Post Doctoral Researcher Sustainability Institute/MaREI

Applications are invited for the post of a Post-Doctoral Researcher to join MaREI: the Research Ireland Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine, at the Sustainability Institute in University College Cork (UCC) to work on the planning, legal and management aspects of specific Blue Carbon habitats in Ireland. The Marine Institute funded BlueC project has an overarching aim to advance scientific understanding of the Carbon (C) dynamics in Irish coastal and marine environments, whilst simultaneously improving management and harnessing their potential for climate mitigation, adaptation and other ecosystem services to underpin policy development. This post-doctoral position will contribute specifically to the development of long-term management strategies for Blue Carbon habitats in line with existing and future legislative mechanisms. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing policy advice and guidance for planners on appropriate and effective management, development, regulation and use of selected currently designated and non-designated Blue Carbon ecosystems; expanding that advice to inform future Marine Protected Area designation processes and wider Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) implementation, and exploring how Blue Carbon may be included in the EU and Ireland’s reporting requirements in response to climate change (Paris Agreement/NDCs). In addition, the post-doctoral researcher will be expected to contribute to the dissemination and communication of findings from the project and participate in the project meetings. The post-doctoral researcher will also be expected to contribute to the Marine Institute CoCoMar project on ‘Co-existence and Co-location in shared island Marine governance’ and specifically to its work package on nature restoration. This will involve exploring and determining the linkages between restoration and other relevant policy initiatives such as Nature-based Solutions, Biodiversity Net Gain, etc. and how these may be incorporated into the Ireland’s Nature Restoration Plan. 

MaREI is a key research centre within UCC’s Sustainability Institute (formerly the Environmental Research Institute), which is an internationally recognised Institute for environmental research dedicated to the understanding and protection of our natural environment and to developing innovative technologies, tools and services to facilitate a transformation to a zero carbon and resource efficient society. The MaREI Centre is a Research Ireland-funded research centre headquartered in the Sustainability Institute and includes 13 other Universities and Third Level Institutes from across Ireland, has 50 industrial partners and has accumulated research funding of approximately €60m. It combines the expertise of a wide range of research groups and industry partners, with the shared mission of solving the main scientific, technical and socio-economic challenges across the climate, energy and marine spaces. MaREI is also funded by SEAI, EI, EPA, ERDF, EU, HEA, Marine Institute, DCEE and IRC, as well as through contributions from our industry partners. Researchers in the MaREI Centre have over 30 years of experience in conducting fundamental and applied research supported by competitively won national and international funding, and commercial contracts with government agencies and industry. MaREI’s strengths lie in the multi-disciplinary nature of its research teams, allowing it to combine insights across areas such as MRE Technologies, Materials & Structures, Observations & Operations, Coastal & Marine Systems, Bioenergy, Energy Policy & Modelling and Renewable Energy Management.