field surveys, camera trap image interpretation, remote‑sensing products and expert assessments. The project will be conducted in close collaboration with Tatra National Park, ensuring access to high‑quality ecological data and facilitating the transfer of results to conservation practice.

Research outputs will be disseminated through peer‑reviewed scientific publications, conference presentations, technical reports, policy briefs and outreach activities.

Research Field Biological sciences » Biodiversity Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

We seek a highly motivated and creative person, with good communication skills, a strong capacity for work, and the ability to think independently. She/he will be part of an international research team. She/he will work closely with collaborators across several institutions.

Therefore, a cooperative character, and a willingness to travel and conduct research stays abroad are highly desirable. All qualified applicants will receive consideration regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation or identity, national origin or disability status.

The ideal candidate should demonstrate strong quantitative and analytical skills, particularly in the analysis of ecological and biodiversity data. Previous experience with implementing camera‑trap projects for wildlife monitoring, species distribution modelling, occupancy modelling or related approaches are required.

Candidates should hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in ecology, environmental science, geography, or a related field. She/he should be skilled in R and/or python and have experience with GIS software and spatial data analysis. Experience with platforms designed to organize, process, and analyze massive multimedia datasets generated by camera traps is required. Familiarity with statistical modelling and biodiversity monitoring concepts is highly desirable.

Good oral and written communication skills in English are required, as the project will involve international collaboration and publication in peer‑reviewed journals.

Spec…